Probably the greatest methods to guide first-class flights to Europe with factors and miles has simply turn out to be far more costly: Avianca’s LifeMiles program elevated redemption charges in a single day by as much as 50%.
As first reported by One Mile at a Time, the South America-based program has, with out warning, elevated award charges for flights operated by Star Alliance companion airways from North America to Europe as follows:
- Financial system class: From 30,000 miles to 35,000 miles (up by 17%)
- Enterprise class: From 63,000 miles to 70,000 miles (up by 11%)
- First-class: From 87,000 miles to 130,000 miles (up by 50%)
The LifeMiles program has not but up to date its companion award chart, which nonetheless exhibits the earlier mileage charges, however searches for present availability present larger costs.
The will increase to economy- and business-class redemption charges on companion airways — like Swiss, Air Canada, United Airways and Austrian Airways — are gentle and nonetheless symbolize good worth in contrast with different packages, particularly as this system doesn’t impose gas surcharges. Nonetheless, the first-class fee enhance is excessive.
LifeMiles has constantly been one of many best-value methods to guide first-class awards to Europe. Whereas fellow Lufthansa Group airline Swiss doesn’t make transatlantic first-class awards accessible to Europe, Lufthansa has constantly opened up first-class seats to companions inside 14 days of departure. Be aware that the majority seats are launched inside a couple of days of departure, favoring those that can guide on the final minute.
This system has additionally elevated the value of first-class awards from North America to Asia from 90,000 miles to 120,000 miles on companion airways like All Nippon Airways; availability on these flights is exceptionally laborious to come back by.
Whereas a Colombian loyalty program won’t be the primary place you’ll consider to redeem miles for flights to Europe, LifeMiles are simple to earn as this system is a 1:1 switch companion of American Categorical Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou Rewards. In response to TPG’s August 2024 valuations, LifeMiles are value 1.7 cents every.
The timing of this devaluation is particularly unlucky, on condition that Cardless lately launched two new Avianca-branded bank cards for U.S. residents. When you had utilized for this card with the plan to guide a flight to Europe, you will have to accept enterprise class moderately than top notch with the dear new charges.
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If you’re trying to guide Lufthansa’s top notch to expertise the well-known first-class terminal in Frankfurt Airport (FRA), the best choice now could be to guide by way of Air Canada’s Aeroplan program — additionally a switch companion of a number of bank card currencies. Enterprise-class awards on companion airways like Lufthansa to Europe value 60,000 factors from the U.S. East Coast or 70,000 factors from the Midwest and West Coast, just like LifeMiles charges.
For first-class awards to Europe, the Aeroplan charges are 90,000 to 100,000 factors, relying on the place in North America you originate. It is a higher deal than the 130,000 miles that Avianca LifeMiles now costs.
Backside line
Devaluations are an unlucky actuality of incomes and redeeming factors and miles, and they’re particularly disagreeable when packages enhance costs with out notifying members. LifeMiles had for years been the best-value strategy to guide premium-cabin flights with miles to Europe.
Now, the business-class companion charges are just like these of different packages like Aeroplan; for first-class flights, it’s higher to think about reserving by way of Aeroplan as an alternative.
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