Avianca’s LifeMiles program has elevated redemption prices on many standard routes simply six months after rising Europe charges. As first reported by Loyalty Foyer, the Bogota, Colombia-based loyalty program has elevated mileage prices operated by Star Alliance companions, together with United, Eva Air and ANA, with out warning.
There are will increase throughout the board. Here’s what you might want to know.
Flights to Europe
Flights to Europe in economic system and enterprise class, which had been already elevated in Aug. 2025 by as much as 17%, have elevated once more (one-way, per particular person plus charges and taxes):
- Economic system class: From 35,000 miles to 40,000 miles (up by ~14%)
- Enterprise class: From 70,000 miles to 80,000 miles (up by ~15%)
Luckily, first-class prices haven’t elevated, though they had been raised by 50% final 12 months.
Flights to Asia
Flights to Asia have elevated as follows (one-way, per particular person plus charges and taxes):
- Economic system class: From 47,000 miles to 55,000 miles (up by ~18%)
- Enterprise class: From 90,000 miles to 100,000 miles (up by ~11%)
- First-class: Stay unchanged at 120,000 miles
Home flights inside the US
The LifeMiles program had beforehand used a fancy award chart for home flights, with the U.S. separated into three completely different zones (United States 1, 2 and three). Costs ranged from 7,500 to 17,500 miles in economic system and 15,000 to 25,000 miles in enterprise class/home first.
Costs flying United Airways domestically seem to have been elevated throughout the board, with some examples TPG has discovered together with (one-way, per particular person plus charges and taxes):
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- Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO): Was 7,500 miles, now 10,000 miles in economic system
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR): Was 10,000 miles, now 15,000 miles in economic system
- SFO to Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA): Was 12,500 miles, now 15,000 miles in economic system
- EWR to LAX: Was 12,500 miles, now 15,000 miles in economic system
- Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL) to O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD): Was 22,500 miles, now 25,000 miles in economic system
Flights to Australia/New Zealand
In case you’re heading Down Beneath, Avianca has additionally elevated the LifeMiles redemption charges (one-way, per particular person plus charges and taxes):
- Economic system class: From 40,000 miles to 55,000 miles (up by ~38%)
- Enterprise class: From 80,000 miles to 100,000 miles (up by ~25%)
LifeMiles associate award charts haven’t but been up to date, in order that they solely present the pre-devaluation costs.
This system doesn’t provide premium economic system redemptions on any airline, maybe as a result of provider Avianca doesn’t function this class of service itself.
What’s LifeMiles + World?
Within the above screenshots of the elevated redemption charges, it’s possible you’ll discover discounted costs for ‘life miles + world.’ This paid month-to-month subscription service provides 10% off redemptions, bonus miles every month, and double miles earned on bank card spending.
A six-month minimal dedication is required, so even the most affordable Plan Lite would price a minimal of $120 if you don’t maintain the Avianca LifeMiles American Specific® Elite Card. Nevertheless, this might nonetheless be a savvy funding if you wish to save 10% on a round-trip award of 200,000 LifeMiles and earn 500 LifeMiles every month on your subscription.
Do you have to nonetheless redeem LifeMiles?
Whereas a South American loyalty program won’t have been in your radar, LifeMiles is a switch associate of the next currencies, so they’re simple to earn:
You might have no plans to go to Colombia or South America however as a member of Star Alliance, Avianca companions with many standard airways. For instance, if you wish to journey to Europe, there are numerous choices from United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, LOT Polish, Swiss, Austrian and extra. Availability in economic system and enterprise class has been pretty simple, given the massive variety of flights throughout the Atlantic.
Associated: The most effective methods to journey to Europe utilizing factors and miles
It is price noting that LifeMiles doesn’t appear to have entry to the identical variety of seats as different Star Alliance airways. Specifically, Lufthansa seems to be blocking some seats throughout the Atlantic.
If you wish to redeem transferable factors on Star Alliance airways following this LifeMiles devaluation, take into account Air Canada’s Aeroplan program as an alternative who associate with many transferable currencies. Their award charts work barely in a different way, and they’re priced on each areas and distance. Nevertheless, they continue to be a less expensive choice for many economic system flights to Europe (35,000 or 40,000 Aeroplan factors relying on distance) and a fantastic deal for enterprise class to Europe, priced at an affordable 60,000 to 70,000 Aeroplan factors relying on distance.
Equally, when you might discover economic system flights to Asia and South Pacific at an identical worth in economic system to the brand new LifeMiles costs, enterprise class flights must be barely cheaper.
Backside line
Surprising worth will increase like this are an unlucky actuality of incomes and redeeming factors and miles. It is at all times disagreeable when they’re finished with out warning to members, particularly when different applications like Qantas not too long ago gave members a beneficiant six-month warning to redeem factors at earlier charges earlier than costs enhance.
Nonetheless, transferable factors have nice worth, and you may shield your self from these devaluations by preserving your factors in your favourite bank card program’s account and solely transferring them to a associate airline or resort program when you’re able to redeem them.
