Lufthansa Miles&More is once again taking the hammer to its loyalty program, changing to dynamic redemption pricing from June 3, 2025, which will have a significant impact on the value of the program.
Following the modification to the program and all the cutbacks concerning status qualification, this devaluation of Lufthansa award redemption options might be the final nail in the coffin of Miles&More.
You can access the bad news on the website here and we also have a press release document prepared by Lufthansa.
It’s noteworthy to say that dynamic pricing will only affect Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City and SWISS while all other airlines will be subject to a new award chart.
Innovations in Miles & More Award Flights: more flexibility and choice of fares for flight awards.
From June 3, 2025, Miles & More will be changing its conditions for flight awards on selected Lufthansa Group airlines: Instead of a fixed flight award table, the mileage values at Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City and SWISS will in future be based on the airline’s ticket prices – just like the collection of miles.
For all other airlines in the Lufthansa Group (ITA Airways, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and Discover Airlines) as well as the other Miles & More partner airlines and Star Alliance partners, the calculation will continue to be based on an updated flight award table.
The innovations give participants a greater choice of fares, more flexibility when booking and thus the opportunity to customize mileage redemptions for flights. The availability of award flights may improve on some routes.
Participants in the program will be informed of all changes on February 25, 2025.
Indeed, Lufthansa has already informed members via email mailer about the changes, and while the exact pricing parameters for the new dynamic model are still unknown until they finally go live on June 3, I think everybody knows that this is pretty horrible.
The email Lufthansa just sent out to us members reads as follows:
The miles you’ve earned can help you make your travel dreams come true. That’s also why our Award Flights are so popular. For bookings from 3 June 2025, you can look forward to changes that will give you more flexible fare options.
For flights with Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City and SWISS, the fixed mileage amounts in the Award Flight chart will be replaced with flexible mileage amounts. The miles will then be calculated on the basis of the fare you choose, travel class, route, the timing of your flight and when you book – exactly the same as when you book flights through the airlines.
These changes may lead to greater availability on some routes. You’ll also benefit from particularly low mileage amounts for Economy Class on some routes. On the other hand, you may need higher mileage amounts on certain routes that are in high demand.
In future, you’ll be able to decide whether you want your Award Flight booking to include baggage, a seat reservation or the option to rebook. You’ll be able to see all available options along with the relevant mileage amount as soon as you make a booking request.
For LOT Polish Airlines and all other Miles & More airline partners, the Award Flight chart (with updated mileage amounts) will continue to apply.
I’m not exactly sure that most members will “look forward” to this day as noted in the email. In fact, I highly doubt it. The new flight award chart “with updated mileage amounts” will also be a massacre.
You can check out the new award chart here:
Business Class flights between Europe and North America will now cost 62,500 per way and First Class will cost 107,500 per way.
Flights to Southeast Asia went up even more, those will cost 100,000 miles in Business and 130,000 miles in First Class per one way.
The most important changes (In the words of Lufthansa):
Economy Class
In future, you’ll need fewer miles in Economy Class within Europe and up to 10,000 miles less for Award Flights on many long-haul routes. A slight increase in mileage amounts will only apply to flights to the Middle East, North and Central Africa, the Caucasus, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Premium Economy Class
In Central America, the Caribbean, South America, North and Central Africa, the Middle East and the Caucasus, mileage amounts will remain the same in Premium Economy Class. For other regions, you’ll need 5,000 miles more for an Award Flight.
Business Class
On European routes, mileage amounts will remain the same in Business Class. Outside Europe, the amounts will increase depending on the destination and distance. For example, the mileage amounts for flights to the Middle East and Africa will only increase slightly by 5,000 miles, while you may need significantly more miles for longer routes, such as flights to South East Asia.
First Class
First Class Award Flights are exclusive offers that are only available with a few airline partners. Due to the exclusive nature of these offers, you’ll need to redeem more miles.
Remember that Lufthansa has already neutered the Miles&More program as of January 2024 when the new status qualification requirements kicked in.
Lufthansa Reminds Members That Miles & More Status Changes Kick In Effective January 1, 2024
Is this award devaluation now the final nail in the coffin for Lufthansa Miles&More?
I have many friends who have accounts with millions of miles, which they accumulated over years, if not decades, and never got around to redeeming them efficiently. This is a danger for all programs if you don’t religiously follow an earn-and-burn strategy.
This doesn’t come as a surprise, though. Rumors about a devaluation have been swirling around for almost two years.
Conclusion
There has been an update to the Miles&More program, and the airline has published a new award chart for partner airlines as well as made the announcement that Lufthansa, Austrian, and SWISS award flights will be subject to dynamic pricing starting June 3, 2025. The increases in required miles for an award ticket are steep.
At this point I’m not sure what the allure is why people would continue to participate in Miles&More rather than find a better program to credit miles to.
Another option would be to give up on loyalty altogether and always book the best price in Business Class, crediting the miles wherever the airline allows, ideally, of course, at a program where you can credit and redeem every now and then.
Will these changes impact your decision to participate in Lufthansa Miles&More?
