Lufthansa’s latest changes to Miles & More including dynamic pricing, the elimination of Mileage Bargains, and premium cabin devaluations, have left many travelers searching for better ways to redeem their hard-earned miles. Fortunately, the Star Alliance network offers several robust alternatives that deliver superior value, fixed award charts, and unique sweet spots. No matter what type of award your are after, these seven programs deserve your attention in 2025.

Why Look Beyond Miles & More?

• Dynamic Pricing: Premium cabins on Lufthansa Group flights will cost significantly more during peak periods.
• Partner Award Hikes: Business/First Class awards on partners like United and ANA now require up to +33,000 more miles.
• Loss of Mileage Bargains: No more predictable discounts like 55,000-mile Business Class awards to Europe.

Best Alternatives to Lufthansa Miles & More (2025)

Below, we rank the top Star Alliance alternatives based on award rates, flexibility, surcharges, and ease of earning miles.

1. United MileagePlus

United MileagePlus continues to lead as one of the most versatile and valuable frequent flyer programs. Its strong Star Alliance partnerships, competitive upgrade options, and expansive network make it a powerhouse for any type of traveler.

Best For: No-nonsense redemptions with no carrier-imposed fees
Key Features:

• No close-in booking fees (unlike Miles & More’s €50-75 penalty)
• Excursionist Perk: Free stopover on round-trip awards.
• Fixed partner chart: 88k miles for North America-Europe Business Class (vs. Miles & More’s 125k).

Sweet Spots:

• 45k miles for North America-Hawaii Business Class (vs. 75k with M&M).
• 88k miles for Europe-Southeast Asia Business Class on Singapore Airlines.

Pro tip: MileagePlus is an excellent program to get great rates on partner airlines instead of United. Check out more of our United MileagePlus resources here

Drawbacks: Limited First Class partner availability.

Verdict: The most user-friendly program for U.S.-based travelers.

2. Air Canada Aeroplan

In 2025, Aeroplan continues to be a top choice for both casual and hardcore travelers, offering a compelling combination of extensive network reach, user-friendly redemption options, good benefits, and high-value points.

Best For: Flexible stopovers and competitive rates
Key Features:

• Mixed-cabin bookings allowed.
• Low surcharges on most partners (e.g., 88k miles + ~$100 for Europe-North America Business Class).
• Transfer partners: Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Marriott.

Sweet Spots:

• 75k miles for North America-Europe Business Class on LOT Polish or Turkish Airlines.
• 55k miles for North America-Caribbean Business Class.

Drawbacks: Dynamic pricing on Air Canada flights and now some partners.

Pro tip: Aeroplan is a great program to search and book First Class cabins, such as Lufthansa First, try searching with one click awards here. Check out more of our Aeroplan resources here

Verdict: A powerhouse for transatlantic travel with excellent credit card transfers.

3. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles offers affordable awards, generous partner redemptions, and access to a vast global network, making it a top choice for maximizing Star Alliance miles.

Best For: Cheap Business Class to Europe
Key Features:

• Fixed award chart: 45k miles for North America-Europe Business Class one-way.
• Free stopover in Istanbul on international awards.
• Transfer partners: Citi, Capital One, and Bilt.

Sweet Spots:

• 15k miles for Europe-Middle East Business Class.
• 45k miles for North America-East Africa Business Class.

Drawbacks: High phone booking fees; limited online inventory.

Verdict: The ultimate budget option for Star Alliance Business Class.

4. Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca LifeMiles is a great option for premium cabin redemptions with frequent sales and no fuel surcharges on key routes. Also, if you are in the US, you can get some pretty sweet credit card deals and bonuses.

Best For: Discounted premium cabin deals
Key Features:

• Frequent sales: Purchase miles at 1.3-1.5¢ each.
• No fuel surcharges on Lufthansa Group flights.
• Instant transfers from Amex, Citi, and Capital One.

Sweet Spots:

• 63k miles for North America-Central America Business Class.
• 87k miles for Europe-South America Business Class on SWISS.

Drawbacks: Clunky website and high fees for some partners (e.g., ANA).

Verdict: The bargain hunter’s choice for Lufthansa First Class without surcharges.

5. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

KrisFlyer is perfect for luxury travelers seeking exclusive access to Singapore Airlines’ premium cabins, (e.g. check out our A380 Suites Review).

Best For: Luxurious redemptions on Singapore Airlines
Key Features:

• Saver Awards: Generous award space on Singapore Airlines’ premium cabins.
• Stopovers: Add a stopover for just $100 on one-way awards.
• Transfer partners: Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Marriott.

Sweet Spots:

• 58k miles for Singapore-Sydney Business Class.
• 92k miles for New York-Singapore Suites Class.

Drawbacks: Limited partner award availability.

Verdict: Ideal for travelers looking for luxury experiences on Singapore Airlines flights.

6. ANA Mileage Club

Offers incredible value on round-trip redemptions, especially for flights to and from Japan. We wish there were one-way redemptions.

Best For: Round-trip redemptions with great value
Key Features:

• Round-Trip Discounts: Better value for round-trip bookings.
• Seasonal Award Pricing: Off-peak awards offer fantastic deals.
• Transfer partners: Amex and Marriott.

Sweet Spots:

• 88k miles for North America-Japan Business Class (round-trip).
• 165k miles for North America-Japan First Class (round-trip).

Drawbacks: High surcharges on some partners.

Verdict: A solid choice for booking round-trip awards to Japan and beyond.

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Comparison Chart: Miles & More vs. Top Alternatives

Program	NA-EU Business	EU-Asia First	Key Advantage	Surcharges on LH Group
Miles & More	125k	240k	Access to LH First Class	€500-800+
United	88k	N/A	No fees, Excursionist Perk	$0
Aeroplan	75k-110k	210k	Flexible stopovers	~$100
LifeMiles	87k	160k	Frequent sales, no LH surcharges	$0
ANA	88k (RT)	165k (RT)	Round-trip discounts	~$200
Turkish	45k	105k	Cheapest Business Class	€50-150
KrisFlyer	92k	198k	Luxurious Singapore Airlines redemptions	$50-100

Bottom Line

While Miles & More still offers unique perks like Lufthansa First Class access, its 2025 devaluations make diversifying your mileage strategy essential. United MileagePlus and Aeroplan shine for flexibility, Avianca LifeMiles for discounted premium cabins, and Turkish Miles&Smiles for budget-friendly Business Class.

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