The only constant with Avianca LifeMiles is change – and this week, the changes are for the better … at least for now.
This week, our team of Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal analysts noticed LifeMiles lowered the cost in miles to book many popular business class seats flying across the Atlantic, and even some to Asia, too. But if we know anything about LifeMiles, it's that its changes never last long, so we recommend you act fast if you want to take advantage of the lower rates – especially while there is a 15% transfer bonus from American Express to LifeMiles for one more week!
Why care about the quirky South American loyalty program?
LifeMiles partners with several banks, such as American Express, Capital One, Citi, Bilt, and Wells Fargo, making it easy to earn those points. With a card like the *amex gold* or the *capital one venture card* in your wallet, you might have the points needed to book flights with Avianca's Star Alliance partner airlines like SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, United, and EVA Air, among others.
But dealing with LifeMiles often requires an exercise in patience. The program is known for its rough website, shaky customer support, and $200 cancellation fee per booking. Plus, LifeMiles tends to yo-yo its award rates in confusing fashion. Like in 2024, when it raised rates. Or in early 2025, when it raised rates again. Or when, three months later, it lowered rates back to normal … only to raise them again the following year.
Right now, we're on the good side of the yo-yo, with some overseas business class flights going down to as low as 54,000 miles each way. That's the beauty of LifeMiles: You trade shaky customer service and higher cancel fees for some of the lowest rates in transatlantic travel.
But I wouldn't bank on these rates lingering for too long. Act fast to get the best rates, because you never know what LifeMiles will do next!
What LifeMiles Rates Have Changed?
LifeMiles just made some (mostly positive) changes to what it charges for many of its most popular business class awards. But again, there's no telling how long this will last. If you've been eyeing one of these routes, book first and ask questions later.
Here's a sampling of what we're seeing on many popular routes.
Austrian Airlines
Montreal (YUL) to Vienna (VIE): Now 59,500 miles each way in business class (was 63,000)
Washington (IAD) to VIE: Now 68,600 miles each way in business class (was 89,800)
Brussels Airlines
New York (JFK) to Brussels (BRU): Now 59,500 each way in business class (was 69,000)
LOT Polish Airlines
New York (JFK) to Warsaw (WAW): Now 59,500 each way in business class (was 69,000)
Lufthansa
Avianca's website is still not showing Lufthansa flights. We first noticed this on May 14, 2026.
SWISS
Boston (BOS) to Zurich (ZRH): Now 59,500 each way in business class (was 69,000)
New York (JFK) to ZRH: Now 54,010 each way in business class (was 63,500)
San Francisco (SFO) to ZRH: Now 73,400 each way in business class (was 69,000). One of the only rate increases in this rate change-up.
TAP Air Portugal
Montreal (YUL) to Lisbon (LIS): 59,500 each way in business class (was 63,000)
United Airlines
Denver (DEN) to London (LHR): 78,500 each way in United Polaris business class (was 92,400)
Newark (EWR) to LHR: 76,910 each way in United Polaris business class (was 92,400)
EWR to Madrid (MAD): 78,500 each way in United Polaris business class (was 92,400)
EWR to Naples (NAP): 78,500 each way in United Polaris business class (was 92,400)
EWR to Porto (OPO): 78,500 each way in United Polaris business class (was 92,400)
Routes that stayed the same at 92,400 each way in United Polaris: EWR – Berlin (BER), Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) – Barcelona (BCN), IAD – LIS, IAD – Paris (CDG), IAD – MAD, Houston (IAH) – LHR, Chicago (ORD) – LHR.
EVA Airlines
Los Angeles (LAX) to Taipei (TPE): 83,200 each way in business class (was 90,000-plus each way)
San Francisco (SFO) to TPE: 83,200 each way in business class (was 90,000-plus each way)
Chicago (ORD) to TPE: 90,000 each way in business class (was 100,000 each way)
Economy rates on all these routes also went down. LAX and SFO economy rates are down to 41,400 each way from 47,000 previously. Chicago is down to 47,000 each way from 55,000 previously.
Bottom Line
Act fast to secure your business class flights abroad using LifeMiles. Because this program changes constantly, we wouldn't be surprised to see things snap back to the old rates in a matter of days.
Plus, with a 15% transfer bonus from Amex to Avianca running through July 15, these deals can be even sweeter.
