Avianca LifeMiles Adds ITA Airways Redemptions — Here’s What You Can Actually Book

Updated: April 29, 2026, 1:00pm CDT

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ITA Airways Award Availability With Lifemiles Now Live
Are These Redemptions Worth It?
Final Thoughts

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Italian carrier ITA Airways, the newest member of the Star Alliance, is continuing its transition into the alliance — and that now appears to include award redemptions through Avianca Lifemiles.

While neither airline has formally announced the partnership, Lifemiles is now showing availability on select ITA-operated flights. That’s a strong sign the partnership is starting to take shape.

Here’s a look at the routes you can book right now — and what they’ll cost in miles.

ITA Airways Award Availability With Lifemiles Now Live

ITA Airways award space is now appearing through Avianca Lifemiles — a notable development for travelers following the airline’s move into the Star Alliance — as first reported by AwardWallet.

ITA Airways officially joined Star Alliance on April 1, 2026, following its earlier exit from SkyTeam. In the months leading up to that move, the airline rolled out partnerships with programs like United Airlines MileagePlus and Air Canada’s Aeroplan, making Lifemiles a logical next addition.

ITA operates flights from Rome (FCO) to 8 U.S. cities, including:

Los Angeles (LAX)
San Francisco (SFO)
Houston (IAH)
Chicago (ORD)
Miami (MIA)
Washington, D.C. (IAD)
New York (JFK)
Boston (BOS)

However, based on current award searches, availability is still quite limited and only showing economy awards at present.

The only transatlantic ITA-operated route we found bookable via Lifemiles was New York (JFK) to Rome (FCO), pricing at 35,000 miles in economy.

Screenshot — Image Credit: Avianca Lifemiles

Most other search results defaulted to flights operated by Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa or United, which may not be ideal if your goal is specifically to fly ITA Airways or get a nonstop to Italy on routes not served by other airlines.

That said, there’s significantly better availability within Europe. For example, you can book Paris (CDG) to Rome (FCO) for 12,500 Lifemiles in economy.

Similarly, Rome (FCO) to Barcelona (BCN) is also pricing at 12,500 Lifemiles in economy.

Are These Redemptions Worth It?

While it’s great to see ITA flights bookable with Lifemiles, the available JFK-FCO route with ITA Airways and intra-European rates aren’t necessarily standout deals.

In many cases, you can book similar short-haul intra-Europe flights for fewer points using Avios-based programs like British Airways Club and Aeroplan. For example, this ITA Airways flight between Barcelona and Rome can cost just 7,500 Aeroplan points, rather than 12,500 Lifemiles.

Still, having another option — especially one tied to a transferable currency — adds flexibility for travelers.

Hot Tip:

While ITA Airways adds a new redemption option, you’ll typically get better value using Avianca Lifemiles for long-haul premium cabin flights on other Star Alliance partners. Short-haul economy awards — like those currently available on ITA — often deliver lower value per mile, so it’s worth checking out our guide to the best ways to redeem Lifemiles for maximum value.

Final Thoughts

Avianca Lifemiles can now be redeemed for ITA Airways flights, which is welcome news, even if availability is still limited for now.

At the moment, your best bet is to look for intra-European routes, as U.S. long-haul options remain scarce and currently restricted to economy and a single route. As ITA continues to integrate into the Star Alliance ecosystem, we expect award access — and potentially pricing — to evolve.

For now, it’s another tool to keep in mind when planning a trip.