After Another LifeMiles Devaluation, Here Are the Award Programs You Should Use Instead

Updated: February 10, 2025, 2:27pm CST

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Alternatives to Avianca LifeMiles for Partner Awards
Final Thoughts

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LifeMiles, the loyalty program of Colombia-based Avianca, has made award travel on partner airlines more expensive to some destinations — again. This is an inconvenient devaluation between the U.S. and Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific, where Avianca LifeMiles had long been an excellent way to book airlines like Lufthansa and ANA.

Let’s look at alternatives to using LifeMiles for award travel to those regions.

Alternatives to Avianca LifeMiles for Partner Awards

Avianca’s LifeMiles program has long been a mainstay for booking award travel on airlines within Star Alliance. That may change now. LifeMiles had already increased redemption rates last year, and now it has again.

Well, to some locations anyway. And on some routes.

However, you can use other programs to find attractive redemptions on partner airlines between the U.S. and Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific.

LifeMiles Alternatives to Europe

In economy class, LifeMiles increased award prices to many European destinations from 35,000 to 40,000 miles one way, plus taxes and fees. In business class, prices went from 70,000 miles to 80,000.

Air Canada’s Aeroplan still offers partner redemptions in economy for 35,000 or 40,000 points. In business, you’ll find rates of 60,000 to 70,000 Aeroplan points. Those are very good prices for great seats like United Polaris business class.

With All Nippon Airways’ ANA Mileage Club, you can only book round-trip awards, though at very good prices. For example, you can fly to Istanbul in Turkish Airlines business class for 100,000 ANA miles plus taxes and fees. Paris and London cost between 88,000 and 100,000 miles in United Polaris — and those are round-trip prices!

United Polaris business class 787 10 window seats HND LAX — United Polaris on a Boeing 787-10. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue program also devalued recently but still has good award availability. Between the U.S. and Europe, awards start at 25,000 miles in economy and 60,000 in business one-way.

LifeMiles Alternatives to Asia

Between the U.S. and many destinations in Asia, LifeMiles award prices went from 47,000 miles to 55,000 one-way in economy and from 90,000 miles to 100,000 in business.

To Japan, for example, you can use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to fly ANA’s excellent business class. From the western U.S. to Japan, you’ll pay 60k miles in economy, 90k in business, and 110, in first — and those are round-trip prices, which makes this a fantastic deal. From the eastern U.S., prices go up to 65k in economy, 95k in business, and 120k in first. One-ways cost half.

You also can fly ANA using the airline’s own Mileage Club, which limits you to booking round-trip or open-jaw flights and has seasonal variability but offers even better prices. You can fly to Japan for 40,000 miles round-trip in economy and 75,000 in business, in the low season, or 60,000 in economy and 95,000 in business in the high season.

Another good choice is using Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan to fly Japan Airlines. You’ll pay 35,000 miles in economy, 60,000 in business, and 70,000 in first one-way to Japan and beyond. To Southeast Asia, awards cost 40,000 miles in economy, 65,000 in business, and 75,000 in first.

LifeMiles Alternatives to Australia and New Zealand

Here, LifeMiles went from 40,000 to 55,000 miles one-way plus taxes and fees in economy. In business, it went from 80k miles to 100k.

ANA Mileage Club is once again a good alternative for awards on Star Alliance partners like United, charging 75,000 miles in economy and 120,000 in business — round-trip!

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is a good choice for booking itineraries with stopovers, which can be useful in Australia. For example, you can fly San Francisco (SFO)–Sydney (SYD)–Cairns (CNS)
one-way in Qantas business class for 55,000 Alaska miles plus about $26 in taxes and fees.

Hot Tip:

If you’re chasing the exceptional ANA first class seat or the great ground experience of Lufthansa first class, we can show you the best ways to do so with points and miles.

Final Thoughts

Avianca LifeMiles has raised award prices to some destinations for flights on partner airlines, but as often happens in points and miles, there are alternative programs you can use to get there.

It’s also worth pointing out that this devaluation seems nuanced, not affecting every flight from the U.S. to these regions. If you find the “old” pricing, great. If you’re seeing newer, increased prices, you’ve got options.