Avianca Lifemiles Loyalty Program Review [2025]

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:

1. Log in to your account
2. Click the drop-down arrow next LM at the top right
3. 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 nearly all of the 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 Avianca Amex credit cards will be your ticket to earning Lifemiles without stepping onto a flight.

With the 7 transferable point partners and 2 Avianca co-branded 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 7 transferable point programs.

Avianca Credit Cards

Avianca offers 2 credit cards for those who live in the U.S.

The Avianca Lifemiles American Express^® Card and the Avianca Lifemiles American Express^® Elite Card cater to the low and medium-annual-fee market, respectively, and also come with good welcome bonus offers.

We recommend looking into both cards if you’re looking to earn Avianca miles directly with your spending.

Avianca Lifemiles American Express^® Elite Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Avianca Lifemiles Elite card is a premium option for Avianca frequent flyers.

Avianca Lifemiles American Express^® Elite Card

The Avianca Lifemiles Elite card is a premium option for Avianca frequent flyers.

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 100,000 miles: 60,000 lifemiles after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days, plus an additional 40,000 lifemiles after spending a total of $25,000 in the first 365 days.

Up to 100,000 miles

Annual Fee

$249

Why We Like This Card

The Avianca Lifemiles Elite card is a premium offering for frequent Avianca flyers who want to earn more miles on every purchase and enjoy benefits like complimentary elite status.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x miles on Avianca Airlines or Lifemiles purchases
• 2x miles on dining and all other travel, like hotels, taxis, and other airlines
• 1x miles on all other purchases

Cons

• Charges a $249 annual fee
• Doesn’t earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles: 60,000 lifemiles after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days, plus an additional 40,000 lifemiles after spending a total of $25,000 in the first 365 days.
• 3x miles on Avianca Airlines or Lifemiles purchases
• 2x miles on dining and all other travel, like hotels, taxis, and other airlines
• 1x miles on all other purchases
• Double your miles earnings up to 1,000 miles per month
• Miles do not expire as long as you use your card
• Complimentary Lifemiles+ membership, which includes:
  • Up to 6,000 miles annually
  • 10% back on Star Alliance flight redemptions
  • Up to 25% redemption discount on Avianca Airlines flights
  • Up to 40% more miles on Lifemiles hotels and Lifemiles cars
  • Up to 10% discount on Lifemiles cars
• Complimentary Lifemiles Silver status
• No foreign transaction fees
• Annual fee of $249

Financial Snapshot

• Foreign Transaction Fees: 

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)

+ NEW BENEFITS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

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.

Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

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

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), 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

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
• More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This 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 Now(at Amex's secure site)

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.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

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

Pros

• 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

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• 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 get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $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. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
• $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.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Bilt Rewards Credit Card

The no-annual-fee Bilt Mastercard (closed to new applicants) is the only credit card that earns Bilt Rewards points. It’s also the only card that earns points on rent (without fees), which is quite lucrative and makes up for the lack of a welcome bonus.

The card earns 1x points on rent payments, allowing you to rack up lots of points that can be transferred to Avianca Lifemiles. In addition, it earns 3x points on dining and 2x points on travel.

Capital One Credit Cards

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)

LIMITED-TIME OFFER

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening - equal to $1,000 in travel.

100,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,800

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent (740-840)

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

Pros

• 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

Cons

• $395 annual fee
• 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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening - equal to $1,000 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
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• 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^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

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

Pros

• 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

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

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
• 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

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Citi Credit Cards

It used to be challenging to earn Citi ThankYou Points, but with the release of the Strata card family, it is now much easier. Plus, Citi ThankYou Points transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage, which is a great perk.

While earning ThankYou Points may not be as easy as with other programs, 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.

Recommended Citi Cards (Personal)

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,600

Annual Fee

$595

APR

20.74% to 28.74%

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is a great option for frequent travelers, foodies, and those who are fans of the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem thanks to its combination of bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
• 6x points on airfare through Citi Travel
• 6x points on dining on Citi Nights (Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and 3x points on dining at all other times

Cons

• $595 annual fee
• Boosted dining rewards are limited to 2 nights per week

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
• 12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com
• 6x points on air travel booked on cititravel.com
• 6x points at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, and 3x points any other time
• 1.5x points on all other purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Up to $300 annual hotel benefit
• Up to $200 annual Splurge credit
• Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit
• 4 American Airlines Admirals Club passes every calendar year
• Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to partners like American Airlines
• Complimentary Priority Pass membership
• No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% to 28.74%
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$960

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.74% to 27.74% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
• Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% to 27.74% Variable APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Marriott Credit Cards

The Marriott Bonvoy 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.

Wells Fargo Rewards

The Wells Fargo Rewards program is has an impressive line-up of airline and hotel transfer partners, including Flying Blue. Points transfer 1:1 and almost instantly. Wells Fargo has 2 credit cards that earn points: The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card  and the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card.

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.

1. Click on the airline partner that you want to fly
2. Scroll down to the section How to redeem your Lifemiles
3. 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.