How to book LifeMiles award flights

Where LifeMiles fits in Star Alliance

Star Alliance brings together 26 airlines, giving travellers access to more than 1,150 airports in 190 countries. [6] The alliance does not issue miles itself: travellers join the frequent flyer programme of one of the member airlines, and LifeMiles appears on the alliance's list of those programmes. [5] Once enrolled, a member gives that programme's number when booking, at check-in or while managing a booking, and miles are credited to that one account after the trip. [5]

The practical consequence is that a LifeMiles balance is spent like any other Star Alliance balance: the account is held with the programme, while the flights that can be booked with it sit across the whole member network. [5]

How do you book a LifeMiles award flight?

Star Alliance describes redemption in three steps. [5] First, sign in to the frequent flyer programme's website or app. [5] Second, check the miles balance and look through the award flight options that are open across the network. [5] Third, redeem the miles online to book a flight with any of the 26 member airlines. [5]

Two conditions shape the search. Award seats are subject to seat availability, so the flights shown depend on what the operating airline has released. [5] Bookings must also be made through the frequent flyer programme's own booking channels rather than a shared alliance desk. [5] The alliance's guidance adds that a member who wants to redeem miles for a flight on a member airline should contact their programme, which is the same account team that handles the booking. [5]

Before starting a search, it helps to know how award pricing and carrier charges are usually structured; our guide to redeeming miles and the partner award booking checklist walk through the general sequence.

Can you use LifeMiles to upgrade instead?

Yes, in principle: Star Alliance Upgrade Awards let frequent flyer members spend miles or points to move into a higher class of service on selected member airlines. [5] Upgrades depend on eligible booking classes and on availability, and member airlines may apply different policies, so the programme or the operating airline should be asked to confirm. [5] A request can be made online up to 24 hours before the flight once the booking is confirmed and ticketed, either on the programme's website or through the Star Alliance Upgrade Awards channel. [5]

Limits and exceptions

• No pooling between programmes. Miles held in different Star Alliance frequent flyer programmes cannot be combined, and they cannot all be transferred into one programme, because each programme is run independently by its member airline. [5]
• Availability, not a seat guarantee. An award ticket is subject to availability on the operating member airline. [5]
• Policy differences between airlines. Star Alliance states that member airlines may have different policies, and directs members to the airline or programme for the detail, including which booking classes qualify for an upgrade. [5]
• Earning is separate from spending. Miles are earned on eligible flights and fare classes according to each member airline's own policies, so a cheap ticket may earn little or nothing even when the same trip can be booked as an award. [5]
• Missing credit. If a flight does not credit automatically, the member has to claim the miles back from their own programme, either online or by phone, and should keep the boarding passes for that claim. [5]
• Member airlines versus connecting partners. The alliance counts 26 member airlines, and award redemption is described in terms of those members. [5] [6] Star Alliance also works with connecting partners, such as Juneyao Air, which are described as regional airlines that integrate with the wider network and offer certain privileges on combined itineraries. [6]

Frequently asked questions

Can I book a LifeMiles award on any Star Alliance airline?

Miles can be redeemed for award flights on any of the alliance's 26 member airlines, subject to seat availability and through the programme's own booking channels. [5]

Do I need a separate Star Alliance account?

No. Star Alliance does not have its own frequent flyer programme; members join a programme run by a member airline and use that single membership across the network. [5]

Can I combine LifeMiles with miles from another Star Alliance programme?

No. The programmes are operated independently, so miles cannot be combined across them or transferred into one account. [5]

Can LifeMiles be used to upgrade a Star Alliance flight?

Star Alliance Upgrade Awards allow miles to be spent on a higher class of service on selected member airlines, subject to eligible booking classes and availability, with different policies between airlines. [5]

How late can an upgrade be requested?

Online requests can be made up to 24 hours before the flight, once the booking is confirmed and the ticket issued. [5]

Related pages

Programme: LifeMiles programme guide. How-to: how to redeem miles, partner award booking checklist, airline award taxes and surcharges guide. Regional background: best airline programmes for Latin America. Terms: glossary.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. LifeMiles is covered here as a Star Alliance frequent flyer programme; other member programmes, including MileagePlus, Miles & More and Aeroplan, and programmes outside the alliance are not covered.

1. Star Alliance: earn and redeem miles, checked 18 October 2026
2. Star Alliance member airlines, checked 18 October 2026