Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®
- Annual Fee
- $89
- miles · Welcome Bonus
- 50,000
- Highest rate (conditional)
- Up to 2X (Lufthansa)
Terms checked against the issuer on November 5, 2026
At a Glance
- Annual Fee
- $89
- Foreign Transaction Fee
- $0
- Network
- Mastercard World Elite
- Rewards Currency
- Miles & More
- Point Valuation
- 1.3–1.3 cpp (mid: 1.3)
- Credit Required
- Excellent
Welcome Offer
50,000
miles
Spend $3,000 in the first 3 months
Earning Rates
- 2X
Lufthansa
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on Miles & More partner airline tickets
- 1X
All Other
1 mile per $1 on all other purchases
Benefits & Perks
Travel Benefits
3 perksGeneral Travel
Lounge Access
Elite Status
Lounge Access
Lounge access
Receive two complimentary Lufthansa Business Lounge Vouchers after each account anniversary.
Elite Status & Memberships
Fast track to top-tier perks
Achieve Miles & More status faster
Convert award miles earned on purchases into status. Once each calendar year, you can convert 5,000 to 25,000 award miles into Points and Qualifyi...
No foreign transaction fees
on international purchases.
Low Introductory APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening, then a variable 19.74% to 29.74% APR.
Redeem miles
You can redeem miles for flight awards and upgrades on Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Star Alliance Airlines and other par...
Program & Transfers
Miles & More
Miles & More (formerly Lufthansa Miles & More) is the frequent flyer program for Lufthansa, Swiss, and Austrian Airlines. With over 40 Star Alliance partners, M&M miles can be redeemed for award flights on a wide network. However, the program has significant drawbacks: no credit card transfer partners, high fuel surcharges on Lufthansa metal, and miles that expire every 3 years unless you maintain status. The real value comes from booking partner airlines (especially United and Air Canada) where surcharges are minimal and the fixed award chart provides predictability. There is no official U.S. credit card, though the Barclays Miles & More World Elite Mastercard is available to U.S. residents.
Program Ratings
Sweet Spots — Best Redemptions
| Route / Property | Points | Cabin/Type | Value / Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa First Class US to Europe | 91,000 | first | Transatlantic |
| Economy US to Europe on United or Air Canada Partner | 50,000 | economy | Transatlantic |
| Economy US to Hawaii on United Partner | 40,000 | economy | Pacific Islands |
| Business Class US to Oceania on Partner | 215,000 | business | Australia Nz |
| Business Class US to Southeast Asia on Partner | 215,000 | business | Asia |
| Business Class US to Japan or Korea on Partner | 175,000 | business | Asia |
| Economy US to Japan or Korea on Partner | 85,000 | economy | Asia |
| Intra-Europe Flights on Partners | 0 | economy | Intra Europe |
| Business Class US to Europe on United or Air Canada | 125,000 | business | Transatlantic |
| Business Class US to India on Partner | 215,000 | business | Middle East |
Reviews & Analysis
Third-Party Rankings & Ratings
| Publication | Rating | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PointsNav | #51 of 119 |
The Math: Is $89 Worth It?
First-year value includes $650.00 welcome bonus
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$0
Annual Fee
-$89
Net Annual Value
-$89
Details & Terms
Application Rules
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Barclay 6/24 | Barclay will deny you for a seventh card if you have opened six new personal cards in the past 24 months. |
| Barclay 0/6 | You're more likely to be declined on a Barclay application if you currently have a Barclay card that has not been used in the past 6 months |
Payment Terms
| Purchase APR | 19.74%–29.74% (Variable) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
FAQs
Can I transfer credit card points to Miles & More?
No. Miles & More has no transfer partnerships with major credit card programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, or Citi Thank You Points. The only way to earn miles through credit cards is with the Miles & More World Elite Mastercard by Barclays, which offers 2x miles on partner airlines and 1x on other purchases.
Do Miles & More miles expire?
Yes. Miles expire at the end of the quarter 36 months after they're earned. However, miles do not expire while you hold Frequent Traveller status or above, so consider maintaining status or keeping the Barclays credit card active if you plan to hold a balance.
Can I buy Miles & More miles?
No. Unlike most airline programs, you cannot purchase miles directly through Lufthansa. Your only options to earn are through flying on M&M carriers/Star Alliance partners, the Barclays credit card, or transfers from hotel/car rental partners.
What are the fuel surcharges like?
Lufthansa imposes some of the highest fuel surcharges in the industry—roughly €600-900 roundtrip for intercontinental first class. To avoid surcharges, book partner flights on United or Air Canada, which have minimal fees on North/South America and Oceania routes. The fixed partner award chart means surcharges are typically €100-300 roundtrip even on long-haul partner awards.
Do I need a minimum balance to search for awards?
Yes. You must have at least 7,000 miles in your account before you can search for award flight availability. This is a significant friction point compared to other major programs like United or American.
Has Miles & More switched to dynamic pricing?
As of June 3, 2025, yes—but only for flights on Lufthansa, Swiss, and Austrian. Partner airline awards still follow a fixed award chart, making partner awards significantly more predictable and often better value. The partner chart (roundtrip) is 50K economy US-Europe, 125K business US-Europe, 215K business US-Asia, and 330K first US-Asia.
Media & Resources
Card Design
Evidence Sources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| RewardsCC API | — | RewardsCC API |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Multiple card facts | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Multiple card facts | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Multiple card facts | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer | |
| Barclays | Barclays | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer |
Top brands for this card
Brands where this card's earn-rate structure makes it a strong choice. Open a brand for the full ranked list.
