How to Fly Lufthansa First Class Using Points & Miles

This is how I flew first class in a lie-flat seat for 20 hours, got driven to the aircraft in a Porsche (wild, right?), and was offered caviar 40,000 feet in the air (which I politely declined because, vegetarian life). Lufthansa First Class has been on my bucket list for years, especially because it’s one of the best deals out there if you can find availability using points. If it’s on your bucket list too, this post will walk you through exactly how I booked Lufthansa First Class and how you can do it too!

When can you book Lufthansa first class

Lufthansa award flights are typically released to partner airlines within a few days of departure. Unless you’re sitting on a pile of Miles and More points (Lufthansa’s loyalty program), you’ll need to be flexible with your travel plans and be prepared to book your ticket at the last minute. Don’t worry you don’t need to have Lufthansa miles to snag a first class ticket.

But here’s the thing: just because first-class seats are still available last minute doesn’t mean Lufthansa will release first class awards. I learned this the hard way a few years ago when I kept seeing first-class seats on Google Flights up to the day of departure but couldn’t find them available to book with points. I was so confident I’d be flying a first class flight home but I ended up snagging a last-minute seat in Lufthansa Business Class instead. Not a bad consolation prize!

How to Book Lufthansa First Class: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s get into it. I promise to keep this as straightforward as possible because I know how overwhelming points and miles can be. You shouldn’t finish reading this and think, Wait… how do I actually do this? Or you know, slam your laptop closed in frustration. 

This is the exact process I used to book both of my Lufthansa First Class flights. You’ll see me mention a tool called seats.aero a lot in this post. This post is by no means sponsored by or affiliated with them in any way. I just seriously love using this tool and think it is the easiest way to book Lufthansa’s first class. 

Step 1: Know Your Booking Options

As Lufthansa is a member of Star Alliance, you can find and book availability through Star Alliance partners. 

There are three main ways to book Lufthansa First Class: Avianca LifeMiles, Aeroplan Points, and United MileagePlus. However, United isn’t one of the best ways unless you’re sitting on a ton of United points you’re dying to use. For example, a Boston to Frankfurt flight costs 90K points on Aeroplan but a whopping 140K on United, so let’s just cross United Airlines off the list

That leaves LifeMiles and Aeroplan. So which one will you book through? Well, it depends on which route you are flying. 

You’ll do your research to know more in the next step.

For now, ensure you have a credit card that is a transfer partner to Aeroplan and/or LifeMiles to keep your options open. 

In addition to co-branded airline credit cards, here are your options for credit card points that all transfer 1:1.

Step 2: Time to do some research 

For this step, you’ll need to create an account on Seats.aero. There’s a free version and a $9.99/month premium version. While you don’t technically need the paid account, I highly recommend it, especially for step three. I use this tool all the time, and it’s worth every penny for how much time it saves me when searching for award redemptions. Yes, I am a tiny bit obsessed with it.

Quick disclaimer: If you’re new to points and miles, keep in mind that Seats.aero doesn’t show every single redemption opportunity. You’ll still need to double-check availability directly with airlines. But for the purpose of booking Lufthansa First Class, this tool will get you most of the way there.

Once you’re signed up, navigate to Tools > Lufthansa First Class Finder.

This chart is a game changer for tracking first class award availability. While it doesn’t show LifeMiles availability and only lists United and Aeroplan, that’s fine because we’re just using it to identify which routes are open. You’re always going to confirm directly with Aeroplan and/or LifeMiles anyways.

My Research Process

At the time of writing, I saw Lufthansa First Class award availability pop up as early as four days before departure. While flights are typically released within 72 hours of departure, it’s worth checking up to a week in advance just in case.

So, how did I use this tool to book two Lufthansa First Class flights (Bangalore to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to New York) for my husband and me? I became best friends with this award chart.

For about a month leading up to our trip, I checked the chart regularly to spot trends. My goal was to see how frequently availability opened up for flights from India to Germany and Germany to the United States. While availability typically opens only a few days before departure, this exercise helped me figure out:

• Which routes had the most frequent openings: I noticed BLR to FRA appeared every few days, while DEL to MUC popped up less often.
• Which US cities were most common: FRA to JFK, BOS, and ORD showed availability nearly every day.

This gave me confidence that a flight may open up. Plus, I didn’t mind which US city we flew into as I planned to book a repositioning flight to CLT anyway. I was even open to flying to any city in North America if I had to. 

Of course, there’s no guarantee the exact route you want will open, but tracking availability trends is especially helpful if you’re flexible with your departure or destination airports. My research helped me convince my husband that it was okay that we didn’t have return tickets home from India. I also reminded him that in our wedding vows he promised to trust me on all things points/miles. 

Deciding Between Aeroplan and LifeMiles

When my dates got closer, I knew exactly which flights to watch for and which program (Aeroplan or LifeMiles) to use to get the best value. For example:

• BLR to FRA: Booked with LifeMiles (60,000 miles one-way per person).
• FRA to JFK: Booked with Aeroplan (90,000 points miles one-way per person).

Once you’ve pinpointed your preferred routes, check Aeroplan and LifeMiles to confirm the points/miles required and to see how much the fuel surcharges will be. The good thing about both programs is that the fuel surcharges are usually very reasonable. This preparation ensures you’re ready to act quickly when availability opens.

Now that you’ve got a handle on your research, let’s move to the next step.

Step 3: Set Up Alerts to Save Time

This step requires a small investment, but trust me it’s worth it. For just $9.99/month, a premium Seats.aero membership will save you from refreshing Aeroplan and LifeMiles around the clock. Instead, you’ll get notifications as soon as availability opens up. 

Why Alerts Are Game-Changers

One of the best features of Seats.aero is its customizable alerts. With a premium account, you can also receive instant SMS notifications, while the free version only offers email alerts. I personally recommend the SMS option. It’s faster, more reliable, and ensures you don’t miss availability for your flight. 

How to Set Up Alerts

1. Navigate to Alerts: Log into your Seats.aero account and go to Alerts > Create Alert.

2. Choose Notification Type: Select either SMS (pro account only) or email (this is selected by default). I strongly recommend SMS so you can make sure you don’t miss the alert. 

3. Fill Out Alert Details:
   1. Enter your desired route(s) and date range
   2. Add Aeroplan and United as programs to track availability (even if you plan to book with LifeMiles. This is just so you can see when a flight is available)

4. Use Advanced Filters (Pro Only):
   1. Set the minimum number of first class seats you need
   2. Select Lufthansa as the operating airline to narrow results

Repeat this process for each route you want to monitor. For example, I set up separate alerts for the India-Germany and Germany-USA legs of my trip.

Pro Tip: If your travel date and destinations are flexible, you can skip setting up alerts and use the availability chart from Step 2 instead. But for specific dates and routes, alerts are a game changer.

Step 4: Be Prepared for When Availability Opens

Now that your alerts are set, it’s time to get ready for booking day. Here’s how to make sure you’re fully prepared to act quickly when availability opens up:

1. Confirm Your Alerts
If you’re feeling anxious, double-check your alerts by navigating to Manage Alerts on Seats.aero. This ensures everything is set up correctly so you don’t miss any notifications.

2. Avoid Preemptively Transferring Points

It might be tempting to transfer points ahead of time, but resist the urge. Points transferred to LifeMiles or Aeroplan cannot be reversed, so only transfer once you’ve confirmed availability.

3. Have Everything Ready
Time is of the essence when availability opens up, so make sure you’re prepared:

• Miles and Credit Card: Ensure you have enough points and that your credit card can transfer to LifeMiles or Aeroplan
• Necessary Documents: Have your passport and other booking details on hand
• Accounts Set Up: If this is your first time using Aeroplan or LifeMiles, create accounts in advance and familiarize yourself with the booking process

Pro Tip: Do a few test searches on both platforms to avoid surprises on booking day. While LifeMiles can be a frustrating website, the redemptions are worth the hassle.

4. Know Your Booking Platform
By now, you should have an idea of whether Aeroplan or LifeMiles will give you the best redemption value for your route. Refer back to Step 2 if you’re unsure.

Here’s an example comparing the same flight on both platforms to illustrate the difference:

Air Canada Aeroplan example

Lifemiles example

This step ensures you’re ready to act quickly when your alert comes through, minimizing stress and maximizing your chances of scoring the flight.

Step 5: Transfer your points and book

You just got the alert! Woohoo. Now stay calm and let’s book this thing.

1. Confirm Availability
Before transferring points, double-check that the availability still exists through either LifeMiles or Aeroplan, depending on the program you’re using.

2. Transfer Points to the Correct Platform

Once you’ve confirmed availability, transfer your points to the correct program. Remember, transfers are irreversible, so only do this after you’ve verified the award space.

3. Be Patient While Points Transfer

Most transfers to both LifeMiles and Aeroplan are instantaneous but things can always happen and transfers could take a little longer than expected. If you’re an experienced award ticket booker, you know the drill, maybe grab a drink to help with those nerves. 

4. Book Your Flight
As soon as the points appear in your account, book the flight immediately. Don’t wait because you never know who else is trying to jump on that flight and availability can disappear quickly. 

Celebrate Your Booking!

You’ve officially booked your Lufthansa First-Class ticket! If this guide helped you snag your ticket, please leave a comment and share your experience. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’d love to help!

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