Miles & More Welcome Bonus 2026: Current Bonuses at a Glance

Quick answer: Current M&M welcome bonuses (until 31 December 2026): Gold Private and Gold Business 4,000 miles + 40 points each. Blue Private 500 miles, Blue Business 1,000 miles, both + 40 points. New in September: apply between 1 and 30 September 2026 and the Blue Credit Card comes with 12 months of no card fee (saves €66). The 40 points have been part of the welcome bonus again since July 2026. Recommendation: Blue Private for mileage-expiration protection (now free in year one), Gold for the insurance package. Combine with AMEX Gold + PAYBACK AMEX for maximum points.

The Miles & More credit cards start the autumn with a new promotion: apply for the Blue Credit Card in September 2026 and you pay no card fee for 12 months — the cheapest M&M card is completely free in its first year. On top of that, the 40 status points that had disappeared in spring 2026 have been part of the welcome bonus of all four cards again since July.

Here you’ll learn which card is worth it for you and how to lock in the bonus.

The current welcome bonuses

Card	Welcome bonus	Campaign until	Annual fee	Apply for card
Gold Business	4,000 miles + 40 points	31 December 2026	€11.50/month	Get it now*
Gold Private	4,000 miles + 40 points	31 December 2026	€11.50/month	Get it now*
Blue Business	1,000 miles + 40 points + 12 months of no card fee	Free-card promo: 30 September 2026	€5.50/month	Get it now*
Blue Private	500 miles + 40 points + 12 months of no card fee	Free-card promo: 30 September 2026	€5.50/month	Get it now*

The Blue free-card promotion is time-limited. If your card application for a Blue Credit Card arrives between 1 and 30 September 2026, the monthly card fee of €5.50 is waived for the first 12 billing months — saving €66. Applies to Blue Private and Blue Business (not the “Blue Credit Card für Unternehmen” corporate card). From month 13 the regular card fee applies. The €100 Lufthansa voucher on the Gold cards expired on 31 August 2026.

The conditions people tend to skip

• No frequent flyer status: The miles-and-points bonus is only credited if you hold no frequent flyer status at the time of application. As a Frequent Traveller, Senator or HON member you get nothing.
• New customer rule: No Miles & More credit card issued by Deutsche Bank may have been active in your name in the last 12 months.
• Keep it for 12 months: If you cancel or switch the card product within the first year, the miles and points are clawed back.
• Not combinable with benefits from other promotions.

Which card is right?

Gold cards (4,000 miles)

Advantages:

• Higher welcome bonus
• 1 mile per €2 spend (1 mile per €1 on Business when abroad)
• Travel insurance included
• Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status

Worth it for:

• Card spend over €500/month
• Anyone who needs travel insurance
• Anyone actively collecting miles

Recommendation: The Miles & More Gold Business* is the best entry point for self-employed people and anyone who wants to actively collect miles.

Blue cards (500-1,000 miles)

Advantages:

• Lower annual fee (€66 vs €138) — even 12 months free if you apply in September
• Mileage-expiration protection: every transaction resets the 36-month timer
• A good entry into the Miles & More system

Worth it for:

• Beginners at collecting miles
• Lower monthly card spend
• Anyone who already has other travel insurance

Business vs. Private?

The cards are nearly identical. The difference:

• Business cards: For the self-employed, freelancers, entrepreneurs — separate billing for business expenses
• Private cards: For everyone else

Tip: Small business owners and freelancers can apply for business cards too.

How to lock in the bonus

Step 1: Choose a card

Decide between Gold or Blue, Business or Private. When in doubt: Gold Business has the best value for money for active collectors.

Step 2: Apply online

The application takes about 10 minutes:

1. Go to the Miles & More website
2. Select a credit card
3. Enter your personal details
4. Verify your identity (VideoIdent or PostIdent)
5. Submit the application

Step 3: Reach the minimum spend

For the full welcome bonus, a minimum spend in the first few months is usually required. The exact conditions are stated in the application.

Step 4: Get your miles credited

The welcome miles are automatically credited to your Miles & More account — usually within 4-6 weeks after you meet the conditions.

What you can do with 4,000 miles

4,000 miles sounds like a little — but it’s a good start:

• Upgrade: 4,000 miles can enable an upgrade on a short-haul flight
• Collect: Combined with other strategies, your account grows quickly
• Donate: Miles & More offers mileage donations for charitable causes

The real value lies in the system: once set up, you collect miles on every card transaction — and the cards protect your miles from expiring.

Miles & More vs. AMEX — Which is better?

Miles & More cards are ideal for Lufthansa frequent flyers. But for maximum point yield, combining them with AMEX cards is worthwhile.

Important to know: AMEX Membership Rewards CANNOT be transferred directly to Miles & More. They’re two separate systems. But AMEX MR offer significantly higher welcome bonuses (up to 250,000 points) and their own redemption options.

More on this:

• Miles & More vs AMEX: What’s the difference?
• Redeeming AMEX points: The complete guide
• Booking business class with miles

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for multiple cards?

Yes, you can have both a business and a private card. Both bonuses are credited.

Are there still the 40 status points as a bonus?

Yes. The 40 points did drop out between May and June 2026, but they have been part of the welcome bonus again since July 2026 — on both the Gold and the Blue cards. The condition is that you hold no frequent flyer status when you apply.

How does the Blue “12 months of no card fee” promotion work?

If your card application for a Blue Credit Card (Private or Business) arrives between 1 and 30 September 2026, the monthly card fee of €5.50 is waived for the first 12 billing months — a total saving of €66. From month 13 the regular fee applies. The promotion cannot be combined with other promotional offers and does not apply to the “Blue Credit Card für Unternehmen” corporate card. The welcome bonus (500 or 1,000 miles + 40 points) is credited on top as usual.

Is the €100 Lufthansa voucher still available?

No. The voucher promotion on the Gold cards only ran for applications from 31 July to 31 August 2026 and has expired. The Gold cards keep their 4,000 miles + 40 points (promotion until 31 December 2026).

Do I need a Miles & More account?

Yes, but it’s free and created in 2 minutes. You can set it up directly during the card application.

Is the card worth it even without a high welcome bonus?

For frequent flyers, yes — collecting miles on every transaction adds up, and the cards protect all your existing miles from expiring.

All cards at a glance

Besides Miles & More, there are other cards with strong welcome bonuses. Here’s the complete overview:

See also: Credit cards with a welcome bonus 2026: Current overview

Conclusion

The Miles & More credit cards are a solid building block in the miles system:

• 4,000 miles welcome bonus (Gold)
• Mileage-expiration protection for M&M miles
• Cheapest entry with Blue Private (€5.50/month — free in year one if you apply by 30 September 2026)

My recommendation: Apply for Miles & More Gold Business now*

---

The Miles & More credit card is a solid building block in the miles system. The Premium Handbook shows you how to optimally combine it with AMEX cards and reach 500,000+ points a year.