Axis Miles & More Program: How to Transfer and Redeem Miles
Updated 22 March 2026
Bottom Line: The Axis Miles & More cards earn Lufthansa’s Miles & More award miles on every swipe — miles that never expire while the card is active. Transfer and redeem them through the Miles & More India portal or Axis Travel Edge for flights, upgrades, and hotel stays across Star Alliance airlines.
What Is the Axis Miles & More Program?
Miles & More is Lufthansa’s frequent flyer programme — the largest in Europe — and Axis Bank is the exclusive Indian co-brand partner. There are two cards in the lineup:
- Miles & More Axis Bank Credit Card — the entry-level variant
- Miles & More Select Axis Bank Credit Card — the premium variant with a higher earn rate
Unlike most Indian credit cards that give you reward points locked into a bank’s own catalogue, these cards earn actual airline miles in the Miles & More ecosystem. That means you can redeem for Star Alliance flights (Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Air India, Turkish Airlines, and more) without being stuck in a walled garden.
Earn Rates: What You Actually Get Per Swipe
Here’s where the two cards differ:
| Feature | Miles & More (Standard) | Miles & More Select |
|---|---|---|
| Earn rate | 4 award miles per Rs 200 spent | 6 award miles per Rs 200 spent |
| Effective rate | 2 miles per Rs 100 | 3 miles per Rs 100 |
| Welcome miles | 1,000 (on first transaction within 30 days) | 2,500 (on first transaction within 30 days) |
| Annual fee | Rs 3,500 + GST | Rs 5,000 + GST |
| Miles expiry | Never (while card is active) | Never (while card is active) |
| Lounge access | Limited domestic | Domestic + international (via Priority Pass) |
The “never expire” bit is important. Most airline mile programmes expire miles after 24–36 months of inactivity. With the Axis co-brand, your miles stay alive as long as you hold the card. This lets you stockpile for a big redemption instead of panic-booking a mediocre award ticket before expiry.
How to Transfer Miles: Step-by-Step
Transferring your earned miles to the Miles & More account is straightforward but not automatic. Here’s the process:
Step 1: Log into Axis Travel Edge
Go to traveledge.axis.bank.in or open the Axis Bank mobile app and navigate to the Travel Edge section.
Step 2: Click “Points/Miles Transfer”
You’ll find this option in the rewards or miles section of the Travel Edge dashboard. Select the Miles & More programme as your transfer destination.
Step 3: Verify via OTP
Axis Bank sends an OTP to your registered mobile number. Enter it to confirm the transfer. This is a standard security step — no call to customer care needed.
Step 4: Wait for Processing
Transfers typically reflect in your Miles & More account within 2–5 business days. During peak periods (Diwali, year-end), this can stretch to 7 days.
Pro tip: Always check your Miles & More account balance at miles-and-more.com after the transfer posts. Discrepancies are rare but easier to fix when caught early.
Redemption Options: Where Your Miles Actually Go
Once miles land in your Miles & More account, you have several redemption paths:
Award Flights (Best Value)
Book flights on Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, or any Star Alliance carrier — including Air India. This is where you get the highest value per mile, especially on business and first class tickets. A Delhi–Frankfurt economy award starts at around 30,000 miles one-way; business class at 55,000 miles.
Flight Upgrades
Already have an economy ticket? Use miles to upgrade to business on eligible Lufthansa Group routes. This often gives better per-mile value than booking outright.
Miles & More India Portal
Redeem via the Miles & More India website for:
- Hotel stays (Marriott, IHG, and others)
- Car rentals
- Experiences and merchandise
The hotel and merchandise options generally give worse value per mile than flights. Stick to flights unless you have no travel plans.
What About Transferring to Other Loyalty Programmes?
Unlike the Axis Atlas card which has multiple transfer partners (Accor, ITC, Marriott, airlines), the Miles & More cards are locked into the Lufthansa ecosystem. You cannot transfer these miles to, say, Air India’s Flying Returns or Vistara’s Club Vistara directly. The trade-off: you earn actual airline miles from day one without an extra transfer step.
Is the Value Worth It?
A rough valuation:
| Redemption Type | Approximate Value Per Mile |
|---|---|
| Long-haul business class flights | Rs 1.2 – Rs 1.8 |
| Long-haul economy flights | Rs 0.8 – Rs 1.0 |
| Short-haul economy (domestic/regional) | Rs 0.5 – Rs 0.7 |
| Hotel bookings via portal | Rs 0.3 – Rs 0.5 |
| Merchandise | Rs 0.2 – Rs 0.4 |
With the Select card earning 3 miles per Rs 100, you’re looking at an effective return of roughly 2.4–5.4% on long-haul flight redemptions. That’s competitive with the best travel cards in India.
For domestic-only travellers, though, the maths don’t work as well. If you never fly international, cards like HDFC Infinia or Axis Atlas give you more flexible redemption options within India.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Letting miles sit after card closure — If you cancel the card, your miles don’t vanish overnight, but the “no expiry” protection ends. Transfer or redeem before closing.
- Redeeming for merchandise — You’re burning Rs 1+ worth of miles for Rs 0.25 of value. Book a flight instead.
- Forgetting the first-transaction deadline — Both cards require a transaction within 30 days of issuance to earn welcome miles. Don’t let the card sit in a drawer.
- Ignoring fuel surcharge — Axis cards typically levy a 1% fuel surcharge. Don’t use this card at petrol pumps expecting full mile value.
Related Guides on CardTrail
- Best Travel Credit Cards in India — Full comparison of cards for international and domestic flyers
- Credit Card Rewards Compared — Side-by-side earn rates and redemption values across top Indian cards
- RBI Rules Every Cardholder Should Know — Forex markup, billing disputes, and your rights as a cardholder
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Miles & More miles expire on the Axis Bank card?
No. As long as your Axis Miles & More credit card is active, your award miles will not expire. This is a co-brand benefit — standard Miles & More programme miles (earned via flights) do expire after 36 months of inactivity.
How do I check my Miles & More balance?
Log into miles-and-more.com with your programme credentials. You can also see pending miles on the Axis Bank app under the rewards section, though the Miles & More portal is more accurate for posted balances.
Can I transfer Axis Miles & More miles to Air India or other airlines?
Not directly. These miles live in the Lufthansa Miles & More ecosystem. However, since Air India is now part of Star Alliance, you can book Air India award flights using your Miles & More miles through the programme’s booking portal.
What is the minimum miles needed for a flight redemption?
Short-haul economy awards within India or to nearby destinations like Sri Lanka or Nepal start at approximately 15,000 miles one-way. Long-haul economy to Europe starts at around 30,000 miles one-way.
Is the Select card worth the higher annual fee?
If you spend more than Rs 1,00,000 per year on the card, yes. The extra 1 mile per Rs 100 (3 vs 2) adds up quickly. At Rs 2,00,000 annual spend, you earn 2,000 additional miles on the Select — worth roughly Rs 2,000–3,600 on flight redemptions, which more than covers the Rs 1,500 fee difference.
Can I use miles for someone else’s ticket?
Yes. Miles & More allows you to book award tickets for family members and friends. You don’t need to be the one flying. Just enter the passenger’s details when booking through the Miles & More portal.
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