How to access HON Circle lounges

Which lounges can HON Circle Members use?

Miles & More presents First Class Lounge access as the opening item in its key benefits for HON Circle Members, describing an exclusive setting with the comforts and amenities of the lounges below. [1]

• Lufthansa First Class Lounges are named as part of the HON Circle lounge benefit. [1]
• SWISS First Lounges are named in the same benefit. [1]
• The Austrian HON Circle Lounge is named in the same benefit. [1]
• The lounges at the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt are named in the same benefit. [1]

The scope of the benefit is set by the airline being flown: Miles & More says HON Circle Members can enjoy the listed benefits when flying with Lufthansa Group airlines, co-issuing Miles & More airline partners and Star Alliance airlines. [1]

Inside the lounge experience, a personal assistant accompanies HON Circle Members on departure and arrival at the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, at the First Class Lounges in Frankfurt and Munich, and at other airports, handling the formalities discreetly. [1]

Who qualifies for HON Circle lounge access?

Access follows the status itself, not a separate lounge purchase. To achieve or renew HON Circle status, a member has to earn at least 6,000 HON Circle Points in a calendar year, and current progress is visible under the status area of the Miles & More account. [1]

When a member qualifies, Miles & More issues a black status card valid for at least one year, together with black bag tags. [1] Membership also includes Star Alliance Gold status, which the program says allows status benefits on all flights operated by Star Alliance airlines. [1]

Two further benefits matter for planning. Miles do not expire while the member remains a status member. [1] A HON Circle Member can also temporarily overdraw the Miles & More account by up to 100,000 miles. [1] When a member reaches a certain number of HON Circle Points per calendar year, additional benefits arrive automatically, such as upgrade vouchers and a Frequent Traveller partner card including miles or mileage packages. [1]

New to the program? Start here with Miles & More before working through the status levels.

What does the airport day look like?

The lounge sits inside a wider set of airport benefits. HON Circle Members can use the check-in at the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, First Class check-in or Premium check-in. [1] An exclusive chauffeur and transfer service brings them to the aircraft and back to the terminal. [1] A personal HON Circle Service is staffed 24 hours in selected markets, with the exact opening hours published under Help & Contact. [1] Members also board among the first passengers, so carry-on baggage can be stowed without a rush. [1] Checked bags travel with priority and arrive among the first on the baggage carousel. [1]

How does HON Circle status help with award flights?

Until 14 days before departure, a HON Circle Member and up to three travel companions get the best availability when booking Award Flights on Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Lufthansa City or SWISS, even when no more award seats are open on that flight, provided the required number of seats is available for purchase in the chosen travel class (Economy, Premium Economy or Business). [1] The companions must travel with the member in the same travel class, and bookings are made through the HON Circle Service. [1] That guaranteed availability does not apply to Fly Smart Award Flights, which can be booked within 14 days of departure. [1]

Upgrade vouchers work alongside the lounges: qualifying or renewing as a HON Circle Member brings four eVouchers to fly one class higher. [1] For the booking itself, see how to book Lufthansa Miles & More awards.

Can you buy Star Alliance lounge access without status?

Star Alliance sells paid lounge entry as a separate product covering over 1,000 lounges worldwide. [8] To buy it, the traveler must be flying on a Star Alliance member carrier flight, and no frequent flyer status or business class ticket is required once the access has been purchased through the reservation website. [8] At the entrance, the lounge reservation and a boarding pass for the same day of travel must be presented, and identification may be requested at any time. [8] Entry is limited to the lounge that was booked. [8]

A reservation can cover up to nine people including the person booking, guests enter only in the presence of the person named on the reservation, and the booker must be at least 18 years old. [8] The reservation provides for a maximum three-hour stay unless the access document or the lounge states otherwise. [8] Policies on children differ between lounge providers, with some offering complimentary access for children and others charging for each child. [8]

Exceptions and limits

• Airline scope. The HON Circle benefits described here are offered when flying with Lufthansa Group airlines, co-issuing Miles & More airline partners and Star Alliance airlines. [1]
• Annual renewal. At least 6,000 HON Circle Points are needed within a calendar year both to achieve and to renew the status, so the lounge benefit depends on repeating that total each year. [1]
• Paid entry is narrow. A Star Alliance paid reservation is valid only for the chosen lounge, on the date and time booked, with a same-day boarding pass. [8]
• Refunds on paid entry. A reservation is fully refunded if it is canceled more than 24 hours before the estimated entry time because the flight was canceled or delayed by more than 4 hours; where there is no cancellation, or the flight was not canceled or delayed by more than 4 hours, the reservation is not refunded, and a booking made less than 24 hours before entry is only partly refunded, excluding a service fee of 5% of the total transaction. [8]
• Partner card. On request, Miles & More awards a HON Circle Member's spouse or partner Senator status for as long as the member remains a HON Circle Member. [1]

Frequently asked questions

How many HON Circle Points do you need for lounge access?

At least 6,000 HON Circle Points in a calendar year, which is the threshold to achieve or renew HON Circle status. [1]

Which lounges can HON Circle Members use?

Lufthansa First Class Lounges, SWISS First Lounges, the Austrian HON Circle Lounge and the lounges at the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt. [1]

Do HON Circle lounge benefits apply on partner airlines?

Yes. Miles & More says the benefits apply when flying with Lufthansa Group airlines, co-issuing Miles & More airline partners and Star Alliance airlines. [1]

Does HON Circle membership include Star Alliance Gold?

It does, and that status brings benefits on all flights operated by Star Alliance airlines. [1]

Can you buy lounge access instead of earning HON Circle status?

Star Alliance sells paid entry to over 1,000 lounges, but the traveler must be flying on a Star Alliance member carrier flight and must present the reservation with a same-day boarding pass. [8]

Related pages

Program: Miles & More credit cards and program details. Getting started: Start here with Miles & More. Booking: How to book Lufthansa Miles & More awards, Miles & More award stopover guide, Buying Miles & More miles. Vocabulary: frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. This page reports no account test. It covers Miles & More HON Circle only; other Star Alliance programs such as United MileagePlus and Air Canada Aeroplan, and programs outside Star Alliance such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue and The British Airways Club, are not covered here.

1. Miles & More HON Circle status and benefits, checked 18 October 2026
2. Star Alliance paid lounge access and FAQ, checked 18 October 2026