Lufthansa’s Great Revamp, or is it?
Starting June 3, 2025, Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More program is jumping on the dynamic award pricing bandwagon, and the air is thick with disappointment. It’s like watching a magician reveal their tricks only to find out the rabbit was never real in the first place. Lufthansa is marketing these as “exciting changes,” claiming they’re evolving to better please us. Yet, it gives off the same vibe as when they axed free snacks on short routes, blaming it on “customer feedback.” Yeah, right.
The Switch to Dynamic Award Pricing
Come June 2025, if you’re looking to book a ticket through Lufthansa’s Miles & More program, brace yourself. This isn’t a sleek update; it’s an overhaul. Goodbye, fixed award charts. The pricing is headed the way of the dodo, determined solely by what you’re willing to pay, the class you’re hoping to be in, and your flight’s itinerary.
In simpler terms, your award flight is now tethered to Lufthansa’s fare bundles: Light, Classic, or Flex for Europe, and Light, Basic, Basic Plus, or Flex for intercontinental flights. Expect the unexpected – or just expect your bargain mileage awards to vanish. Award seat availability will still hinge on the classic saver level fare buckets, marked “O” for first, “I” for business, and “X” for economy class. But here’s the kicker: your miles’ worth isn’t carved in stone yet.
- Economy awards on some routes might drop a little in mileage cost, which is the equivalent of a free car air freshener post a hefty repair bill.
- Premium economy has certain stable spots, but on the whole, it’s creeping up.
- Business class within Europe won’t change much, but elsewhere, it’s premium pricing, baby.
- First class? Bring your wallet; it’s getting pricier because ‘exclusive’ costs more now.
The dynamic pricing wheel doesn’t play well with partners either. In most cases, award charts for partner airlines are embracing their own inflation party, albeit a few aren’t hiked.
The Infamous Partner Award Chart
If you’re plotting a trans-Atlantic trip between Europe and North America, here’s the skinny with round-trip miles:
- Economy-level travel slides down from 60,000 to a friendlier 50,000 miles.
- You’ll fork over 85,000 miles for premium economy, up from 80,000.
- Business class will now cost you 125,000 miles, a neat jump from the previous 112,000 ticket.
- And first class? A considerable leap to 215,000 miles from the original 182,000 will get you there.
My Take on These Changes
I’m holding back my full essay on this disaster-in-making until the changes roll out. But these tweaks seem destined for the “terrible” to “what were they thinking” spectrum. The most frustrating part? Lufthansa’s spin-doctoring. An email recently informed me of these “exciting changes” with unwavering enthusiasm. As if we’re easily fooled.
It’s not just the changes that irritate—though yes, those are gnawing at my sanity too—but the sugarcoating. If you must sour the pot, don’t act like you’re adding sugar. It’s like selling rain boots with “exciting weather changes” during a monsoon.
Dynamic pricing could, in theory, be decent; take Virgin Atlantic Flying Club’s update, which wasn’t so apocalyptic. But the way Lufthansa is handling it? Members are stuck with saver level options, prices pegged directly to cash fares, and real perks lost in fine print.
Maybe, if you’re hoping to shift your miles for a domestic $100 ticket, you’re in luck. For everyone else, hold onto those critiques tighter than a first-class complimentary champers… if you can still afford it.
And if you fancy a real escape to shake off this news, why not check out the delightful Val Seny ski resort? A breath of fresh mountain air may just be the therapy you need.
Bottom Line
In June 2025, hold on to your passports. Lufthansa is taking Miles & More down the same road as dynamic award pricing. Save your energy for deciphering what your miles are truly worth as they sidestep around the same availability and boost partner awards. For those looking to stretch their miles, this feels less like an upgrade and more like a puzzle with a missing piece. And let’s not even start on their delivery—it’s leaving more than just a bad taste. What’s your take, fellow travelers?