Avianca’s LifeMiles frequent flyer program is no stranger to selling miles, with regular bonuses offered on Lifemiles purchases throughout the year.
The latest Lifemiles bonus just launched, with up to 145% bonus Lifemiles on purchases. The promotion applies when buying Lifemiles until 3:59pm Sydney time on 28 August 2026.
This Lifemiles bonus presents a significant opportunity for savvy Australian travellers to enjoy Business and First Class with Star Alliance carriers, at a fraction of the usual cost. Lifemiles can require a little more knowledge than other airline programs, but for travellers familiar with the strategic use of airline miles, purchasing Lifemiles can offer great value. That said, best practice is to only purchase airline points/miles when you have a specific reward seat in mind.
Buy Lifemiles With A 145% Bonus
Between 19 August and and 11:59pm El Salvador time on 27 August 2026, you can score up to 145% bonus miles when purchasing Avianca Lifemiles. This promotion ends at 3:59pm Sydney time, 28 August 2026.
This bonus offer appears to be targeted, meaning members may receive different offers. Some might see a lesser bonus, or no bonus at all. It’s crucial to check your account for your specific deal.
The standard deal is tiered as follows:
- 125% bonus when you buy 1,000-20,000 miles
- 135% bonus when you buy 21,000-50,000 miles
- 145% bonus when you buy 51,000-200,000 miles
Offer link: Purchase Lifemiles here
With a 145% bonus, you would be purchasing LifeMiles at cost of 1.35 US cents per mile (note Lifemiles are sold in USD). To put that into perspective, a 170% bonus is about the highest we've seen, which works out to 1.22 US cents per mile.
TIP
By purchasing Lifemiles in US Dollars, your card will likely apply a foreign exchange fee of around 3%, depending on the bank. Therefore it's a good idea to consider purchasing Lifemiles using a fee-free travel debit card.
Unless the card you'll use will earn a high number of points to offset the cost, we recommend cards with no FX fees such as YouTrip, Wise, or Revolut.
Why Should Australians Care About Avianca Lifemiles?
Lifemiles is the loyalty programme of Avianca, Colombia’s flag carrier. Despite Avianca having no presence in Australia, Lifemiles has become a valuable tool for savvy travellers worldwide, especially those who enjoy flying Business and First Class with Star Alliance partners like ANA, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and United.
Key benefits for Australian travellers:
- Access to Star Alliance award inventory (over 25 partner airlines)
- No fuel surcharges on award tickets
- Competitive redemption rates, especially for premium cabins
- Frequent promotions on purchased miles
Lifemiles Sweet Spots For Australian Travellers
As mentioned, Avianca does not fly to Australia, but its Star Alliance partners like Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways do. The Lifemiles frequent flyer program offers some attractive redemption rates and a number of sweet spots that can be useful for Australian travellers.
The award charts are rather unusual in that the miles required can differ based on the direction of travel. For example, Sydney to Bangkok in Business with Thai Airways requires 50,000 miles. But the return Bangkok to Sydney requires 40,000 miles. That's not exactly logical, but it's how Lifemiles operates and why a sweet spot exists.
- Australia to North Asia (e.g. China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea)
- Business: 50,000 miles one-way
- First: 62,500 miles one-way
- North Asia to Australia
- Business: 40,000 miles one-way
- First: 50,000 miles one-way
- Australia to South Asia (e.g. Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand)
- Business: 50,000 miles one-way
- First: 75,000 miles one-way
- South Asia to Australia
- Business: 40,000 miles one-way
- First: 60,000 miles one-way
Real-World Example
Let’s consider an example one-way flight from Tokyo to Perth in Business Class:
- Miles needed: 40,000 Lifemiles
- Taxes and fees: US$40
- Cost to buy miles at 1.35 cents each: US$540
- Total cost of approximately US$580 (around $815 AUD)
Compare this to cash fares, which can often exceed AUD$4,500 for the same route in Business Class!
Things to Keep in Mind
- Award availability: Always check for award seats before purchasing miles.
- Expiration: Lifemiles expire after 12 months of inactivity. Any earning activity, including buying miles, resets the clock.
- Maximum purchase: You can buy up to 200,000 miles per account per calendar year before bonuses.
- Booking fees: There’s a USD$25 redemption fee when booking online (recommended) or USD$85 over the phone.
- Customer service: As Lifemiles is based in Colombia, getting English-language support can sometimes be challenging. The US customer service line (+1 800 284 2622) is recommended for Australian travellers.
- Programme quirks: The LifeMiles award chart has some peculiarities, and the website can be a challenge to use.
How to Join Lifemiles
Joining Lifemiles is free and can be done easily online:
- Visit the Lifemiles enrolment page.
- Enter your email and create a password.
- Provide personal details.
- Accept the terms and conditions.
Lifemiles Purchase Bonus: Is It Worthwile?
For Australians looking to book Business and First Class awards, this promotion can offer excellent value. Lifemiles is particularly well-suited for Australia-Asia rewards, given the reasonable mileage requirements and low taxes.
However, it’s crucial to have a specific use in mind before purchasing. While Lifemiles are a great deal at this price, they’re not an investment – they’re a tool to be used for fantastic travel experiences.
We recommend researching availability using tools like Seats Aero. Due to Lifemiles system changes, Seats Aero no longer supports Lifemiles, but you can easily find Star Alliance availability via United MileagePlus and Air Canada Aeroplan on Seats Aero. In our experience, availability with these partners closely correlates with Lifemiles.
Although Lifemiles has its quirks and potential challenges, the savings on offer make it worth considering for anyone comfortable with more advanced points strategies. As always, do your research, check award availability, and crunch the numbers for your specific travel plans before purchasing.
