For the second time in six months, Avianca LifeMiles raised award rates on many partner airline redemptions to Europe, Asia, and beyond a few months back, souring the program's reputation as a go-to way to book flights near and far. Well, maybe the Colombian carrier is having some remorse.
Over the last few weeks, we've seen LifeMiles rates steadily return to lower levels – on many routes, booking many Star Alliance partners. Transatlantic business class award tickets may not be down to the old rate of just 63,000 miles each way of less than a year ago … but they've dropped from the standard, 80,000-mile rates after the latest nasty increases in February.
There's one major exception, though: Award rates when booking United through LifeMiles remain largely unchanged.
But let's start with the good news. For example, this TAP Air Portugal business class redemption from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to Lisbon (LIS) would have cost you 80,000 miles each way. So would most Star Alliance business class awards across the pond, in fact.
Yet here it is: Back down to 69,000 miles each way – roughly the same rate it was at before that latest increase a few months ago.
The same goes for most Lufthansa business class redemptions, which have dropped back to 69,000 miles each way. Flying economy over to Europe on these carriers is cheaper, too: It's down to 35,000 miles (or sometimes 37,000 miles, as you see above) each way.
These might be modest decreases – and they still don't bring LifeMiles back to the glory days of just a year or so ago – but any decrease bucks a trend. Pointsflation is here and it's out of control: Countless major carriers have increased award rates over the last year or two. Any decreases should be celebrated.
Despite its many pitfalls, travelers have turned to LifeMiles because it offers an unparalleled mix of affordable award rates without hefty fees and surcharges on top. Plus, they've gotten easier to earn over the years: LifeMiles is an Amex transfer partner, Capital One transfer partner, Citi transfer partner, and most recently, a Wells Fargo transfer partner. That means a stash of points from cards like the *amex gold* or miles from the *venture x* could get you all what you need.
And for many carriers, you'll now need fewer of them. But this isn't an across-the-board cut. One airline in particular stands out as sticking to the higher rates: United Airlines.
Flying United Polaris business class over to Europe remains stuck at 80,000 LifeMiles across the board. Same for an economy redemption: Those will still run you 40,000 miles.
The same goes for long-haul flights going the other way. Flying from San Francisco (SFO) to Tahiti (PPT), for example, will still cost you 45,000 LifeMiles in economy or 85,000 miles in business class. That remains unchanged.
There are exceptions, of course … because there always are with LifeMiles. So far, we're still seeing the same, higher rates for Air New Zealand flights between the U.S. and Auckland and booking ANA business class from the U.S. to Tokyo and back. Whether those rates come down in the near future or stay where they're at is anyone's guess.
If there's one thing you can count on LifeMiles – beyond shoddy customer service and sky-high cancellation fees if you need to scrap your award ticket – it's strange quirks and sweet spots that break the mold. But the pattern is undeniable: Many Star Alliance award tickets have gone down in price while United redemptions remain unchanged. So what gives?
Between Virgin Atlantic killing off the last great Delta One business class redemption, Air Canada's recent transition to dynamic award pricing (read as: flights now cost you more points) when booking United and a few other partners, and now this, it's becoming crystal clear that major U.S. airlines are pressuring their foreign partners to close some of these workarounds with award rate increases, additional fees, or both. Case in point: LifeMiles' award rates for United largely mirror what Aeroplan is also now charging for those same redemptions.
Why else would a business class flight from Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) to Frankfurt (FRA) now cost you an extra 11,000 miles each way if you book United instead of Lufthansa … departing a mere 35 minutes later on the same day, no less!
Bottom Line
After raising award rates across the board for a second time in six months this winter, LifeMiles has slashed those rates on many routes – especially over to Europe.
In an era when mileage rates are seemingly only going up, up, and up, that's notable. But what stands out even more is that rates for booking United Airlines while using LifeMiles remain stubbornly high.
