United Flights Now Bookable Online With Lufthansa Miles & More
While often overlooked by points and miles enthusiasts, Lufthansa's frequent flyer program, Miles and More, is on the rise. In December, the program announced that families will be able to "pool" miles together starting later this month. The program has now further improved by allowing you to book awards online on more of its airline partners including Cathay Pacific and, notably, United.
Here's a list of the previous and new airline partner awards that can be booked online:
| Previous Partners With Online Booking | New Partners With Online Booking | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Adria Airways | Adria Airways | ||
Aegean Airlines | Aegean Airlines | ||
Air Canada | Air Canada | ||
Air China | Air China | ||
Air New Zealand | Air Dolomiti | ||
ANA | Air Malta | ||
Austrian Airlines | Air New Zealand | ||
Avianca | ANA | ||
Brussels Airlines | Asiana Airlines | ||
Condor Airlines | Austrian Airlines | ||
Croatia Airlines | Avianca | ||
EgyptAir | Brussels Airlines | ||
Ethiopian | Cathay Pacific | ||
Eurowings | Condor Airlines | ||
EVA Air | Croatia Airlines | ||
LOT Polish Airlines | EgyptAir | ||
Lufthansa | Ethiopian | ||
Luxair | Eurowings | ||
SAS | EVA Air | ||
Shenzhen Airlines | LOT Polish Airlines | ||
Singapore Airlines | Lufthansa | ||
South African Airways | Luxair | ||
SWISS International Airlines | SAS | ||
TAP Portugal | Shenzhen Airlines | ||
THAI Airways | Singapore Airlines | ||
Turkish Airlines | SWISS International Airlines | ||
TAP Portugal | |||
THAI Airways | |||
Turkish Airlines | |||
United Airlines |
This unlocks the potential for some excellent online redemptions, especially for domestic flights within the US. One-way domestic awards booked on United metal cost 12,000 miles in economy and just 17,000 in business, versus 12,500 and 25,000 respectively on most routes using United MileagePlus miles.
If you can find award space, you can also get phenomenal value on premium transcontinental business class seats on United by using Miles & More. United charges a 10,000 mile premium on business class seats between New York/Newark (EWR) and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO), meaning you'd pay 35,000 MileagePlus miles in one direction. But that same business class seat is just 17,000 Miles & More miles.
Plus, Miles and More doesn't charge close-in booking fees on award tickets, so those last-minute United flights that carry an extra $75 cost per person can be had for the same number of miles and just the standard taxes and fees.
If you're short on Miles & More miles, Starwood Preferred Guest points can be transferred to Miles & More at a 1:1 ratio, though it may take time. Remember that if you transfer Starpoints in blocks of 20,000, you'll also get a 25% bonus, meaning you can effectively get these United business class seats for just 13,600 Starpoints by transferring and booking through Miles & More.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.