Uptrip Explained: How to turn your Lufthansa Group flights into rewards

Uptrip is an official mobile application from the Lufthansa Group that allows passengers of its airlines to transform every boarding pass into digital trading cards. These cards are more than souvenirs: they serve as collectibles that can be combined in various themed collections, unlocking a wide range of bonuses and rewards.

Passengers still collect Miles & More points as usual through their flights, but Uptrip runs a parallel system where travelers collect digital cards and earn exclusive rewards. This dual system allows passengers to enjoy the traditional benefits of the Lufthansa Group’s frequent flyer program while boosting their travel experience with additional bonuses, status upgrades, and digital collectibles, thereby maximizing value from every journey.

How Does Uptrip Work?

Collecting Cards: After each flight, passengers scan their boarding pass or enter the booking code into the app. The app presents four digital cards—usually featuring departure and arrival cities, the airline, and aircraft type. Passengers select two cards per flight to add to their collection.

Building Collections: Travelers assemble cards into collections linked to specific rewards. Completing a collection grants bonuses like miles, status points, upgrades, lounge access, in-flight Wi-Fi, discounts, or physical items such as amenity kits and model airplanes.

Trading and Marketplace: If a card is missing to complete a collection, users can trade cards on Uptrip’s built-in marketplace for a small fee, accelerating their progress toward rewards.

Gamification and Flexibility: The app closely mimics the excitement of collecting sticker albums. It offers various rules and time-limited challenges that keep the experience engaging. Collected cards are permanent and reusable for new collections if earlier ones expire or disappear.

Integration with Miles & More: Linking your frequent flyer number fully unlocks Uptrip’s most attractive rewards through close integration with the Miles & More program.

Web3 and NFT Integration: Uptrip uses blockchain technology to convert collectible cards into NFTs, which users can store in crypto wallets, providing digital ownership and tradability.

Getting Started

1) Download the free Uptrip app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and register your personal details. Link your Miles & More frequent flyer number to unlock valuable rewards. New users receive two welcome cards (Member and Welcome), redeemable for 500 miles.

2) Use a referral code during registration to get free cards. Using my referral code JO-3E474FB5-01F3 grants both you and me additional free cards.

3) Scan up to two boarding passes retroactively for flights taken up to six months prior to registration. Cards can be freely assigned and reassigned to collections until completion. Once a collection is complete, cards are consumed, and the reward is granted.

4) After each flight with a Lufthansa Group airline, scan your boarding pass or enter the booking code into the app. The system typically presents four digital cards:

• 2 City cards (departure and arrival cities)
• 1 Airline card (the operating carrier)
• 1 Aircraft card (the specific aircraft type used)
• Special cards (occasionally replacing standard categories)

Reward Categories

Miles & More Benefits

• 500-1,000 award miles for basic collections
• 20-40 Points + Qualifying Points for targeted collections
• Frequent Traveller status for one year (requires 50 cards of any type)

Premium Travel Perks

• Business lounge access vouchers (typically requiring 5 different aircraft cards)
• WiFi vouchers for continental flights (usually 6 cards)
• Flight upgrades through various collection requirements
• Priority boarding and check-in benefits

Physical Rewards

• Carry-on trolleys requiring specific city and aircraft card combinations
• Model airplanes from the Lufthansa Worldshop
• Personalised Amenity kits and branded merchandise
• Luggage and travel accessories

Partner Benefits

• Car rental discounts through SIXT partnerships
• Hotel booking credits and accommodation perks
• Postcard services and travel-related offerings

NFT Features

You can convert your collected trading cards into NFTs if you have a MetaMask wallet or a similar crypto wallet. However, this feature is optional—if you’re not interested in the crypto space, you don’t have to use it. Uptrip’s trading card gamification allows you to earn rewards without converting cards into NFTs.

In theory, NFT cards from Uptrip could become rare and valuable if the Lufthansa Group retires certain destinations, aircraft types, or member airlines. Even a simple airport name change could create rare cards. These situations would stop new cards from being issued for those cities, planes, or airlines, turning existing cards into true digital collectibles. Over time, these “legacy” NFTs—linked to discontinued routes, retired aircraft, or former brands—might attract collectors and gain higher trading values, much like vintage physical airline memorabilia. However, this remains speculative for now.

Side-note – Lufthansa Group’s incentive

Uptrip creates a playful card collection environment to engage younger audiences, particularly millennials and Gen Z familiar with NFTs and crypto. The app also monetizes user engagement via small fees in the card marketplace and the sale of a Joker Card, which substitutes any missing card in a collection. This Joker Card, priced at €9.99 (at the time of writing), offers an efficient way to complete collections and unlock premium rewards, making it valuable for users pursuing Frequent Traveller status.

The Joker Card—available for a fee, gives users a clever shortcut to complete valuable sets and unlock premium rewards without delay, turning gamification into a direct revenue stream while keeping users invested in the platform. If you’re aiming for the coveted Frequent Traveller Status but find yourself just one card short of completing the necessary Uptrip collection, purchasing the Joker Card for €9.99 (as of the time of writing) represents excellent value.