Miles and More program Lufthansa quietly implemented a significant set of upgrades to ITA flights in May 2026 and should you be flying to Italy this year, it is worth taking a second look at what your balance can do.

I have a kind of frustration that frequent fliers are well acquainted with: you have a solid base of miles, you are looking forward to a trip to Rome, and then you find out that the redemption deals are not as fat as you had imagined. To the Miles & More members flying ITA Airways, that frustration began to be alleviated in the spring of 2026 and as of May 1st, it started to be relieved quite a bit more.

The Italian carrier that emerged as the Italian Airlines after the Alitalia brand was forced out of the market in the aftermath of WWII, completed its transition out of SkyTeam and into Star Alliance on April 1, 2026. At the same time, the loyalty currency of the Lufthansa Group, which is called Miles & More, became the official program of ITA. This switch instantly unlocked mileage earning and redemption on ITA flights, as well as HON Circle Points to the business class traveler. However, the May 2026 update has gone a step further, as some significant gaps that have been pointed out by members have been addressed.

ITA and Lufthansa Group have a New Chapter

To appreciate the reasons as to why any of this is important, it is helpful to know a little back story. Alitalia had long been a financially crippled laggard, before it eventually collapsed in 2021. It was followed by ITA Airways which inherited routes, aircrafts and some workers but began anew on the business front. ITA was temporarily a member of the SkyTeam alliance, which placed it in excellent company with Air France, KLM, and Delta not a bad neighbourhood. But Lufthansa had other plan. 

The result? By April 2026, ITA had become a full member of the Star Alliance, Miles and More its rewards home, and ITA flights were now part of one of the oldest and most established frequent flyer programs in Europe. The May update is merely the next piece to that integration the piece that makes the partnership feel like it is an end in itself.

What Really Happened on May 1st

The largest news to common members: the redemption of awards on ITA has become significantly more extensive. The fact that you could not reserve ITA premium economy cabin with miles was a striking omission in the view of the fact that that cabin has become very popular on long-haul routes. That changes now. The Miles and More members will be able to redeem their miles to get premium economy seats on the ITA flights, which will provide an option which would be genuinely comfortable and at a price point that would be between the economy and the business class fares.

Upgrade Paths Have Just Become Easier

Among the more practical additions is the capability to redeem miles or eVouchers directly towards upgrades on the flights of ITA via the portal of miles-and-more.com. This bridges a gap that compelled members to workarounds or make phone calls. It is now self-service, which in the world of loyalty programs is virtually always the better of the two.

Also beginning May 4th, ITA flights are also part of the program rotating Mileage Bargains promotions, where hardcore Miles & More members watch closely. Mileage Bargains is basically a flash sale model of awards: a cut in the number of miles required to qualify for awards on specific routes over a set period. The inclusion of ITA to that inventory translates to an increase in the number of destinations in the mix and the appearance of Italy-bound routes in the mix is a true reason to watch the program more actively in future.

The Real Upgrade is received by Elite Members

Provided you have a Senator or an HON Circle status in Miles and More, the May update will carry a distinctly more beneficial set of benefits on ITA flights. The following are some of the new things that elite travelers can enjoy:

• The ITA Airways Service Centre provides senators and HON Circle members with a guaranteed booking feature to book sold-out flights through the service centre.
• Companion award flights are at 50% off the normal mileage price of a travel partner on the same ticket.
• Golf equipments (one piece) are free to comply with Senator and HON circle flyers.
• HON Circle members will have greater award availability on ITA flights, providing top-tier elites access to inventory that will not be available to other members.
• Status benefits, like those of HON Circle, can now be extended to a companion on the same booking, a significant benefit to frequent travelers who will often have a companion or colleague accompanying them.

The companion benefits, in particular, stand out. The ability to share your elite benefits, or half the cost of a mile spent by a travel partner, adds some real-life value, particularly to couples who travel together or business travelers with a client or a colleague on the same itinerary.

In Place Before May: The Foundation

It is worth mentioning that the May update is based on a strong base of benefits which are already in force since the April integration. Prior to these new additions, Miles & More elites flying ITA already enjoyed priority check-in, an additional bag checked, entry to a lounge, and an elevated waitlist priority. Priority boarding; Fast Lane security access; expedited baggage handling and free seat reservations (subject to availability and fare class) were already provided to the senators, and members of HON Circle.

Is this the Right Program to use during your trip to Italy?

That will depend upon the location of your miles. Miles and More has a reputation of being less easily transferred in the United States than major credit card programs in the United States such as Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards in large part because Lufthansa Group has historically limited direct transfers between major credit card programs in the United States. 

With that said, in case you already have a balance of Miles and More, whether through flying the Lufthansa Group airlines, earning points with partner cards, or over time, the ITA integration has made those miles meaningfully more flexible. Redeems in premium economy that require Mileage Bargains to get in, and elite companion benefits are not marginal adjustments. 

The bottom line

The shift of ITA to Star Alliance and the Miles and More ecosystem has been systematic as opposed to smooth, but the May 2026 benefit update is an unmistakable indication that the integration is maturing in the correct direction. It is now possible to book premium economy awards. ITA flights are included in Mileage Bargains. The perks of the elites have intensified significantly. It is actually a really good time to reconsider what your Miles and More balance can actually do deliver because lthe answer just got more interesting.