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Airline Loyalty Rewards
Avianca LifeMiles Loyalty Program Review [2024]
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El Dorado International Airport (BOG), Comalapa International Airport (SAL), Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM)
Avianca Overview
Avianca, is the national airline of Colombia and has been operating for over 100 years.
The main hub for Avianca flights is El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogotá.
A Star Alliance airline member, Avianca joins the like of Air Canada, Air New Zealand, and Swiss International Air Lines.
The benefit of Avianca being part of one of the major airline alliances is that passengers can use miles for flights on any airline in the alliance. For example, Avianca miles can be redeemed for United Airlines flights.
LifeMiles is Avianca’s frequent flyer program where members have the opportunity to not only earn LifeMiles but also redeem them.
Elite status in the LifeMiles program is earned by accruing the required qualifying miles or qualifying segments between January and December of each year.
Qualifying miles when flying on Avianca and/or Star Alliance partners are calculated based on the actual mileage flown plus additional bonuses awarded by the fare class purchased.
The qualifying miles that you earn are the same miles that you’ll use to redeem for an award flight.
In addition to using miles for award flights, LifeMiles can be redeemed for hotel stays, car rentals, and experiences.
Bottom Line: To sum up, Avianca is a great partner to have in the Star Alliance because of the value you can receive when redeeming LifeMiles for award flights.
Joining LifeMiles
Creating a LifeMiles account is free. Simply head to this page and complete your membership application.
With a LifeMiles membership, members receive the opportunity to both earn and redeem miles earned in their account.
How to Log in to Your LifeMiles Account
Your LifeMiles number or username and password are all that you’ll need to log in to your account.
Hot Tip:Avianca won’t show all of the Star Alliance award availability that you’ll find on the United and Aeroplan websites.
Viewing Your Account Activity
Follow these easy steps to check out the mileage activity in your account:
- Log in to your account
- Click the drop-down arrow next LM at the top right
- Click Activity on the left side of the screen
Points Expiration
LifeMiles are valid for 12 months, and the only way to extend the expiration of those miles is to earn more LifeMiles.
Avianca LifeMiles Program
LifeMiles Elite Status
The LifeMiles program has 3 elite tiers in Silver Elite, Gold Elite, and Diamond Elite.
By earning higher elite tiers, program members open up benefits that include upgrades, lounge access, and Star Alliance status matches.
As we cover each elite tier, it’s important to note that higher elite tiers include all of the benefits of the preceding elite tier.
Silver: The lowest elite tier in the LifeMiles program comes with these perks:
- Unlimited business class upgrades
- Avianca VIP Lounge access
- 25% LifeMiles elite bonus
- Star Alliance Silver
- Flight advance with no change or fee difference
Gold: LifeMiles’ middle elite tier offers members the following benefits:
- Avianca VIP Lounge access + 1 guest
- Access to partner VIP lounges + 1 guest
- 75% LifeMiles elite bonus
- Additional baggage allowance
- Star Alliance Gold
Diamond: Avianca’s highest elite tier provides members with these perks:
- 2 yearly upgrade certificates
- Access to VIP Diamond Lounges + 1 guest
- 100% LifeMiles elite bonus
- Free flight advance includes 1 guest
Hop over to the Elite Member Benefits page for an even deeper dive into the elite benefits available in the LifeMiles program.
Bottom Line: Avianca focuses on upgrades and lounge access as benefits that are available to elite members.
Value of Avianca Status
Avianca elite status is clearly valuable, however, you’ll need to fly Star Alliance airlines to make the most of it.
2 yearly upgrade certificates and additional lounge access is interesting for travelers who can earn Diamond status.
If you’re a traveler who values upgrades, lounge access, and bonus points from flying, Avianca is an elite program to consider.
Bottom Line: Assuming you can cost-effectively earn Gold or Diamond status, Avianca provides a host of perks that are worth it.
Earning LifeMiles Elite Status
Standard Requirements
LifeMiles’ elite status is determined by the number of qualifying miles and qualifying segments that you fly. The program also requires that a portion of the qualifying miles be flown on Avianca flights.
Avianca members earn qualifying miles when flying on Avianca or with a Star Alliance airline partner based on the actual mileage flown plus additional bonuses awarded by the fare class purchased.
For each elite tier, a member must earn the required number of qualifying miles and qualifying segments.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the requirements were:
- Silver requires 25,000 miles, 30 segments, and 15,000 miles on Avianca
- Gold requires 45,000 miles, 50 segments, and 27,000 miles on Avianca
- Diamond requires 75,000 miles, 85 segments, and 45,000 miles on Avianca
With Diamond, a maximum of 25,000 miles and 30 segments can be rolled over to the following year’s elite status qualification.
2020 Requirements
With the COVID-19 pandemic, Avianca has reduced the requirements to qualify for elite status.
Bottom Line: The LifeMiles program resembles many changes we’ve seen to award programs where a portion of the qualifying miles must come from the host airlines, which in this case, is with Avianca flights.
How to Earn Avianca LifeMiles
LifeMiles partners with 4 of the 5 transferable point programs. In addition, its miles are frequently sold at a discount allowing you to use those purchased miles for an award flight.
Avianca also offers co-branded credit cards where you spend directly and earn LifeMiles without the need to transfer miles in from another program.
A combination of all 3 of these earning strategies will ensure a constant flow of LifeMiles into your account.
Earning Miles Through Flying
Qualifying miles are what you’re after in the LifeMiles program. The miles are determined based on the distance that you fly and the fare class purchased.
Avianca has an accrual page showing the number of miles that you’ll earn based on the fare class of your flight.
You’ll need to do the calculation on your end, but simply use Great Circle Mapper, and the accrual page, and add any bonus elite tier miles to determine what you’ll earn.
Calculating the miles that you’ll earn from Star Alliance partner flights is also easy. Head to the partner accrual page, select the airline that you’re flying, and see the flight accrual rates for your fare class.
Avianca has 2 additional airline partnerships with Aeromexico, GOL, and, Iberia. The accrual rates work the same as Star Alliance partners, so head to each airline’s respective page to see the miles you’ll earn.
Earn Miles With Credit Cards
Transferable point credit cards and Banco Popular will be your ticket to earning LifeMiles without stepping onto a flight.
With the 4 transferable point partners and 2 Avianca credit cards, you’ll have plenty of ways to earn Avianca LifeMiles.
Earning Bonus Miles in Other Ways
Avianca has even more ways to earn its miles that don’t involve flying.
Check out the list of partners that include shopping, hotel, and rental car companies where your spending directly earns LifeMiles.
The last way to earn LifeMiles without flying is to keep a pulse on the Avianca Facebook, Twitter, and Promotions pages.
Hot Tip: Airlines like Avianca won’t allow you to double-dip by earning elite status miles at the same time that you’re earning miles from shopping, hotel stays, and car rentals.
Branded and Partnered Credit Cards
The Avianca LifeMiles program makes it easy to both earn and purchase its airline miles to use for an award flight.
Avianca not only offers 2 co-branded credits for the U.S. market but the airline also partners with 4 of the 5 transferable point programs.
Avianca Credit Cards
Banco Popular is Avianca’s co-branded partner that offers 2 credit cards for those who live in the U.S.
The Avianca Vida Visa® Card and Avianca Vuela Visa® Card cater to the low and medium annual fee market and also come with respectable welcome bonus offers.
We recommend looking into both cards if you’re looking to earn Avianca miles directly with your spending.
American Express Credit Cards
Amex continues to be one of the heavyweights in the transferable point credit card game and shows no signs of slowing down.
What’s great about Amex are the valuable Amex airline partners customers have access to along with the regular transfer bonuses Amex offers.
If you’re interested in the Amex program, here are the credit cards we recommend checking out:
Recommended Amex Cards (Personal)
Terms Apply / Rates & Fees
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Why We Like This Card
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros & Cons
- The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
- 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
- 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
- $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
- Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Card Highlights
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.¤
- Terms Apply.
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Why We Like This Card
The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Pros & Cons
- 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
- 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
- 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
- $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
- No lounge access
Card Highlights
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- 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.
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Recommended Amex Cards (Business)
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
Why We Like This Card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.
When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.
Pros & Cons
- 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
- Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
- Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
- High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
- Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
Card Highlights
- Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- APR: 18.74% - 27.74% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesGet 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).
Why We Like This Card
The American Express® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.
The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.
Pros & Cons
- 4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
- Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
- 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
- Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
- $375 annual fee (rates and fees)
- No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status
Card Highlights
- Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
- 0% Intro APR ¤ for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.74% to 27.74% variable APR.*
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
- Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
- The Business Gold Card now comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and Limited Edition White Gold. White Gold design is only available while supplies last. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
- *Terms Apply
- APR: 18.74% - 27.74% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesEarn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.
Why We Like This Card
As a business owner, getting a credit card that maximizes each dollar you spend does not have to be complicated or expensive. Especially when you opt for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.
With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases throughout the year (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter) and receive purchase protections and no-additional-charge employee cards all for no annual fee (see rates and fees).
The simple and straightforward earning structure makes it a great fit for those looking to earn flexible rewards, without having to fixate on which purchases earn the most points.
Let’s take look at all that the Amex Blue Business Plus card has to offer.
Pros & Cons
- 2x Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter)
- Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
- No annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost
- No unique bonus categories and 2x earnings are capped at $50,000 in annual spend
- No elite travel benefits like lounge access or elite status
Card Highlights
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.74% - 25.74%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
- You’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply.
- APR: 17.74% - 25.74% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Citi Credit Cards
Citi is one of the 5 transferable point programs, however, it’s much more challenging to earn Citi ThankYou Points.
The reason that earning ThankYou Points is difficult is that the bank simply doesn’t offer the number of credit cards that you’ll see from the likes of Amex and Chase.
While earning ThankYou Points can be a pain, it’s not all bad news with Citi. Mirroring Amex, Citi offers airline transfer bonuses throughout the year to some of its airline partners, which helps to increase the value of its points.
More information on the Citi cards we recommend can be found here:
*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.
Why We Like This Card
The Citi Premier® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!
Pros & Cons
- 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
- Access to Citi transfer partners
- Annual hotel credit
- $95 annual fee
Card Highlights
- No welcome offer available
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- APR: 21.24% - 29.24% variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.
Card Highlights
- Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
- Plus, as a special offer, earn a total of 5 Thank You® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.*
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 17.99% to 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
- The Citi Rewards+® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
- No Annual Fee
- APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers and on purchases for 15 months. After that, a variable APR of 17.99% to 27.99%.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars
Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!
Why We Like This Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!
This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.
Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.
Pros & Cons
- Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
- Flexible redemption options
- No annual fee
- No bonus categories
- 3% foreign transaction fees
Card Highlights
- Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% to 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Citi Double Cash® Card Travel Portal Special Offer
Earn a total of 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel℠ portal via cititravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288 (TTY: 711). Offer is valid through 12/31/2025.
- APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.49% to 28.49% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase
Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, without an annual fee!
Why We Like This Card
The Citi Custom Cash® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, with a $0 annual fee.
Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.
Pros & Cons
- 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
- $0 annual fee
- Multiple redemption options
- Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
- Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category
Card Highlights
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Get 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- $0 annual fee.
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
- APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%
Marriott Credit Cards
It’s no secret that since the merger with SPG, the newly revamped Marriott Bonvoy program has come with a string of challenges for those looking to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points.
Challenges with the new program are well-documented, however, the program can be good for a couple of reasons.
The first deals with the transfer bonus. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that are transferred to an airline partner, you’ll receive a 5,000-point bonus in the form of airline miles.
Marriott Bonvoy to Avianca transfers are 3:1, so 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points become 25,000 Avianca LifeMiles with the 5,000-point bonus (60,000/3 = 20,000 + 5,000 bonus = 25,000).
The second positive with Marriott Bonvoy is that members have access to airlines unique to its program, like Alaska Airlines.
Capital One Credit Cards
The main point to address with Capital One is that its business credit cards count against your 5/24 count. If you’re not familiar with the 5/24 rule, we have a post covering it in detail here.
Putting together the right strategy of Capital One business and personal credit cards will open up a ton of opportunities to earn more Capital One miles.
Everything you need to know about Capital One credit cards can be found in the recommended links below:
Recommended Miles-Earning Capital One Cards (Personal)
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Why We Like This Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.
Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.
Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.
Pros & Cons
- 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
- $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
- Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Card Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesGet 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Why We Like This Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.
Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.
Pros & Cons
- 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
- Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
- Limited elite benefits
Card Highlights
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Why We Like This Card
Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.
But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?
Pros & Cons
- No annual fee (rates & fees)
- No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
- Ability to use transfer partners
- Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
- No luxury travel or elite benefits
Card Highlights
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.74% - 29.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- APR: 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Other Hotel Partner Credit Cards
Hilton Honors is a hotel partner but you won’t want to transfer points from it to an airline.
The reason is that the transfer ratio is terrible, and yields a subpar value.
If you’re topping off an account or are in a bind, those are the only reasons to transfer points from Hilton Honors to Avianca.
How to Redeem Avianca LifeMiles
Using LifeMiles for award flights will yield the most value for your miles, however, there are additional ways that miles can be used.
Avianca makes it easy to see the amount of LifeMiles required for each partner flight by featuring the award charts on each partner page.
There’s a section that states “Find out how many LifeMiles you need for a ticket on xxx”. When flying on Avianca, you’ll need to run an award search to see the number of miles required for your flight. The number of miles is driven by the partner, fare class, and region.
It’s important to note that Avianca offers a LifeMiles + Money option. This means that you can reduce the number of miles needed by using a cash co-pay.
When you get comfortable running award searches for Avianca flights, check out the partner airline page.
With a handle on running partner award searches, here are a couple of sweet spots that yield a ton of value with your LifeMiles:
- 87,000 LifeMiles one-way Lufthansa first class to Europe
- 63,000 LifeMiles one-way SWISS business class to Europe
Hot Tip: If you want the full gamut of sweet spots, we have an entire post on the best ways to redeem LifeMiles.
Star Alliance and Other Partner Awards
The Avianca partner page is the place to go when you’re ready to use LifeMiles.
- Click on the airline partner that you want to fly
- Scroll down to the section How to redeem your LifeMiles
- Click the first Review Here hyperlink to see how many miles you’ll need
Booking Online
This is where it gets tricky with Avianca. Yes, the airline does have favorable award prices for some routes, however, Avianca is notorious for not showing the same partner space that you’ll find on United and Aeroplan.
Our recommendation is to confirm award space on United and Aeroplan first, and then find that award space on Avianca.
It’s in your best interest to avoid calling Avianca if you can.
Keep these general rules in mind when searching for award flights:
- Search the British Airways and Qantas websites for Oneworld flights
- Use the Delta and Flying Blue (Air France or KLM) websites for SkyTeam flights
- Search the United and Aeroplan websites for Star Alliance flights
Hot Tip: Expert Flyer is the go-to site if you are searching for hard-to-find partner flights.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Premier® Card has expired and the card is no longer open to applicants.
The information regarding the Citi Rewards+® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Double Cash® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Custom Cash® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
