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Credit Cards » Credit Card Reviews » Miles & More World Elite Mastercard Review (2024)

Miles & More World Elite Mastercard Review (2024)

The Miles & More Mastercard offers some surprising perks, such as Lufthansa business lounge access, companion ticket, and even 0% intro APR.
Author: Lorraine Smithills
Interest Rates Last Update: November 15, 2024
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Lorraine Smithills
Interest Rates Last Update: November 15, 2024

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.

Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®

Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®

Rewards Plan

1x – 2x 2 miles per dollar spent on tickets directly purchased via the Miles & More integrated airline partner network. 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

50,000 miles Earn 50,000 miles if you spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual fee, both within the first 90 days.

Credit Rating

Good – Excellent

0% Intro

15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening

Annual Fee

$89

APR

20.74% – 29.99%
Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®

Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®

Rewards Plan

1x – 2x 2 miles per dollar spent on tickets directly purchased via the Miles & More integrated airline partner network. 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

50,000 miles Earn 50,000 miles if you spend $3,000 in purchases and pay the annual fee, both within the first 90 days.

0% Intro

15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening

PROS

CONS

APR

20.74% - 29.99%

Annual Fee

$89

Balance Transfer Fee

$5 or 5%, whichever is greater

Credit Requirements

Good - Excellent

If you enjoy flying Lufthansa, but don’t want a card that carries a high annual fee, the Miles & More World Elite Mastercard could be a good option for you. Rather untypically for a card with such a reasonable annual fee, you can receive a companion ticket and lounge access, but the standard rewards are a little less generous compared to many other cards on the market. You can also receive a generous 15 months at 0% APR on balance transfers made within 45 days of opening your account.

On the other hand, if the maximum potential rewards are a priority for you, there are more generous cards on the market. These include options which allow you to use your accumulated rewards to purchase travel via the issuer’s portal, but you can earn decent rewards on everyday purchases.

So, you will need to think carefully about what is important to you to determine if the Miles & More card would be the right choice for you.

  • Introductory APR
  • Lounge Access
  • Companion Ticket
  • Accelerated Miles & More Status
  • No Miles Expiry
  • World Elite Mastercard Benefits
  • Low Rewards for Non Airline Purchases
  • Limited Perks
  • Fairly High Spend Requirement

How do I redeem rewards?

Miles & More has an award chart where you can see the number of miles needed for particular redemptions. If you decide you would like to book an award flight, you will need to log into your account, search for a flight and book as normal. The only difference is that you will select miles as your payment method.

When it may not be a good idea?

This card is not a good idea for those looking to earn miles or rewards on their everyday purchases. Non Lufthansa purchases only offer one mile per dollar, which is less than many other cards on the market. In this case, you may be better considering alternative reward cards.

Does the card provide travel insurance?

Unfortunately, the Miles & More card does not provide travel insurance, but via the World Elite Mastercard benefits, you can access emergency assistance at any time in any language if you run into problems while you’re away.

In this Review

Simulation: How Much Rewards You Can Earn?

Take a look at the table below to see how many points you can get by using the Miles & More Mastercard. The table shows an estimate of the points you could earn based on your usual spending in different categories.

Remember that this table is just an approximation, and the points you actually earn may be different due to your spending habits and other factors. However, it gives you a good idea of the potential advantages of this card.

Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®

Spend Per Category
Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets
10,000 points
$3,000 – Restaurants
6,000 points
$5,000 – Airline
10,000 points
$4,000 – Hotels
8,000 points
$4,000 – Gas
4,000 points
Estimated Annual Points
38,000 Miles
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Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

hilton honors card

Rewards Plan:
3X – 7X 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5x points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) U.S.supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and 3x points for each dollar on other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
100,000 points 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership

Marriot bonvoy bevy card art

Rewards Plan:
2x – 6x 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year, then 2X points), 2X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
85,000 points Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
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Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

hilton honors card

Rewards Plan:
3X – 7X 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5x points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery) U.S.supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and 3x points for each dollar on other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
100,000 points 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership

Marriot bonvoy bevy card art

Rewards Plan:
2x – 6x 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, 4X points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year, then 2X points), 2X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
85,000 points Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

Pros and Cons

Just like any other credit card, the Miles & More credit card has some advantages and disadvantages:

Pros
Cons
Introductory APR
Low Rewards for Non Airline Purchases
Lounge Access
Limited Perks
Companion Ticket
Fairly High Spend Requirement
Accelerated Miles & More Status
No Miles Expiry
World Elite Mastercard Benefits

Barclays offers a 0% introductory APR for balance transfers that are made within 45 days of opening your account.

Balance transfer fees still apply and the transfer must have been applied to your account before the 45 day period is up to qualify. 

After each account anniversary, you will receive two Lufthansa Business Lounge Vouchers as a complimentary perk.

In the Business Lounge, you can enjoy the VIP treatment, in addition to office space, WiFi, light meals and beverages, comfy chairs, entertainment options and reading materials.

Also on each account anniversary, you will receive a companion ticket. This allows you to bring someone with you on international itineraries, just paying the taxes and fees.

You can convert the award miles that you earn on your purchases into status miles to achieve Miles & More status more quickly. Once per calendar year, the program allows you to convert miles at a 5 to 1 ratio up to a maximum of 25,000 miles.

This means that 5,000 award miles will convert into 1,000 status miles, providing a maximum boost of 5,000 status miles per year.

Provided that you make at least one qualifying purchase with your card each month and you hold the card for a minimum of three months, your award miles will not expire. This means that you can accumulate them for more elaborate travel plans without worrying about an expiration date

The maximum two miles per dollar is only available on Miles & more integrated flights.

This means that if you intend to use this card for travel and everyday purchases, you’re likely to end up feeling rather frustrated about the level of rewards.

While getting a companion pass and complimentary lounge passes are excellent perks, these are essentially the extent of the benefits package with this card.

There are no free checked bags or other airline perks that are typically offered with this level of co-branded card.

Although the welcome bonus is a generous 60,000 miles, it does require spending of at least $3,000 in the first 90 days. 

You also need to have paid the annual fee within this time to qualify.

Since this is a World Elite Mastercard, holders of the Miles & More card can access the benefits package. 

The perks of World Elite Mastercard include subscription discounts and trials, access to Priceless Experiences and the 24/7 complimentary World Elite concierge services.

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amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
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amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
Up to 3x miles 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles on all other travel and select streaming services, 1 mile on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP)
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

Who May Consider The Miles & More World Elite Card?

This co-branded card is ideal for those who are loyal to Lufthansa but may not be sure if they can justify a higher annual fee. With a reasonable annual fee, you can earn rewards with regular card use and put them toward your travel plans.

The card could also be a good option for those looking to pay down a credit card balance. If you make the transfer to this card within 45 days of opening your account, you can enjoy 0% APR for 15 months. Although a balance transfer fee of 5% or $5 applies, this could be an excellent way to clear a lingering credit card balance.

If you are looking for an airline card – there are some good candidates on the same level fo category. However, most of them don't include 0% intro APR.

Card
Rewards
Annual Fee

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card Review

1X – 2X 2X miles on delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide (including take-out and delivery in the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
$150, $0 intro first year (Rates & Fees)

1X – 2X Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
$99 (waived for the first 12 months)

Air Lingus review

1X – 3X 3 Avios for every dollar on Aer Lingus, Iberia and British Airways, 2 Avios per dollar on direct hotel accommodations and 1 Avios for all other purchases
$95

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

1X – 3X 3X points on Southwest purchases, 2X points on Southwest’s Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including rideshares) and internet, cable phone and select streaming services; 1X points on all other purchases
$149

jetblue plus card

1X – 6X 6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores and 1X points on all other purchases
$99

united_explorer_card

1X – 2X 2x per $1 spent on United purchases, hotel accommodations, restaurants & eligible delivery services and 1x per $1 spent on all other purchases
$95 ($0 first year)

FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard® review

1x – 5x 5x miles per dollar on purchases at flyfrontier.com, 3x miles per dollar at restaurants and 1x miles on all other purchases
$89

Tips for Using the Miles & More World Elite Mastercard

Although the Miles & More World Elite Mastercard is quite straightforward, there are a few things that you can do to maximize its value.

While the companion ticket and lounge pass are impressive perks, the World Elite Mastercard also offers a range of valuable benefits. These include credits for Lyft rides when you take three rides per month, a complimentary three-month DashPass, and a free ShopRunner membership.

To ensure that your miles don’t expire, be sure to use your card at least once per month. Even if you are trying to pay down a balance, it is worth making a small purchase and paying it off in full to keep your miles active.

We’ve already discussed this, but it is important to reiterate. You need to have all balance transfers applied to your account within 45 days of opening to qualify for the 0% APR introductory rate.

So, it is a good idea to arrange all the details of your transfer as soon as you receive your new card.

Top Offers

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
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amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
Up to 3x miles 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles on all other travel and select streaming services, 1 mile on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP)
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles