Airline miles are often seen as rigid, but Lufthansa is introducing greater flexibility for its Miles & More members.
The carrier now allows travelers to book seats using a combination of miles and cash, making it easier to redeem rewards without waiting to accumulate a full award. This change applies to flights operated by Lufthansa and its group airlines: Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Germanwings and Eurowings.
The program rollout began in Germany on November 17 and has been extended to additional markets. Members in Switzerland, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain and Italy were scheduled to gain access in early 2017.
One requirement is that members must hold at least 7,000 award miles to use the part-pay option. Once eligible, travelers can apply miles toward tickets in any travel class and for any connections bookable through the Lufthansa website. These bookings also continue to earn award and status miles, so members don’t lose progress toward future rewards or elite status.
By enabling partial redemptions, Lufthansa aims to make its loyalty currency more usable for a wider range of customers. The change reduces the need to wait for a full award balance, allowing members to mix cash and miles to reach the fare they want. It also opens up more spontaneous redemption opportunities, particularly on routes and dates where award availability is limited.
For members planning travel, this offers a practical way to stretch miles while maintaining the ability to earn further benefits. As with any loyalty program feature, availability and terms may vary by market and fare type, so members should check their Miles & More account and the airline’s booking tool for the most current options and any restrictions that may apply.