One of the primary things the Avianca LifeMiles loyalty program is known for is the ability to buy LifeMiles at a discount. As One Mile At A Time noted (OMAAT), the latest opportunity allowed travelers to buy LifeMiles with a 200% bonus.
The reason you may buy LifeMiles is to use the miles to book award flights with no fuel surcharges. In particular, Lufthansa award flights where you normally pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars. With LifeMiles, you pay no fuel surcharges when booking these flights.
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Credit Cards to Use to Buy LifeMiles
When you buy LifeMiles, credit card issuers process the transaction as airfare spending. So, you want to use cards that have high earn rates on airfare spending.
The AmEx Platinum and Citi Prestige Card both earn 5x points on airfare purchases. You earn 3x points on airfare with the AmEx Gold, AmEx Green Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Citi Premier Card. All of these cards are options to consider using to buy LifeMiles.
Latest Buy LifeMiles Offer
The opportunity to buy LifeMiles with a 200% bonus runs through December 3, 2020. However, LifeMiles regularly runs these types of promotions. So be on the lookout for future announcements once this promotion expires.
From what I’ve read, the registration link on OMAAT is the link to use. No matter how many miles you purchased on the last promotion, you received a 200% bonus. If you didn’t use the OMAAT link, you were eligible for a tiered bonus between 150-200%, depending on the number of miles you purchased.
The Math When You Buy LifeMiles
When you buy LifeMiles with a 200% bonus, here’s how the math worked for out. I purchased 20,000 LifeMiles for $660. Instantly, my account was credited with a 50% bonus of 10,000 miles for a total of 30,000 LifeMiles (20,000 * 50% = 10,000 + 20,000). A few hours later, the remaining 150% bonus of 30,000 miles hit my account (20,000 *150% = 30,000).
In total, I paid $660 for 60,000 LifeMiles. This equates to ~1.1 cents per mile ($660 / 60,000). Per OMAAT, you can typically purchase LifeMiles for ~3.3 cents per mile.
Best Ways to Redeem LifeMiles
There are a number of ways to redeem LifeMiles, however, redeeming miles for business and first class award flights is likely to result in the highest cent per point value.
One-way award flights to consider booking include transcontinental business class with 25,000 LifeMiles, the US to Europe in business class with 63,000 LifeMiles or first class with 87,000 LifeMiles, and the US to South Africa in business with 78,000 LifeMiles.
Common Questions Before You Buy LifeMiles
How do I buy LifeMiles?
Head to OMAAT when you are ready to purchase LifeMiles.
Are miles worth buying?
Every traveler’s situation is unique. If you think you can redeem the miles you purchase at a higher value that what you paid, it may make sense to buy LifeMiles.
Can you buy Lufthansa Miles?
Unfortunately no per the Miles & More website.
How do I redeem Avianca LifeMiles?
Start your award search on united.com, find award flights that you want to book, head to lifemiles.com, login to your account, confirm the same award flights you found on united.com, and then book an award flight using your LifeMiles.
Conclusion on Why to Buy LifeMiles
A 200% bonus opportunity was too hard to pass up. After reading the OMAAT article, and knowing how valuable LifeMiles can be, I decided to take the plunge. My goal is to book premium cabin award flights with LifeMiles whenever we’re ready to travel internationally.
Do you buy LifeMiles during its promotions? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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