Is Lufthansa or British Airways better in 2026?

They split the win on timing and product. British Airways wins on current business class fleet coverage because Club Suite is already on all A350s, all 787-10s, and most 777-200s and 777-300s; most long-haul BA flights from Heathrow now have the new product. Lufthansa's Allegris is the newer and arguably better-designed business class with sliding doors, choice of seat types (Classic, Extra Long Bed, Suite, Suite Plus), and a true enclosed Allegris First Class, but only about 20 aircraft have it as of early 2026 (10 A350s and 11 787-9s), mostly from Munich. British Airways wins on reliability (91.12 percent on-time in December 2025, 86 percent Q1 2025 at Heathrow) and carry-on allowance (23 kg vs Lufthansa's strict 8 kg). Lufthansa wins on premium economy, Star Alliance partner network reach, and the eventual Allegris First Class (currently the only one of the two with a true First cabin until BA's new A380 First launches later in 2026). For a business class flight in 2026 where product quality matters most, check the specific aircraft: BA's Club Suite is on more of its fleet today, but Allegris on a Munich-based route is a better hard product when you can get it.

What's better, Lufthansa Allegris or BA Club Suite?

Allegris is the newer, more thoughtfully designed product. Launched in 2024 on A350s from Munich, Allegris offers four business class seat types on the same plane: Classic (standard 1-2-1 suite with door), Extra Long Bed (for tall passengers, longer bed), Suite (premium row with a higher-walled enclosed suite), and Suite Plus (the flagship with a door plus heating, cooling, and a second armrest). No other business class lets you select seat type at booking. BA Club Suite, which launched in 2019 on A350s, is a solid 1-2-1 suite with sliding doors and direct aisle access for every passenger; it's a good product but uses a single configuration. Club Suite's advantage is current fleet coverage (most BA long-haul flights from Heathrow now use it), while Allegris's advantage is design innovation and the option to select your exact seat type. For a 2026 booking, the practical question is availability: Club Suite on most BA long-haul, Allegris on a smaller but growing Lufthansa fleet.

Does Lufthansa or BA have a real First Class?

Both do, but the products are in different states. Lufthansa has Allegris First Class on new A350s from Munich and is rolling out to A350-1000s starting Q2 2026. It's a fully enclosed suite with a door, a separate seat and bed, a dedicated wardrobe, and a minibar. On older 747-8 and A340 aircraft, Lufthansa still flies its legacy First Class product, which is less modern. British Airways' First Class on 777 and 787-9 is the outgoing product, reasonable but not class-leading in 2026. BA's all-new First Class launches on refurbished A380s from later in 2026 with modern suite design. For First Class today, Lufthansa Allegris First on a Munich-based A350 is the more modern product. By late 2026, BA's new A380 First will compete directly.

Is Miles & More or the British Airways Club better for loyalty?

Both have substantial fuel surcharge traps, which is the defining character of European legacy loyalty programs. Miles & More charges fuel surcharges even on Lufthansa own-metal redemptions (unusual among home-carrier programs), and Star Alliance partner surcharges are heaviest on Lufthansa Group metal (LH, Swiss, Austrian). British Airways Club (rebranded from Executive Club in 2024) charges fuel surcharges on BA own-metal redemptions that can exceed $800 on premium cabin long-haul tickets. The December 15, 2025 Avios devaluation raised both mileage costs and cash fuel surcharges simultaneously. For avoiding surcharges, consider redeeming Avios on partners like Cathay Pacific, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines (fewer surcharges), and Miles & More on Turkish Airlines or Egyptair (lower fuel surcharges). Miles & More wins on Star Alliance partner earning breadth; Avios wins on American Express and Chase transfer partner integration in the US.

Which airline has better on-time performance, Lufthansa or British Airways?

British Airways, by a meaningful margin in 2025. BA hit 91.12 percent on-time in December 2025 and 86 percent in Q1 2025 at Heathrow, the highest D-15 punctuality in BA's history, credited to £100 million in operations technology investment. Lufthansa's on-time performance for October 2024 through September 2025 was 83 percent. Both airlines had roughly similar cancellation volume during January to May 2025 (BA 1,763 cancellations, Lufthansa 1,757), but BA's overall disruption rate for 2025 was 5 percent versus Lufthansa's 3.2 percent. The picture: BA arrives on time more often, Lufthansa cancels outright slightly less often. For time-sensitive transatlantic bookings, BA is now the more punctual choice.

Lufthansa vs British Airways 2026: Which European Carrier Is Better?, Vientapps

Lufthansa and British Airways are Europe’s two most prominent legacy carriers, and the 2026 version of this comparison is unusually interesting because both airlines are in the middle of major premium cabin rollouts that haven’t reached every aircraft yet. BA started rolling out its Club Suite business class in 2019 and won’t finish retrofitting its 787-9 fleet until 2027. Lufthansa’s Allegris cabin, repeatedly delayed, finally launched in 2024 on A350s from Munich and is still on fewer than 25 aircraft in early 2026. What you actually get on a 2026 flight depends entirely on which specific aircraft you’re on, which is the critical starting point for any booking decision between these two.

Short version: British Airways wins on current fleet coverage of its new business class (Club Suite is on all A350s, all 787-10s, most 777s), on-time performance (91 percent in December 2025, a record high), and Avios accessibility in the US via Amex and Chase transfers. Lufthansa wins on Allegris product design (four seat types per aircraft including the Suite Plus flagship, plus a true Allegris First Class), Star Alliance partner network reach, premium economy cabin quality, and Munich as a transit hub. Both airlines have serious fuel surcharge problems on award redemptions, which is the single biggest gotcha for points-focused travelers. Neither is categorically better; this comparison comes down to which specific aircraft you’re booking on and which airport you fly out of.

What We Looked For

European legacy comparisons require understanding the specific transitional state of each airline’s premium cabins:

Business class hard product, separated into what’s available today versus what’s planned
First class, where both airlines are mid-refresh
Premium economy, a category Lufthansa has historically invested in more than BA
Economy class and bag policies, where Lufthansa’s strict 8 kg carry-on rule surprises travelers
Reliability, where BA has made genuine gains in 2025
Hub experience, since both Frankfurt and Heathrow have operational quirks that matter for connections
Alliance access and loyalty program value, including the fuel surcharge reality that defines both programs

Business Class: Club Suite vs Allegris

The business class story in 2026 is entirely about fleet coverage and product design.

British Airways Club Suite (launched 2019):

1-2-1 configuration with sliding doors on every seat
Direct aisle access for every passenger
20-inch-wide seat, 79-inch bed length
18.5-inch HD screen, Bluetooth audio support, ample storage
Fully deployed on all A350-1000s and 787-10s
Most 777-200s and 777-300ERs flying from Heathrow have Club Suite
787-9 retrofit underway, 17 remaining aircraft not completed until well into 2027
Gatwick-based fleet: no Club Suite rollout planned; continues with older business class product

Lufthansa Allegris Business Class (launched 2024):

1-2-1 configuration with sliding doors on all seat types
Four distinct seat types on the same aircraft, selectable at booking:
- Classic: standard Allegris business suite
- Extra Long Bed: longer bed for tall passengers
- Suite: premium middle-row product with higher walls
- Suite Plus: flagship with enclosed door, heating, cooling, wider living space, and second armrest (marketed as “small first class”)
Currently on 10 Airbus A350-900s and 11 Boeing 787-9s as of early 2026 (about 20 aircraft)
Additional 787-9s arriving through 2026
A350-1000 with Allegris First Class starting deliveries Q2 2026
Retrofit of existing A350-900s planned for 2027; 747-8 retrofit later

Allegris routes as of early 2026 (primarily from Munich, expanding from Frankfurt):

From Munich (established): San Francisco, Shanghai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chicago, Beijing, New York JFK
Additional destinations served by Allegris aircraft: Austin, Bengaluru, Bogotá, Cape Town, Chicago, Dallas, Delhi, Detroit, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, Lagos, LA, Miami, New York, Rio de Janeiro, San Diego, SFO, Shanghai, Tokyo, Toronto
From Frankfurt: 787-9 Allegris expanding from April 15, 2026

Which business class is better in 2026:

On hard product design, Allegris is genuinely better. The four-seat-type configuration and the Suite Plus flagship are more thoughtfully designed than Club Suite’s uniform layout. The Suite Plus especially is closer to a first class experience than a business class one.

On availability, Club Suite wins. Most BA long-haul flights from Heathrow now operate with Club Suite. Only about 20 Lufthansa aircraft have Allegris as of early 2026, and the rollout is concentrated on specific Munich routes (with Frankfurt catching up through 2026). If you book a random BA long-haul flight from Heathrow, you’re likely getting Club Suite. If you book a random Lufthansa long-haul flight, you’re more likely to be on a non-Allegris aircraft.

Practical booking advice: on Lufthansa, check whether the specific flight is operated by an Allegris aircraft before you pay a premium for business class. On BA, check if the route is Heathrow-based (Club Suite likely) or Gatwick-based (older product). Both airlines publish seat maps that indicate the business class configuration.

Winner on hard product design: Lufthansa Allegris, clearly (especially Suite Plus). Winner on current fleet availability: British Airways Club Suite, clearly. Winner on 787-9 coverage specifically: BA still has work to do on 787-9, Lufthansa has Allegris on 11 787-9s. Winner once both rollouts complete (2028+): Roughly comparable.

First Class

Both airlines still operate a true First Class cabin, which is increasingly rare among international legacy carriers.

Lufthansa Allegris First Class:

Fully enclosed suite with sliding door
Separate seat and bed (not a converting seat)
Dedicated wardrobe, personal minibar, generous table
Currently on new A350 aircraft from Munich
A350-1000 with Allegris First Class deliveries starting Q2 2026
Legacy Lufthansa First Class still operates on 747-8 and A340-600 aircraft (older product, to be replaced gradually)

British Airways First Class:

Current product on 777-300ER and 787-9: enclosed suite with privacy doors but an older-generation design
8 seats typical on 777-300ER, 8 on 787-9
Not the newest First in the world but competent
New BA First Class launching on refurbished A380s from late 2026: all-new suite design with modern appointments; this is the headline First Class news for BA in 2026
A380 retrofit includes both Club Suite and the new First Class

Which First is better in 2026:

Today: Lufthansa Allegris First on a Munich A350 is the more modern product.
By late 2026: BA’s new A380 First will compete directly; the two products will be roughly comparable.
Legacy variants: Lufthansa’s legacy 747-8 and A340 First is solid but dated. BA’s 777-200 First product is being phased out.

For the most modern First Class experience in 2026, Lufthansa Allegris First on a Munich-based A350 route is the current winner. For a unique experience, BA’s A380 in late 2026 will be worth watching.

Winner on First Class today: Lufthansa Allegris First. Winner on First Class by late 2026: Roughly comparable once BA A380 refresh launches.

Premium Economy

Lufthansa has a meaningful edge in this category.

Lufthansa Premium Economy (Allegris):

2-3-2 on 787-9, 2-4-2 on A350
38 inches of pitch, 18.5 inches wide
Separate cabin with curtain divider from economy
Dedicated amenity kit, welcome drink, 11.6-inch screen
Lufthansa has invested in Premium Economy as a strategic cabin category since 2014
Adult passengers get 10 kg carry-on allowance (vs Economy’s 8 kg)

British Airways World Traveller Plus:

2-4-2 on 777 and A350, 2-3-2 on 787
38 inches of pitch, 18.5 inches wide
Separate cabin, amenity kit, enhanced meal service
11.6-inch HD screen
Less distinctively invested in than Lufthansa’s Premium Economy

Practical differences: Both cabins are quite similar on paper (pitch, width, seat configuration). Lufthansa’s Premium Economy is generally rated slightly higher in independent reviews for service, meal quality, and cabin ambiance. BA’s World Traveller Plus has improved significantly with the Club Suite rollout but remains a step below Lufthansa’s offering in most reviews.

Winner on Premium Economy: Lufthansa, narrowly but consistently.

Economy Class

Standard economy is where Lufthansa’s strict bag policy surprises travelers.

Lufthansa Economy:

31 to 32 inches of pitch on long-haul
10.6-inch to 11.6-inch screens with Lufthansa Entertainment system
Free messaging Wi-Fi, paid streaming
Full hot meal on long-haul, complimentary alcoholic beverages (beer, wine)
Strict 8 kg carry-on weight limit, actually enforced at European airports (bags are weighed at the gate)
Personal item allowed (16 x 11.8 x 3.9 inches)
Light Economy fares on short-haul may not include a carry-on

British Airways Economy:

31 inches of pitch on long-haul
11.6-inch screens with BA’s Highlife entertainment
Free messaging Wi-Fi, paid streaming tiers
Full meal on long-haul, complimentary wine and beer
23 kg carry-on weight limit (far more generous than Lufthansa’s 8 kg, though BA requires you to lift the bag into the overhead bin unassisted)
22 x 18 x 10 inches carry-on (50 linear inches, generous)
BA Basic (hand baggage only) fares limit you to a personal item on many routes

The carry-on gap is real. Lufthansa’s 8 kg limit is among the strictest in Europe and is enforced. BA’s 23 kg limit is among the most generous in the world. If you travel with a heavy carry-on (books, camera gear, laptops, toiletries), BA is dramatically more accommodating. If you travel light, the difference doesn’t matter.

Winner on carry-on weight allowance: BA, by a wide margin (23 kg vs 8 kg). Winner on economy pitch: Lufthansa, very narrowly. Winner on in-flight entertainment and dining: Roughly tied.

Hubs: Frankfurt/Munich vs Heathrow

Both airlines operate out of major hubs with distinct operational characters.

Lufthansa hubs: Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC):

Frankfurt (FRA): Lufthansa’s largest hub, one of the busiest transfer airports in Europe. 45 to 60-minute minimum connecting times. Large, complex terminal layout; intra-Schengen and non-Schengen transfers can require longer walks. Senator and First Class terminal experiences for premium passengers are excellent.
Munich (MUC): Lufthansa’s premium hub and the launch pad for Allegris. Smaller, more efficient than Frankfurt. 45-minute minimum connecting times. Consistently rated among the best airports in Europe. Satellite Terminal 2 has dedicated Lufthansa-operated lounges.

British Airways hub: London Heathrow (LHR):

Five terminals, BA primarily at Terminals 3 and 5. BA long-haul is almost entirely Terminal 5.
60 to 90-minute minimum connecting times (longer than Frankfurt or Munich, and longer than many comparable hubs)
Heathrow’s notorious slot constraints and weather vulnerability make BA schedules particularly sensitive to early-morning departure delays that cascade
BA Concorde Room (First Class only) and Galleries First lounges are excellent; Galleries Club (for Club Suite passengers) is decent but feels overcrowded at peak times
Terminal 5 transit is generally smooth when flight timing is on schedule

BA also operates from Gatwick (LGW):

Leisure-focused, older fleet without Club Suite
Lower fare points but worse premium cabin product
Less convenient for connections

Hub comparison:

For speed of transit: Munich is fastest, followed by Heathrow Terminal 5, with Frankfurt the slowest
For premium cabin lounge experience: BA Concorde Room and Lufthansa First Class Terminal (Frankfurt) are both legendary, with the Lufthansa First Class Terminal (FCT) arguably the single best premium airline lounge in the world
For connecting reliability: Munich and Heathrow are comparable; Frankfurt has the most complexity and the most potential for delay cascade

Winner for transit speed: Munich, narrowly. Winner for premium cabin lounges: Lufthansa First Class Terminal (Frankfurt) for First, BA Concorde Room excellent for First, both excellent for Business. Winner for hub-and-spoke efficiency: Comparable; depends heavily on specific connection.

Reliability

British Airways has pulled ahead on reliability in 2025.

British Airways 2025 reliability:

December 2025: 91.12 percent on-time performance, 4.75 percent improvement year-over-year
Q1 2025: 86 percent on-time performance at Heathrow, the highest D-15 punctuality in BA’s history
Credited to a £100 million investment in operations technology and digital tools
5 percent disrupted flights in 2025 (improved from 5.6 percent in 2024)
January to May 2025: 1,763 flights cancelled

Lufthansa 2025 reliability:

Full year October 2024 to September 2025: 83 percent on-time performance
3.2 percent disruption rate in 2025 (improved from 4 percent in 2024)
January to May 2025: 1,757 flights cancelled

Reading the data: BA arrives on time more often (8-point gap on recent data). Lufthansa disrupts outright slightly less often (fewer delays escalating to cancellation, or fewer outright cancellations). The absolute cancellation numbers are nearly identical in the first half of 2025.

Practical translation:

Tight connections or time-sensitive arrivals: BA has the current advantage.
Flights that absolutely must happen: roughly comparable, with Lufthansa slightly better on outright cancellation avoidance.
Weather resilience: Heathrow is vulnerable to fog and seasonal disruption; Frankfurt and Munich handle winter weather well given German climate conditions.

Winner on on-time arrivals: BA, by approximately 8 percentage points. Winner on outright cancellation avoidance: Lufthansa, narrowly. Winner on overall 2025 reliability trend: Both improved; BA improved faster.

Routes and Networks

Both airlines operate extensive transatlantic networks, plus deep European short-haul operations.

Lufthansa transatlantic coverage from the US:

Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York JFK, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington Dulles
Two hubs (Frankfurt and Munich) give connectivity flexibility
Munich increasingly the premium hub as Allegris rollout expands

British Airways transatlantic coverage from the US:

Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, Newark, New York JFK, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tampa, Toronto, Washington Dulles
One primary hub (Heathrow) plus Gatwick for secondary routes
Dense onward connections to Europe, Middle East, Africa, India via oneworld and BA’s own network

Onward European coverage:

Lufthansa Group (including Austrian, Swiss, Brussels, Eurowings): the largest European network overall, deep intra-European coverage particularly to Germanic and Central Europe
BA + oneworld partners (Iberia, Finnair, Aer Lingus via IAG ownership): strong UK and Southern European coverage via Iberia, Nordic via Finnair, Ireland via Aer Lingus

Onward global coverage:

Lufthansa via Star Alliance: Very deep Asia (ANA, Singapore Airlines as Star Alliance), strong Africa (Egyptair, South African via Star Alliance), Latin America (Copa, Avianca)
BA via oneworld: Strong Asia (Cathay, Japan Airlines), Middle East (Qatar, Royal Jordanian), Oceania (Qantas), growing presence via Alaska Airlines addition in 2026

Winner on total US gateway cities: BA, by a margin (27 vs 22). Winner on hub flexibility for connections: Lufthansa (two hubs). Winner on onward Europe: Lufthansa Group has more European metal. Winner on oneworld vs Star Alliance: Depends on where you fly most.

Loyalty Programs

Both programs are hampered by significant fuel surcharges, which is the defining character of European legacy loyalty programs.

Miles & More (Lufthansa, Star Alliance):

Earning across Lufthansa Group (LH, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels, Eurowings) plus Star Alliance partners
Fuel surcharges on Lufthansa own-metal redemptions (unusual: most home-carrier programs don’t impose surcharges on their own airline). Lufthansa Group metal typically has the highest fuel surcharges of any Star Alliance carrier.
Alternative partner options with lower fuel surcharges: Turkish Airlines, Egyptair, Singapore Airlines on own metal
US credit card options: co-branded Miles & More World Elite Mastercard (Barclays); limited vs Avios alternatives
Miles & More miles can be combined with Avios in limited circumstances; most US travelers don’t use the program as a primary earner
Elite tiers: Frequent Traveller, Senator, HON Circle (the latter is the ultimate status for ultra-high-value customers)

British Airways Club (rebranded from Executive Club in 2024, oneworld):

Avios as the program currency, one of the most flexible loyalty currencies globally due to usage across IAG airlines (BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus), Finnair, Qatar, and others
Fuel surcharges on BA own-metal redemptions: can exceed $800 on premium cabin long-haul tickets
December 15, 2025 devaluation raised both Avios required for awards and fuel surcharge cash component simultaneously
Reward Flight Savers: pay more Avios in exchange for reduced fuel surcharges (mixed value)
US credit card integration: strong. Amex Membership Rewards transfers to Avios 1:1, Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers 1:1, plus Chase British Airways Visa
Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines AAdvantage and other oneworld partners offer ways to redeem without BA fuel surcharges by booking BA flights through partner programs
Elite tiers: Blue, Bronze (oneworld Ruby), Silver (oneworld Sapphire), Gold (oneworld Emerald), Gold Guest List (top tier)

The fuel surcharge problem: Both programs penalize redeeming on their own metal with cash co-pays that can exceed $500 to $1,000 per one-way ticket on premium cabin long-haul. This is dramatically worse than US programs (Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus) and dramatically worse than Asian programs (KrisFlyer, Asia Miles) which charge only airport taxes on own-metal awards.

Workarounds for Avios specifically:

Book BA flights through American Airlines AAdvantage: no fuel surcharges
Book BA flights through Alaska Mileage Plan (now part of Atmos Rewards after merger): lower surcharges
Book partner flights (Cathay, Finnair, Japan Airlines) with Avios: sometimes lower surcharges depending on the carrier

Workarounds for Miles & More:

Book Turkish Airlines or Egyptair with Miles & More: lower fuel surcharges on some routes
Avoid Lufthansa Group metal on award bookings unless necessary

Winner on own-metal redemption surcharges: Neither; both are brutal. Winner on US credit card integration: Avios, by a wide margin. Winner on Star Alliance network access: Miles & More (but limited by surcharges). Winner on oneworld network access: Avios (with better partner workarounds to avoid surcharges). Winner on flexibility of redemption partners: Avios, narrowly, due to the workaround options.

Who Should Pick Lufthansa

You fly out of a Munich-originating route that’s confirmed on Allegris equipment
You want the newest business class hard product in 2026 (Allegris Suite Plus specifically)
You want a true Allegris First Class on a modern A350
You collect Star Alliance miles or live in a market served primarily by Lufthansa Group
You transit through Munich, one of the most efficient European hubs
You care about Premium Economy cabin quality (Lufthansa’s PE is consistently rated higher)
You’re willing to verify specific aircraft assignments before booking business class
You’re connecting through Germany to Central or Eastern European destinations
Your travel pattern aligns with Lufthansa’s Africa or India routes via Frankfurt

Who Should Pick British Airways

You want a modern business class (Club Suite) that’s on most BA long-haul flights from Heathrow today, without having to verify aircraft
You live near a BA-served US city that Lufthansa doesn’t fly from nonstop
You collect Avios via American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards
You travel to UK regional cities, Southern Europe (especially Spain via Iberia), or beyond to oneworld markets
You need a 23 kg carry-on allowance for heavy bags (Lufthansa’s 8 kg is punitive)
You care about on-time performance (BA’s 91 percent in December 2025 is a meaningful lead)
Your travel routes through Heathrow Terminal 5 to connecting oneworld destinations
You can work around Avios fuel surcharges via partner programs (AAdvantage, Alaska)

The Bottom Line

For most transatlantic travelers in 2026, the business class pick depends on fleet specifics: BA’s Club Suite is likely on your Heathrow-based long-haul flight, while Lufthansa’s Allegris requires verifying that your specific Munich or Frankfurt departure is on a new A350 or 787-9. If you’re flexible on departure city and want the newest hard product, Lufthansa Allegris on a Munich route is the better experience. If you want modern business class that’s simply available on most routes without having to check the aircraft, BA Club Suite is the more reliable booking.

For First Class, Lufthansa Allegris First on a Munich A350 is the more modern product today. BA’s new A380 First launching in late 2026 will compete directly, but until then Lufthansa has the current advantage.

For Premium Economy, Lufthansa’s cabin is consistently rated higher, driven by better service and meal quality.

For Economy, BA’s 23 kg carry-on allowance is a real practical advantage over Lufthansa’s 8 kg limit, which is one of the strictest in Europe and is actually enforced at the gate.

For reliability, BA has pulled ahead in 2025 with a real, data-backed lead on on-time performance (91.12 percent in December 2025 vs Lufthansa’s 83 percent full-year).

For loyalty, both programs are compromised by significant fuel surcharges. Avios is the more useful program in the US due to broad Amex and Chase transfer integration, but the December 2025 devaluation made redemptions more expensive in both mileage cost and cash co-pay. Miles & More has less US credit card integration and the worst own-metal surcharges in the Star Alliance.

The honest answer for most travelers: pick based on the departure city and specific aircraft. For a Heathrow-based transatlantic booking, BA with Club Suite is the default. For a Munich-based booking with Allegris equipment, Lufthansa is often the better hard product. Compare both on price, specific aircraft, and whether your loyalty program fits the airline. Neither is a bad choice in 2026, and the gap between them is narrower than it’s been in years.

Last verified 2026-04-16 against official Lufthansa and British Airways policy pages. Airlines change rules without notice, so confirm with your carrier before flying.