Lufthansa Miles & More · LH

When Does Lufthansa Release Award Seats? (2026 Guide)

Quick answer: Lufthansa releases award seats exactly 360 days before departure through Lufthansa Miles & More, at midnight in Frankfurt (CET/CEST). New inventory loads on a rolling basis — every day at midnight, a fresh date 360 days from now becomes bookable.

Last verified: May 22, 2026

Release Window

T-360

days before departure

Time of Day

Midnight

Frankfurt (CET/CEST)

Loyalty Program

Lufthansa Miles & More

Where you book Lufthansa award seats

Lufthansa Award Release Schedule

Maximum advance	360 days before departure
Typical advance	360 days before departure
Time of day	Midnight, Frankfurt (CET/CEST)
Release cadence	Rolling daily — one new day at T-360 opens each midnight
Partner release rules	Partners typically see the same T-360 window with reduced inventory; check individual partner programs for exceptions
Last-minute releases	Often a second wave at T-14, T-7, and T-24h as unsold premium seats are dumped to awards
Program reference	https://www.miles-and-more.com/

How Lufthansa's Release Pattern Works

Lufthansa First Class opens to partners ~14 days out; Lufthansa-operated awards go up 360 days out.

How to Book Lufthansa Award Seats the Moment They Open

Calculate the exact release moment. Departure date minus 360 days, midnight in Frankfurt (CET/CEST). Convert that to your local time and set an alarm.
Pre-fund the program. Make sure your Lufthansa Miles & More balance covers the redemption before the release moment — transfers from credit-card programs (Amex MR, Chase UR, Capital One, Citi TYP) can take minutes to days.
Have passenger details ready. Full legal names, passport numbers, dates of birth, and known traveller numbers. Premium-cabin saver awards can disappear in the time it takes to type a passport.
Be logged in five minutes early. Have the search page pre-loaded with route and date. Hit search the moment the clock changes.
Set a route alert as backup. Even if you miss the initial release, set a route alert so you're notified about mid-cycle releases and the T-14 / T-24h dumps.

Booking Tips for Lufthansa Miles & More

Lufthansa First Class to Star Alliance partners is gated until T-15. Miles & More members get earlier access.

Catch Lufthansa Award Space the Moment It Opens

Search live availability or set a route alert and we'll ping you the moment new seats appear.

Search Lufthansa availability Set a route alert

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Lufthansa release award seats?

Lufthansa releases award seats 360 days before departure through Lufthansa Miles & More. New inventory loads on a rolling daily basis, so each midnight a fresh day becomes bookable at the T-360 window (midnight in Frankfurt).

What time of day does Lufthansa open award seats?

Lufthansa releases the next bookable day at midnight local time in Frankfurt (CET/CEST). Set an alarm for the exact moment if you're chasing a premium-cabin seat — the most desirable awards on popular routes can disappear within minutes.

Can I book Lufthansa award seats earlier than 360 days out?

No. 360 days is the maximum Lufthansa Miles & More booking window. The airline's revenue-management system loads each day's inventory one day at a time, so the date you want will become bookable on a rolling basis as it enters the T-360 window.

Does Lufthansa release more award seats closer to departure?

Often, yes. Many airlines (including Lufthansa) release a second wave of unsold premium-cabin seats to award inventory in the final two weeks before departure — typically at T-14, T-7, and T-24 hours. It's not as reliable as the initial release, but it's worth monitoring if you missed the first window.

How do I get notified when new Lufthansa award space opens?

Set a route alert on Award Travel Finder for the specific origin/destination/date range you want. We monitor Lufthansa availability and ping you the moment new award seats appear — including the last-minute releases at T-14 and T-24h.

Are partner award seats released at the same time as Lufthansa's own?

Not always. Partners (other Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam programs booking Lufthansa) typically see Lufthansa's inventory at the same T-360 window, but with reduced seat counts and occasional delays. For the best premium-cabin access on Lufthansa metal, booking through Lufthansa Miles & More directly is usually the safest bet.