Page Contents<\/p>
- LifeMiles Basics<\/a><\/li>
- Book United Flights With LifeMiles: How To Find Value<\/a><\/li>
- Comparing MileagePlus to LifeMiles<\/a>
- Last-minute tickets within a single region<\/a><\/li>
- Ski in Jackson Hole for 7,500 miles each way<\/a><\/li>
- Within Region 1 itinerary: Roanoke, VA to Portland, ME<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- When Not to Book United Flights With LifeMiles<\/a><\/li>
- Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n
LifeMiles Basics<\/span><\/h2>\n
LifeMiles is the award program of Avianca, a Colombia-based airline with a strong presence across Central and South America. As a Star Alliance member, you can credit partner flights to LifeMiles.<\/p>\n
You can also earn LifeMiles<\/a> via transfer from multiple programs, including:<\/a><\/p>\n
From<\/div>To<\/div>Transfer Ratio<\/div>Min.Transfer<\/div>Average Time<\/div><\/div>Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Avianca (LifeMiles)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>-<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Capital One<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Avianca (LifeMiles)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>100:100<\/div>1,000<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Citibank (ThankYou Rewards)<\/a>United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Avianca (LifeMiles)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>-<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>Marriott (Bonvoy)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Avianca (LifeMiles)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>3:1<\/div>3,000<\/div>1 day<\/div><\/div><\/div>Bilt Rewards<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Avianca (LifeMiles)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>1,000:1,000<\/div>2,000<\/div>Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>Brex Cash<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Avianca (LifeMiles)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>3:2<\/div>500<\/div>Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>HSBC RewardsUnited States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Avianca (LifeMiles)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>1,250:1,000<\/div>-<\/div>Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>Ramp (Ramp Rewards)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Avianca (LifeMiles)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>150:100<\/div>-<\/div>Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>Wells Fargo (Go Far Rewards)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span>Avianca (LifeMiles)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>1:1<\/div>-<\/div>Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nThat means you can effectively earn LifeMiles through the following cards that earn transferable points:<\/p>\n
![\"Capital](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\")
<\/div><\/div>Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card<\/div>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. <\/div><\/div>How to Apply<\/a><\/div>Annual Fee<\/strong>$95<\/p><\/div>
Credit Score<\/strong>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div>
- \r\n
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment <\/li>\r\n
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel<\/li>\r\n
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Citi Strata Premier\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/div>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn 60,000 bonus ThankYou\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.<\/div><\/div>Apply Now<\/a><\/div>Annual Fee<\/strong>
$95Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>
Credit Score<\/strong>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div>
- \r\n
- 10X on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com<\/li>\r\n
- 3X \u2013 Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases<\/li>\r\n
- 3X \u2013 Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants<\/li>\r\n
- 3X \u2013 Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets<\/li>\r\n
- 3X \u2013 Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations <\/li>\r\n
- 1X \u2013 Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
Credit: Sam Lopez\/Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n With plenty of transfer options, accumulating LifeMiles isn't difficult. But you'll need to know a few key things before you redeem them.<\/p>\n
First, the program charges a nonrefundable award redemption fee \u2014 typically $25, though some awards drop as low as $10.<\/p>\n
Second, it's one of the least flexible currencies for award changes and cancellations<\/a>. Fees can be significant and vary by fare type, so it\u2019s important to be confident in your travel plans before booking.<\/p>\n
On the flip side, a cool aspect of LifeMiles is that it doesn't pass on carrier surcharges. This makes them an excellent option for carriers with egregious extra fees (looking at you, Lufthansa).<\/p>\n
I use LifeMiles often enough that they are one of the few currencies where I keep a small stash of miles and speculatively transfer points<\/a> when transfer bonuses are offered. They are my go-to solution for booking short positioning hops on United, so having 7,500 to 15,000 available is often handy.<\/p>\n
United economy isn't glamorous, but it's often a good use of LifeMiles. Photo Credit: United Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n If you're not familiar with the program, check out our LifeMiles partners<\/a>\u00a0and LifeMiles sweet spots<\/a> guides.<\/p>\n
Book United Flights With LifeMiles: How To Find Value<\/span><\/h2>\n
Unlike many award programs that use region-based pricing, LifeMiles divides the continental United States into three regions. In theory, flights within a region cost fewer miles than those between regions.<\/p>\n
In practice, though, pricing isn\u2019t always consistent. Even within the same region, rates can vary depending on the route. While LifeMiles does publish an award chart, it\u2019s more like a rough guide rather than a guarantee of what you\u2019ll pay for United flights.<\/p>\n
Here are the defined regions:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Region 1:<\/strong> Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia<\/li>\n
- Region 2:<\/strong> Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin<\/li>\n
- Region 3:<\/strong> Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Region 2:<\/strong> Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin<\/li>\n
- Region 1:<\/strong> Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia<\/li>\n
- Ski in Jackson Hole for 7,500 miles each way<\/a><\/li>
- Book United Flights With LifeMiles: How To Find Value<\/a><\/li>
![\"Capital](\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/dfed8cb4-d376-4c8b-aed4-1997afa3d66a.png\")
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