Lufthansa, following the footsteps of British Airways in the IAG universe, has decided to launch flights for only Miles&More members. That is flights that can only be purchased using the loyalty program currency and therefore, only purchaseable by Miles&More members. Here’s where to and when the first flight will takeoff and who they really are a deal for.
The First Miles&More Member Exclusive Flight
British Airways introduced this concept in its Executive Club frequent flyer program just after covid. A few years later Lufthansa decides to launch its own version of the scheme with flights exclusively organised for its loyalty program.
What does it translate to? Aboard these flights you will only have other fellow Miles&More members and no passengers who have paid cash to travel. Therefore, depature and return flights are fixed and in no way amendable. You either decide to take the flight the way Lufthansa planned it or leave it.
The first flight of this kind in Lufthansa’s schedule will take the Miles&More members from Munich to Cape Town in South Africa. Flight number will be LH570/571:
- Departing Munich on November 17th 2024
- Returning on December 2nd 2024
Although both an outbound and inbound flight are scheduled you don’t necessarily need to book a return ticket. You can, if so you wish, book a one-way service in one or the other direction. Prices, in Miles&More currency, are as follows:
- 60,000 miles for a return ticket or 30,000 Miles&More miles one-way in Economy Class.
- 90,000 miles for a return ticket or 45,000 Miles&More miles one-way in Premium Economy Class.
- 150,000 miles for a return ticket or 75,000 Miles&More miles one-way in Business Class.
However, Business Class tickets are already all sold out. Only Economy and Premium Economy tickets are still available.
Who Are These Flights Really a Deal For?
If you’re sitting on so many miles that you just don’t know what to do with them, then travelling on this ego-boost service can be a fun way of spending some. However, if that isn’t the case then you definitely can find better way to extract the highest value for your miles. By offering an exclusive service and some special perks on the flight the airlines can charge much more for these flights than they are actually worth.
This type of service is, in my opinion, a very clever solution airlines have come up with to get loyalty program members who are sitting on a shipload of miles to reduce their balance while minimising costs to their operations. By getting as many frequent flyers on one flight you can minimise the cost they would have booking flights individually. Personally I would prefer flying on a regular service but chosing myself when and where to travel.