Spending Your Miles & More Miles Wisely

You’ve put in the work to earn the miles, now comes the fun part: spending them! This guide focuses on the high-value, actionable strategies that turn your points into incredible travel experiences.

The Best Ways to Use Your Miles

Meilenschnäppchen (Mileage Bargains)

This section reflects the discontinuation for LH Group and the pivot to partner-only offers.

Partner Airline Awards

This is now the primary strategy for reliable value.

Last-Minute Flexibility

This is a key advantage of miles. While last-minute cash tickets can be astronomically expensive, award ticket prices are often stable. This is perfect for emergencies or spontaneous trips.

Warning: High Carrier Surcharges

A major drawback when redeeming Miles & More miles is the high carrier-imposed surcharges, which can exceed €800 for a round-trip flight. This is why partner airline awards and programs like LifeMiles are often better value.

Coming Soon: Dynamic Pricing Expansion

Discover Airlines and Air Dolomiti will adopt dynamic award pricing starting March 3, 2026, completing the rollout across all Lufthansa Group carriers. This makes partner airline awards even more attractive for predictable value.

Real-World Examples: How We’ve Used Our Miles

“We had a family emergency and needed to fly from Seoul to Japan the very next day. Cash tickets with luggage were over €400 per person. Instead, we booked an award flight with Asiana Airlines for a fraction of the cost in miles. The price was the same as booking weeks in advance. It was a lifesaver and showed the true power of having a stash of miles ready to go.”

“We booked a one-way flight from Japan to Europe on a premium partner airline. Not only was the mileage cost reasonable, but the ticket included a generous two-piece luggage allowance per person, which would have cost a fortune on a cash ticket. It made the entire travel experience smoother and more enjoyable.”

Example Award Redemptions

Here are some real examples of one-way flights operated by Lufthansa, showing the mileage and tax costs (prices vary based on demand).

Route	Class	Miles	Taxes & Fees
FRA → ICN	Premium Economy	52,417	€324.39
FRA → ICN	Business	55,950	€392.39
FRA → HND	Economy	38,798	€316.39
FRA → HND	Premium Economy	48,904	€316.39

Core Spending Wisdom

Flights First: The highest value for your miles will almost always be redeeming them for flights, especially in premium cabins (Business or First Class).
Avoid the Worldshop: Using miles for merchandise in the Worldshop is generally a poor value proposition. Save your miles for the sky!
Compare to Cash: Always do a quick check on the cash price of a ticket. If a flight is very cheap, it might be better to save your miles and pay with cash.