While opinions on the changes to the Miles&More award chart in early June are divided, Miles&More has now announced a change that is clearly positive: the Companion Award is now also applicable to partner airlines. Senators and HON Circle Members now receive a 50% discount on the second mileage ticket.
However, this option isn’t entirely new. The discount has been applied online for over a month already, though it was previously assumed to be an IT glitch. Miles&More has now confirmed in a video call with several mileage blogs that this change is here to stay.
Unfortunately, Miles&More has once again revised their statement from the mentioned call and is now speaking of an official transitional arrangement. As of now, there is no time limit, but also no permanent guarantee! To the updated article
Table of Contents
What is the Companion Award?
The Companion Award refers to a 50% discount on the mileage price (with full taxes and fees) for the companion of a Senator or HON Circle Member on award flights. To benefit from the discount, the Senator must travel on the same route and in the same class as their companion. Until now, the Companion Award only applied to fully integrated Miles&More partner airlines:
- Air Dolomiti
- Austrian Airlines
- Brussels Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- Discover Airlines
- Eurowings
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Lufthansa City Airlines
- Luxair
- Swiss
How Does This Affect Prices?
From now on, the Companion Award can also be used permanently with all other airlines bookable via Miles&More, for Lufthansa’s top-tier customers. This has the advantage that flights with partner airlines under the new award chart, when booked for two people (one of whom is SEN/HON), are now only slightly more expensive—or even cheaper—than before the increase.
The following prices reflect the total for two travellers in Business Class (one-way):
- Europe – North America: 112,000 miles (previously) ⇒ 93,750 miles (–16%)
- (e.g., with Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, or United)
- Europe – North & Central Africa and Middle East: 70,000 miles (previously) ⇒ 56,250 miles (–20%)
- (e.g., with EgyptAir or Ethiopian Airlines)
- Europe – Southeast Asia: 142,000 miles (previously) ⇒ 150,000 miles (+6%)
- (e.g., with Singapore Airlines or Thai Airways)
- Europe – Oceania: 195,000 miles (previously) ⇒ 161,250 miles (–17%)
- (e.g., with Singapore Airlines, ANA, Air New Zealand, or United)
Taxes and fees are added on top, which can amount to several hundred euros per person, depending on the route. Compared to the old award chart, you can now save up to 20%. Even the steep increase of over 40% on flights from Europe to Southeast Asia can now be softened to just 6% thanks to the Companion Award for partner airlines, provided you have the relevant status and are travelling as a pair.
The partner airlines also offer the big advantage of significantly lower surcharges compared to Lufthansa, Austrian, and Swiss. So even if you use a few more miles, flights with partner airlines can be worthwhile. Another major benefit: all tickets can be rebooked or cancelled for just €50.
Conclusion
Even though the change to the Companion Award may only affect a small portion of Miles&More members, it helps top-tier customers better cope with the recent devaluation. Many business travellers with status have likely used their miles for award flights with partners or family. Now, they are no longer dependent on Lufthansa Group’s dynamic and often high dynamic mileage rates and can benefit from better onboard products on most routes.
Translated by Ditmar
Cover Picture: United Polaris business seat | Ditmar Lange
Comments (3)
Do you know if the rule applies to RTW tickets? Thanks!!
It’s actually been available since early this year. I booked a couple of ET flights in January where this got applied.
Yeah, but Miles&More now confirmed that this is not a temporary glitch but a feature that’s set to stay indefinitely.