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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Reviews
Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite Card review: A niche pick for Lifemiles fans
Matt Moffitt is a contributing editor and expert in getting the most out of credit cards and points (he carries at least 25 cards in his wallet at any given time). Originally from Sydney, Australia, he won the Green Card Lottery and lived in Austin, Texas for 10 years before relocating to Spain in 2025.
April 20, 2026 • 10 min read
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Two Avianca airline cards are compared, focusing on their value for frequent Avianca or Star Alliance travelers.
The higher-priced card offers incremental perks like monthly bonus miles, award discounts and Silver status, but its benefits are highly dependent on frequent Lifemiles redemptions.
Both cards provide Avianca Silver status, two lounge visits per year and similar earning structures, with the more expensive option adding Lifemiles+ Lite membership and increased discounts.
For most travelers, the lower-priced card may offer better overall value unless you consistently redeem Lifemiles for premium cabin awards.
What to consider
The higher-priced card's value is tied to regular Lifemiles redemptions and may not offset its cost for infrequent Avianca flyers.
Lounge access is limited to Avianca-operated locations, and Silver status offers only basic Star Alliance benefits.
Bonus miles and discounts are most useful for those who actively book Avianca or Star Alliance award flights.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of the two Avianca cards, including specific scenarios where the higher-priced option may be worthwhile.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Choosing the right airline credit card usually comes down to how often you fly with that carrier and its partners — and Avianca’s two cards are no exception.
If you regularly book Avianca or Star Alliance award flights, it’s worth considering both the Avianca Lifemiles American Express® Card and the Avianca Lifemiles American Express® Elite Card.
The Elite Card may catch your eye with its earning rates and built-in Lifemiles+ Lite membership. However, despite its $249 annual fee, it doesn’t necessarily deliver enough value to justify the cost for most travelers.
The information for the Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card and Avianca Lifemiles American Express Elite Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite: The basics
The Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite Card looks like a step up from the cheaper $99 Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card. It earns more on Avianca purchases, adds redemption perks and includes ongoing benefits through a Lifemiles+ Lite membership.
In practice, though, this card feels more like a niche option for frequent Lifemiles usersthan a well-rounded mid-tier airline card.
Just like the cheaper $99 version, you’ll receive Avianca Silver status, which includes:
Avianca lounge access twice per year
Extra-legroom seat selection
Select upgrade options
An extra checked bag (excludes Basic and Light fares)
Priority check-in and boarding (Group B)
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
The Elite Card’s main differentiator is its built-in Lifemiles+ Lite membership, which offers:
500 bonus miles per month (6,000 per year)
An up to 25% discount on Avianca award flights
A 10% discount on Star Alliance award redemptions
These perks can be valuable, but only if you’re actively redeeming Lifemiles.
Like the lower-fee card, there are no foreign transaction fees, and the card is issued by Cardless on the American Express network.
Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Complimentary Avianca Silver status (also available on the lower-fee Avianca Amex Card)
Star Alliance Silver benefits, including priority waitlist and priority standby
Monthly bonus miles and redemption discounts through Lifemiles+
Solid earning on Avianca and Lifemiles purchases
No foreign transaction fees
Same Silver status as the lower-fee card
Not a great fit for those who fly Avianca infrequently
Offers little if you already have Avianca Gold or Diamond status
Limited benefits when flying Star Alliance partners
Weak everyday earning rates
Benefits are highly dependent on using Lifemiles regularly
Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite benefits
The biggest driver of value on the Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite isn’t the elite status — it’s the Lifemiles+ Lite membership. You’ll receive 500 miles each month, which adds up to 6,000 miles per year. Based on TPG’s April 2026 valuations, that’s worth $84 per year.
That alone won’t come close to offsetting the card’s $249 annual fee, but the additional perks — particularly the 10% rebate on Star Alliance redemptions — can be meaningful if you redeem miles regularly.
There’s also an up to 25% discount on Avianca award flights, which can help stretch your miles further — though this is most useful if you’re actually flying Avianca rather than booking partner awards.
When it comes to status, Avianca Silver can be useful if you don’t already have elite status with a Star Alliance airline. You’ll get basic benefits like priority boarding and priority wait-listing.
Avianca VIP Lounge in Miami International Airport (MIA). GISELLE GOMEZ/THE POINTS GUY
You’ll receive two Avianca lounge visits per year with this card. That said, how useful this benefit is depends heavily on where you’re traveling.
As with the lower-fee version, this card's benefits are primarily tied to Avianca flights. When flying other Star Alliance airlines like United Airlines or Air Canada, the value of Silver status is fairly limited. That’s ultimately the issue — you’re paying a lot without getting meaningfully strong benefits.
How to earn and use your rewards
How to earn your rewards
The Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite earns:
3 miles per dollar spent on Avianca and Lifemiles purchases
2 miles per dollar spent on dining and travel
1 mile per dollar spent on everything else
These rates are fairly standard for an airline card. As is usually the case, I don’t recommend putting much everyday spending on this card. You’ll generally get more value from a transferable points card that offers greater flexibility.
That said, there is one area where this card stands out: buying Lifemiles.
LIFEMILES
Lifemiles frequently runs promotions offering bonus miles, making it relatively easy to build a balance for premium cabin redemptions. Earning 3 miles per dollar spent on those purchases can make this card useful if you regularly top up your account.
The card also includes a “double miles” feature through Lifemiles+, which matches miles earned each statement cycle — but only up to 1,000 bonus miles per month. It’s a nice perk, though it doesn’t dramatically change the overall earning potential.
How to redeem Avianca Lifemiles
Avianca Lifemiles are most valuable when redeemed for flights on Star Alliance partners, including United, Air Canada and Lufthansa.
One of the strengths of the program is that it often offers competitive award pricing with relatively low taxes and fees, making it a strong option for booking premium cabin flights.
For example, you could fly Swiss business class from Newark to Zurich for 69,000 Lifemiles plus just $29 in taxes. (You could then use cash to upgrade to first class at check-in, like I did.)
Swiss business class. ETHAN STEINBERG/THE POINTS GUY
The Elite Card’s 10% rebate on Star Alliance redemptions is one of its most compelling perks and can provide ongoing value if you redeem frequently. You would save almost 7,000 Lifemiles on the flight to Switzerland highlighted above.
If you’re only redeeming occasionally, though, this perk alone is unlikely to justify the higher annual fee.
Potential drawbacks to the Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite
The Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite lacks several benefits that are standard on similarly priced airline cards, such as meaningful statement credits and broader lounge access. That makes it difficult to offset the annual fee — unless you’re consistently extracting value from Lifemiles redemptions.
Ultimately, you’re paying a premium price for a set of benefits that is highly dependent on how often you redeem Lifemiles — rather than a well-rounded suite of travel perks.
Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite vs. Avianca Lifemiles Amex
While the Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite offers incremental perks, it doesn’t meaningfully separate itself from the more affordable Avianca Lifemiles American Express.
Both cards include:
Avianca Silver status
Two lounge passes per year
Similar overall earning structures
The Elite Card adds:
6,000 bonus miles annually (500 per month)
An up to 25% discount on Avianca awards
A 10% discount on Star Alliance redemptions
Higher earning on Avianca and Lifemiles purchases
Those perks can provide value, but for many travelers, they won’t justify paying an extra $150 per year — especially given the lack of additional core travel benefits.
Personally, I’d lean toward the cheaper card unless you’re consistently redeeming Lifemiles and can take advantage of the award discounts.
Is the Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite worth it?
The Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite's overlap with the cheaper Avianca Lifemiles American Express, combined with limited elite benefits and average earning rates, makes the card a difficult sell unless you’re deeply invested in the Lifemiles program.
If you regularly redeem Lifemiles, especially for premium cabin Star Alliance awards, the Elite Card can offer some incremental value. However, for most travelers, I don’t think it does enough to justify its $249 annual fee.
When to apply for the Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite
Currently, new Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite Card holders can earn up to 100,000 miles:
60,000 miles after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening
An additional 40,000 miles after spending $25,000 on purchases in the first 365 days from account opening
The first portion of the bonus is fairly standard, but the second requires a very high level of spending ($2,084 per month for a year). In most cases, you’ll get better value by putting that spending on other more lucrative cards.
URBAZON/GETTY IMAGES
Keep in mind that you can only earn a welcome bonus on one Avianca card, so it’s important to choose carefully. Since the card is issued by Cardless, you won't be subject to Amex's once-per-lifetime welcome bonus rule.
Other cards to consider if you don't want the Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite
If the Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite doesn’t seem like the right fit, consider:
If you want flexible rewards that transfer to Lifemiles: The (see rates and fees) earns across popular bonus categories like dining and travel, and Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to Avianca Lifemiles — all for a much lower $95 annual fee. To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
If you want stronger airline benefits with a clear path to status: The (see rates and fees) offers perks like free checked bags and award discounts, along with the ability to spend your way toward United MileagePlus status — which can be more useful across Star Alliance airlines. To learn more, check out our full review of the United Quest Card.
For additional options, check out our list of the best travel cards.
Bottom line
The Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite has some useful perks — particularly for frequent Lifemiles users — but it’s ultimately a niche card.
If you’re not regularly redeeming Lifemiles, it’s hard to justify the $249 annual fee. And even if you are, the cheaper Avianca card may offer better overall value.
For most travelers, this isn’t the obvious upgrade it’s positioned to be.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
