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Update: The 15% bonus for signing up for Club LifeMiles has ended. But, you can still subscribe to the program to buy LifeMiles for as little as 1.35 cents per mile.
LifeMiles has targeted some travelers with a 15% bonus when signing up for Club LifeMiles — its monthly mileage subscription service — similar to a promotion early last year. But, it's not easy to understand how Club LifeMiles works, even without the promotion. So, let's show you how this program works.
How the Club LifeMiles Program Works
Club LifeMiles is a monthly membership program to buy LifeMiles. But, it works quite differently than other buy miles promotions. Members sign up to pay monthly for a year to buy miles. You'll get a set number of LifeMiles each month. In addition, LifeMiles awards bonus points every three months that you stay subscribed.
There are six tiers, depending on how much you want to spend monthly. Obviously, the higher tiers give you a better value for each point that you buy.
- $9.99 a month for 500 monthly miles — plus 2,000 bonus miles for a total of 8,000 miles a year
- $19.49 a month for 1,000 monthly miles — plus 4,000 bonus miles for a total of 16,000 miles a year
- $38.49 a month for 2,000 monthly miles — plus 8,000 bonus miles for a total of 32,000 miles a year
- $56.99 a month for 3,000 monthly miles — plus 12,000 bonus miles for a total of 48,000 miles a year
- $91.99 a month for 5,000 monthly miles — plus 20,000 bonus miles for a total of 80,000 miles a year
- $125.99 a month for 7,000 monthly miles — plus 28,000 bonus miles for a total of 112,000 miles a year
A bonus is paid each quarter, but that bonus depends on how long you've subscribed. For example, the “Plan 500” pays out bonuses as:
- 200 bonus LifeMiles after 3 months
- 300 bonus LifeMiles after 6 months
- 500 bonus LifeMiles after 9 months
- 1,000 bonus LifeMiles after 12 months
So, you need to subscribe for an entire 12-month period before you get the best effective purchase rates. If you do, it comes to the following values:
- $119.88 over 12 months to get 8,000 miles = 1.50 cents per mile
- $233.88 over 12 months to get 16,000 miles = 1.46 cents per mile
- $461.88 over 12 months to get 32,000 miles = 1.44 cents per mile
- $683.88 over 12 months to get 48,000 miles = 1.42 cents per mile
- $1103.88 over 12 months to get 80,000 miles = 1.38 cents per mile
- $1511.88 over 12 months to get 112,000 miles = 1.35 cents per mile
Club LifeMiles Targeted 15% Bonus
LifeMiles has targeted certain travelers to receive an additional 15% bonus when signing up for Club LifeMiles by January 26, 2021.
As if Club LifeMiles wasn't complicated enough, this bonus takes the confusion to the next level. The 15% bonus is on top of the annual bonus paid on each plan. But, you don't have to wait until the end of the year to get this bonus. The 15% bonus is paid after the second month of membership.
Let's show you how this works for the largest “Plan 7,000” package:
| Subscription Month | Monthly Miles | Bonus Miles | Total Miles Awarded | Effective Purchase Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 1.80 | |
| 2 | 7,000 | 4,200 | 18,200 | 1.38 |
| 3 | 7,000 | 2,800 | 28,000 | 1.35 |
| 4 | 7,000 | 35,000 | 1.44 | |
| 5 | 7,000 | 42,000 | 1.50 | |
| 6 | 7,000 | 4,200 | 53,200 | 1.42 |
| 7 | 7,000 | 60,200 | 1.47 | |
| 8 | 7,000 | 67,200 | 1.50 | |
| 9 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 81,200 | 1.40 |
| 10 | 7,000 | 88,200 | 1.43 | |
| 11 | 7,000 | 95,200 | 1.46 | |
| 12 | 7,000 | 14,000 | 116,200 | 1.30 |
Does This Promotion Make Sense?
Considering the 15% bonus with the highest tier would only get you 4,200 bonus miles, it would bring the value of the miles down to 1.30 cents per mile. LifeMiles has run multiple buy points sales for just 1.1 cents each, so there's no need to jump through these hoops to get a purchase rate of 1.3 cents.
On top of that, you can transfer miles from American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer rate), Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1), Capital One Rewards (4:3), and Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 with a 5,000 LifeMile bonus for transferring 60,000 Bonvoy points).
Basically, we think that there are much better ways to get your LifeMiles than by signing up for Club LifeMiles. But, if this monthly subscription program works for you, then go for it.
Don't forget that Avianca is a member of Star Alliance, and LifeMiles is one of a few airline programs that doesn't impose fuel surcharges on certain awards. Avianca also doesn't charge any close-in booking fees. Don't forget to check out our article on the Avianca LifeMiles Program Overview and Sweet Spots.
So, having Avianca LifeMiles is still probably a good idea. It just comes down to how you're going to get them. We'll keep our eyes out for better deals to pass on to you.
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For UK addresses too?
It seems like Club LifeMiles is available to all members. However, you’ll have to check your individual account to see if you’re targeted for a promotion.
This program has effectively become a mile-selling merchant. It might work well for residents based in Germany, Austria and Switzerland wanting to fly leisure first class intercontinental trips often.
Thanks for passing this deal along! It looks good.. That sweet spot on the 2 month is decent.
This is definitely a hard pass for almost everyone. I really don’t see a worthwhile scenario, but always appreciate the scoops.
I like lifemiles, they are underrated! Nice promo
I first got a bit excited to see the 15% bonus but then the actual calculation shows that its not really 15% on the total miles but only on the miles earned in the first 3 months, its not really that interesting. If they would have given 15% each quarter, that would have been more compelling.
What is a life mile? Ive been into points and mile for 20 years and never heard of them.
We got just the post for you! https://awardwallet.com/blog/overview-best-value-avianca-lifemiles-sweet-spots/
If you’re comfortable with the programs you know, it’s worth getting to know LifeMiles. It’s got some nice sweet spots – especially since LifeMiles doesn’t pass along fuel surcharges.