Buying airline miles strategically can open doors to incredible savings—especially for long-haul business or first class flights. Right now, Avianca’s LifeMiles program is running a limited-time promotion that allows eligible members to buy miles with up to a 160% bonus.
But these offers are often targeted. Not every member sees the same bonus, and some accounts might not have access to the promo at all.
At TheMilesAcademy, we consistently rate LifeMiles as one of the top programs for premium cabin award travel across the Star Alliance network. However, after a recent devaluation, the program has made some award redemptions more expensive and access to partner award space less predictable.
If you’re planning a specific award trip soon, this deal might be worth jumping on. But don’t buy miles unless you already know how you’ll use them.
LifeMiles Promo Details: Bonus Up to 160% Through July 14
From now through Monday, July 14, 2025, Avianca is offering select members a tiered bonus of up to 160% on purchased LifeMiles. Here’s the breakdown:
- Buy 1,000 to 20,000 miles — get a 140% bonus
- Buy 21,000 to 200,000 miles — get a 160% bonus
To see your specific offer, you’ll need to sign in to your LifeMiles account. If you’re a LifeMiles+ subscriber, you might see an even bigger 200% bonus, but that’s not guaranteed—it’s likely limited to a small group of targeted accounts.
How Much Do LifeMiles Cost With This Promo?
Normally, Avianca sells LifeMiles at 3.3 cents each before bonuses. If you buy 200,000 miles under the current promotion and receive a 160% bonus, you’ll end up with 520,000 total miles for $6,600—bringing your effective cost down to just 1.27 cents per mile.
This can be an excellent rate if you know how to redeem for high-value flights, particularly in business or first class.
LifeMiles Purchase Limits
LifeMiles lets each member buy up to 200,000 base miles per calendar year. Bonus miles from promotions don’t count toward that cap, so during a promo like this, your actual mileage haul can be much higher.
Best Credit Cards to Earn Extra Points When Buying LifeMiles
LifeMiles purchases are processed directly by Avianca, which means they code as airfare transactions. If you’re paying with the right travel rewards credit card, you’ll earn bonus points in addition to your purchased miles.
Here are six top credit cards that offer excellent value when buying LifeMiles:
| Credit Card | Points Earned on Airfare | Key Travel Benefits | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | 5x Membership Rewards points | Global Lounge Collection, premium travel perks | Apply Now |
| American Express® Gold Card | 3x Membership Rewards points | Airline fee credit, strong dining/travel rewards | Apply Now |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 3x Ultimate Rewards points | Priority Pass access, travel protections | Apply Now |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 2x Ultimate Rewards points | Strong travel insurance and low annual fee | Apply Now |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | 2x miles on every purchase | Points transferable to LifeMiles and other partners | Apply Now |
| Citi Premier® Card | 3x ThankYou Points on airfare | Points transferable to Avianca LifeMiles | Apply Now |
Using any of these cards allows you to earn valuable rewards alongside your LifeMiles purchase, maximizing your return.
Should You Buy Avianca LifeMiles?
Avianca is part of the Star Alliance, which gives you access to redemptions on top carriers like Lufthansa, ANA, Turkish Airlines, and Singapore Airlines—with no fuel surcharges.
That makes Avianca LifeMiles incredibly powerful if you’re looking to fly international business or first class for a fraction of the cash price. For example:
- ANA First Class to Japan
- Lufthansa Business Class to Europe
- SWISS Business Class to Zurich
Just keep in mind that LifeMiles doesn’t always show the same award space that other Star Alliance programs do. Sometimes it has more, sometimes less. That’s why we always recommend doing dummy searches on the LifeMiles site to make sure your desired flight is available before buying.
If you’re a LifeMiles+ member, you could unlock even more perks, including better award rates. Avianca’s co-branded credit cards also offer additional earning options and discounts.
What Are LifeMiles Worth?
TheMilesAcademy values LifeMiles at around 1.4 cents each, based on consistent redemption potential across Star Alliance partners. That’s a conservative estimate—savvy travelers can often get much more value, especially on long-haul premium flights.
LifeMiles Expiration Policy
LifeMiles won’t expire as long as your account shows some earning activity at least once every 12 months. Buying miles resets that clock. However, redeeming miles won’t extend your expiration date—so be sure to trigger some kind of mileage-earning action annually.
More Ways to Earn LifeMiles Without Buying
Buying isn’t your only option. Avianca LifeMiles has partnerships with major flexible points currencies:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Capital One Miles
- Citi ThankYou Points
You can transfer points from any of these programs to top off your Avianca LifeMiles account. This flexibility makes the program especially appealing for U.S.-based travelers.
Final Take: Is This Promo Worth It?
The current Avianca LifeMiles promotion offers a solid chance to buy miles at just 1.27¢ each, if you’re eligible for the top-tier 160% bonus. If you already have a specific trip or redemption in mind—and you’ve confirmed availability—this can be a smart way to lock in luxury travel at a discount.
That said, don’t buy LifeMiles blindly. We recommends always checking award space and knowing your redemption plan before committing to any miles purchase.
Get Travel Deals Like This Every Week
This LifeMiles bonus promo is a smart way to book premium travel at a deep discount—if you know what you’re doing. But if you’re tired of missing out on deals like this or wondering if a redemption is actually worth it, you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Join TheMilesAcademy Community—our free insider group where travelers like you get:
- Real-time alerts on mileage promos and award sweet spots
- Step-by-step strategies to stretch every mile further
- Advice from experienced award travelers and mileage pros
If you’re serious about making your points and miles work harder, this is where you want to be. It’s free, it’s practical, and it’s built to help you book smarter.
Join TheMilesAcademy Community today and never miss another opportunity to fly better for less.
