Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite MasterCard Credit Card Review

Who is the Miles & More World Elite MasterCard From Barclays Bank Good For?

Lufthansa, the largest airline in Europe, also has the largest frequent flyer program in Europe, Miles & More. Since its inception in 1993, 13 airlines have joined Miles & More. Lufthansa and most of those airlines are members of the Star Alliance, giving the program a truly global scope.

The Miles & More World Elite MasterCard from Barclays Bank is a great way to collect miles for this flexible program. Plus, the card is currently offering its largest sign-up bonus to date, and a free companion ticket and two Lufthansa lounge passes annually.

Sign-Up Bonus:

The total sign-up bonus is 50,000 miles. You’ll get 20,000 miles after your first purchase, and an additional 30,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months.

Miles Earned:

• 2 miles per dollar spent on Miles & More airlines
• 1 mile per dollar on everything else

What Do Your Miles Get You?

While the earning scheme for purchases made with the card aren’t spectacular, you can earn double miles with all 13 Miles & More member airlines. You can also spend those miles with any airline in the Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world.

Usage Perks:

• High sign-up bonus
• Annual companion ticket
• Two free Lufthansa Business Lounge passes every year
• No foreign transaction fee
• One-way awards available
• Two stopovers and two open jaws allowed on flights between two or more regions
• No phone or close-in booking fees
• No change or cancellation fees within 24 hours of booking, and only $60 after that

Usage Quirks:

• High fuel surcharges for most Miles & More partners
• Must book awards at least two days in advance

How Far Do Your Miles Go?

Lufthansa’s international premium class cabins are among the best in the world. While Lufthansa is a member of the Star Alliance, it is almost impossible to book a first class seat on Lufthansa with United miles. Lufthansa limits the number of first class seats that are bookable with miles from partner airlines. Business class transatlantic and transpacific award seats are also difficult to find.

Getting a premium class seat on a Lufthansa flights is much easier if you’re a Miles & More member. Those seats aren’t cheap, though. First class flights between the U.S. and Europe run 170,000 miles, plus fuel surcharges.

There are ways to get more value for your Miles & More miles, but none of them are for flights on Lufthansa. You can fly between New York and Los Angeles or San Francisco on United in business class, which offers lie-flat seats, for 55,000 miles roundtrip. Miles & More prices all business class domestic flights in any  region except Europe at 55,000 per roundtrip. You’ll pay 50,000 miles for business class in Europe.

You could also fly between North America and Central America or the Caribbean for 35,000 miles in coach, or 60,000 miles in business. If you use Miles & More’s generous stopover policy to visit several destinations, this can be a great value.

Flights between the U.S. and Oceania cost 135,000 miles in business on Air New Zealand. That redemption rate beats both United and Delta. If you fly between Hawaii and Oceania, it’ll only cost 70,000 miles in business class.

Additional Cardholder Benefits:

• Free FICO Score
• Warranty extension
• Zero liability
• Baggage delay coverage
• Trip cancellation coverage
• Auto rental collision damage waiver