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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.
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Great deal: Book business-class tickets at premium economy prices with this Avianca LifeMiles sale
Kyle Olsen is the former points and miles reporter at TPG. He specializes in maximizing points and miles, elite status and credit cards so readers travel more comfortably and at a lower cost.
January 19, 2023 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Avianca LifeMiles are available for purchase at a discounted rate through Jan. 25, with up to a 165% bonus depending on the amount bought.
LifeMiles can be used to book Star Alliance award flights, often requiring fewer miles than some competing loyalty programs for similar routes.
The promotion allows travelers to access premium cabin seats, such as business class to Europe or Asia, at prices comparable to or below premium economy fares.
A 10% mileage rebate is available for travel from the U.S. to Europe before Feb. 17, enhancing the value of certain redemptions.
What to consider
You must register through a specific landing page to receive the full 165% bonus, and the offer is only valid through Jan. 25.
LifeMiles expire after 12 months of inactivity, but earning any amount resets the clock; up to 200,000 base miles can be purchased per year.
Award rates can change without notice, so buying miles is best for those with immediate redemption plans.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed examples of high-value redemptions and step-by-step guidance on maximizing this LifeMiles promotion for premium travel.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Through Jan. 25, you can purchase Avianca LifeMiles — one of our favorite airline currencies — at just 1.25 cents apiece. This promotion, which is very similar to one that was offered at the end of last year, is one of the best deals we’ve seen on LifeMiles.
Avianca is a member of Star Alliance, so you can use LifeMiles to book Star Alliance itineraries even if you never step foot on an Avianca plane. Better yet, LifeMiles often requires fewer miles to book Star Alliance award seats than United MileagePlus and other popular programs.
Avianca’s current LifeMiles promotion lets you purchase LifeMiles with up to a 165% bonus through Jan. 25 using this promotion from One Mile at a Time.
Once you register for the promotion, head to the LifeMiles site to purchase LifeMiles at as little as 1.25 cents per mile. In some cases, this can bring the effective cost of a business-class ticket down to what you’d pay for a premium economy ticket if you book outright.
Here’s everything you need to know about the current LifeMiles sale and some of the best ways to use it.
Should I buy LifeMiles?
DANIEL MUNOZ/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Before we dive into some Star Alliance itineraries, I want to lay out a few disclaimers.
Beyond the limited Star Alliance award space, LifeMiles may increase the miles required to book a given flight at any point without notice. In other words, while 63,000 miles might get you across the Atlantic right now, there’s no guarantee that the award rates will stay the same for flights booked later. For example, LifeMiles recently increased award rates to Asia without notice. Because of this, I don’t recommend buying miles unless you have a specific redemption in mind that you plan to book immediately.
For the examples below, I’m assuming you’re buying at least 51,000 LifeMiles, the minimum to unlock the 165% bonus. You must register on this landing page from One Mile at A Time for the full 165% bonus. Again, this deal is valid through Jan. 25.
Note that you can purchase up to 200,000 base miles (before the bonus) each year, and LifeMiles expire after 12 months of earning inactivity on your account. You can keep your miles from expiring by earning miles, even if it’s transferring just 1,000 points from a credit card. Remember that your miles will expire if you have more than 12 months without earning LifeMiles.
Is this a good deal?
On paper, buying LifeMiles at 1.25 cents apiece is a solid deal — and it’s one of the better sales we've seen recently.
This price is significantly lower than TPG’s valuation of 1.7 cents per LifeMile. However, the value you’ll get from your LifeMiles depends on how you redeem them. Typically, the best value is found when you book last-minute domestic flights and business-class international itineraries.
If you buy fewer than 51,000 LifeMiles, you can earn a smaller bonus. Here's the breakdown for this particular sale:
Buy 1,000-20,000 miles, and get a 145% bonus.
Buy 21,000-50,000 miles, and get a 155% bonus.
Buy 51,000-200,000 miles, and get a 165% bonus.
This promotion also comes with a 10% rebate on base mileage purchases when you travel from the U.S. to Europe before Feb. 17. For example, if you buy 200,000 miles (the maximum number of LifeMiles you can buy in a year), you'd receive 530,000 miles with the 165% bonus. By redeeming 63,000 LifeMiles for a one-way business-class partner flight, you'd receive 20,000 LifeMiles (10% of the base miles you bought) back.
LifeMiles has informed us that mileage rebates take approximately 15 days from the completion of the flight.
Let’s look at a few examples using a mileage purchase rate of 1.25 cents.
Vienna for roughly $800 in Austrian business class
Austrian Airlines Boeing 767-300ER business class. JT GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Although it operates a fleet of only nine long-haul aircraft, Austrian Airlines has a great business-class product. When I flew with Austrian Airlines in 2017, a designated “chef” was on board and prepared a royal assortment of Viennese delicacies. Business-class passengers could select what they wanted from the meal cart as it passed down the aisle.
Dessert consisted of Sacher torte (Austrian chocolate cake), apple strudel and freshly brewed Viennese lattes. Yum!
Austrian Airlines flies to O’Hare International Airport (ORD), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Dulles International Airport (IAD) and seasonally to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
This ticket costs 63,000 LifeMiles, so pay roughly $800 after factoring in taxes and fees.
Geneva, Switzerland, for roughly $800 in United Polaris business class
United’s business class on the Boeing 767-300ER. ZACH HONIG/THE POINTS GUY
United flies its “high-J 767” between Washington and Geneva. The 1-1-1 configuration is ideal for single travelers but isn’t the best option for families or those traveling with companions.
Still, with 46 seats in business class, it’s often not too hard to find award space. Also, a real highlight of the Polaris experience is access to the Polaris lounge at IAD, which recently joined the lineup of Polaris lounges. This ticket requires 63,000 LifeMiles, so you’ll pay around $800 for the ticket after factoring in taxes and fees.
Taipei, Taiwan, for under $1,100 in EVA Royal Laurel business class
Lobster dinner in EVA’s business class. ETHAN STEINBERG/THE POINTS GUY
If poached lobster and butternut squash with pumpkin ravioli, Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006 Champagne and Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kits pique your interest, EVA’s business class is a good choice.As you might expect, award space is scarce. But at the time of writing, there is some EVA Royal Laurel business-class award space on U.S. routes next fall. If you find seats, the LifeMiles promotion is your ticket to a sub-$1,100 flight to Taiwan. LIFEMILES.COM Related: Flight review: EVA Air Boeing 777 in business class from Houston to Taipei
Need more LifeMiles?
When you buy LifeMiles, I suggest paying with a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. That way, you’ll earn 2 Capital One miles for each dollar you spend. Or if you'd prefer earning American Express Membership Rewards points, The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express earns 2 points per dollar on up to $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1 point per dollar.
It’s great to see another LifeMiles sale, particularly since this one has one of the lowest LifeMiles purchase rates we’ve seen.
You’ll have to act fast. This promotion offers up to a 165% bonus when you buy LifeMiles so that you can travel on long-haul premium Star Alliance tickets for prices close to economy class. Just make sure you register first with your LifeMiles number on this page before going to LifeMiles’ buy-miles page.
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.
