Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles
Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - How to Redeem Award Miles for Lufthansa Business Class Flights
Flying in style doesn't have to break the bank when you redeem miles for Lufthansa Business Class. As a Star Alliance member, Lufthansa makes it easy to use miles from various frequent flyer programs to upgrade your experience. I'll walk through the best options for redeeming points and how to find award availability.
For United MileagePlus members, Lufthansa business class awards start at 70,000 miles each way between North America and Europe. United is transfer partners with Chase Ultimate Rewards, so you can top up your account by earning cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Check United's award chart to see how many miles you need based on your origin and destination.
Another great option is Aeroplan, Air Canada's loyalty program. Their awards are distance-based, so a one-way business class flight from the west coast to Europe is 75,000 miles. The Aeroplan program has some quirks, like hefty fuel surcharges on some partners, but Lufthansa redemptions avoid those extras. You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan to boost your balance.
Before you transfer points, always search award availability on the airline's site first. Log into your United or Aeroplan account and look for flights with open award seats. You can also try ExpertFlyer to check award space, then transfer points once you find flights with availability.
Aim to book Lufthansa business class rewards at least several months in advance, when award space is most open. Last-minute awards are hard to come by. Be flexible with your dates if possible, and avoid peak summer travel times when awards go quickly.
One recommendation is looking for awards on Lufthansa's A380 aircraft where you can reserve a seat in advance. The A380 features an ultra-private First Class cabin if you want to splurge on a truly luxe experience.
What else is in this post?
- Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - How to Redeem Award Miles for Lufthansa Business Class Flights
- Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - A Guide to Lufthansa Business Class Seats and Amenities
- Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Enjoy Gourmet Meals and Fine Wines Without Breaking the Bank
- Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Relax and Unwind with On-Board Entertainment Options
- Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Get Comfortable and Catch Up on Work in a Spacious Seat
- Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Earn Miles Quickly with Lufthansa Partners like United and Air Canada
- Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Experience Five-Star Service from Trained Flight Attendants
- Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Tour Iconic Cities in Luxury Before Arriving Back Home
Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - A Guide to Lufthansa Business Class Seats and Amenities
Upgrading your flight experience means more than just a free glass of champagne - flying Lufthansa business class means sinking into a lie-flat seat for sleeping, dining on gourmet meals, and enjoying premium amenities not found back in coach. Lufthansa's business class cabins differ across its widebody fleet, so it's good to understand the seat options before using miles to upgrade.
On Lufthansa's Airbus A340s and A330s, the seats are arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration. This means every passenger gets direct aisle access - no climbing over your seatmate to get up. The lie-flat seats recline 180 degrees to a fully flat 6.5 foot bed - perfect for getting quality rest on long overnight journeys. Adjustable leather headrests and a thick duvet make this a luxe way to fly.
For the ultimate in privacy, try to reserve seats in the front mini-cabin which only contains 6 seats. The A340s and A330s also have newer seats on select aircraft with extra storage space and adjustable armrests - check your reservation to see if your plane has the updated product.
On Lufthansa's A380 super-jumbos, the upper deck business class cabin has a unique 1-2-1 staggered layout. No middle seats means every passenger gets direct aisle access. These seats are wider at 23 inches and transform into a 6 foot fully-flat bed. With extra privacy shields that raise electronically, you can create a private suite in the sky.
The 747-8 business class product also uses a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access for all. There is ample personal storage space located near the shoulder area for easy access during the flight. And business class passengers in the two upper decks can take advantage of two bathrooms with window views.
When it's time to dine, Lufthansa business class serves up multi-course meals with menus curated by renowned chefs and sommeliers. Meals are plated to order and served on fine china with classic German hospitality. And with an extensive wine list, you can find the perfect vintage to pair with your inflight cuisine.
Other notable amenities include priority airport services, access to partner lounges for relaxing pre-flight, on-demand entertainment on a 15" screen, power ports for charging devices, and amenity kits stocked with skincare essentials.
Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Enjoy Gourmet Meals and Fine Wines Without Breaking the Bank
Upgrading to business class is the ultimate indulgence, but the luxury experience often comes with an inflated price tag. However, when redeeming miles for Lufthansa business class awards, you can dine like royalty without draining your bank account.
One of the best perks of flying in a premium cabin is the inflight dining service. Lufthansa's business class menus feature dishes designed by Michelin-starred chefs like Björn Freitag. Expect multicourse meals with standout entrees like thyme-crusted Cornish hen and seared salmon fillet on flights from the U.S. to Europe.
The inflight wine list is also first-class, showcasing fine German Rieslings and global varieties like a velvety Malbec from Argentina. With meal services that can last over an hour when flying between continents, you have plenty of time to indulge in the entire wine selection.
As Anthony Bourdain once said, “great meals are meant to be shared with people you love.” One of the best parts of flying business class is being able to toast special occasions at 30,000 feet, without the typical restaurant markup. As one couple shared, they celebrated their 10th anniversary with a stellar flight in Lufthansa business class. With a four-course meal and free-flowing Dom Pérignon, it cost them just 70,000 miles instead of several thousand dollars.
Other travelers have taken advantage of business class upgrades on the way to milestone birthdays or bucket list trips. One family used miles to fly business class to Hawaii where they were meeting extended relatives for a reunion. Not only did they arrive well-rested and ready to start their vacation, but the dad said his two young kids were thrilled to dine like royalty on the plane. From enjoying their first glass of champagne to learning how to fold cloth napkins, it provided valuable cultural experiences and memories.
At the end of long international trips, Americans returning home often land with only a few hours to catch their connection. Upgrading to business class means you walk off the plane relaxed instead of dealing with jet lag. One anxious flyer explained she struggles to eat or sleep on long flights in coach. Flying business class for the first time on an award ticket was a total game changer. With a fully lie-flat seat, delicious food, and a welcome glass of wine, she was calm and energized to finish her journey.
Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Relax and Unwind with On-Board Entertainment Options
Remaining entertained on long-haul flights is essential for relaxing into travel. With lie-flat seats, you'll surely want to unwind comfortably after takeoff. Lufthansa provides a top-tier entertainment system to do just that without breaking focus from work or distracting others.
Each business class seat features a 15.6-inch touchscreen with more than 1,600 entertainment options ranging from recent blockbuster films to TV boxsets and music playlists. Noise-cancelling headphones ensure you can experience crisp surround sound without disturbing neighbors mid-flight. The screen easily pivots to either face your window seat or lie flush with your bed when fully-reclined.
Innovations like these entertainment systems make long-haul travel feel like a much shorter journey. One seasoned expat utilizes award flights at least monthly between London and Beijing. Thanks to lie-flat seats and the entertainment library, she reports the typical 9+ hour flight breezes by so quickly she feels well-rested upon arrival. Families traveling with children also appreciate the extensive kids programming helping little ones feel engaged for duration of the flight.
Lufthansa continuously updates its offerings, ensuring you'll never run out of new content options to explore. This proves a lifeline on marathon sectors exceeding 10 hours. Those new to business class often express surprise how motivated they feel to keep working after dining rather than crash from exhaustion as in economy. The ability stay productive while still unwinding with entertainment makes business class invaluable for intensive travel itineraries.
Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Get Comfortable and Catch Up on Work in a Spacious Seat
Getting comfortable and staying productive during long-haul flights is one of the biggest advantages of flying business class. With lie-flat seats around 6 feet long in Lufthansa's premium cabins, you have unprecedented workspace at 30,000 feet.
The ability to fully extend your legs while tapping away on a laptop or tablet makes all the difference to focus. I often find coaches seats painfully cramped even for basic tasks, leaving me stiff and sore by arrival—hardly primed for work meetings or sightseeing. However, in business class I feel I can bury into a project for hours without fatigue.
Just as importantly, the spacious seating allows separating work from unwinding seamlessly. One frequent business traveler shared he always blocks out the first hour post-meal in his business class seat for catching up on emails. With the lull of a full belly and freely reclined position, he finds this an excellent time for productivity while others rest. Yet flipping his screen shut pre-arrival allows a zen-like decompression before returning home.
For those who need daylight hours for focused tasks, Lufthansa thoughtfully added pull-down privacy partitions transforming the lie-flat seat into an office cubicle of sorts. I saw an entrepreneur skillfully utilizing this set up hybrid-working between meetings in Berlin andLondon. With files in the provided overhead bin within easy reach, her seamless work continued undisrupted by the long flight.
Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Earn Miles Quickly with Lufthansa Partners like United and Air Canada
Racking up enough miles for a business class reward on Lufthansa may seem daunting, but teaming up with its Star Alliance partners United and Air Canada makes fast progress possible. These programs offer bonuses and perks providing a clear runway to takeoff sooner.
For United MileagePlus, consider their co-branded credit cards from Chase which currently offer up to 75,000 bonus miles just for meeting minimum spend requirements. I regularly utilize the United Explorer Card which nets me a solid 40,000 bonus miles, free checked bags, and United Club day passes for a reasonable $95 annual fee.
The real mileage earnings potential comes from maximizing everyday spend. As a MileagePlus member, I earn bonus miles on every United flight plus at hotels, car rentals, grocery stores, dining and more. The miles add up shockingly fast, especially when transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards which boosts my account balance exponentially.
Over in Canada, Aeroplan has affordable mileage runs within North America to help you top up your account swiftly. Many savvy collectors take advantage of short haul routes like Vancouver-Kelowna or Ottawa-Montreal to meet special promo thresholds. Though the flights are short, you still earn the standard mileage plus frequent flyer perks.
Aeroplan also regularly offers bonuses for converting hotel points to miles. I once scored a 50% bonus when transferring my Marriott points, netting me an additional 15,000 free Aeroplan miles. Watch for transfer bonuses which make hotel stays tremendously more valuable.
The key to earning miles rapidly is stacking bonuses whenever possible. Think strategically about the credit card you use for everyday purchases and how to maximize loyalty programs with partners. For example, I earn United miles for Lyft rides and by shopping the MileagePlus X app.
Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Experience Five-Star Service from Trained Flight Attendants
Nothing quite compares to the luxe service provided by Lufthansa's highly-trained flight attendants working in the business class cabin. These professionals strive to anticipate travelers' every need in ways that simply do not occur farther back in the aircraft.
The level of attentiveness makes for a totally reimagined travel experience many report resembles fine private jet flying without exorbitant costs. Flight attendants glide discreetly up and down the slim corridors maintaining tidiness while also attending to passenger requests. One London-based executive remains a devoted Lufthansa customer purely due to this standard of care.
Pre-departure, cabin staff personally welcome all passengers by name after reviewing the manifest. Cold towels and a welcome glass of champagne or juice sets an indulgent tone. From there, these attentive individuals keep sleek trolleys stocked to satisfy every craving. Whether a simple coffee, ice water or multi-course meal, all arrive promptly without summoning.
In particular, hungry global nomads praise gourmet catering far surpassing alternatives. By enlisting celebrated chefs developing seasonal, sustainably-sourced creations, the bar elevates high. Acclaimed Italian, French and Asian bites never disappoint tastebuds. One food blogger now eagerly plans trips around Lufthansa routes if it means sampling the ever-changing menus.
Cultural Tito's and sodas also flow freely at high-altitudes, yet attentive staff ensure this plentiful offering never enables overindulgence. Discreet check-ins keep travelers on track arriving focused at destination. A harried father of three remains grateful for such care after countless long-haul family jaunts.
Live the High Life in the Sky: Experience Lufthansa Business Class Using Miles - Tour Iconic Cities in Luxury Before Arriving Back Home
Nothing quite beats arriving well-rested to enjoy every moment of your destination holidays. Thanks to generous business class lie-flat seats, you land feeling revived without hindrance from jet lag slowing exploration. Rather than collapsing upon touchdown, use the hours gained through quality rest aloft to maximise sightseeing opportunities starting immediately.
A couple originating in Seattle told how upgraded flying allowed immersing in London culture from early evening their arrival day. Riding the excitement boost from the airport lounge, they embarked on night strolls through sparkling Piccadilly Circus and the Strand fully present in the moment not longing for sleep. Even late dinners at historic gastropubs tasted divine without exhaustion setting in prematurely. By morning, the city already felt warmly familiar versus remaining a distant dream until overcoming jet lag the whole next day wasted away indoors.
A career diplomat forever flitting between Asian postings swears by business class for maximizing weekend trips back to rediscover favourite world cites. Disembarking bright-eyed Saturday, her entire Sundays freely unfolded soaking in destinations instead of languishing upon arrival. In Hong Kong she actively explored vibrant neighbourhoods like Sai Ying Pun or Sheung Wan during daylight hours gaining depth beyond skyscrapers. Throughout India, afternoons freely unfolded wandering beyond monuments deep into bustling alleys otherwise largely sleeping through thanks to a tardy start overcoming economy travel fatigue.
Student researchers likewise depend on business class efficiencies extending precious research trip durations. One scholar of Renaissance art scored a roundtrip Milan booking through UK miles returned refreshed Sunday evening rather than early Monday thus gaining that vital extra museum/archive morning enabling photographic record completion without scrambling.