After 15 Months, LifeMiles Can Book Lufthansa First Class Again

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Since August 2014, Avianca LifeMiles, one of my favorite types of Star Alliance miles, could not book Lufthansa First Class, one of my favorite Star Alliance First Classes.

Now LifeMiles can book Lufthansa First Class again for 87,000 miles one way from the United States to Europe with NO fuel surcharges.

How to Book Lufthansa First Class with LifeMiles

On lifemiles.com,  click Air Tickets under Enjoy.

Search for the Lufthansa First Class segment you want, selecting Lufthansa under “Preferred carrier” if you’d like.

Award space should show up whenever Lufthansa has released it, which is only within 15 days of departure. Award space costs 87,000 miles + $12.50 + taxes each way. Or you can use cash plus miles, “buying” the miles you are short at a rate of 1.5 cents per mile.But don’t “buy” miles during booking for 1.5 cents each since you can buy miles today only for 1.375 cents each.

With two caveats, the award space on lifemiles.com should match what you find on united.com for Lufthansa award space. Let me know in the comments if you find an instance where it doesn’t.

Caveat #1

LifeMiles can’t book “mixed cabin” awards. You can’t even combine First Class to Europe and Business Class (the highest cabin) within Europe. So this space is only good for direct flights or if you connect to Africa or Asia on another First Class flight.

Caveat #2

There is a six hour maximum on LifeMiles layovers. Most miles allow up to 24 hour layovers.

Why You Want to Fly Lufthansa First Class

Lufthansa First Class is one of the absolute nicest between the United States and Europe. I flew First Class on the Lufthansa 747-8 between Frankfurt and Washington-Dulles last year.

I enjoyed the food like pretzels and caviar.

I liked the over-the-top touches like the butter that says “First Class.”

I loved the ground service in Frankfurt. Frankfurt Airport has an entire First Class terminal for Lufthansa First Class passengers.

Since you are not at the gate for boarding, you are given a private car through the tarmac right to your plane.

Other Options to Book Lufthansa First Class

Any Star Alliance miles should be able to book Lufthansa First Class. The cheapest options are between the United States and Europe:

• Asiana miles (SPG transfer partner): 50,000 miles one way + fuel surcharges
• Aeroplan miles (SPG and MR transfer partner): 62,500 miles one way + fuel surcharges
• LifeMiles (buy miles): 87,000 miles one way without fuel surcharges
• United miles (UR transfer partner): 110,000 miles one way without fuel surcharges

Bottom Line

LifeMiles can once again book Lufthansa First Class for 87,000 miles (and no fuel surcharges) each way. Today only, you can buy those 87,000 LifeMiles for $1,221.

Asiana and Aeroplan charge fewer miles, but do collect fuel surcharges of several hundred dollars each way depending on the exact routing. United doesn’t collect fuel surcharges but charges a silly 110,000 miles each way.

Hat Tip One Mile at a Time