With more and more routes being operated Eurowings instead of Lufthansa, earning miles on European flights can be a challenge. Unlike its parent company Lufthansa, the low-cost airline is not a member of the Star Alliance. Nevertheless, it is possible to earn miles with some frequent flyer programs. We’ll show you where you can best earn and redeem miles, and even enjoy status benefits, on Eurowings flights.
Miles&More
Miles&More is the frequent flyer program of the Lufthansa Group. While Eurowings previously had its own program, the Boomerang Club, the Lufthansa subsidiary has since been integrated into Miles&More.
Award Miles
Just like the rest of the Lufthansa Group, you’ll receive award miles with Miles&More for Eurowings flights, depending on the fare. Members without status receive 4 miles per euro spent, status members receive 5 miles per euro. If the ticket does not have a Lufthansa (220), Swiss (724), Austrian Airlines (257), Brussels (082) or Air Dolomiti (101) ticket number or was issued directly by Eurowings, you will receive a flat mileage credit depending on the booking class.
| Travel Class | Booking Class | Miles for Domestic Flights | Miles for International Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIZ-Class | J | 1,500 | 2,000 |
| BIZ-Class | D | 1,000 | 1,250 |
| Smart/Basic Fare | I | 1,000 | 1,250 |
| Smart/Basic Fare | B, C, M, Q, Y | 500 | 750 |
| Smart/Basic Fare | W, S | 250 | 750 |
| Smart/Basic Fare | G, K, L, T, X | 250 | 500 |
| Smart/Basic Fare | E, F, N, O, R, V | 125 | 125 |
Qualifying Points and HON Circle Points
Since the restructuring of the Miles&More status program in 2024, status credit is granted in the form of Points, Qualifying Points, and HON Circle Points, based on the travel class. As a member of the Lufthansa Group, you automatically collect Qualifying Points (QP), and in BIZ-Class also HON Circle Points (HP).
| Basic/Smart Fare | BIZ-Class | |
|---|---|---|
| Continental Flights | 20 QP | 40 HP |
| Intercontinental Flights | 60 QP | 200 HP |
Therefore, you can collect the required 325 or 1,000 Qualifying Points with Eurowings flights to achieve Frequent Traveler or Senator status. If you are still missing Points, Qualifying Points, or HON Circle Points, take a look at our guide to the Sweet Spots for Miles&More status.
Redeeming Miles for Eurowings Flights
You can redeem miles for Eurowings flights (in the Smart Fare or BIZ-Class) as part of the normal flight award chart. A combination of Star Alliance and Eurowings flights is also possible in one booking. The surcharges for Eurowings are relatively low.
In addition, you can also book Eurowings award flights via the Eurowings website. Here you have the option of booking the Basic fare for a reduced mileage amount. In addition, the award chart for Eurowings differentiates between prices, domestic flights and intercontinental connections. As a result, Eurowings connections to the Middle East or North Africa are cheaper than those with Miles&More partner airlines (eg. Miles&More 35,000 miles in Business Class). However, you have to accept significant comfort losses on most routes, at least in business class.
The miles expire after 36 months unless you have status or a Miles&More credit card.
Status Benefits with a Stored Miles&More Number
HON Circle members and Senators also receive lounge access, regardless of the fare they are traveling in, as long as Eurowings has a partner lounge at the respective airport. Frequent Travellers receive access to the Lufthansa Group’s Business Lounges in the Smart fare and BIZ-Class.
United Airlines MileagePlus
The Lufthansa Group has a comprehensive partnership with United Airlines, that goes beyond alliance-related cooperation. The US airline is one of the few Star Alliance member airlines whose frequent flyers can also earn miles on Eurowings flights.
Award Miles
Probably the most attractive partner program of Eurowings for earning miles is United Airlines MileagePlus. There you get just as many or more award miles in most booking classes than with any other program.
| Travel Class | Booking Class | Mileage Credit (by Distance) |
|---|---|---|
| BIZ-Class | D, J | 200% |
| Smart Flex Fare | I | 150% |
| Basic/Smart Fare | C, H, Q, Y, B, M, W, S | 100% |
| Reduced Basic/Smart Fare | G, K, L, T, X | 75% |
| Heavily Reduced Basic/Smart Fare | V, F, O, R, E, N | 50% |
Premier Qualifying Points
Since Eurowings is listed as a Preferred Partner with United, you will receive 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) for every 5 award miles. This results in the following distance-based PQP credit:
| Travel Class | Booking Class | PQP Credit (by Distance) |
|---|---|---|
| BIZ-Class | D, J | 40% |
| Smart Flex Fare | I | 30% |
| Basic/Smart Fare | C, H, Q, Y, B, M, W, S | 20% |
| Reduced Basic/Smart Fare | G, K, L, T, X | 15% |
| Heavily Reduced Basic/Smart Fare | V, F, O, R, E, N | 10% |
Redeeming Miles for Eurowings Flights
You can also redeem miles on Eurowings flights, also in combinations with other Star Alliance airlines. Economy flights within Europe are very attractive from 8,000 miles per direction. Flights in BIZ-Class or to North Africa or the Middle East are much more attractive in relation to Miles&More or directly via Eurowings.
The miles expire if you have no activity on your MileagePlus account for 18 months. Just like with Aeroplan below, earning or redeeming just one mile is enough to extend the validity of all collected miles for another 18 months.
Status Benefits with a Stored MileagePlus Number
As a United Premier Gold, Platinum or 1k, you get access to Lufthansa lounges, even in the Basic fare. Access to partner lounges is not possible, unlike for Senators or HON Circle Members.
Air Canada Aeroplan
The second airline partner outside the Lufthansa Group, that allows earning and redeeming miles on and for Eurowings flights, is Air Canada Aeroplan,. As part of the transatlantic agreement between the Lufthansa Group, United Airlines and Air Canada, Eurowings tickets can also be booked as feeders to Air Canada long-haul routes.
Award Miles
The mileage credit for Eurowings flights with Aeroplan is similarly generous as with MileagePlus. Only in business class do you get fewer miles compared to the North American partner. However, the basic redemption options are more attractive than with United Airlines.
| Travel Class | Booking Class | Aeroplan Miles (by Distance) |
|---|---|---|
| BIZ-Class | J | 150% |
| BIZ-Class | D | 125% |
| Smart Flex Fare | I | 125% |
| Basic/Smart Fare | Y, B, M, H, Q, C | 100% |
| Reduced Basic/Smart Fare | W, S, G, K, L, T, X | 75% |
| Heavily Reduced Basic/Smart Fare | N, E, F, O, R, V | 50% |
Status Qualifying Miles (SQM)
Even if you are aiming for a status with Aeroplan, you can achieve this through Eurowings flights. The Status Qualifying Miles are credited according to the same scheme as the award miles. To what extent the then mostly shorter routes of Eurowings make a decisive contribution depends very much on the individual case.
| Travel Class | Booking Class | Status Qualifying Miles (by Distance) |
|---|---|---|
| BIZ-Class | J | 150% |
| BIZ-Class | D | 125% |
| Smart Flex Fare | I | 125% |
| Basic/Smart Fare | Y, B, M, H, Q, C | 100% |
| Reduced Basic/Smart Fare | W, S, G, K, L, T, X | 75% |
| Heavily Reduced Basic/Smart Fare | N, E, F, O, R, V | 50% |
Redeeming Aeroplan Miles for Eurowings Flights
Meanwhile, you can also redeem miles for flights with Eurowings. Prices here start at 7,500 miles plus surcharges for a domestic flight according to the award chart for the Atlantic zone. Although Aeroplan does not pass on airline surcharges, you have to pay a partner booking fee of CA$39 (~€24) per ticket. Since the surcharges at Eurowings are lower than at the other Lufthansa Group airlines anyway, you even pay more here in surcharges than with Miles&More.
After 12 months without activity, miles expire at Aeroplan. However, a single activity, i.e. the collection or redemption of at least one mile, is easy to achieve. Thus, it is much easier to hoard the miles permanently without status. Overall, Aeroplan has some attractive redemption options.
Status Benefits with a Stored Aeroplan Number
Also as an Air Canada frequent flyer with a 50K, 75K or Super Elite status, you get access to Lufthansa (group) lounges, even in the Basic fare. Access to partner lounges is not possible, unlike for Senators or HON Circle Members.
ANA Mileage Club
The last option to credit miles for flights with Eurowings is the ANA Mileage Club. However, this is the least attractive credit option. This is due, among other things, to the fact that you can only earn award miles and not status miles.
Award Miles
But also the award miles yield is less attractive for a credit of a Eurowings flight with the ANA Mileage Club. Compared to United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan, you get proportionally the least in the cheapest booking classes. But also in BIZ-Class you get the least credit with the frequent flyer program of ANA.
| Travel Class | Booking Class | Mileage Credit (by Distance) |
|---|---|---|
| BIZ-Class | D, J | 125% |
| Smart Flex Fare | I | 100% |
| Basic/Smart Fare | B, C, H, M, Q, S, W, Y | 70% |
| Reduced Basic/Smart Fare | G, K, L, T, X | 50% |
| Heavily Reduced Basic/Smart Fare | E, F, N, O, R, V | 30% |
Redeeming ANA Miles for Eurowings Flights
In principle, the ANA miles should also be redeemable for Eurowings flights according to the normal values for partner airlines. That would be 30,000 miles for Zone 7, which includes Europe, for at least two segments. With the ANA Mileage Club you cannot book simple one-way flights. Thus, 15,000 miles per direction results as the price. However, you have to get Eurowings flights displayed first, unfortunately not a single Eurowings flight could be found online. At least the collected miles expire only after 36 months.
Status Benefits with a Stored Mileage Club Number
At least as a Platinum and Diamond member of the ANA Mileage Club you also get access to Lufthansa lounges on Eurowings flights. Also here you do not get access to partner lounges before departure, if it is not included in the booked travel class.
Conclusion
Depending on your profile and priorities, it can make sense to credit your Eurowings flights to other programs. United Airlines MileagePlus is the most attractive in terms of pure values. Overall, however, I see Aeroplan from Air Canada as the ideal option, thanks to the more attractive redemption options and similarly high status requirements, if you do not want to collect with Miles&More. The frequent flyer program of the Lufthansa Group should ultimately be the easiest and most attractive option for the German (frequent) flyers.
For a better overview of the individual possibilities, we have compiled all the information for you as a table:
| Air Canada Aeroplan | ANA Mileage Club | Miles&More | United Airlines Mileage Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award Miles | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Status Miles | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Redeem | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Status Benefits | Lufthansa Lounges | Lufthansa Lounges | all Lounges* | Lufthansa Lounges |
| Miles Expiration | 12 Months | 36 Months | 36 Months | No |
A good way to quickly check how many miles you receive in your booking class is our miles and status calculator to what extent you can already achieve a status.
Mileage Calculator
Status Calculator
We have also explained the topic of lounge access on Eurowings flights in detail for you in another article:
Translated by Carlos