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Exceptional Lufthansa and SWISS companion fares on flights from Italy

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SWISS and Lufthansa have launched some fantastic First and business class fares from Italy. Unfortunately, these are companion fares which require two people to travel – bad luck if you are a solo traveller.

From Milan, the best fares in business class are (per person):

Singapore €1090
Hong Kong €1180
Bangkok €1180

Exceptional Lufthansa / SWISS companion fares from Italy

Seoul €1250
Delhi €945
Sao Paolo €1200
Johannesburg €1300

Flights from Europe to Singapore for less than £1000 in business class are, frankly, a steal. The caveat is that these fares are from Italian starting points, so you must position yourself there first. You will also be connecting in Switzerland or Germany, so it will be a long day.

The full list of starting points is Ancona, Bologna, Bari, Cagliari, Catania, Rome, Florence, Genoa, Milan (Linate & Malpensa), Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Pisa, Rimini, Lamezia Terme, Turin, Trieste, Venice and Verona.

These fares are widely available. You can virtually take your pick from dates between May and August 2020, and in theory they are available from 21st October 2019.

First Class is on offer as well. You’ll find (per person):

Bangkok €2150
Shanghai €2170
Singapore €2470
Seoul €2670
Hong Kong €2780

There is slightly less availability on these First Class fares, although you can find them from May until August 2020.

You must book by 3rd November and stay for at least six nights.  You can see our review of SWISS business class here, Lufthansa business class review here and our review of First Class on Lufthansa as well as a review of SWISS First Class, too.

Rob recommends Lufthansa First Class over SWISS – because of the excellent food and service (the seat is nothing special) and because of the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt where you get driven to your plane.  For business class he leans towards SWISS although, as these are companion fares, the main problem with Lufthsansa – having to play footsie with your neighbour on the shared footrest – is less of a concern!

You can’t earn Avios from these flights as both airlines are in Star Alliance, not oneworld.  Our article from yesterday on how to earn Star Alliance miles from credit cards will give you a few tips on topping up what you will earn.

If you don’t have a credit card with 0% foreign exchange fees, your best option for paying is American Express Preferred Rewards Gold which offers triple points – 3 per £1 – when you book flight tickets in a foreign currency.  This is because the transaction triggers the ‘double points for airline spend’ and the ‘double points for foreign spend’ bonuses.  Our review of Amex Gold is here.

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How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards

How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)

None of the Star Alliance airlines currently have a UK credit card.

There is, however, still a way to earn Star Alliance miles from a UK credit card. 

The route is via Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty points convert to over 40 airlines at the rate of 3:1.

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is via the official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card. It comes with 20,000 points for signing up and 2 points for every £1 you spend. At 2 Bonvoy points per £1, you are earning (at 3:1) 0.66 airline miles per £1 spent on the card.

There is a preferential conversion rate to United Airlines – which is a Star Alliance member – of 2 : 1 if you convert 60,000 Bonvoy points at once.

The Star Alliance members which are Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are: Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points for signing up and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

Category

Lufthansa and Miles & More

Comments (78)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Roger* says:
    15 Oct15 October 14:13

    ON Topic (What??!!)

    I’m trying to find the SWISS offer to Johannesburg ideally from Milan. Can’t find anything that shows the €1,300 price. Grateful for your help.

    • Rhys says:
      15 Oct15 October 14:20

      There’s very good availability on Johannesburg, even in December and January (peak). Make sure you are staying at least 6 nights, are searching for 2 people in business, otherwise the fares won’t show.

      • Roger* says:
        15 Oct15 October 14:46

        Thanks, Rhys, for your quick response.

        Yes, I did all that. The article showed a LH link and mentioned an LX link. Do you have it up your sleeve, please?

        • Roger* says:
          15 Oct15 October 16:36

          Thanks, Rhys. I think it may be in part an availabilty issue.

          For info, I can’t find a dedicated LX page, On the LH website, LX flights are offered on some dates and ‘sold out’ on others. The best I can find at the moment for Feb/March 2020 are about €6,145 for two. I’ll try later to look for the €1,300 p.p. fares.

          Why SWISS? Simply because we could get an unbudgeted extra family visit in Zurich.

  • Boi says:
    15 Oct15 October 16:27

    OT:
    Does anyone know which rate Amex use for forex? I stayed at a Marriott (Germany) just this weekend gone. At the time the rate would have been £201. The £ has strengthened and now it’s below £200. I am gutted coz I can’t see the charge on my card yet )and it’s now Tuesday). Will Amex use today’s rate or Saturday/Sunday rate?
    And if I am like £2 short can I go to a participating Marriott and buy a drink? Would that be charged as Marriott or restaurant?
    Ordinarily I would be happy with £ gain but this time it might cost us £100 (my sister also used the deal).

    • SimonW says:
      15 Oct15 October 17:01

      Have you added the 2.99% FX charge ??

    • PaulC says:
      15 Oct15 October 17:33

      You can check how much AMEX will charge under Benefits & Help>Check Foreign Transactions Exchange Rates.
      They will take the date the transaction took place and always posts a few days later I got told on Chat.
      I booked Hilton Conrad Hong Kong and Macao on Sunday and its still not shoing in Pending yet but I know how much I will be charged in fees etc.

  • Kevin says:
    15 Oct15 October 16:38

    OT – If I make an advanced purchase room rate booking does my card get charged straight away, or when I complete my stay? Also, with regards to the Marriott £50 off £200 offer on AMEXs, is the foreign transaction fee included in the minimum spend? Or does it need to hit £200 before the foreign transaction fee?

    • Charlieface says:
      16 Oct16 October 01:26

      Depends on the individual hotel. You need to call them directly.
      Sometimes it’s immediate, sometimes a couple weeks before, sometimes at check in, rarely at check out

  • Sussex Bantam says:
    15 Oct15 October 16:43

    OT – Marriott’s autumn offer is now available. I didn’t get an email but it was in my promotions section when I logged into their website.

    My offer is 2K points after two stays and then a “new surprise offer” after I complete that…

  • Harry T says:
    15 Oct15 October 17:47

    OT:
    Couple of Post Offices near me have insisted Monese top ups must be with cash. Just an FYI. One of the branches previously wasn’t aware of this, though it was a different staff member this time.

  • Munch says:
    15 Oct15 October 18:47

    OT Any one had any luck receiving the 15% back from a Brook + Wilde offer on Amex? I’ve just finished my spend target on a Platinum and was looking to cancel my card. If I know I was definitely going to receive the statement credit I will probably wait. I understand the T&C’s say up to 90 days – anyone received the credit quicker?

  • Bach says:
    15 Oct15 October 19:26

    OT – I have 800 odd flying blue miles expiring, anything to do with them?

    • BJ says:
      15 Oct15 October 20:35

      Sign up for Opinion Points (or whatever it’s called) on the Flying Blue partner page to bag 300 points. Link an Accor account to Flying Blue and transfer the miles into hotel credit.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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