Miles & More Status Explained: Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON Circle

The three statuses at a glance

Miles & More has three tiers. Each maps to a Star Alliance level and unlocks a bigger set of benefits.

• Frequent Traveller, the entry status, equal to Star Alliance Silver
• Senator, the middle status, equal to Star Alliance Gold
• HON Circle Member, the top status, with service usually reserved for First Class

Each one is earned by collecting a certain number of points within a single calendar year. The higher the status, the harder the points are to earn.

How the points system works

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. A single intercontinental flight in Business Class can earn many times what a short continental hop earns, with values running roughly from 20 points on the smallest flights up to a few hundred on the largest premium ones.

There are three different 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, such as Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Luxair, Air Dolomiti and now ITA Airways. Frequent Traveller and Senator each require a minimum number of these.
• HON Circle Points are earned only on Business Class and First Class flights on the Lufthansa Group and integrated partners. They are the sole currency for HON Circle.

The simplest way to remember it: Points push you toward Star Alliance, Qualifying Points make sure enough of your flying stays with the Lufthansa Group, and HON Circle Points reward people who spend real money up front.

What each status takes

Here are the exact thresholds, all measured per calendar year.

Frequent Traveller needs 650 Points, of which 325 must be Qualifying Points. It is the realistic target for people who fly a handful of times a year, and it brings faster check in, more baggage and lounge access on eligible departures. Read the full Frequent Traveller guide →

Senator needs 2,000 Points, of which 1,000 must be Qualifying Points. This is Star Alliance Gold, the status most frequent flyers actually chase, with lounge access across the alliance and a real shot at upgrades. Read the full Senator guide →

HON Circle Member needs 6,000 HON Circle Points, earned only in Business and First Class on the Lufthansa Group. It is one of the hardest statuses in the world to reach, and it comes with the First Class Terminal, limousine transfers and a personal assistant. Read the full HON Circle guide →

How earning actually works in practice

Because points come down to cabin and route type, the fastest path to any status is intercontinental flying in a premium cabin on the Lufthansa Group.

• Business and First Class earn the most points per flight, and only those cabins earn HON Circle Points
• Premium Economy sits in the middle, and the Lufthansa Group runs seasonal promotions that boost it, so check current offers before booking
• Economy earns the least, so an Economy strategy means a lot more segments
• Watch your Qualifying Points, not just your headline Points, because partner flying builds Points but not Qualifying Points, and that is what trips people up

Not sure whether a specific route is continental or intercontinental? The zone classification has some surprises — Egypt counts as Europe, Turkey counts as Europe, but Israel does not. Check any route with the zone checker →

How long status lasts and how to requalify

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. To hold on to it, you have to earn the points again within a calendar year.

The practical effect of the 2024 change is that status no longer lasts the old two years. You re-earn it each calendar year. Miss your target and you drop one tier for the following year.

Miles & More also offers Frequent Traveller Lifetime and Senator Lifetime status for long term loyalty, which you keep for good once you qualify. The Lifetime thresholds change from time to time, so check the official Miles & More site for the current figures.

Earning status without flying

A small part of your status can come from the ground rather than the air.

• Marriott Bonvoy: link your accounts and earn status points on paid stays, currently 40 points for each two night stay, capped at 120 per year
• Seasonal promotions: the Lufthansa Group regularly runs limited offers that boost Points on certain routes or cabins

These will never carry you to status on their own, but for the lower tiers a top up can close a real gap at the end of the year.

How to track where you stand

Here is the honest problem with all of this. Miles & More shows you point totals, but it does not tell you what those numbers mean for the rest of your year. It will not warn you that your Qualifying Points are lagging, tell you how many more flights you need, or flag that you are about to fall short in December.

MileHunter handles this automatically. It tracks all three point types separately, shows exactly how far you are from each status, and tells you what kind of flying closes the gap. Set it once and check it when you book—no spreadsheets, no nasty surprises at year end.