Miles & More has three frequent flyer statuses, and in 2024 the way you reach them changed completely. Status miles are gone. Everything now runs on Points. A lot of the guides still floating around describe the old system, which is why so many people are confused about what their flying actually earns.
This guide covers how the current system works, what each status actually takes, and how to know exactly where you stand, including the traps that cost people their requalification every year.
What are the three Miles & More status tiers?
Miles & More has three status levels above base membership, each mapping to a Star Alliance tier:
Frequent Traveller is the entry status (Star Alliance Silver). Faster check-in, more baggage allowance, and lounge access on eligible departures. If you fly a handful of times a year and want the travel experience to feel noticeably different, this is the target.
Senator is the middle tier (Star Alliance Gold). Full lounge access across the Star Alliance network, priority boarding, a meaningful bonus mile multiplier, and a real shot at upgrades. Senator is the status most frequent flyers are actually chasing.
HON Circle Member is the top tier, with service usually reserved for First Class passengers: access to the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, limousine transfers, a personal assistant, and confirmed upgrades on Lufthansa flights. It is one of the hardest statuses to reach in European aviation. The numbers required are serious.
How does the Miles & More Points system work?
This is the part that changed in 2024 and it is worth getting right.
Status miles no longer exist. You now earn Points, and how many you earn no longer depends on distance. It depends on two things: your cabin, and whether the flight is continental or intercontinental.
There are three distinct point types, and the difference between them is where most people get caught out.
Points are earned on any Star Alliance flight. They count toward Frequent Traveller and Senator.
Qualifying Points are earned only on fully integrated Miles & More airlines: Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Luxair, Air Dolomiti, and ITA Airways. Frequent Traveller and Senator each require a minimum number of these.
HON Circle Points are earned exclusively in Business and First Class on Lufthansa Group airlines and fully integrated M&M partners. They are the sole currency for HON Circle Member status.
How many Points do you need for each Miles & More tier?
All thresholds are per calendar year (1 January to 31 December).
Frequent Traveller: 650 Points, of which 325 must be Qualifying Points
Senator: 2,000 Points, of which 1,000 must be Qualifying Points
HON Circle Member: 6,000 HON Circle Points
The dual requirement on Frequent Traveller and Senator is the detail that trips people up. You need to hit both numbers independently.
What counts toward Miles & More status?
Cabin and route type
Business and First Class earn the most points per flight and are the only cabins that earn HON Circle Points. Premium Economy sits between the two.
Booking class
Your booking class determines your earning rate, not just the cabin you sit in. A Business class ticket does not automatically earn at the Business class rate. The booking class code sets your Point earn rate independently of the seat you occupy. Some promotional fares earn zero status points entirely.
Before any flight you care about for status, check the booking class against the M&M earning table.
CO2 compensation packages
When you add a CO2-offsetting package to a flight, Miles & More credits additional Points and Qualifying Points on top of what the flight itself earns. The bonus scales with the proportion of the package allocated to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): up to a maximum of 80% additional Points and Qualifying Points.
The practical use case is year-end gap closing.
Zone classification surprises
Egypt counts as Europe. Turkey counts as Europe. Israel does not. If you are building a status strategy around specific routes, verify the zone classification before assuming.
Earning without flying
Marriott Bonvoy: earn 40 Points per two-night stay, capped at 120 Points per year.
What does not count
Credit card spend does not earn Status Points or Qualifying Points, only Award Miles.
How long does Miles & More status last?
Qualification runs on the calendar year. Once you reach a status, you keep it for the rest of that year plus the following year, with the card valid until the end of February of the year after next.
Why do people miss Miles & More requalification at year-end?
Most people who miss a requalification miss it in the last six weeks of the year. Status Points are credited on the flight date, not the booking date.
If you can see in November that you are going to fall short, you have a narrow window: a short-haul flight in a strong booking class on a qualifying carrier, CO2 package additions to planned flights, or a Marriott stay if you have not used the annual cap yet.
How do you track Miles & More status progress?
The official M&M portal shows your point totals, but it does not tell you what those numbers mean for the rest of your year.
MileHunter tracks all three point types separately, shows exactly how far you are from each status, and lets you model scenarios: what happens if a flight does not count, what a CO2 package would add, how a route change affects your year-end position.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many statuses does Miles & More have? Three: Frequent Traveller, Senator, and HON Circle Member, mapping to Star Alliance Silver, Gold, and the top Lufthansa Group tier.
Do status miles still exist? No. Since January 2024, Miles & More runs entirely on Points, Qualifying Points, and HON Circle Points. Status miles were retired.
What is the difference between Points and Qualifying Points? Points come from any Star Alliance flight. Qualifying Points come only from fully integrated Miles & More airlines. Each status has a minimum for both.
How long does Miles & More status last? You keep it for the rest of the year you qualify in, plus the following year, with the card valid until the end of February of the year after that.
Which status is worth aiming for? For most people, Senator is the sweet spot: Star Alliance Gold with full lounge access across the network.
Questions, or something I got wrong? Reach me at hello@salnova.ch.
Florian