Lufthansa Miles & More: 60% Bonus on Miles at 1.31 Cents Each

(JUNE 3, 2025) Lufthansa’s Miles & More program flipped the switch today to a new way of pricing award flights, marking one of the most sweeping loyalty changes in the airline’s history. Beginning June 3, 2025, the program has abandoned fixed award charts and moved to dynamic award pricing on Lufthansa Group airlines—Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Lufthansa City. The number of miles needed for an award will now change based on the cash ticket price, demand, travel class, route, and booking timing.

For millions of members who plan trips across Europe and beyond, the update reshapes how they collect, buy, and use miles—especially as a 60% bonus sale on purchased miles (pricing them at 1.31 cents per mile) runs alongside the policy shift. Many frequent flyers see the end of fixed charts and Mileage Bargains as a loss of predictability they relied on to plan dream trips, even as the program argues the change simplifies choices and offers more fare options.

System outage and rollout

Miles & More confirmed a planned system interruption to roll out the overhaul: from 6:00 a.m. June 2 to 12:00 p.m. June 3, 2025 (CET), members couldn’t book, change, or access award flights. That window, now closed, leads into a very different redemption environment where awards may cost fewer miles on quiet routes during off-peak times but likely more miles for premium cabins and popular dates.

What changed — headline points

• Dynamic award pricing is live as of June 3, 2025 on Lufthansa Group airlines, replacing fixed award charts.
• Mileage Bargains and Flex Plus awards are eliminated for those carriers.
• A 60% bonus on purchased miles is available now, pricing miles at 1.31 cents each, for a limited time.
• New award fare families:
  • Intra-Europe: Light, Classic, Flex
  • Intercontinental: Light, Basic, Basic Plus, Flex
• Miles cannot be used to pay taxes, fees, or surcharges as of June 2025.
• Status is earned by points tied to route and cabin, not price — see status thresholds below.

Buying miles during the 60% bonus

Miles & More is selling miles with a heavy sweetener: a 60% bonus that brings the purchase price to 1.31 cents per mile. Purchase steps:
1. Log in to your Miles & More account on the official program site.
2. Go to the “Buy Miles” section and select the number of miles.
3. Review the total price with the 60% bonus applied—equating to 1.31 cents per mile.
4. Pay by credit card and confirm.
5. Miles are credited instantly and usable immediately for award bookings, upgrades, or partner redemptions.

Important notes:
– The airline calls it a limited-time deal; an exact end date isn’t published. Check terms on the program site before buying.
– Check for any annual or per-transaction caps on purchased miles.
– Remember that taxes, fees, and surcharges on awards must be paid in cash.

New award fare families — what to watch for

These award families mirror cash fares and carry different rules for baggage, seat selection, cancellations, and rebooking:
– Intra-Europe: Light, Classic, Flex
– Intercontinental: Light, Basic, Basic Plus, Flex

Key implications:
– A Light award may cost fewer miles but exclude checked bags or charge extra for preferred seats.
– Basic Plus or Flex may allow easier changes or refunds but require more miles.
– The advertised mileage price is only part of the decision — factor in baggage, seat fees, change rules, and refundability.

How dynamic pricing affects value and buying decisions

The core question now: does buying miles at 1.31 cents each still make sense? Under dynamic pricing, the answer depends on your route, dates, and cabin.

A practical decision process:
– Compare the total cash fare for your target flight (including bags and seat fees).
– Price the same trip as an award across the new fare families.
– Add the cash taxes and surcharges to the award total.
– If you’re short on miles, multiply the shortfall by 1.31 cents to see the buy cost.
– If miles purchase cost + award taxes/fees beats the cash fare by a clear margin — and you accept the fare family rules — buying miles can be sensible.
– If not, consider paying cash, changing dates, or waiting for another promotion.

The sale can still help, especially for:
– Last-minute economy tickets where cash fares are high but dynamic awards might require fewer miles.
– Travelers who can be flexible on dates and airports and monitor prices frequently.

Practical tips and strategy

• Check award prices early and often; dynamic systems change quickly with demand.
• Be flexible on travel dates, airports, and routing to find lower mileage totals.
• Choose the fare family that matches your needs; don’t overpay miles for features you won’t use.
• Keep a mileage buffer so you can jump on good opportunities.
• Set calendar alerts and act fast when a favorable award appears.
• If a premium award looks steep for peak dates, try mid-week, shoulder season, or alternate airports.

Impact on different travelers — examples

• A family in the U.S. visiting grandparents in Germany could see mileage quotes vary day to day as school holidays drive demand.
• A small business owner in Zurich who relied on Mileage Bargains for New York trips may find higher mileage costs now on busy dates.
• A student in Vienna needing flexibility might choose a higher-mileage Flex award to avoid fees if plans change.

Status earning (unchanged method)

Since January 1, 2024, status is earned via points, not miles flown. Requirements for 2025:
– Frequent Traveler: 650 Points + 325 Qualifying Points per year
– Senator: 2,000 Points + 1,000 Qualifying Points per year
– HON Circle: 6,000 HON Circle Points per year

Notes:
– Points are awarded based on flight class and whether a flight is continental or intercontinental, not the cash price.
– ITA Airways has joined the Miles & More status earning network.

Consumer protections and disruptions

When trips are disrupted, remember EU passenger protection rules may apply if you’re departing from the EU or flying an EU carrier. For official guidance, consult the European Commission’s passenger rights resource: EU Air Passenger Rights.

Industry context and future outlook

• The move aligns Miles & More with other European programs that tie awards to cash prices, such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
• The program says it may continue refining the system, add redemption options, and possibly expand dynamic pricing to partners in time.
• Future promotions may vary in bonus size and duration — monitor official channels.

Quick reference table — at-a-glance

Important: dynamic pricing replaces predictable award charts. That means value is now route-, date-, and cabin-specific — do the math before buying miles.

Final checklist before buying miles or booking awards

• Confirm the promotion end date and any caps on purchased miles.
• Price the exact itinerary as both a cash ticket and as awards across fare families.
• Add cash taxes, fees, and surcharges to the award cost.
• Multiply any mileage shortfall by 1.31 cents to determine buy cost.
• If the combined purchase + award cost is clearly cheaper (and the fare family rules suit you), proceed; otherwise consider cash, alternate dates, or waiting.

Members can manage their accounts and make purchases or bookings through the official program site at Miles & More, and airline-specific details remain available at Lufthansa. If you’re weighing the current bonus, review published caps and verify the latest promotion end date on the program site or via customer service.

As this new chapter begins, the program asks members to think in ranges rather than fixed numbers. For travelers willing to learn the rhythm of dynamic award pricing and act quickly when good value appears, Miles & More can still open the door to important trips—especially now, with dynamic award pricing live from June 3, 2025, and a 60% bonus sale that can help close the gap when the numbers add up.