ITA Airways Deepens Miles & More Integration for 2026

ITA Airways is entering a decisive phase of its integration with the Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More program, setting up 2026 as a pivotal year for frequent flyers seeking richer benefits and smoother European and long-haul journeys.

A New Loyalty Landscape for Italian and European Travelers

The partnership between ITA Airways’ Volare scheme and the Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More program has moved from initial cooperation into a near full-scale integration, reshaping how passengers earn and spend rewards on Italian and European routes. Publicly available information from both companies shows that since early 2025, Miles & More members have been able to earn and redeem miles and status points on all ITA-operated flights, while Volare members have gained reciprocal opportunities on Lufthansa Group carriers.

This closer alignment marks a significant shift from ITA’s previous loyalty ties under the SkyTeam alliance. The airline has already completed its transition out of SkyTeam and is preparing to join Star Alliance during 2026, positioning Miles & More as the primary frequent flyer gateway to ITA’s growing network from Rome Fiumicino and Milan. For many travelers, the shift effectively turns Italy’s national carrier into a fully embedded option within the wider Central European hub system led by Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna and Brussels.

For everyday flyers, the most visible change is the consolidation of points activity. Miles & More members now see ITA flights credited in the same way as travel on Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines or Brussels Airlines, including the accrual of status-relevant points and, in premium cabins, the most exclusive tiers of the program. Reports indicate that this harmonization is progressively replacing Volare’s standalone role, with 2026 widely viewed as the year when Miles & More becomes the central platform for loyal ITA customers.

Status Matching, Lounges and Elite Perks in Focus for 2026

The integration is not limited to mileage earning. From mid 2025, the Lufthansa Group and ITA Airways began harmonizing elite perks, including reciprocal lounge access, priority services and preferred seating. Frequent travelers holding status within Miles & More now have access to ITA-operated lounges on eligible itineraries, while ITA’s own elite members enjoy expanded lounge options throughout the Lufthansa Group’s global network.

Public documents from the carriers describe a phased approach, in which status recognition, lounge access rules and upgrade possibilities are progressively aligned. By 2026, travelers are expected to experience largely identical treatment across ITA and the Lufthansa Group airlines when flying on qualifying fares and routes. This is particularly important for passengers who regularly connect between Italy and other European business centers, where seamless transfers, fast-track security and lounge facilities can significantly influence airline choice.

For status-conscious flyers, the integration opens new strategies. With Miles & More points, qualifying points and, on certain premium itineraries, HON Circle Points now attainable on ITA flights, travelers can combine Italian domestic segments with European and long-haul journeys to secure or renew elite tiers. Industry commentary suggests that some frequent flyers are already reshaping their 2026 travel patterns around this enlarged network, using ITA’s Italian routes as valuable additions in their status planning.

Network Synergies, Codeshares and Star Alliance Prospects

Beyond loyalty mechanics, the deepening partnership is reshaping route choices. Since 2025, ITA Airways and Lufthansa Group carriers have expanded codeshare cooperation across Italian domestic routes, European city pairs and selected long-haul services. Passengers booking through Lufthansa or ITA channels increasingly see single-ticket itineraries that combine flights operated by multiple group airlines, with through-checked baggage and coordinated schedules.

According to published coverage from aviation and business travel outlets, the full implementation of these codeshares is expected to give ITA customers access to more than 200 additional destinations worldwide via Lufthansa Group hubs. At the same time, Lufthansa Group passengers gain more refined access to secondary Italian cities beyond Rome and Milan, using ITA’s domestic and regional network as a feeder system.

The longer-term objective is ITA’s planned entry into Star Alliance in the first half of 2026. Once membership is formalized, Miles & More benefits on ITA flights are expected to interlock with alliance-wide perks, such as recognition for Star Alliance Gold members and wider mileage earning options for partners beyond the Lufthansa Group. That development would place ITA alongside carriers such as United Airlines, Air Canada and ANA within the same global framework, increasing its relevance for long-haul travelers connecting through Europe.

What Changes for Volare Members as Miles & More Takes the Lead

For existing Volare members, the transition period into 2026 brings both deadlines and opportunities. ITA’s own program has been winding down its standalone earning model, with publicly available program rules indicating that Volare points can be collected only up to the end of 2025 and redeemed within a limited grace period. At the same time, ongoing communication from ITA highlights the ability to earn and spend Volare points on Lufthansa Group carriers, signaling that the program’s remaining value lies increasingly in its bridge role to Miles & More.

Travel industry analyses suggest that many Volare members are now weighing how and when to pivot fully into Miles & More. For frequent travelers who primarily fly within Italy or between Italy and neighboring countries, aligning with Miles & More in 2026 offers access to a deeper redemption pool, including long-haul awards, as well as a clearer structure for qualifying toward higher status tiers. For occasional flyers, the main benefit is the consolidation of points into a larger, multi-airline ecosystem rather than a single-carrier scheme.

There are still reports from some travelers of delayed mileage posting on ITA flights, reflecting the technical complexity of merging back-end systems and customer databases. Nonetheless, the overall direction points toward a unified account experience in which former Volare activity progressively migrates under the Miles & More umbrella, and where future Italian bookings automatically support progress toward Lufthansa Group-wide rewards.

Planning 2026 Trips Around the New Earning and Redemption Rules

For travelers mapping out their 2026 itineraries, the evolving ITA Airways and Miles & More partnership changes how value is calculated from each flight. The expanded status and mileage earning possibilities on ITA services make routing via Rome or Milan more attractive, especially when combined with onward connections on Lufthansa Group carriers or, in time, other Star Alliance airlines. This may be particularly appealing for travelers based in North America or Asia who are looking to access southern Europe while accumulating points in a single program.

Redemption opportunities are also expected to broaden as the integration matures. With ITA award seats being incorporated into Miles & More’s inventory, travelers will be able to combine Italian domestic flights with European and intercontinental segments on a single award ticket, subject to the usual fare and availability conditions. Analysts note that this could open up creative options for multi-city trips, such as combining business travel to Germany or Austria with leisure extensions to Italian coastal or island destinations.

For now, frequent flyers are being advised by travel commentators to monitor updated earning tables, fare class charts and status qualification rules as they are refined through 2026. The broad outline is clear: ITA Airways is moving from a standalone Italian carrier with its own loyalty program to a fully integrated member of the Lufthansa Group and, soon, Star Alliance, with Miles & More at the center of the experience. For passengers willing to engage with the program’s structure, that shift promises more ways to turn Italian and European journeys into tangible rewards.