✈️Discover the Best Ways to Redeem Miles for Flights to Mexico🌴 (2023)

Are you dreaming of a trip to Mexico? We’ve got you covered with the top three frequent flyer programs and their best redemption options for flights to Mexico City and Cancun. In this article, we will explore the possibilities in Business Class and even First Class. Let’s find out how you can make the most of your miles and experience a comfortable and enjoyable journey.

By Kevin Erickson

The Top Three Redemption Options

What makes a redemption option the best? We considered various factors to create our top three list. We focused on maximizing the value of your miles, ensuring a pleasant and comfortable onboard experience, and prioritizing direct flights whenever possible. However, direct flights from Germany to Mexico are limited, with only Condor, Lufthansa, and its subsidiary Eurowings Discover offering such routes. Despite this, these three airlines, along with their partners, provide excellent opportunities to reach Mexico City and Cancun. Let’s explore the three best redemption options.

Lufthansa Miles & More: Reach Mexico City and Beyond

Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program, Miles & More, is likely the most obvious choice for redeeming miles to Mexico. The airline offers direct flights from Frankfurt to both Mexico City and Cancun, including Business Class and even First Class on the Mexico City route.

If you’re looking for a Business Class flight to Mexico City, Lufthansa provides availability, even during peak travel seasons. A round-trip flight costs 127,000 miles and just over 700 euros in taxes and fees. A one-way flight is priced at 63,000 miles. However, it’s worth noting that taxes and fees are quite high for these flights. Alternatively, Lufthansa operates a Boeing 747-8 aircraft to Mexico City, which offers a First Class cabin—an enticing option, especially for shorter notice availability.

Eurowings Discover, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, now operates the Frankfurt to Cancun route. These flights are also bookable through Miles & More. Availability is good, even during popular travel periods like August. A Business Class round-trip costs 127,000 miles plus approximately 680 euros in taxes and fees. A one-way flight is 63,000 miles, with slightly more than half of the original taxes and fees when departing from Germany.

Condor and Alaska MileagePlan: Gulf of Mexico Getaway

Did you know you can also book award flights with Condor? While the airline may not highlight this option on its website, it is indeed possible. Among the many destinations offered by the German leisure airline, Cancun stands out. Condor operates year-round flights to Cancun, including service with their new Airbus A330neo aircraft, featuring a brand-new Business Class product.

To book award flights with Condor, you can use Alaska MileagePlan, the frequent flyer program of Alaska Airlines, a US-based regional carrier and oneworld partner. Redemption options with Condor through Alaska MileagePlan are particularly attractive. A direct flight from Frankfurt to Cancun costs 65,000 miles plus around 160 euros in taxes and fees for the outbound journey. The return flight incurs the same mileage cost, but taxes and fees from Mexico are significantly lower, at approximately 50 euros. If you’re only planning a one-way trip, the departure from Cancun is even more worthwhile. While availability is good for short-notice bookings, it may be limited during summer months, especially in Business Class.

For longer-term planning, availability improves towards the end of the year. During this period, it is easier to find available flights. Alternatively, you can also consider booking a connection with American Airlines through Alaska MileagePlan. This option allows you to book a Business Class flight at a lower mileage cost. However, it does require a layover in the United States and slightly higher taxes and fees.

SkyTeam and Flying Blue: Home of Aeromexico

Flying Blue, the frequent flyer program of Air France and KLM, offers the best availability for flights to Mexico. If there are seats available in the Business Class cabin, you can use your miles to book them. This primarily applies to flights operated by Air France and KLM themselves. Both airlines fly to Mexico, and interestingly, availability for flights to Mexico City is not only abundant but also at the lowest mileage levels.

A one-way flight with Air France or KLM, starting from Berlin via Paris or Amsterdam, costs 65,000 miles plus approximately 300 euros in taxes and fees. KLM operates the route to Mexico City with a Boeing 787-9, while Air France also uses the same aircraft. Both airlines offer top-notch Business Class products on their Dreamliners. Air France and KLM also fly to Cancun, but availability is more limited. However, you can still find options for 65,000 miles per one-way trip.

Aeromexico, Mexico’s flagship carrier and a member of the SkyTeam alliance, is another option for flights to Mexico. You can book flights with Aeromexico through Flying Blue. However, a Business Class flight from Berlin to Mexico City during the same period as previously mentioned costs 111,500 miles. Taxes and fees are approximately 100 euros lower compared to Air France and KLM. For flights to Cancun with Aeromexico, prices can reach up to 170,000 miles per one-way trip. Keep in mind that you’ll have to endure a layover in Mexico City when flying to Cancun with Aeromexico. In contrast, Air France and KLM require only one layover. Unfortunately, Aeromexico doesn’t operate direct flights to Germany, so a layover in Amsterdam or Paris is always necessary.

One advantage of Flying Blue is the easy search function for the best mileage rates. Simply log in to your Air France or KLM account, go to the booking page, select a booking with miles, and search for the route to Mexico. By leaving the date field blank, you’ll see a calendar overview with the best mileage rates per day and month.

How to Earn Points or Miles for a Flight to Mexico

So, how can you book these flights? It’s simple: with miles and points earned through flights with the respective airlines and their alliance partners or through various credit card promotions. Currently, there are several offers available.

Credit Cards in Germany

For flights from Germany to North America, the Star Alliance, particularly Lufthansa’s Miles & More program, plays a significant role. Conveniently, the airline offers a co-branded credit card for earning miles. The Miles & More Gold Credit Card currently offers a welcome bonus and numerous benefits, including insurance coverage and status advantages.

American Express also provides many opportunities. Applying for the American Express Platinum Card entitles you to a welcome bonus. In addition to the card bonus, you’ll enjoy various benefits, such as hotel status benefits, multiple credits worth a total of 765 euros, access to over 1,500 airport lounges worldwide (including Lufthansa lounges), and more. The American Express Gold Card is also an ideal credit card for earning miles, and it offers a welcome bonus as well.

American Express credit cards are particularly relevant because they offer Membership Rewards, their own rewards program. Membership Rewards provides transfer partners to various frequent flyer programs, including Cathay Pacific’s Cathay program, Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue, and SAS’s EuroBonus. The transfer rate for converting Membership Rewards points to miles is 5:4 for all three programs.

Credit Cards in Austria

For those in Austria, the American Express Platinum Card is now also available in a sleek metal design. The card offers a welcome bonus upon application. After reaching the minimum spending requirement within six months, you’ll receive the bonus points.

In Austria, American Express offers Membership Rewards, making it convenient to transfer points to frequent flyer programs. Flying Blue, the frequent flyer program of Air France-KLM, participates in Membership Rewards in Austria. Additionally, Membership Rewards in Austria provides other transfer partners, such as British Airways’ Executive Club.

The Best reisetopia Hotels in Mexico

A successful trip to Mexico not only requires a great flight but also the perfect hotel. Through reisetopia Hotels, you can book some of the best luxury hotels in Mexico, complete with a range of extensive benefits such as complimentary breakfast, upgrades, hotel credits, and more. Enjoy full flexibility and book without upfront payment

If you’re longing to explore the Mayan ruins and enjoy the Caribbean vibes, Tulum is a must-visit destination. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Tulum offers a captivating blend of history and pristine white beaches. Currently, you can enjoy a 25% discount for bookings of four nights or more at Conrad Tulum through reisetopia Hotels until the end of December 2023. Plus, take advantage of the attractive benefits provided by reisetopia Hotels.

Aside from Conrad Tulum, you can also book other luxury hotels in Tulum Beach through reisetopia Hotels.

Luxury Hotels in Cancun:

1. Paradisus Cancún
2. Hyatt Ziva Cancun
3. Marriott Cancun Resort
4. Planet Hollywood Cancun
5. Ritz-Carlton Cancun
6. InterContinental Presidente Cancun Resort
7. Live Aqua Cancun
8. Paradisus Playa Mujeres
9. NIZUC Resort Cancun
10. Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun Resort
11. Hyatt Zilara Cancun

Luxury Hotels in Mexico City:

1. Hyatt Regency Mexico City
2. Four Seasons Mexico City
3. St. Regis Mexico City
4. Ritz-Carlton Mexico City
5. W Mexico City
6. JW Marriott Mexico City
7. Sofitel Mexico City Reforma
8. Círculo Mexicano Mexico City
9. Stara Hamburgo Mexico City
10. Las Alcobas Mexico City
11. Marquis Reforma Hotel Mexico City

Conclusion: The Best Mileage Redemptions to Mexico

Traveling to Mexico with miles? The options from Germany with Miles & More, Alaska MileagePlan, and Flying Blue are diverse. You can fly to Mexico with the best and newest Business Class products, and you can even experience the luxury of First Class. Availability for both Mexico City and Cancun is excellent in all cabin classes. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip to Mexico and make the most of your miles!

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