Miles-and-More Status Runs in 2026
Looking for the best Miles & More status run opportunities? This guide explains how the new Lufthansa status system works and highlights some of the most efficient routes to earn Points and Qualifying Points in 2026.
Updated June 2026
Quick Summary
- Business Class status runs are now far more attractive than before.
- Flight distance no longer matters — only cabin class and continent rules.
- Short intercontinental flights can offer exceptional value.
- Some routes earn up to 800 Points with minimal flight time.
Since January 1, 2024, Lufthansa completely changed the Miles & More status system. Instead of earning status primarily through expensive fare classes, the new program awards Points based mainly on your travel class and whether your flight is continental or intercontinental.
This makes strategic status runs significantly easier and, in many cases, cheaper than before.
- How to earn a status with Miles & More
- Continental vs Intercontinental flights
- Best ways to earn Qualifying Points
- Best ways to earn non-Qualifying Points
- Bottom Line
How to earn a status with Miles & More
Required Status Points
- Frequent Traveler: 650 Points and 325 Qualifying Points per calendar year (Star Alliance Silver)
- Senator: 2,000 Points and 1,000 Qualifying Points per calendar year (Star Alliance Gold)
- HON Circle: 6,000 HON Circle Points
How Points are earned
Qualifying Points can only be earned with fully integrated Miles & More airlines, while regular Points can also be earned with all Star Alliance airlines. ITA Airways flights now qualify as well.
- Continental flights:
- 20 Points in Economy
- 40 Points in Business Class
- Intercontinental flights:
- 60 Points in Economy
- 80 Points in Premium Economy
- 200 Points in Business Class
- 400 Points in First Class (new since December 2025)
Read our full guide about the Miles & More changes here.
Continental vs Intercontinental Flights
The new Miles & More system is relatively straightforward. If your departure and arrival countries are located within the same Miles & More continent zone, the flight counts as continental. If they are in different continent zones, the flight counts as intercontinental.
Flight distance does not matter. A 500-mile flight can earn exactly the same amount of points as a 5,000-mile flight.
How are continents defined?
The following map shows how Miles & More defines the different continent zones:
Most countries follow their geographical continent. However, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia are all classified as part of Europe within the Miles & More program.
Best Miles & More Status Run Strategies
There are several efficient ways to maximize Points and Qualifying Points with the new program.
Which cabin class offers the best value?
For most travelers, Business Class offers the best balance between comfort, price and point earnings.
Although First Class now earns 400 Points on intercontinental flights, fares are usually significantly more expensive. In most cases, Business Class status runs remain the sweet spot.
Best Ways to Earn Qualifying Points
Qualifying Points can only be earned with fully integrated Miles & More airlines such as Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways.
1. Short-haul flights within Europe nonstop (80 Qualifying Points)
Several cheap European Business Class routes can earn 80 Qualifying Points for a simple round trip.
Examples:
2. Short-haul flights within Europe with a stop (160 Qualifying Points)
Adding a connection dramatically increases your earning potential. Four continental Business Class segments generate 160 Qualifying Points on a single round trip.
These fares are often available from around 400€.
Examples:
3. Flights from Europe to Tel Aviv (480 Qualifying Points)
Tel Aviv remains one of the strongest Miles & More status run opportunities in Europe if the regional situation permit flights here.
With Lufthansa Group airlines, fares often start around 550€ round trip while earning a total of 480 Qualifying Points.
SWISS occasionally operates long-haul aircraft between Zurich and Tel Aviv, allowing you to enjoy lie-flat Business Class seats on the longer segment.
4. Flights from Europe to the UAE (400–480 Qualifying Points)
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are another excellent option for collecting large amounts of Qualifying Points.
Eurowings nonstop flights (400 Qualifying Points)
Eurowings frequently sells Business Class fares around 600€ from Germany to the UAE.
Although these flights are operated by short-haul aircraft without lie-flat seats, they still earn 400 Qualifying Points.
Lufthansa, SWISS and ITA connections (480 Qualifying Points)
Flights with Lufthansa Group carriers via Frankfurt, Munich or Zurich generally earn 480 Qualifying Points while offering long-haul, lie-flat Business Class seats.
5. Flights from the Middle East to Europe (400–480 Qualifying Points)
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah are also available as a point of departure for collecting Qualifying Points.
Eurowings nonstop flights (400 Qualifying Points)
Earning non-qualifying points
Non qualifying points are much easier to earn compared to qualifying points. It is possible to earn as much as 800 Points for a round trip with 4 relatively short flights and pay not even 1€ per point.
You receive the same amount of points no matter how long your flight is, as long as you travel from one continent to another. The first thing to look into is flights that cover a short distance between 2 different continents due to Star Alliance member airlines having a base located relatively close to another continent.
Unfortunately, no fully integrated Miles-and-More member airline has their home base on the edge of a continent; therefore, we are looking here to accumulate non-qualifying points only.
1. Flights from the Middle East to Africa with Egypt Air (800 Points)
Egypt is considered Europe and lies adjacent to the Asian and African continents. Therefore, some interesting options arise here to earn points the cheap way.
The same applies to Jeddah. From Jeddah, especially the flights to Addis Ababa are very interesting, as you can constantly earn 800 Points with Egypt Air in Business Class on the route to Addis Ababa via Cairo.
2. South America – Panama – South America with Copa (800 Points)
Copa is based in Panama City, which is considered North America at Miles-and-More. If you depart from a South American city with Copa to another South American city, you will have a layover in Panama. This means that you will have 4 intercontinental Business class flights, and you will earn a whopping 800 points for the round trip. Furthermore, these flights often only have a duration of around 2 hours. Here are some examples of possible departure points:
From Ecuador – Guayaquil
From Colombia
You can fly from Bogota or Cartagena to Quito or Guayaquil for around 600€ to earn 800 points.
From Lima, Peru
From Lima, several destinations in Colombia and Ecuador can be reached for around 800€.
3. Earn 480 Points with an intercontinental flight combined with a continental flight
Flights departing from Colombia, Peru or Ecuador (480 Points)
Many flights with a layover are available with numerous Star Alliance members, such as Avianca (which has a base here), Copa, or United Airlines to North America, earning you a total of 480 points.
Flights departing from the East Coast of North America (400 – 480 Points)
Some destinations in South America can be reached in Business class for a good price, earning you 400-480 points as well depending on whether you have a layover or not.
Especially from Miami, you can find some interesting fares, mainly with Copa via Panama, earning you a total of 480 points.
4. Earn 400 Points with an intercontinental round trip
Short nonstop flights departing from Cairo with Egypt Air (400 Points)
If you do not want to do a longer trip, short nonstop flights with Egypt Air are available as well.
Many Middle Eastern countries are only a short hop away (which are all considered as Asia), and you can easily find Business Class round trip fares to Saudi Arabia, Amman or the United Arab Emirates for around 500€, earning you as much as 400 qualifying points. With these flights, you are also coming close to €1 per point.
Short flights departing from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines (400 Points)
Turkey is also considered Europe and lies adjacent to the Asian continent. Therefore, some interesting options arise here as well to earn points the cheap way.
Amman, Israel and Iran are often available for around 650€, and you will earn 400 points for the Business Class return flight.
Short nonstop flights departing from Panama City with Copa (400 Points)
Nonstop flights with Copa are available to several South American cities as well for around 600€, earning you only 400 points but reducing your travel time.
5. Earn 80-160 Points with a short continental round trip within the US
If you happen to be in the US, there are some opportunities to earn 80 points for the return trip in domestic first class. A few examples are here below:
- Los Angeles <> San Francisco $310
- Los Angeles <> Phoenix $360
- Denver <> Dallas $430
Furthermore, from New York, you have several options to earn 80 points with a short nonstop round trip. Some more options are available, including a layover, which would earn you 160 points.
Bottom Line
There are now numerous opportunities to complete efficient Miles & More status runs in 2026.
Especially from Europe, the Middle East and South America, it is possible to earn very large amounts of Points with surprisingly short flights and relatively low costs.
The most difficult part remains collecting Qualifying Points, since these require Lufthansa Group airlines. However, with the right routing strategy, earning status is now far more accessible than under the previous system.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points do you earn per flight?
For continental flights, you earn 20 Points in Economy and 40 Points in Business Class. Intercontinental flights earn 60 Points in Economy, 80 in Premium Economy, 200 in Business Class and 400 in First Class.
What is the best way to earn many points quickly?
Departing from the Middle East or South America can allow you to earn up to 800 Points with four relatively short Business Class flights.
What is the cheapest way to earn Qualifying Points?
Flights from Europe to Tel Aviv remain one of the best value options, often earning 480 Qualifying Points for under 500€.
By Sacha
I'm Sacha, founder of Premium-Flights.com. Over ten years ago Chris and I started finding Business and First Class deals for ourselves, then for family and friends, and in 2018 we decided to share them with everyone, completely free. Every deal on this site is personally verified by us. This isn't a corporate operation, it's a passion project built by two friends who genuinely love aviation and smart travel.
8 Comments
David S
are there any itineraries in Europe that allow two transfers per direction rather than one. I’m having issues finding them
Alex
Thanks Premium Flights! After reading the same article last year I did Riyadh – Cairo – Addis Ababa and return with EGYPTAIR this summer for less than 1000€ and 800 points earned. Very easy although tiring.
premiumflights
Glad to hear 🙂
Amphibia_n
Has anyone really tried Option 3 Athens – Tel Aviv on Aegean ? A simulation with MIles & More’s Travel Calculator returns 400 Points for a round-trip in biz and 120 in Economy. That alignes with the Points earning system described on miles-and-more.com. However I phoned Miles&More asking to simulate that route for me in Economy. They created a temporary reservation and the outcome was 40 Points in Economy for a round-trip ATH-TLV-ATH.
Jack of All
Hi,
How about Ethiopian in this context, any interesting options?
jfk
CAI – DXB rt can be done for cca 900 EUR and earns 800 points
a curious flyer
Any other cheapest options that don’t involve traveling to Israel?
premiumflights
Dubai from Stuttgart or Berlin.