Is an Avianca LifeMiles+ subscription worth it?
Avianca's loyalty program, LifeMiles, has always held a unique position for points and miles enthusiasts. The South American carrier has long been one of the best-value ways to book business- and first-class flights on Star Alliance partners such as Lufthansa, United Airlines and Swiss at the lowest rates. Avianca has retained a sensible award chart while other programs have moved to dynamic pricing — but the low rates come at a cost.
LifeMiles is equally well known for its poor IT infrastructure and telephone support, so making changes or canceling an Avianca or partner flight has become a point of contention between some TPG staffers and the loyalty program.
However, it seems the carrier is implementing positive changes to Avianca LifeMiles to improve the overall brand.
In addition to launching two new Avianca-branded credit cards in the United States, LifeMiles has also unveiled a new loyalty subscription service named LifeMiles+. What is this, and is it worth the cost?
Related: How to book Lufthansa first class with points and miles
What is Avianca's LifeMiles+ subscription?
Lifemiles+ has four different membership options:
| Lite | Basic | Pro | Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly bonus LifeMiles | 500 | 2,000 | 4,500 | 10,000 |
Double monthly LifeMiles on purchases for Avianca LifeMiles Elite American Express Card* members | Up to 1,000 miles | Up to 2,000 miles | Up to 4,500 miles | Up to 10,000 miles |
Price per month (regular) | $20 | $50 | $100 | $200 |
Price per month for Avianca LifeMiles Elite American Express Card* members | Free | $30 | $80 | $180 |
*The information for these credit cards have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All LifeMiles+ members can also enjoy a 10% discount on Star Alliance redemptions (posted within 15 days after booking) and up to an immediate 25% discount on LifeMiles redemptions flying Avianca.
Basic, Pro and Max members can enjoy no change or cancellation fees on award tickets.
The discounted rate for cardholders is for the new LifeMiles-branded credit card from Cardless, the Avianca LifeMiles Elite American Express Card*. This card offers:
- A welcome bonus of up to 100,000 bonus miles — 60,000 miles awarded after $4,500 spent in the first 90 days and an additional 40,000 miles after $25,000 spent in the first 12 months.
- Earn 3 LifeMiles per dollar spent on Avianca purchases, 2 LifeMiles per dollar spent on dining and non-Avianca travel, and 1 LifeMile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- LifeMiles+ Lite membership, with a discounted rate for the other tiers in the subscription program.
- LifeMiles Silver status for as long as you have the card, which also grants you Star Alliance Silver status.
- Annual fee: $249
The lower-annual-fee Avianca LifeMiles American Express Card* offers a bonus of up to 40,000 LifeMiles after you spend $3,000 with the card in the first 90 days, but does not provide any LifeMiles+ benefits.
If you decide to join LifeMiles+, you are committed to a minimum six-month subscription.
The information for these credit cards have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Is Avianca's LifeMiles+ subscription worth it?
This is an interesting offer from Avianca and potentially very lucrative for some Star Alliance enthusiasts.
It's worth noting that LifeMiles frequently sells miles with huge bonuses, bringing the purchase rate to under 1.3 cents per mile. If you were looking to boost your LifeMiles balance without the credit card by paying $200 per month to earn 10,000 extra miles and wouldn't use the other benefits, you would be better off purchasing LifeMiles in bulk during one of the frequent bonus offers.
The program also runs mileage sales occasionally when certain redemption rates are reduced.
For anyone who is not interested in applying for the Avianca LifeMiles Elite American Express Card, doesn't fly Avianca and only redeems LifeMiles for a couple of Star Alliance flights each year, paying a monthly subscription fee probably doesn't make sense.
However, if you regularly book Star Alliance redemptions and would get a lot of value from the lack of change and cancellation fees, maximizing this service and boosting your mileage balance could be easy.
For anyone looking to apply for the Elite Amex card and traveling regularly on Avianca (perhaps to visit family or friends), this is an attractive offer to earn more miles, and to save both miles and money on redemptions.
But what use is the benefit of free change and cancellation if it's difficult to make a change online or by phone?
LifeMiles Chief Operating Officer Luis Coreas spoke with View from the Wing about the program's actions to improve customer service, including reducing call center wait times, increasing the number of experienced agents available 24 hours per day to resolve complex problems, and simplifying the refund process.
So, in theory, this perk should be valuable.
Bottom line
Despite its frustrations, LifeMiles is an underrated airline loyalty program with attractively low Star Alliance redemptions worldwide with low taxes and fees.
As a transfer partner of most major credit card currencies, LifeMiles are also easy to purchase for as low as 1.3 cents during frequent promotional sales.
If you've ever thought about dipping your toe into the world of LifeMiles, with promises of improved customer service, now is a great time to do it. Whether you apply for the new Avianca LifeMiles Elite American Express Card or not, and even if you aren't flying with Avianca, you can easily boost your mileage balance and save miles and cash on your next redemption with this unique LifeMiles+ subscription offering.
The information for the Avianca Lifemiles Amex and Avianca Lifemiles Elite Amex credit cards have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
TPG featured card
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees