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Lufthansa First Class is an aspirational redemption. But in recent years, it's become increasingly difficult to book. And according to reports, Lufthansa is altering how it makes First Class awards available to partner airlines.
Here's a look at the new rules and a way to avoid having to book Lufthansa awards close-in.
Lufthansa Is Restricting First Class Partner Awards
Lufthansa's native Miles & More program isn't the most user-friendly. Earning Miles & More miles is relatively complicated — especially the amount necessary to book a First Class award.
Partner airlines have afforded an easier way to book Lufthansa First Class. Programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, and United MileagePlus all offer access to the award space Lufthansa furnishes to its partners — often for a smaller sum of miles and lower taxes and fees than Lufthansa would otherwise charge.
Historically, Lufthansa typically released First Class award space to partner airlines within two weeks of departure. Now, the rule appears to be three days — with a catch.
Here's how Seats.aero — an award availability tool — sums up the oddities with Lufthansa restricting partner award space:
“Recently, Lufthansa seems to have changed their cadence for releasing first class awards to partners. Most awards are now only made available within 3 days of departure, including on the day of departure itself. Additionally, some routes are only made available in one direction at any given time (i.e. MEX/FRA but not FRA/MEX).”
Effectively, Lufthansa is making it harder to book First Class awards through partner airlines. Plus, it's anyone's guess how consistently Lufthansa will make its most prized seats available.
Ultimately, if Lufthansa First Class is on your bucket list, it's all but necessary to remain patient and keep an eye on award availability tools like a hawk. On top of that, you'll inevitably have to book close-in if you try to book through a partner program. That requires flexibility many people don't have in their travel plans.
How To Access Lufthansa First Class Availability Before 3 Days Out
For many, booking close-in, as in three days or less before departure, isn't ideal. It's hard to plan a vacation with such little notice.
Thankfully, there's another way you can access Lufthansa First Class space and book well in advance. It starts with signing up for the free-to-join Miles & More program.
Lufthansa makes award space available 360 days in advance to Miles & More members. And, you guessed it: Among the awards it makes available are First-Class seats.
As we mentioned, booking Lufthansa First Class through Miles & More has some pros and cons. Unless you pay up for a First Flex Plus fare, you're looking at paying 91,000 miles per way between North America and Germany, plus nearly $1,000 in fuel surcharges. Ouch. But on the flip side, you don't have to book and head to the airport with only minutes in between.
Plus, with a concentrated strategy, it's possible to earn the Miles & More miles necessary to book a First Class award.
Part of that strategy might include the Lufthansa Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®. With an $89 annual fee, you'll earn 50,000 award miles if you spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual fee, both within the first 90 days.
On its own, the 50,000-mile bonus isn't enough to book a First Class award. But if you factor in that you can buy Lufthansa miles with a discount quite regularly, you're nearing the sum of miles necessary to book that aspirational ticket. That award might be closer than you think.
Final Thoughts
Lufthansa is making it harder to book First Class awards through partner airlines like Air Canada and United. At the time of writing, it's impossible to find award space more than three days out. However, there are ways to avoid booking close-in, which are worth a look if flying in Lufthansa's best seats is on your travel bucket list.
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