As the largest airline alliance in the world, Star Alliance offers an impressive range of frequent flyer programmes, each tailored to different types of travellers and regions. From the vast network of United Airlines in North America to the premium service of Singapore Airlines in Asia, choosing the right Star Alliance programme can gain you status and premium travel faster. In this article, we’ll review the best Star Alliance frequent flyer programmes – United MileagePlus, Lufthansa Miles & More, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. We’ll explore the ease of obtaining elite status, the typical costs involved, and the overall value of each programme when it comes to redeeming points for premium travel. Whether you’re looking to switch or just beginning your journey to elite status, this guide will help you navigate the best options available within Star Alliance.
United MileagePlus
How easy is it to obtain status with lounge access?
United MileagePlus offers three elite tiers that include lounge access: Premier Gold (Star Alliance Gold), Premier Platinum (Star Alliance Gold), and Premier 1K (Star Alliance Gold). To achieve Premier Gold, which grants lounge access, you need 24 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and 8 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) in a calendar year, or 32 PQPs if you don’t meet the flight requirement. This is relatively attainable with regular domestic and international travel in premium cabins.
How much would it typically cost to obtain this tier?
Achieving Premier Gold status would typically cost between $4,000 to $6,000, depending on the routes and fare classes chosen. For example, a couple of round-trip international business class flights could get you close to the required PQPs, especially if you choose higher fare classes.
How easy is it to redeem points for business and first class?
United MileagePlus is known for its extensive availability of award seats, particularly on United-operated flights. Star Alliance partners also offer good availability, though popular routes and peak travel times can still be competitive. United’s lack of fuel surcharges makes redeeming miles for business and first class especially appealing, though some awards can require a high number of miles.
Do points expire? If so, how long?
United MileagePlus miles do not expire, offering great flexibility for those who may not travel frequently but want to save up miles over time.
Where in the world is it best to be based to take advantage of MileagePlus?
The MileagePlus programme is most advantageous for travellers based in the United States, particularly near United hubs like Chicago O’Hare, Newark, Denver, and Houston.
Who is the MileagePlus programme best for?
This programme is ideal for frequent flyers in the U.S. who value a robust network of domestic and international routes, as well as easy access to award flights with no fuel surcharges. It’s also great for those who prefer miles that don’t expire.
Who is the MileagePlus programme worst for?
It’s less suitable for travellers based outside the U.S., where United’s network is less extensive, and for those who don’t frequently fly premium cabins, as reaching status with lounge access could be challenging.
Are there other ways to earn points, such as a credit card?
Yes, United MileagePlus members can earn miles through several co-branded credit cards offered by Chase, such as the United Explorer Card and the United Club Card. These cards offer significant sign-up bonuses, earn miles on everyday purchases, and provide additional benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding. Additionally, miles can be earned through hotel stays, car rentals, and shopping with United’s MileagePlus Shopping portal.
Lufthansa Miles & More
How easy is it to obtain status with lounge access?
Lufthansa’s Miles & More programme offers two elite tiers with Star Alliance Gold status and lounge access: Frequent Traveller (Star Alliance Silver, no lounge access) and Senator (Star Alliance Gold). To achieve Senator status, you need 100,000 status miles within a calendar year, which can be challenging but is possible with frequent international travel or premium cabin bookings.
How much would it typically cost to obtain this tier?
Earning Senator status typically costs between €7,000 and €10,000, depending on the routes and fare classes. Long-haul business and first-class flights contribute significantly to the required status miles, making this tier more accessible for frequent premium travellers.
How easy is it to redeem points for business and first class?
Redeeming Miles & More points for business and first class can be difficult due to limited award availability, especially on Lufthansa-operated flights. Booking well in advance or being flexible with travel dates is crucial. Additionally, high taxes and surcharges can make redemptions less appealing compared to other programmes.
Do points expire? If so, how long?
Miles & More points expire after 36 months, regardless of account activity, unless you hold elite status or have a Miles & More credit card, which can prevent expiry.
Where in the world is it best to be based to take advantage of the Miles & More programme?
The Miles & More programme is most advantageous for travellers based in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, or Belgium, where Lufthansa and its subsidiaries dominate the market and offer extensive domestic and international routes.
Who is the Miles & More programme best for?
This programme is ideal for frequent travellers based in Europe, particularly those flying regularly with Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, or Brussels Airlines. It’s also beneficial for those who value access to Lufthansa’s premium lounges.
Who is the Miles & More programme worst for?
It’s less suitable for occasional travellers or those who primarily fly economy, as earning status can be difficult. Additionally, the high surcharges on award tickets make it less attractive for cost-conscious travellers.
Are there other ways to earn points, such as a credit card?
Yes, Miles & More members can earn points through a variety of co-branded credit cards, especially in Europe. These cards, such as the Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite Mastercard, offer sign-up bonuses, earn miles on everyday purchases, and can prevent miles from expiring. Additionally, points can be accumulated through hotel stays, car rentals, and shopping with Lufthansa’s partner network.
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
How easy is it to obtain status with lounge access?
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer offers two main elite tiers with Star Alliance Gold status and lounge access: KrisFlyer Elite Gold (Star Alliance Gold) and PPS Club (Star Alliance Gold with additional perks). To achieve KrisFlyer Elite Gold, you need 50,000 Elite miles in a membership year, which is moderately challenging but achievable with regular international travel, especially in premium cabins.
How much would it typically cost to obtain this tier?
Achieving KrisFlyer Elite Gold status would typically cost between SGD $7,000 and $10,000, depending on the routes and fare classes. Frequent long-haul flights in business or first class can significantly boost your mileage earnings, making it easier to reach this tier.
How easy is it to redeem points for business and first class?
KrisFlyer is renowned for its excellent availability of award seats in business and first class on Singapore Airlines, particularly if you book well in advance. However, KrisFlyer does have a dynamic pricing model, so redemption costs can vary. Partner awards across Star Alliance also offer good availability, though popular routes can be competitive.
Do points expire? If so, how long?
KrisFlyer miles expire 36 months after they are earned, with no option to extend or prevent expiry, even with account activity.
Where in the world is it best to be based to take advantage of the KrisFlyer?
The KrisFlyer programme is most advantageous for travellers based in Singapore or Southeast Asia, where Singapore Airlines has a strong presence and offers extensive international routes.
Who is the KrisFlyer programme best for?
This programme is ideal for frequent international travellers, particularly those based in Southeast Asia who regularly fly with Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance partners. It’s also excellent for those who value access to Singapore Airlines’ premium cabins and lounges.
Who is the Krisflyer programme worst for?
It’s less suitable for infrequent travellers, as the mileage expiration policy is strict. Additionally, travellers based outside Southeast Asia may find it harder to earn status and redeem miles effectively.
Are there other ways to earn points, such as a credit card?
Yes, KrisFlyer members can earn miles through a variety of co-branded credit cards available in Singapore and other countries, such as the American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card. These cards offer generous sign-up bonuses and earn miles on everyday purchases. Additionally, KrisFlyer miles can be earned through hotel stays, car rentals, and shopping with Singapore Airlines’ extensive network of partners.
What about the others that didn’t make the top 3?
With 25 member airlines, we had to do a lot of research to determine the best Star Alliance frequent flyer programmes. While United MileagePlus, Lufthansa Miles & More, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer are among the most popular and accessible within the Star Alliance network, there are several other noteworthy programmes. For example, the ANA Mileage Club offers great value for award redemptions, particularly in business and first class, though it has more complex mileage earning requirements. The Air Canada Aeroplan programme has undergone significant improvements, making it a strong contender with a generous award chart and no fuel surcharges on many partners. However, Aeroplan’s complex routing rules and high earning thresholds kept it out of the top three. Additionally, smaller programmes like Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus offer niche advantages but lack the global reach and versatility of the top three programmes.
What’s the worst Star Alliance programme?
TAP Air Portugal’s Miles&Go programme is often seen as one of the weaker options within Star Alliance. While TAP has improved its network and modernised its fleet, the frequent flyer programme suffers from high redemption costs, particularly on long-haul routes, with hefty fuel surcharges and fees that reduce the value of miles, especially for premium cabins. Award availability can be limited, requiring flexible planning. Additionally, low earning rates, particularly in lower fare classes, make it difficult for economy flyers to accumulate miles quickly. Frequent changes to the programme’s rules and a complex tier structure further diminish its appeal for many travellers.
A little mention for Aegean Miles & Bonus
Aegean Airlines is a smaller carrier within Star Alliance, primarily serving Greece and nearby regions, which limits its global reach compared to larger airlines like United, Lufthansa, or Singapore Airlines. While it offers excellent service for those based in Europe, its appeal fades for frequent flyers needing seamless intercontinental travel. Additionally, while Aegean’s Miles+Bonus programme provides an easy path to gold status, redemption opportunities, especially on long-haul premium routes, can be less competitive. This makes it harder for members to maximise their miles for high-value redemptions in business or first class. Needing to take 4 Aegean flights per year can also be a major barrier for those trying to retain elite status.
Aegean also applies fairly high taxes and fees on points redemptions, particularly for long-haul flights, reducing the overall value of miles. As for lounges, while gold gets you access to Star Alliance facilities, the Aegean-run lounges are limited in both number and quality compared to the likes of Lufthansa or Singapore Airlines. For premium cabin flyers, Aegean’s earning rates aren’t especially generous, offering fewer rewards compared to larger programmes.
BG1 Verdict
After comparing the best Star Alliance frequent flyer programmes, it’s clear that each has its strengths depending on your location and travel habits. United MileagePlus is best for those based in the U.S. who value a wide network and no mileage expiration. Lufthansa Miles & More is ideal for European travellers who frequently fly with Lufthansa and its subsidiaries, despite high surcharges on award tickets. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer excels for those in Southeast Asia who appreciate the quality of Singapore Airlines’ premium cabins and extensive partner network. Overall, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer emerges as the top Star Alliance programme due to its excellent award availability, strong regional presence, and premium service offerings, making it the best choice for frequent international travellers, particularly those based in Southeast Asia.
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