Lufthansa, Austrian and Swiss are among latest to tie miles to airfare

Most big US airlines have already stopped doling out frequent-flier miles based on the distance of a flight. Instead, they’ve moved to systems that offer miles (or points) based on the fare a flier has paid. Now that trend is spreading in Europe, where Lufthansa Group has become the latest to switch to such a scheme. Starting March 12, the carriers’ collective Miles & More frequent-flier program will move to a revenue-based system for awarding miles. Members of the program will receive a base of 4 miles per euro spent. Elite frequent-flier members will earn either 5 or 6 miles per euro, depending on which Miles & More airline they’re flying. That elite-level bonus falls fall short of what US carriers offer to their elite members. At Delta, for example, its basic earning rate of 5 miles per dollar more than doubles to 11 per dollar for its top-level elite fliers. Fliers with intermediate elite status earn anywhere between 7, 8 or 9 miles per dollar. American and United have similar structures. The Lufthansa Group says tickets purchased in US dollars will earn award miles “commensurate with the euro-dollar exchange rate.” “With this change, Lufthansa Group is setting up a flexible system that’s able to credit award miles based on the price of the ticket,” the Lufthansa Group said. Lufthansa says the process for earning elite status – which is based on factors that include the actual distance of flights – is not changing. Also not changing, according to the airline group, are existing elite-level status or perks.<br/>