One of the main problems with Miles & More is the status program. Even though the offered benefits are rather good compared to the industry, the qualification rules are clearly too strict. As a rule of thumb, in other Star programs, you already receive Gold status, while with Miles & More, you only get Frequent Traveller (Star Alliance Silver) status.

This overestimation is also reflected in the program’s offers to buy the status.

Thus, holders of a co-branded credit card in Europe can still purchase the Frequent Traveller status, valid throughl February 2027, until September 30. Cost: 650 EUR. If, by definition, you don’t fly enough to achieve this status through flights, it is therefore hardly possible to recoup such an amount with the lounge access and extra baggage as the main advantages of this status over  such a short time window.

As a general rule, as is often the case, the advice here is: turn on your brain and set aside your status obsession.