Lufthansa Miles & More Partners with Booking.com; Avios-Radisson Transfer Program Short-Lived

Lufthansa's Miles & More loyalty program has expanded its redemption options by partnering with Booking.com, allowing members to use miles for hotel stays. This marks a significant addition, as Booking.com includes many properties not found on other platforms, such as apartments, home rentals, and independent hotels. However, the redemption rate is uncompetitive, with a dummy booking showing a value of just 0.26p per mile. Despite this, the low minimum spend of 3,000 miles makes it a convenient way to use up expiring miles. Members can also mix miles and cash, though they will not earn rewards on the portion paid with miles. Booking.com's Genius discounts remain applicable.

## Earning Miles with Booking.com

In addition to redemptions, Miles & More members can earn miles through Booking.com, though this requires using a separate link. The earn rate is 1 mile per €1 spent, which is significantly lower than Virgin Red's current offer of 8 points per £1 in the UK and Europe. This makes the Miles & More earning option less attractive for those seeking maximum value from their spending.

## Avios and Radisson Rewards Transfer Program Disappears

A short-lived partnership between Avios (via Finnair Plus) and Radisson Rewards allowed two-way transfers between the programs. The rates were as follows:

| Transfer Direction | Rate | |-----------------------------|--------------------------| | Finnair Avios to Radisson | 3 Avios = 5 Radisson pts | | Radisson to Finnair Avios | 10 Radisson pts = 1 Avios|

The transfer rate from Radisson Rewards to Avios was reasonable, offering 1 Avios for 10 Radisson points, which is comparable to previous rates. However, the transfer rate into Radisson Rewards was unfavorable, with 3 Avios converting to just 5 Radisson points. This disparity made the program unattractive for those looking to maximize value.

The partnership was abruptly removed, with no clear explanation. Whether it was launched prematurely or pulled due to poor reception remains unknown. The program's details were previously available on Radisson's website but are now inaccessible. The brief availability of a status match for Finnair Plus elite members into Radisson Rewards added to the confusion.

The industry awaits further updates on whether this transfer program will be reinstated, leaving members uncertain about the future of their loyalty points.