Why LifeMiles Stands Out
Two things set LifeMiles apart from the rest of Star Alliance for Star Alliance awards: no fuel surcharges on most redemptions and competitive pricing on long-haul business class. This combination makes it a frequent choice for travelers who want to avoid the high taxes that appear on some other programs. See our how to avoid fuel surcharges guide for more context on when surcharges appear elsewhere.
LifeMiles can book Star Alliance partners including United, Lufthansa, and others, often at lower out-of-pocket costs than programs that pass through carrier surcharges.
How to Earn LifeMiles
You can transfer points to Avianca LifeMiles from Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, and Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Capital One frequently runs transfer bonuses to LifeMiles, which can increase the effective value of those points when the promotion is active.
Buying miles directly is also an option during periodic promotions. The math works best when the purchase price per mile is low enough to make premium-cabin awards attractive compared with cash fares.
Star Alliance Sweet Spots
LifeMiles offers strong value on Star Alliance business class to Europe and South America. Transatlantic business awards start at 63,000 miles one-way. South America business awards are listed at 35,000 miles one-way on shorter routes.
These rates apply to partner flights, and actual availability varies by route and date. Use the search tool to check current space and compare the total cost against cash prices.
The Buy-Miles Play
Buying LifeMiles during a promotion can make sense when the per-mile cost is low enough to unlock premium cabins that would otherwise be expensive in cash. The strategy works best for travelers who already have a specific high-value award in mind.
Always calculate the effective cents-per-mile against the cash price of the same itinerary before purchasing. The CPP calculator helps quantify whether the buy makes sense for your dates.
The Quirks
LifeMiles has a reputation for occasional website glitches and slower online booking flows. Many experienced users prefer to call for complex itineraries or when the website does not display expected availability.
These quirks are well documented in the community and are usually manageable with patience or a quick phone call to the award desk.
What It Actually Costs
LifeMiles publishes a fixed award chart, which is increasingly rare — most US programs have moved to dynamic pricing where the price is whatever the airline feels like charging that day. A fixed chart means you can plan a redemption months before you have the miles. These are the one-way Star Alliance rates from the US:
| Route | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Caribbean / Mexico | 10,000 | 22,500 |
| Hawaii | 12,500 | 25,000 |
| South America | 15,000 | 35,000 |
| Europe | 30,000 | 63,000 |
| Asia | 30,000 | 70,000 |
The number worth staring at is South America. At 35,000 miles one-way in business class, LifeMiles is the cheapest way most Americans can reach Santiago, Buenos Aires or Lima in a lie-flat seat — and because Avianca is a Star Alliance carrier, that rate applies across United and Copa metal too, not just Avianca's own.
Where It Beats the Alternatives
Cheap is only useful in comparison, so here is where LifeMiles actually wins against the programs most readers already hold — same route, same cabin, one-way:
- South America business: LifeMiles 35,000 versus American at 57,500. That is a 22,500-mile gap on a single flight.
- Caribbean economy: LifeMiles 10,000 undercuts the 12,500 floor that American, United, Alaska and Aeroplan all sit at.
- Europe business: LifeMiles 63,000 is competitive but not the leader — several programs get you there for less, and that is the honest read.
Where LifeMiles loses is redemption experience rather than price. The website fails mid-booking often enough that regulars keep the award desk number handy, and miles are non-refundable once a ticket is issued in most cases. If you want the cheapest seat and can tolerate friction, it is an easy call. If you want to book in three clicks, pay the premium elsewhere and pick a card that feeds a smoother program.
Booked the award flight? Compare hotels and cash fares for the rest of the trip — Orbitz is one of our booking partners — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The Bottom Line
No fuel surcharges plus solid Star Alliance pricing is why this program stays in rotation for most award travelers. When a buy-miles promotion aligns with a premium award you want, the value can be compelling.
Check current award space with the search tool and run the numbers through the CPP calculator before transferring or buying miles.