Miles & More Credit Card 2026: Which One Is Worth It? (Review)
Miles & More credit card in an honest review: Blue vs Gold, personal vs business. Current terms, earn rates & whether the card is still worth it in 2026.
By David Lesnik Status:
Quick answer: For most people, the M&M Blue Personal (€5.50/month) is enough. Main value: mileage expiry protection (all miles remain valid indefinitely from card issuance, regardless of card spend). Gold Personal (€11.50/month) is worth it for the insurance package. Business cards earn double (1 mile/€1). Honest take: M&M cards alone aren’t enough – combine them with an AMEX Gold + PAYBACK AMEX.
When your miles expire and how to prevent it: Miles & More miles expiry. How status works with Points and Qualifying Points: Miles & More status 2026
The Miles & More credit card is Germany’s most popular frequent flyer card. But is it really worth it? In this honest review, I compare all 4 variants - Blue and Gold, personal and business - with current terms after the Deutsche Bank takeover.
Spoiler: The M&M credit card alone isn’t enough for fast mileage earning. But as part of a strategy, it’s indispensable.
All 4 Miles & More credit cards at a glance
| Card | Fee | Bonus | Earn rate | For whom? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Personal* | €5.50/month | 500 miles | 1 mile/€2 | Beginners |
| Gold Personal* | €11.50/month | 20,000 miles + 4 lounge vouchers | 1 mile/€2 | Travelers |
| Blue Business* | €5.50/month | 1,000 miles | 1 mile/€1 | Self-employed |
| Gold Business* | €11.50/month | 50,000 miles + 4 lounge vouchers | 1 mile/€1 | Self-employed with travel needs |
As of 7 November 2026: The Gold cards come with a much bigger welcome bonus: 20,000 miles (Gold Personal) or 50,000 miles (Gold Business), each plus 4 lounge vouchers and 40 points if you apply between 1 October and 30 November 2026. The Blue cards keep 500/1,000 miles + 40 points (until 31 December 2026). The +40 points have been part of the welcome bonus on all four cards again since July 2026 (on the Gold cards only without frequent flyer status). The Blue promotion with 12 months of no card fee expired on 30 September 2026.
More on this: Miles & More Welcome Bonus 2026: Current Bonuses at a Glance
Miles & More Blue Credit Card (Personal)
The M&M Blue* is the entry-level card in the Miles & More system - and it has one decisive advantage that has nothing to do with earning miles.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | €5.50/month (€66/year) |
| Welcome bonus | 500 miles |
| Earn rate | 1 mile per €2 |
| Mileage expiry protection | Yes (valid indefinitely while you hold the card) |
| Minimum spend | None |
| Card network | Mastercard |
| Payment with miles | 1,650 miles/month instead of €5.50 |
When the Blue is worth it
The most important reason for the M&M Blue isn’t earning miles - it’s the mileage expiry protection.
Without protection, Miles & More miles expire 36 months after they were earned, at the end of the quarter — each mile by its own date. With an M&M Blue or Gold Credit Card, all miles remain valid indefinitely from the moment the card is issued, regardless of card spend. Only after you cancel the card does normal expiry apply again (with a grace period of at least 3 months after the end of the quarter).
This is especially important if you:
- transfer PAYBACK points to Miles & More and want to “park” the miles there
- earn miles from flights and need time to gather enough for an award flight
- use a mileage pool with family or friends
More on this: Miles & More Mileage Pool: Earning Together
Advantages
- Mileage expiry protection (most important reason!)
- Mastercard acceptance (broader than AMEX)
- No minimum spend for the welcome bonus
- Fee alternatively payable with miles (1,650 miles/month)
- Contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Disadvantages
- Weak earn rate: only 1 mile per €2
- Small welcome bonus: 500 miles
- No insurance, no lounge access
- €5.50/month for little value
Miles & More Gold Credit Card (Personal)
The M&M Gold* is the premium variant with an insurance package and partner benefits - but the same weak earn rate as the Blue.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | €11.50/month (€138/year) |
| Welcome bonus | 20,000 miles + 4 lounge vouchers + 40 points (apply by 30 November 2026) |
| Earn rate | 1 mile per €2 |
| Mileage expiry protection | Yes (valid indefinitely while you hold the card) |
| Insurance | Travel health, trip cancellation, rental car |
| Hotel status | Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite |
| Minimum spend | None |
| Card network | Mastercard |
| Payment with miles | 3,450 miles/month instead of €11.50 |
What the Gold offers on top
Insurance package:
- Travel health insurance (worldwide)
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to €5,000)
- Rental car supplemental insurance (up to €75,000)
- Telemedicine (video doctor in German/English)
Partner benefits:
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status (late checkout, 10% bonus points)
- Avis up to 30% discount + 5 miles per euro (at least 1,000 miles per rental)
- Flexiroam: 5x yearly 1 GB free data
- 2x yearly free cash withdrawal abroad
- 15% Worldshop discount (one-time)
- Up to 25,000 miles/year convertible into status points
Advantages
- Everything from the Blue + insurance package
- Travel health insurance saves a separate policy
- Marriott Silver Elite status (nice extra)
- 20,000 miles welcome bonus + 4 lounge vouchers (significantly more than Blue; apply by 30 November 2026)
- Fee payable with miles (3,450 miles/month)
Disadvantages
- Same weak earn rate as Blue: 1 mile per €2
- €138/year is a lot for the value offered
- No Priority Pass, no permanent lounge access (only time-limited: 4 lounge vouchers when you apply by 30 November 2026)
- Insurance has lower coverage limits than AMEX cards
- Marriott Silver is only base status (no upgrade, no breakfast)
Miles & More Business Cards (for the self-employed)
The business variants have one decisive advantage: double earn rate.
| Feature | Blue Business | Gold Business |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | €5.50/month (€66/year) | €11.50/month (€138/year) |
| Welcome bonus | 1,000 miles | 50,000 miles + 4 lounge vouchers (apply by 30 November 2026) |
| Earn rate | 1 mile per €1 | 1 mile per €1 |
| Insurance | No | Yes (like Gold Personal) |
| Requirement | Self-employment | Self-employment |
Why Business is significantly better
The double earn rate makes a huge difference:
| Monthly spend | Personal card (1/€2) | Business card (1/€1) |
|---|---|---|
| €1,000 | 500 miles | 1,000 miles |
| €3,000 | 1,500 miles | 3,000 miles |
| €5,000 | 2,500 miles | 5,000 miles |
With €3,000 in monthly spend, you earn 36,000 miles per year with the business card instead of just 18,000.
Anyone who can become self-employed (even part-time) should always choose the business variant. The Blue Business (€5.50/month, 1 mile per €1) offers the best value for money in the entire M&M card program.
Apply for Blue Business* | Apply for Gold Business*
Comparison: Blue vs Gold - which is worth it?
| Criterion | Blue (€5.50/mo.) | Gold (€11.50/mo.) |
|---|---|---|
| Earn rate | 1 mile/€2 | 1 mile/€2 |
| Welcome bonus | 500 miles | 20,000 miles + 4 lounge vouchers |
| Mileage expiry protection | Yes | Yes |
| Insurance | No | Yes |
| Hotel status | No | Marriott Silver |
| Fee in mile value | 19,800 miles/year | 41,400 miles/year |
My verdict: For most people, the Blue is enough. You pay €66/year just for the mileage expiry protection and Mastercard acceptance. The Gold is only worth it if you really need the travel insurance and don’t have another card that covers it.
Calculation example Gold: You first have to earn back the €138/year fee through value. With the current 20,000-mile bonus (applications until 30 November 2026), the welcome miles alone cover the first year’s fee several times over at a business class redemption — in the past, the 4,000-mile standard bonus only offset about a third of it. Depending on your travel habits, the insurance is worth €100-300 - but only if you actually need it.
Honest comparison: M&M credit card vs AMEX
Here’s where it gets interesting - and honest:
| Criterion | M&M Gold (€138/yr.) | AMEX Gold* (€240/yr.) |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 20,000 miles (Personal) / 50,000 miles (Business), until 30 November 2026 | 50,000 MR |
| Earn rate | 1 mile/€2 | 1 MR/€ |
| Welcome bonus value | ~€375-750 (Personal, at the same 1.9-3.75 cents per mile) | ~€500-1,000 |
| Mobility credit | No | €290/year |
| Transfer partners | Only M&M | 9 airlines |
| Hotel status | Marriott Silver | No |
| Insurance | Yes (basic) | Yes |
| Acceptance | Mastercard (broad) | AMEX (limited) |
The uncomfortable truth: The AMEX Gold* is superior in almost every respect. 10x the welcome bonus, double the earn rate, €290 mobility credit, more transfer partners.
But: AMEX MR points cannot be transferred directly to Miles & More. The detour via PAYBACK (3:1) isn’t worth it. More on this: AMEX vs Miles & More Comparison
Why you still need an M&M credit card
- Mileage expiry protection - Your M&M miles (from flights, PAYBACK transfers, mileage pools) don’t expire
- Mastercard - Works everywhere AMEX isn’t accepted
- Direct M&M miles - No transfer needed, no waiting time
- PAYBACK strategy - You transfer PAYBACK points to M&M and protect the miles with the card
The optimal combination: AMEX for maximum points + M&M card for mileage expiry protection and acceptance. You’ll find detailed card combinations in the Premium Handbook.
Which M&M card is worth it for whom?
You only want mileage expiry protection
→ Blue Personal* (€5.50/month). Cheapest protection, Mastercard acceptance as a backup.
You need travel insurance
→ Gold Personal* (€11.50/month). Travel health + trip cancellation included. But check first whether your other card doesn’t already cover that.
You’re self-employed and want maximum miles
→ Gold Business* (€11.50/month). Double earn rate (1:1) + insurance. The best overall package.
You’re self-employed and want to save
→ Blue Business* (€5.50/month). Double earn rate at half the price. Best value for money.
You don’t want an M&M card at all
Then you still need a solution for mileage expiry: without a card or status, every mile expires 36 months after it was earned, at the end of the quarter — earning regularly does not reset this deadline. Without a card, your only option is to redeem miles before their expiry date.
Deutsche Bank takeover: What has changed
Since October 2025, the Miles & More credit cards have been issued by Deutsche Bank instead of DKB. What has changed:
- Pricing model: Now monthly billing instead of yearly
- Benefits: All previous benefits carried over and partly expanded
- Miles as payment: Fee can be paid with miles
- App: Credit card banking directly in the Miles & More app
What has stayed the same: Earn rates, mileage expiry protection, welcome bonuses, Mastercard network.
Autumn promotion: 20,000 or 50,000 miles on the Gold cards
Since 1 October 2026 the Gold cards carry the biggest welcome bonus in years: 20,000 miles on the Gold Private and 50,000 miles on the Gold Business, each plus 4 lounge vouchers and 40 points. The promotion applies to card applications received by 30 November 2026. Each lounge voucher grants one-time access to a Lufthansa Business Lounge (valid Lufthansa Group ticket required), is valid for 12 months and is delivered to your Miles & More inbox no later than 8 weeks after the promotion ends.
The +40 points add-on was only a short gap: it expired at the end of April 2026, was unavailable in May and June, and has been part of the welcome bonus again since July 2026 — on Blue Private, Blue Business, Gold Private and Gold Business alike. On the Blue cards the campaign runs until 31 December 2026; on the Gold cards the points are part of the autumn package for applications by 30 November 2026. The Blue promotion with 12 months of no card fee (applications 1 to 30 September 2026) has expired; the €100 Lufthansa voucher on the Gold cards ended on 31 August 2026.
| Card | Miles | Points | Extra | Campaign until |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Private | 20,000 | 40 | 4 lounge vouchers | Apply by 30 November 2026 |
| Gold Business | 50,000 | 40 | 4 lounge vouchers | Apply by 30 November 2026 |
| Blue Business | 1,000 | 40 | – | 31 December 2026 |
| Blue Private | 500 | 40 | – | 31 December 2026 |
Warning: No Gold bonus with status. On the Gold cards, miles, points and lounge vouchers fall away if you already hold a frequent flyer status at the time of application. For Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON members the Gold welcome bonus is therefore dead — that is the single most important piece of fine print in this campaign. (The Blue terms do not mention this restriction.)
What the 40 points are worth: they count directly toward the status thresholds (Frequent Traveller needs 650 points + 325 qualifying points per calendar year). They won’t buy you a status outright, but as a head start within the running year they are a genuine addition — which is exactly why Miles & More ties them to the condition that you don’t have a status yet.
My experience
I use the M&M credit card primarily for two things: mileage expiry protection and as a backup card where AMEX isn’t accepted. For active mileage earning, I use AMEX - the earn rate and bonuses are simply significantly better.
But without an M&M card, my Miles & More miles would expire after 36 months. Those are miles from PAYBACK transfers, from the mileage pool, and from occasional flights. The €5.50 per month for the Blue is a cheap insurance for that.
My setup: AMEX Gold* as the main card + M&M Blue as a backup and expiry protection + PAYBACK AMEX* for the PAYBACK-to-M&M transfer.
Pro tip: The optimal card combination depends on your spending profile. In the Premium Handbook you’ll find concrete card setups for beginners, advanced users, and maximizers - including the points machine for maximum miles.
Tip: M&M or AMEX — which is worth more? Our earning calculator calculates how many miles and points you earn per year based on your monthly spend — personalized for 8 credit cards.
More on this: With a little PAYBACK top-up, the Gold Card welcome bonus is already enough for a Eurowings award flight from 7,500 miles: Booking Eurowings with miles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Miles & More credit card worth it?
For pure mileage earning: No, the earn rate (1 mile per €2) is too weak. But as mileage expiry protection it’s indispensable. As long as you hold an M&M Blue or Gold Credit Card, your Miles & More miles do not expire — regardless of card spend. The cheapest option is the Blue Personal* for €5.50/month.
Which is better: Miles & More Blue or Gold?
The Blue (€5.50/month) is enough for most people. It offers mileage expiry protection and Mastercard acceptance. The Gold (€11.50/month) is only worth it if you actually need the included travel insurance (travel health, trip cancellation, rental car) and don’t have another card that covers it.
Can I transfer AMEX points to Miles & More?
Not directly. The detour via PAYBACK (3 MR = 1 point = 1 mile) is technically possible, but at 3:1 it’s value destruction. You’re better off transferring AMEX points to the 9 airline partners (British Airways, Flying Blue, Singapore Airlines, and others). More on this: AMEX vs Miles & More Comparison
Do my Miles & More miles expire with the credit card?
No. With a Miles & More Blue or Gold Credit Card, all miles remain valid indefinitely from the moment the card is issued — regardless of card spend, so you don’t need to use the card regularly. This applies to all 4 variants (Blue, Gold, Personal, Business). After cancellation, normal expiry applies again (36 months from earning, at the end of the quarter), with a grace period of at least 3 months after the end of the quarter in which the cancellation took effect. All the rules: Miles & More miles expiry.
Is the business variant worth it?
Yes, the business cards earn 1 mile per €1 instead of 1 per €2 - so twice as fast. The Blue Business* (€5.50/month) offers the best value for money in the entire M&M card program. Requirement: self-employment or a company.
How much does the Miles & More credit card cost?
The Blue* costs €5.50/month (€66/year), the Gold* €11.50/month (€138/year). Since the Deutsche Bank takeover (October 2025), billing is monthly. Alternatively, you can pay the fee with miles: 1,650 miles/month (Blue) or 3,450 miles/month (Gold).
Do I need the M&M credit card if I have AMEX?
Yes, for two reasons: First, the M&M card protects your Miles & More miles from expiring (AMEX can’t do that, since they’re separate systems). Second, Mastercard is accepted much more broadly than AMEX. The optimal combination: AMEX Gold* as the main card + M&M Blue as backup and expiry protection.
Conclusion: Indispensable, but not for earning miles
The Miles & More credit card is not a good tool for earning miles - the earn rate is too low and the welcome bonuses too small compared to AMEX cards.
But it’s indispensable as:
- Mileage expiry protection (most important reason)
- Backup card (Mastercard acceptance)
- Complement to the AMEX + PAYBACK system
My recommendation:
- M&M Blue Personal* for most people (€5.50/month, enough as expiry protection)
- M&M Blue Business* for the self-employed (€5.50/month, double earn rate)
- Combined with AMEX Gold* (€240/year, 50,000 MR) as the main card
- Plus the free PAYBACK AMEX* for the PAYBACK-to-M&M transfer
Note as of 7 November 2026: The +40 points have been part of the welcome bonus again since July 2026 (on the Gold cards only without an existing frequent flyer status). The Gold cards currently come with 20,000 miles (Private) or 50,000 miles (Business) + 4 lounge vouchers if you apply by 30 November 2026; the Blue cards keep 500/1,000 miles + 40 points until 31 December 2026. The Blue promotion with 12 months of no card fee expired on 30 September 2026.
All cards in a direct comparison: The 5 Best Credit Cards for Earning Miles | Free alternatives: Free Credit Cards for Earning Miles
You’ll find the optimal card combination, the ideal setup for beginners and maximizers, and the points machine for maximum miles in the Premium Handbook.
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David Lesnik · Founder of MEILENKÖNIG
Expert for miles, points, and credit card strategies. Helps travelers fly business & first class for a fraction of the price.