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Capital One just launched a new transfer bonus to LifeMiles. Now through August 31, 2026, you can transfer Capital One miles to LifeMiles and receive a 15% bonus. This sweetens LifeMiles sweet spots, letting Capital One cardholders score domestic United awards from 5,900 Capital One miles and even business class to Europe from 46,600 miles.

It's worth taking advantage of if you've got a redemption in mind, so let's dig into the details and show you why.

Capital One to LifeMiles Transfer Bonus Key Terms

  • Transfer Capital One miles to Avianca LifeMiles and receive a 15% transfer bonus.
  • This offer is available from August 1 through August 31, 2026, ending at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
  • Must transfer a minimum of 1,000 miles.
  • No registration is necessary.
  • Transfers are immediate.
  • Here's a step-by-step guide on how to transfer Capital One miles to partners.
Details on the 15% bonus when trasnferring miles from Capital One to Avianca LifeMiles
Screenshot of Avianca

Is This Transfer Bonus Worth Jumping On?

First and foremost, we generally don't recommend speculatively transferring your points just to take advantage of a transfer bonus. Award travel is constantly changing, and you risk being stuck with “orphaned” currencies when you transfer your points without a specific plan for how to redeem them.

That said, LifeMiles offers excellent value, particularly on Avianca's partner airlines. However, if we had to describe LifeMiles in just one word, it would be “unpredictable.” A 2025 LifeMiles devaluation all but decimated one of our favorite sweet spots — you used to be able to book domestic United awards for 6,500 LifeMiles. Now, you'll pay a minimum of 7,500 LifeMiles, but many routes cost 10,000 or more.

A no-notice 2026 devaluation saw huge increases in partner premium cabin awards. However, many of these have since been reversed, but only time will tell how long that will last.

The one thing that keeps LifeMiles competitive is the LifeMiles+ membership, which comes complimentary on the avianca lifemiles American Express® Elite Card, and offers up to 25% off Avianca flights and up to 10% off partner award flights.

avianca lifemiles American Express® Elite Card
avianca lifemiles American Express® Elite Card
How to Apply
Welcome Bonus Get up to 100,000 Welcome bonus miles* — 60,000 miles after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days plus an additional 40,000 miles after spending $25,000 in the first 365 days.
avianca lifemiles American Express® Elite Card
Welcome Bonus Get up to 100,000 Welcome bonus miles* — 60,000 miles after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days plus an additional 40,000 miles after spending $25,000 in the first 365 days.
Annual Fee:$249
Show moreWhy We Like ItEarning Rates
The avianca lifemiles American Express® Elite Card delivers 3x miles on Avianca purchases and 2x on both dining and other travel purchases. The dual bonus structure can yield up to 100,000 lifemiles points in the first year, plus included lifemiles+ Lite membership and Silver Elite status make it ideal for travelers seeking stronger rewards and premium perks.
  • Earn 3x miles on avianca or lifemiles purchases
  • Earn 2x miles on restaurant and other travel purchases
  • Earn 1x on all other eligible purchases

Related: How To Earn Avianca LifeMiles

Redeeming LifeMiles on Partner Airlines

Avianca is part of the Star Alliance airline partnership, which means that LifeMiles can be used to book flights on any of its member airlines. Avianca doesn't impose carrier-imposed fees for partner award bookings, so using LifeMiles is a great way to save a lot of cash on notoriously expensive flights — expensive due to the crazy fees airlines add on.

For example, flights from Salt Lake City to Grand Junction can cost a small fortune. However, a one-way award flight on this route costs just 7,500 LifeMiles or just 6,750 LifeMiles with a LifeMiles+ membership. That's just 5,900 Capital One miles when transferring during the 15% transfer bonus.

LifeMiles award search for flight from SLC to GJT via Denver operated by United
Screenshot of LifeMiles

Another one of our favorite LifeMiles redemptions is flying on select routes to Europe. For example, you can book business class awards between New York (JFK) and Brussels (BRU) on Brussels Airlines for 59,500 LifeMiles each way, or just 53,550 LifeMiles with a LifeMiles+ membership.

When you add in the current LifeMiles transfer bonus, the deal gets even better. Instead of 53,600 Capital One miles, you need to transfer just 46,600 Capital One miles to book this award during this transfer bonus! Since Avianca does not tack on carrier-imposed fees, you'll only pay around $54 out-of-pocket.

LifeMiles search result for a flight from JFK to BRU on Brussels Airlines
Screenshot of LifeMiles

Related: Do Avianca LifeMiles Expire?

Final Thoughts

Transfer bonuses from Capital One to LifeMiles don't come around super often, so you may want to take advantage of it before it disappears on August 31, 2026. If you want to book flights with a Star Alliance partner (or even Avianca's non-alliance partners like GOL and Iberia), this is a great way to stretch your Capital One miles that much further.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
How to Apply
Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee:$95
Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates
Following the revamp of Capital One's rewards program and the addition of airline transfer partners, the Capital One Venture has catapulted into our list of top travel rewards cards. The ability to earn at least 2X miles on every purchase provides a decent return on spending. Plus the card offers some great perks.
  • Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
  • 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2X miles on all other purchase
  • Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔® (up to $120)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $95 annual fee
  • 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
  • 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
Tip of The Day
Did you know that you can group different travel segments into a single travel plan? You can then share this trip with anyone. To do this use the Create Travel Plan link.  You can move the beginning and end sections of the travel plan by dragging and dropping.
Composite image shows how to create a travel plan in the AwardWallet trips timeline

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