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American Express Membership Rewards has announced the addition of Avianca LifeMiles as a transfer partner. The move brings the total number of airlines you can transfer Membership Rewards points to 17.
You will now be able to transfer Membership Rewards points to LifeMiles at a ratio of 1:1, and the minimum number of points to transfer is 1,000.
Other LifeMiles Options
Transferring Membership Rewards to Avianca LifeMiles is an attractive proposition, but there are other options available. Avianca regularly publishes some of the most generous promotions with a very large bonus on the sale of miles. In September 2018, you could purchase LifeMiles with a bonus of 125%, while in May 2018, we saw LifeMiles on sale with a bonus of 135%.
You can purchase 200,000 LifeMiles per calendar year, so taking advantage of one of the last promotions would have given you 450,000 LifeMiles including the bonus. That is a substantial number no matter how you look at it, and redeeming your LifeMiles with Star Alliance partners, would have given you enough miles for 5 one-way awards between Germany and Los Angeles in First class.
Remember Avianca processes its miles purchases itself, so you could earn even more points by using a credit card offering a bonus earning category on travel or airfare.
Our Take
The addition of LifeMiles is great news, not only can you purchase LifeMiles, but the program also has some very attractive sweet spots on award redemptions, especially on Star Alliance partner awards. Remember you can also transfer Citi ThankYou points to LifeMiles. With the new partnership with Amex Membership Rewards, LifeMiles just got even more attractive!
Source: One Mile At A Time
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Too bad not all avianca flights show up on lifemiles searches 🙁
I like Star Alliance. Good addition for amex membership rewards.
Good option to combine with the discounted purchase of miles.
Thumbs up, it’s a good addition.
On the other hand, unless you speak Spanish, those few times I was on the phone with LifeMiles customer service, it was not easy.
Called and hung-up few times finally found rep with good English speaking.
That’s great for Star Alliance awards!
What a great addition. Time to read up on how to use lifemiles.
I think United is a partner you can use LifeMiles on, which would make this more useful for me.
Yes, they are. They’re both a part of Star Alliance.
Finally! I’ve been waiting for this for a very long time as LifeMiles is my main Star Alliance program
Great program for star alliance awards
I have heard good things about the Lifemiles program. Now that I can transfer Amex points, the idea of buying Lifemiles during one of their sales will make it easier to get really good value if I learn to use this program to our advantage. Thanks for the info.
So many improvements to the U.S. AMEX program. Canada needs some too…
It’s even worse overseas!
Also the European Membership Rewards should be improved!
Enhancements to cards (i.e. the “new”Gold card), and now adding transfer partners. Chase (imho) has been the flexible points pack-leader for some time; that and competition from others is definitely dragging AmEx in the right direction.
Yes! More options the better!
good addition
Good deal. More options to move points around is always worthwhile.