Avianca LifeMiles: 123 questions answered
Everything members ask about Avianca LifeMiles, answered from Avianca's own program pages, terms and help centre. Each answer names its source; 2 answers rely on a secondary source where the airline's page could not be read, and say so.
Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .
Joining and managing your account
Signing up, membership numbers, logins, profiles and closing an account.
How do I join Avianca LifeMiles?
Register online at lifemiles.com: Avianca's help centre says anyone who is not yet a Lifemiles member can register for free on the enrolment page there. Its page on earning miles adds that you need to be a member before your flight to earn miles on Avianca or partner airlines, so join before your first trip.
Source: Avianca help centre: Lifemiles miles terms and conditions
Does it cost anything to join Avianca LifeMiles?
No. Avianca's help centre says anyone who is not yet a LifeMiles member can register for free on lifemiles.com. The paid extras are optional: Avianca's page on duplicate charges lists the LifeMiles Plus subscription among LifeMiles transactions charged to your card, and Cardless' US co-brand cards carry annual fees of $99 and $249.
Source: Avianca help centre: Lifemiles miles terms and conditions
Is there a minimum age to join Avianca LifeMiles, and can children have their own account?
Children can have their own LifeMiles accounts: an elite member's family group can include up to five LifeMiles members under 18, who are deactivated from the group automatically when they turn 18. You have to be over 18 to create a family group yourself.
Where do I find my Avianca LifeMiles membership number?
If you have forgotten it, LifeMiles' self-service tool at lifemiles.com/reset-lmnumber asks a few questions from your profile and, once you answer them correctly, emails you your LifeMiles number together with a link to reset your password.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: retrieve your LifeMiles number
Does Avianca LifeMiles issue a physical membership card, and do I need one?
Avianca's help centre mentions only a digital card: elite members show their digital LifeMiles Elite card at Avianca VIP lounges when their status does not appear on the boarding pass. For earning miles, LifeMiles' page on accrual with avianca asks for your LifeMiles number, given when you buy the ticket or at check-in, and mentions no card.
Source: Avianca help centre: VIP lounge access for Business Class and Lifemiles Elite members
Does Avianca have an app for managing Avianca LifeMiles, and what can it do?
Yes, LifeMiles has its own mobile app. LifeMiles' family pooling page says elite members can create their family group in the app's Elite benefits section (as on lifemiles.com), and the app is where you delete your account, under My Account > Help center > Delete lifemiles account.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: delete your LifeMiles account
How do I change the name on my Avianca LifeMiles account after marriage or a legal name change?
You can't do it yourself: LifeMiles locks the name, surname and date of birth on an account. Send the LifeMiles Support team a request with a colour image of both sides of your ID and they make the change.
I accidentally created two Avianca LifeMiles accounts. Can they be merged?
Yes. Fill in LifeMiles' account merger form and attach a colour image of both sides of your ID, and the Support team merges the two accounts for you.
How do I close my Avianca LifeMiles account, and what happens to my miles?
Delete it yourself in the LifeMiles mobile app under My Account > Help center > Delete lifemiles account. Deletion erases your miles balance and account history and ends any elite benefits, and you can no longer earn or redeem, so spend the miles first.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: delete your LifeMiles account
Can I join Avianca LifeMiles if I live outside the airline's home country?
Yes. Avianca's help centre says anyone who is not yet a LifeMiles member can register for free on lifemiles.com, and LifeMiles serves members well beyond Colombia: its 2024 US award sale was open only to members whose country of residence is the United States, and its contact centre lists numbers in more than 20 countries across the Americas and Europe.
How do I update my email, address or phone number with Avianca LifeMiles?
Update your profile yourself on lifemiles.com; LifeMiles asks members to keep it current so program notifications reach them. Only the name, surname and date of birth are locked, and changing those takes a request to Support with a colour image of both sides of your ID.
What do I do if I am locked out of my Avianca LifeMiles account?
Fill in LifeMiles' unlock form: the account locks for your security after more than 5 attempts to access it, or after trouble resetting it, and to unlock it you send the form with a colour image of both sides of your ID for the Support team to review. If you have only forgotten your password, LifeMiles' reset password page lets you reset it yourself on lifemiles.com.
If I join Avianca LifeMiles after a flight, can I still claim miles for it?
Only for flights after you joined. LifeMiles requires you to be a member before the flight starts, so a trip taken before you enrolled earns nothing; a later flight flown without your number on the booking can be claimed for up to 12 months.
Earning on Avianca flights
What a ticket earns, which fares are excluded, elite bonuses and posting times.
What elite bonus do status members earn on Avianca flights?
An elite bonus on the base miles you earn, which LifeMiles' current elite page sets at 10% for Red Plus, 20% for Silver, 60% for Gold, 80% for Diamond and 100% for Magno.
Source: LifeMiles: Avianca elite benefits (current elite page)
How long after a flight do miles post to my Avianca LifeMiles account?
Avianca flights should appear in your account within 4 days. If more than 4 days have passed and the miles are not there, request retroactive accrual online, or fill in LifeMiles' support form and the team reviews it. LifeMiles' page on accrual with air partners allows 14 days for partner flights before you claim.
Do award tickets earn miles or status credit on Avianca?
Not miles: LifeMiles' terms for its 2024 US award sale state that you do not accrue miles flying with redeemed tickets. Those terms do not say whether an award flight earns qualifying miles toward elite status.
How do I add my Avianca LifeMiles number to an existing Avianca booking?
Give your LifeMiles number when you buy the ticket or during check-in. If it never made it onto the booking, you can still request the miles for up to 12 months after the trip, under the program's terms and conditions.
Earning on partner airlines
Which airlines credit to the program, how much they earn and the rules for booking classes.
Which airlines can I credit to Avianca LifeMiles?
Avianca and every other Star Alliance airline, plus Iberia and GOL outside the alliance; Avianca codeshare flights operated by Clic earn too. See our Star Alliance page and the earning guide.
Source: Avianca help centre: earning miles on Avianca and partner airlines
Do partner airline flights count toward elite status in Avianca LifeMiles?
Yes. Flights on Avianca or any Star Alliance partner earn qualifying miles, which count toward LifeMiles Silver, Gold and Diamond, and you can follow them in the Elite Progress section of lifemiles.com. For 2026, though, Avianca's elite status page says part of your qualifying miles must come from Avianca-operated flights or services bought directly from Avianca.
Which non-alliance airlines partner with Avianca LifeMiles for earning?
Iberia and GOL, plus Avianca codeshare flights operated by Clic. Missing Iberia and GOL flights must be claimed within 6 months (against 12 for Star Alliance airlines), and Clic flights can take up to 60 days to credit.
Source: Avianca help centre: earning miles on Avianca and partner airlines
How long do partner airline flights take to post to Avianca LifeMiles?
Allow 14 days. If a partner flight has not posted by then, claim it: through LifeMiles' online service for Star Alliance airlines (within 12 months), or with the support form for Iberia and GOL (within 6 months).
Source: LifeMiles help centre: miles accrual with air partners
Missing miles and retroactive claims
What to do when a flight does not post, the claim window, and what the airline needs.
How long after a flight can I claim missing miles from Avianca LifeMiles?
Up to 12 months after the flight on Star Alliance airlines and 6 months on Iberia and GOL, once 14 days have passed without the miles posting. LifeMiles' page on accrual with avianca sets the same 12 months for Avianca flights, which you can claim once 4 days have passed.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: miles accrual with air partners
How do I file a missing miles claim with Avianca LifeMiles?
Use LifeMiles' online retroactive accrual service at lifemiles.com/fly/retro for Star Alliance flights, and LifeMiles' page on accrual with avianca sends Avianca flights there too. If the online request fails, or the flight was on Iberia or GOL, fill in the support form and a Support team member reviews it. See our missing miles guide.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: miles accrual with air partners
What information does Avianca LifeMiles need for a missing miles claim?
Supporting documents for the flight, which Avianca's page does not list. Star Alliance flights are requested through Pending Miles; for Iberia, GOL or Clic flights, or any flight the online request will not credit, you fill in the Accrual Form and attach the corresponding supporting documents.
Source: Avianca help centre: earning miles on Avianca and partner airlines
How do I claim missing miles for a partner airline flight in Avianca LifeMiles?
Wait until 14 days have passed, then request a Star Alliance flight through Pending Miles. For Iberia or GOL, or a Star Alliance flight that still will not credit, use the Accrual Form with supporting documents; the limits are 12 months for Star Alliance and 6 months for Iberia and GOL. Avianca codeshares operated by Clic go through the same form once 60 days have passed.
Source: Avianca help centre: earning miles on Avianca and partner airlines
Can I claim miles for flights taken before I joined Avianca LifeMiles?
No. LifeMiles credits a partner flight only if you were already a member before it started, and its page on accrual with avianca sets the same condition for Avianca flights.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: miles accrual with air partners
Credit cards and bank transfers
Co-brand cards, transferable points, ratios and timing.
Which banks issue Avianca LifeMiles credit cards, and in which countries?
In the US, Cardless issues the avianca lifemiles American Express Card and Elite Card, with First Electronic Bank as the issuing bank. In Panama, BAC Credomatic issues LifeMiles cards on American Express, Visa and Mastercard.
How many miles per dollar do Avianca LifeMiles credit cards earn?
The $99 avianca lifemiles American Express Card earns 2 miles per dollar on Avianca and LifeMiles purchases and at groceries and restaurants, and 1 on everything else. Cardless' Elite Card page gives the $249 Elite Card 3 per dollar on Avianca and LifeMiles, 2 on travel and restaurants and 1 elsewhere, and Cardless' rewards agreement for the Elite Card adds a complimentary lifemiles+ Lite membership that doubles the miles credited each statement cycle, up to 1,000 miles a cycle.
What sign-up bonus do Avianca LifeMiles credit cards typically offer?
As of September 2026, the $99 avianca lifemiles American Express Card offers 40,000 miles after $3,000 of spending in the first 90 days, and Cardless' Elite Card page offers up to 100,000 miles on the $249 Elite Card with a minimum spend.
Can credit card spending earn elite status or tier credit in Avianca LifeMiles?
Yes. The Elite Card's rewards terms give cardholders LifeMiles Silver for as long as the card account stays open and in good standing, and its purchases earn 1 qualifying mile for every 2 miles, which Cardless says may help you reach higher elite levels. Cardless' card comparison page adds that the $99 card includes Silver too, renewing automatically each year while the card is active.
Source: Cardless: avianca lifemiles American Express Elite Card rewards terms (May 2024)
Which bank points transfer to Avianca LifeMiles, and at what ratio?
Capital One miles transfer 1:1 (from 1,000 miles), Marriott Bonvoy points at 3:1 without Marriott's usual 5,000-mile bonus, and Citi lists Avianca LifeMiles among its ThankYou partners at a rate that depends on your card. Bilt's own transfer partner list, updated 3 September 2026, also includes LifeMiles at 1:1. See the transfer partners page.
Can I transfer miles back out of Avianca LifeMiles to a bank program?
No. Capital One says there is no way to move miles back into a Capital One rewards account once a transfer is finalised, so only transfer what an award you have already priced needs.
Must the bank account and Avianca LifeMiles account be in the same name for a transfer?
Yes. Capital One requires the name on your Capital One account to match the name on the loyalty account, and Marriott's points-to-miles page asks that the airline account's first and last name match your Bonvoy name for most airline partners.
Do Avianca LifeMiles credit cards have annual fees, and what perks offset them?
Yes: $99 for the avianca lifemiles American Express Card and $249 for the Elite Card. Cardless' page for the $99 card lists Silver status, 5% off Avianca flights booked on lifemiles.com, no foreign transaction fee and miles that do not expire while you use the card; the Elite Card adds 10% of the miles back on Star Alliance awards, up to 25% off Avianca flights and a complimentary lifemiles+ membership, which Cardless' rewards agreement calls lifemiles+ Lite.
Source: Cardless: avianca lifemiles American Express Elite Card
Do any Avianca LifeMiles credit cards include a companion fare or free flight certificate?
No. Neither US card lists a companion fare or free-flight certificate; their travel perks are Silver status, award discounts on Avianca, 10% miles back on Star Alliance awards (Elite Card) and miles that do not expire while you use the card.
Source: Cardless: avianca lifemiles American Express cards compared
Is there a business credit card for Avianca LifeMiles?
In Panama, yes: BAC Credomatic issues an Empresarial LifeMiles Visa that earns 3 miles per US$1 at Avianca, 2 at restaurants, hotels and car rentals, and 1 elsewhere. In the US, Cardless' comparison page shows only the avianca lifemiles American Express Card and Elite Card, with no business version.
Source: BAC Credomatic: LifeMiles card accrual rules, Panama
Can I get an Avianca LifeMiles credit card if I live outside the United States?
Yes. In Panama, for example, BAC Credomatic issues LifeMiles cards on American Express (Dorada, Premium, Elite), Visa (Dorada, Platinum, Infinite, Empresarial) and Mastercard (Platino, Platino Elite, Black). The other cards earn from 2.3 to 4 miles per US$1 depending on the card, and the Visa Empresarial 1 to 3 by category; every cardholder must be a LifeMiles member.
Source: BAC Credomatic: LifeMiles card accrual rules, Panama
Earning without flying
Shopping portals, dining, hotels, cars, rideshare, surveys and buying miles.
Which hotel chains earn miles in Avianca LifeMiles, and can hotel points be converted?
Marriott Bonvoy points convert to LifeMiles at 3:1, 3,000 to 240,000 points a day, and LifeMiles transfers are excluded from Marriott's usual 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points. Avianca's qualifying miles page adds that stays at partner hotels earn qualifying miles toward status, though it does not name the chains.
Can I buy miles from Avianca LifeMiles, at what price, and is there a yearly cap?
Yes, on lifemiles.com. With the bonuses LifeMiles regularly adds, bought miles work out at roughly 1.3 cents each (as of May 2026); buy only for an award you have already priced in the search, since LifeMiles publishes no chart. See what miles are worth on our value page.
Source: Biirdee: buy or transfer points, the guide to points arbitrage (May 2026) (secondary source)
Does Avianca LifeMiles run bonus promotions on buying miles?
Yes, regularly: LifeMiles sells miles with bonuses that bring the price down to roughly 1.3 cents a mile (as of May 2026).
Source: Biirdee: buy or transfer points, the guide to points arbitrage (May 2026) (secondary source)
Can I earn miles on fuel or groceries with Avianca LifeMiles?
Groceries, yes, through the US co-brand card: the $99 avianca lifemiles American Express Card earns 2 miles per dollar at groceries and restaurants, while fuel earns its standard 1 mile per dollar. Cardless' Elite Card page shows no grocery bonus on the Elite Card (3 per dollar on Avianca and LifeMiles, 2 on travel and restaurants).
Elite status
Tiers, how to qualify, the year cycle, matches and what each level gets.
What are the elite status tiers in Avianca LifeMiles?
Five on LifeMiles' current elite page: Red Plus, Silver, Gold, Diamond and Magno. Avianca's Star Alliance help page, a separate page, ranks Red Plus and Silver as Star Alliance Silver and Gold and Diamond as Star Alliance Gold.
Source: LifeMiles: Avianca elite benefits (current elite page)
How do I qualify for elite status in Avianca LifeMiles: by spending, segments, distance or points?
By qualifying miles, with an Avianca condition. Between January 1 and December 31, 2026 you need a set number of qualifying miles, and a portion of them must come from Avianca-operated flights or services bought directly from Avianca. Avianca's qualifying miles page adds that they come from flying Avianca and Star Alliance partners, co-brand credit cards, a LifeMiles+ subscription and partner hotels.
Source: Avianca help centre: elite status and benefits (2026)
What are the qualification thresholds for each Avianca LifeMiles tier?
LifeMiles' current elite page sets two tests for each level in the 2026 qualification year, January 1 to December 31: a total of qualifying miles, and a minimum of them earned with Avianca (Avianca-operated flights or services bought directly from Avianca). Red Plus needs 6,000 qualifying miles, at least 1,000 of them with Avianca; Silver 12,000 (3,000); Gold 24,000 (12,000); Diamond 45,000 (22,500); and Magno 110,000, all of them with Avianca.
Source: LifeMiles: Avianca elite benefits (current elite page)
When does the Avianca LifeMiles qualification year start and end, and how long does status last?
The calendar year: the current qualification period runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026, and both conditions (the qualifying-mile total and the Avianca-operated share) must be met within it. Avianca's elite status page does not say how long status lasts once earned; its qualifying miles page sends you to the Elite Progress section of lifemiles.com to track where you stand.
Source: Avianca help centre: elite status and benefits (2026)
Do partner airline flights count toward Avianca LifeMiles status?
Yes: Avianca's qualifying miles page says flights on Star Alliance partners earn qualifying miles, but they cannot carry you on their own, because for the 2026 qualification year a portion of your qualifying miles must come from flights operated by Avianca or services bought directly from Avianca.
Source: Avianca help centre: elite status and benefits (2026)
What baggage benefits do Avianca LifeMiles elite members get?
From Silver up, extra checked bags on Avianca. LifeMiles' current elite page gives Silver 1 extra 23 kg bag on economy fares other than Basic and Light, and Gold, Diamond and Magno up to 2 extra 23 kg bags on economy fares and 1 extra 32 kg bag on business fares. On Basic fares, Silver, Gold and Diamond get 10%, 15% and 20% off a carry-on bag. On Star Alliance partners, Gold, Diamond and Magno get the Star Alliance Gold extra bag.
Source: LifeMiles: Avianca elite benefits (current elite page)
Which Avianca LifeMiles tiers get lounge access, and where?
All five, in different amounts. LifeMiles' current elite page gives Red Plus 1 Avianca VIP lounge visit, Silver 2 visits plus 1 guest visit, Gold 20 visits, 8 guest visits and 2 partner lounge visits, Diamond unlimited visits with 12 guest visits and 3 partner lounge visits, and Magno unlimited visits with up to 4 guests each time plus 3 partner lounge visits. Gold, Diamond and Magno members are also Star Alliance Gold, which opens Star Alliance Gold lounges when flying the alliance.
Source: LifeMiles: Avianca elite benefits (current elite page)
Do Avianca LifeMiles elite members get complimentary upgrades, and how are they prioritised?
Yes, from Silver up, as a set number of Business class upgrades per level, none on Basic or Light fares. LifeMiles' current elite table gives 6 for Silver, 8 for Gold, 12 for Diamond and 18 for Magno on international routes within the Americas, 2, 4, 8 and 12 on domestic routes, and INSIGNIA upgrades on 787 routes to and from Europe and New York for Diamond (2) and Magno (4). Avianca's upgrade request page says priority goes by elite status, whether you hold an avianca Lifemiles co-branded credit card, and the date you asked.
Source: LifeMiles: Avianca elite benefits (current elite page)
Do Avianca LifeMiles elite members get free seat selection or extra-legroom seats?
Premium seat selection is one of the benefits allotted to each elite tier, and you choose when to use it along with your VIP lounge passes.
What do Avianca LifeMiles tiers map to in the alliance (Star Alliance Gold, oneworld Emerald, SkyTeam Elite Plus)?
Red Plus and Silver members get Star Alliance Silver, and Gold and Diamond members get Star Alliance Gold (LifeMiles' elite benefits page adds that Magno, the top tier, is Star Alliance Gold too; see the status guide), which brings Gold Track priority security and immigration, an extra 20 kg of baggage, priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling, and access to more than 1,000 lounges. See our Star Alliance page.
Source: Avianca help centre: Star Alliance and LifeMiles tier equivalents
Can elite benefits in Avianca LifeMiles be shared with family or a companion?
Some can. Elite members over 18 get family pooling: a group of up to seven LifeMiles members (the head, one other adult and up to five under 18, who need no status themselves) between whom the head moves miles free of charge. LifeMiles' elite benefits page adds guest visits to Avianca VIP lounges: 1 for Silver, 8 for Gold, 12 for Diamond and up to 4 guests per visit for Magno.
Can I buy status or top-up missing qualifying points in Avianca LifeMiles?
The nearest thing is a card: both US avianca lifemiles American Express cards ($99 and $249 a year) include Silver status, renewing each year while the card stays active, and the Elite Card's rewards terms add 1 qualifying mile for every 2 miles earned on purchases. Avianca's qualifying miles page adds that a LifeMiles+ subscription also earns qualifying miles.
Source: Cardless: avianca lifemiles American Express cards compared
Will Avianca LifeMiles elite benefits be recognised on partner airlines?
Yes, through Star Alliance status. Gold and Diamond members are recognised as Star Alliance Gold on member airlines (lounges, an extra 20 kg of baggage, priority check-in, boarding and baggage, Gold Track), while Red Plus and Silver members are Star Alliance Silver, which Avianca describes as priority standby.
Source: Avianca help centre: Star Alliance and LifeMiles tier equivalents
Does Avianca LifeMiles offer selectable benefits or milestone rewards for elites?
LifeMiles' elite benefits come as allowances you use when you choose. LifeMiles' current elite table gives each level from Silver up a set number of Business class upgrades: 6, 8, 12 and 18 on international routes within the Americas for Silver, Gold, Diamond and Magno, 2, 4, 8 and 12 on domestic routes, and INSIGNIA upgrades on 787 routes to and from Europe and New York for Diamond (2) and Magno (4). LifeMiles' help centre, a separate page, lists VIP lounge passes and premium seat selection among the benefits allotted to each tier.
Source: LifeMiles: Avianca elite benefits (current elite page)
Redeeming on Avianca
How awards are priced, the cheapest redemptions and the booking rules.
Does Avianca LifeMiles use a fixed award chart or dynamic pricing for Avianca flights?
Avianca's help centre points to a search rather than a chart: it tells members to search the Flights section of lifemiles.com to see how many miles each route requires, for Avianca and partner flights alike, and a special offers section cuts the miles on select destinations. See our award chart page for the sale prices LifeMiles has published.
Source: Avianca help centre: redeeming miles on Avianca and partner airlines
What is the cheapest award ticket in Avianca LifeMiles?
It depends on the trip: LifeMiles' help centre points to its flight search for the miles each destination costs. For scale, its US sale of June 25 to July 4, 2024 started at 5,550 miles for Miami to San Salvador and 6,060 for Miami to Cartagena on Basic fares, and 44,000 for Miami or Los Angeles to London on Light fares; redeeming at an Avianca sales office or the Call Center added US$25 to US$80 plus local taxes per round trip. That sale has ended. See our award chart page.
Can I book one-way awards in Avianca LifeMiles, and are they half the round-trip price?
Yes. Avianca's help centre says the lifemiles.com flight search offers one-way tickets as well as round trips and multi-city itineraries, on Avianca and partner airlines, and shows the miles each route requires. It does not say that a one-way costs half a round trip, so compare both in the search.
Source: Avianca help centre: redeeming miles on Avianca and partner airlines
How do I search for award seats on Avianca?
Search the Flights section of lifemiles.com: it shows the destinations available on Avianca and LifeMiles' airline partners and the miles each one costs, for one-way, round-trip and multi-city trips, and you complete the redemption online. See our award chart page for the sale prices LifeMiles has published.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: redeeming miles for flights with Avianca and air partners
Can I pay part in miles and part in cash with Avianca LifeMiles?
Yes. LifeMiles' flexible payment option, Lifemiles + Money, combines miles and cash on one ticket; if you later refund such a ticket, the cash part comes back as miles, not money.
Source: Avianca help centre: refund fees on tickets redeemed with Lifemiles
How do I add an infant or child to an award ticket in Avianca LifeMiles?
Book everyone together on lifemiles.com: Avianca says that if you want to use miles for all passengers, the entire booking has to be completed there. An infant or child can be added to an existing reservation only through Avianca's Contact Center, and that service is not available for mile redemptions.
Source: Avianca help centre: cost of a child or infant ticket
Does Avianca LifeMiles offer a round-the-world or multi-city award?
Multi-city, yes: Avianca's help centre says the lifemiles.com flight search handles one-way, round-trip and multi-city itineraries on Avianca and partner airlines, and it lists no round-the-world award among them. Avianca's Star Alliance page mentions the alliance's own Round the World ticket but does not say it can be booked with miles.
Source: Avianca help centre: redeeming miles on Avianca and partner airlines
Does flying on an award ticket in Avianca LifeMiles earn status or miles?
Not miles: LifeMiles' terms for its 2024 US award sale state that you do not accrue miles flying with redeemed tickets. Those terms do not say whether an award flight earns qualifying miles toward elite status.
Redeeming on partner airlines
Which partners can be booked, online versus by phone, and the partner-specific rules.
Which partner airlines can I book with miles from Avianca LifeMiles?
The Star Alliance member airlines, Iberia and GOL: these are the air partners LifeMiles names for tickets redeemed with miles, and Avianca's help centre adds that you can redeem miles on Avianca's own flights too. See our award chart page and partner award guide.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: name correction on partner reservations
Which partner awards can be booked online with Avianca LifeMiles, and which need a phone call?
Partner awards are searched and redeemed online like Avianca ones, in the Flights section of lifemiles.com, for one-way, round-trip and multi-city trips. LifeMiles' name correction page adds that refunds of partner tickets go through the Call Center (option 3) and that a name on them cannot be corrected, while Avianca's upgrades page says Business upgrades on Star Alliance partners are requested online in the Upgrades section.
Source: Avianca help centre: redeeming miles on Avianca and partner airlines
How are partner awards priced in Avianca LifeMiles?
The same way as Avianca awards: Avianca's help centre says the miles for each route, partner flights included, appear in the Flights search on lifemiles.com, and it points to that search rather than to a chart. Price the exact itinerary there before moving points in.
Source: Avianca help centre: redeeming miles on Avianca and partner airlines
Which non-alliance airlines can be booked with Avianca LifeMiles?
GOL and Iberia. Avianca's partnership with GOL lets LifeMiles members redeem miles for GOL tickets, and LifeMiles' page on name corrections with air partners lists Iberia alongside GOL and Star Alliance as its air partners on tickets redeemed with lifemiles.
Source: Avianca help centre: partnership with GOL Linhas Aereas
Can I use miles to upgrade a partner airline flight through Avianca LifeMiles?
Yes, on Star Alliance airlines: request the upgrade to Business yourself in the Upgrades section of lifemiles.com. Upgrades on Avianca itself are requested through the Contact Center, option 3.
Source: Avianca help centre: redeeming miles for cabin upgrades
Can partner awards booked through Avianca LifeMiles be changed or cancelled online?
By phone, for refunds at least: LifeMiles tells members to request the refund of a ticket on Star Alliance, Iberia or GOL flights from its Call Center (option 3), under its terms and conditions. A name on those tickets cannot be corrected, so the fix is to refund the miles and redeem a new ticket.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: name correction on partner reservations
Taxes, fees and surcharges on awards
What is added on top of the miles, and which fees can be avoided.
Does Avianca LifeMiles charge a booking fee for award tickets?
For offline bookings, LifeMiles has published one: its 2024 US sale terms say that redeeming a ticket at an Avianca sales office or through the Avianca Call Center carries a ticket issuance charge of US$25 to US$80 plus local taxes per round trip, paid at the time of redemption. The terms tie that charge to those two channels.
Changes, cancellations and refunds
Fees, deadlines, redeposits, no-shows and what happens when the airline changes the schedule.
What does Avianca LifeMiles charge to cancel an award ticket and redeposit the miles?
Refunding an award for Avianca flights costs USD 30 on Flex, USD 50 on Classic, USD 75 on Light and USD 100 on Basic and Business fares. The ticket must be completely unused, still valid and redeemed within the last year, and the miles must not have expired; they go back to the registered LifeMiles account holder. See our change and cancellation guide.
Source: Avianca help centre: refund fees on tickets redeemed with Lifemiles
How close to departure can I cancel an Avianca LifeMiles award?
Avianca's refund rules name no cut-off before departure. The conditions are that no segment has been flown, the ticket is still valid and it was redeemed within the last year; the fee is USD 30 to USD 100 depending on the fare.
Source: Avianca help centre: refund fees on tickets redeemed with Lifemiles
Can I change or cancel an Avianca LifeMiles award online, or must I call?
Changes to a LifeMiles award go through Avianca's Contact Center, which handles route, date and time changes on tickets issued less than a year ago. Avianca's refund page adds that a refund can be requested with an online form or through the Contact Center.
Source: Avianca help centre: changing a ticket redeemed with Lifemiles
What are my rights if Avianca changes the schedule of my award flight?
Avianca gives one rule for every ticket on its own flights (its help centre does not single out awards): if a departure moves earlier or later by more than 15 minutes, or the flight is cancelled, Avianca tells you by email, SMS and WhatsApp and offers alternative flights at no additional cost. If none of them suits you, choose different flights in Manage your booking or through the link in the email, with no fees or service charges.
Can I cancel just the return of a round-trip Avianca LifeMiles award?
Not once you have flown. After the first segment of a LifeMiles award is used, you can only change the date or time of the rest of the itinerary; route changes and refunds are no longer allowed. Before any flying, the whole ticket can be refunded or rerouted.
Source: Avianca help centre: changing a ticket redeemed with Lifemiles
Can I change the passenger name on an Avianca LifeMiles award?
A ticket cannot be transferred to someone else, but on Avianca flights a name can be corrected once, up to 72 hours before departure, free of charge when the conditions are met: call the Contact Center (option 3, then 1, then 2) to fix up to three characters, or submit a request with your booking code and travel document to fix more, remove duplicate names or make a legal name change (attach a marriage certificate, court order or similar). For Star Alliance, Iberia or GOL flights, contact the Contact Center: LifeMiles' page on name corrections with air partners says their names cannot be corrected, so the miles are refunded and the trip redeemed again under the new fare's conditions.
Source: Avianca help centre: changing the name on a ticket redeemed with Lifemiles
Are the change and cancellation rules different for partner awards in Avianca LifeMiles?
Yes, for names at least. LifeMiles says a name on a ticket redeemed for Star Alliance, Iberia or GOL flights cannot be corrected because of system restrictions, so the fix is to have the Call Center (option 3) refund the miles under LifeMiles' terms and redeem a new ticket at the fare then available.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: name correction on partner reservations
If I cancel an Avianca LifeMiles award booked with miles that have since expired, do I get them back?
No. Avianca's refund conditions for LifeMiles tickets require that the miles used have not expired, so an award paid with miles that have since lapsed cannot be refunded.
Source: Avianca help centre: refund fees on tickets redeemed with Lifemiles
What does Avianca do if my award flight is cancelled on the day, and can I be rebooked on partners?
On Avianca-operated flights, Avianca notifies you of the cancellation and offers alternative flights at no additional cost, and you can pick other flights yourself in Manage your booking without fees, or through the Contact Center if that fails. Avianca's page does not say whether an award can be moved to a partner airline. Its compensation page adds that when the problem is attributable to Avianca, you may also be owed compensation under the country's rules, as an EMD coupon or as LifeMiles that do not count toward elite status.
Upgrades
Using miles to move up a cabin, eligible fares, copays and waitlists.
How do I upgrade an Avianca flight with miles?
On an Avianca flight, call the Call Center and choose option 3 to redeem miles for an upgrade to Business; LifeMiles' contact numbers page says it shares that Contact Center with Avianca. On a Star Alliance airline you request the upgrade yourself online, in the Upgrades section of lifemiles.com.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: miles redemption for Business cabin upgrades
Which fares are eligible for a miles upgrade on Avianca?
Avianca publishes the eligible routes rather than a fare list: as of September 2026, miles upgrades to Business Class are offered between Bogota and Madrid, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, New York, Mexico City, Miami and Santiago; between Cali or Medellin and Madrid; and between San Salvador and Madrid or Los Angeles, in both directions.
Can I use miles to upgrade partner airline flights through Avianca LifeMiles?
Yes. LifeMiles lets you redeem miles for upgrades to Business on Star Alliance airlines as well as on Avianca, and for Star Alliance flights you request the upgrade yourself online instead of calling.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: miles redemption for Business cabin upgrades
Can I waitlist for a miles upgrade in Avianca LifeMiles?
For the elite Business Class upgrade benefit on Avianca, yes: a request that has not been confirmed before the flight stays on the waiting list and may clear at the airport on the day of the flight, subject to Business Class availability. Priority depends on your elite status, whether you hold an avianca LifeMiles co-branded credit card and the date you asked, and any change of date or itinerary, voluntary or not, cancels the request. Avianca's page on upgrades paid with miles, requested through the Contact Center (option 3) on Avianca flights, does not mention a waiting list.
Source: Avianca help centre: Business Class upgrades with Elite status
Does Avianca LifeMiles give elite members upgrade certificates or instruments?
The closest thing is the upgrade allowance each elite level carries: Business class upgrades on international routes within the Americas (6 for Silver, 8 for Gold, 12 for Diamond and 18 for Magno), on domestic routes (2, 4, 8 and 12) and, for Diamond and Magno, INSIGNIA upgrades on 787 routes to and from Europe and New York (2 and 4). They can't be used on Basic or Light fares, and LifeMiles' upgrade page adds that members can redeem miles for an upgrade to Business instead.
Source: LifeMiles: Avianca elite benefits (current elite page)
Non-flight redemptions
Hotels, cars, merchandise, seats, bags and other ways to spend miles.
Can I redeem miles for hotels through Avianca LifeMiles, and what is the value?
Yes. Avianca's help centre lists paying for accommodation among the things LifeMiles miles buy on lifemiles.com, alongside car bookings, Disney park entry, gift certificates and products from the LifeMiles e-store. It does not say what a mile is worth on a hotel booking, so compare the miles price on lifemiles.com with the cash rate before you redeem.
Can I redeem miles for car rentals through Avianca LifeMiles?
Yes. Booking cars is one of the uses of LifeMiles on lifemiles.com that Avianca's help centre lists, together with accommodation, gift certificates and LifeMiles e-store products.
Can I redeem miles for merchandise or gift cards in Avianca LifeMiles?
Yes. Avianca's help centre says LifeMiles miles can buy gift certificates and products from the LifeMiles e-store catalogue on lifemiles.com.
Can I pay for checked bags with miles on Avianca?
In some countries. Avianca's help centre lists paying for additional baggage among the uses of LifeMiles on lifemiles.com, noting that it applies only in some countries.
Can I pay for in-flight Wi-Fi or food with miles on Avianca?
Not for food and drink: Avianca's buy-onboard menu, sold on domestic flights and international flights within the Americas, takes Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards and coupons bought beforehand, in cash or by card, at airport counters and gates. The page says nothing about Wi-Fi, and Avianca's list of what LifeMiles buy on lifemiles.com includes neither Wi-Fi nor onboard food.
Can I redeem miles for lounge access or a lounge membership in Avianca LifeMiles?
Yes, on Avianca trips. LifeMiles sells VIP lounge access for miles, self-service on lifemiles.com, where it lists the lounges available, the miles each needs and the services; it recommends redeeming the access in advance.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: redeeming miles for VIP lounge access
Does Avianca LifeMiles offer experiences, events or auctions for miles?
Some: Avianca's help centre lists entry to Disney amusement parks among the things LifeMiles miles pay for on lifemiles.com, next to gift certificates and the LifeMiles e-store.
Expiry and reactivation
Whether miles expire, what keeps them alive and how to get them back.
Do Avianca LifeMiles expire?
Yes. LifeMiles miles expire every 18 rolling months under conditions set by LifeMiles, according to the LifeMiles card rules BAC Credomatic publishes in Panama. In the US, Cardless says miles do not expire for as long as you use your avianca lifemiles card; see our expiry guide.
Source: BAC Credomatic: LifeMiles card accrual rules, Panama
What counts as activity to keep Avianca LifeMiles from expiring?
Earning miles. Avianca's help centre page on flight compensation says the expiration date of your LifeMiles is updated if you earn more miles, so each new accrual moves the date forward; see our expiry guide.
Can expired Avianca LifeMiles be reinstated, and at what cost?
Yes, for a fee. Avianca's help centre lists miles reactivation among the paid LifeMiles transactions charged to your credit card, alongside miles purchases, transfers and the LifeMiles Plus subscription, all shown as 'Avianca Lifemiles' on the statement; it does not give the price.
Source: Avianca help centre: duplicate charges on LifeMiles transactions
Are Avianca LifeMiles elite members or cardholders exempt from expiry?
US cardholders are: Cardless says miles do not expire for as long as you use your avianca lifemiles American Express Card or Elite Card. Elite members are covered differently: LifeMiles' elite benefits page gives every level, from Red Plus to Magno, 24-month miles validity.
Baggage, seats, lounges and travel perks
What members and elites get at the airport and on board.
Which lounges can Avianca LifeMiles members access, and how?
Business Class passengers on Avianca or any Avianca group airline can use Avianca's International and Diamond International VIP lounges, and LifeMiles elite members flying the Avianca group or a Star Alliance airline can use Avianca's domestic and international VIP lounges (Diamond lounges are for Diamond members only). LifeMiles' elite benefits page sets the number of visits: 1 for Red Plus, 2 for Silver and 20 for Gold, and unlimited for Diamond and Magno. You need a same-day boarding pass and photo ID, and the lounge must be at your departure airport.
Source: Avianca help centre: VIP lounge access for Business Class and Lifemiles Elite members
Can I buy lounge access on Avianca without status?
With miles, yes: any LifeMiles member flying Avianca can redeem miles for VIP lounge access, self-service on lifemiles.com, where the lounges, the miles each needs and the services are listed. LifeMiles recommends redeeming the access before you travel.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: redeeming miles for VIP lounge access
Who gets priority check-in, security and boarding on Avianca?
Elite members from Silver up. LifeMiles' elite benefits page gives Silver members priority check-in and boarding group B (or boarding at any time), Gold members priority check-in, boarding group A and Fast Track, Diamond members priority check-in, boarding group PRI and Fast Track, and Magno members boarding group PRI and Fast Track. Avianca's Star Alliance page adds Gold Track priority security and immigration for Gold and Diamond members as Star Alliance Gold, while Red Plus and Silver members are Star Alliance Silver, which brings priority standby.
Do Avianca LifeMiles elite benefits extend to a companion on the same booking?
In the lounge, partly. Diamond and Gold members can take up to two children under 18 into Avianca VIP lounges free, and any other companion gets in by redeeming one entry per person; companions must be flying Avianca or a Star Alliance airline from the same airport on the same date.
Source: Avianca help centre: VIP lounge access for Business Class and Lifemiles Elite members
Can Avianca LifeMiles elites use partner airline lounges when flying partners?
Gold, Diamond and Magno members can: LifeMiles' current elite page gives them Star Alliance Gold lounges across the alliance, plus 2 partner lounge visits for Gold and 3 for Diamond and Magno. Red Plus and Silver are Star Alliance Silver, which brings waitlist priority rather than lounge access, so their lounge benefit is a set number of Avianca VIP lounge visits: 1 for Red Plus, and 2 plus a guest visit for Silver.
Source: LifeMiles: Avianca elite benefits (current elite page)
Do I get elite benefits when flying on an award ticket in Avianca LifeMiles?
Partly. Avianca lets elite members use their Business Class upgrade benefit on award tickets, but not on redemptions that include another airline's segments, on reservations with multiple tickets, or on awards booked where the search showed no Classic or Flex fare family; bookings with an infant or a pet never qualify for the upgrade.
Source: Avianca help centre: Business Class upgrades with Elite status
Alliances and partnerships
Which alliance the airline belongs to, its non-alliance partners and joint ventures.
Which alliance is Avianca in, and since when?
Star Alliance, since June 2012: Star Alliance's history page records Avianca, Taca Airlines and Copa Airlines joining that month. Avianca is one of 26 member airlines ("avianca and 25 other airlines"), and LifeMiles members earn and redeem across the whole network of more than 1,300 destinations in 195 countries. See our Star Alliance page.
Which airlines are Avianca's partners outside its alliance?
GOL, through interline and codeshare agreements: LifeMiles members earn miles on GOL flights and can redeem LifeMiles for GOL tickets, Smiles members can do the same on Avianca, and elite members get benefits on the partner's segments. LifeMiles' page on name corrections with air partners lists Iberia as its other air partner outside Star Alliance, and Avianca's earning page adds Avianca codeshare flights operated by Clic, which earn LifeMiles.
Source: Avianca help centre: partnership with GOL Linhas Aereas
Which hotel loyalty programs partner with Avianca LifeMiles?
Marriott Bonvoy: its points convert to LifeMiles at 3:1, from 3,000 to 240,000 points a day, but LifeMiles is one of the three airlines excluded from Marriott's 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points transferred.
Do Avianca's regional or subsidiary carriers earn and redeem in Avianca LifeMiles the same way?
Avianca codeshare flights operated by Clic earn LifeMiles, but the miles can take up to 60 days to credit (against 4 days on Avianca-operated flights), and missing ones are claimed with the accrual form and supporting documents; Clic's own terms and conditions also apply. Avianca's earning page does not say whether Clic flights can be booked with miles, and its redemption page mentions only avianca and other partner airlines, without naming them.
Source: Avianca help centre: earning miles on Avianca and partner airlines
Program rules, ownership and selling
What the terms say about who owns miles, selling, brokers and enforcement.
How does selling Avianca LifeMiles through Points Plug work?
Points Plug buys Avianca LifeMiles in balances of 50,000 or more and pays 1.11¢ to 1.32¢ per mile depending on the balance. You get a quote on the Avianca LifeMiles page, our team confirms the details, the miles are used to book travel for our customers through your account, and you are paid within 24 to 48 hours of the booking. The rates page explains how offers are set.
Source: Points Plug: how it works
What are Avianca LifeMiles worth?
Published valuations put Avianca LifeMiles at 1.30¢ to 1.55¢ each, about 1.39¢ on average, as of 2026-09-23. Premium-cabin partner awards can beat that and merchandise or cash-style redemptions fall below it. The valuation page lists each source and the redemptions behind the range.
Customer service and tools
Reaching the program, security, statements and useful tools.
How do I contact Avianca LifeMiles customer service?
Call the Contact Center LifeMiles shares with Avianca and choose option 3 from the menu. LifeMiles lists numbers for more than 20 countries, including +1 866 919 0081 in the United States, 1 800 722 8222 in Canada and +57 601 307 3940 in Bogota.
Does Avianca LifeMiles offer online chat or messaging support?
Avianca, which shares its Contact Center with LifeMiles according to LifeMiles' contact numbers page, offers WhatsApp chat with its virtual assistant Vianca. LifeMiles' own help centre takes written requests through web forms: a support form linked from its account and accrual articles, and complaint and fraud report forms on its claims page.
What do I do if my Avianca LifeMiles account is hacked or miles are stolen?
File LifeMiles' fraud report form, which covers redemptions or profile changes you did not authorise, accounts blocked over redemptions with commercial partners, and 2-step verification support; the Security team reviews it and contacts you. LifeMiles' 2-step verification page adds that once it is on, your account's security no longer relies on your password alone but also on a one-time code.
Does Avianca LifeMiles support two-factor authentication?
Yes. LifeMiles 2-step verification adds a one-time code on top of your password, sent by SMS or generated in Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator. Turn it on from the invitation shown when you log in or with the Activate button in the 2-step verification section of your profile; it also makes password resets easier.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: 2-step verification activation
How do I escalate a complaint about Avianca LifeMiles?
Use the complaint form in the Claims section of the LifeMiles help centre; a Support advisor reviews what you send and follows up. Unauthorised activity goes on a separate fraud report form handled by the Security team.
Source: LifeMiles help centre: claims
Special cases
Infants, unaccompanied minors, pets, medical needs, military and students.
Can an unaccompanied minor travel on an Avianca LifeMiles award ticket?
No. Avianca says its unaccompanied minor service is no longer available, and every minor must hold a ticket associated with an adult in the same reservation, so a child cannot fly alone on an award either.
Source: Avianca help centre: cost of a child or infant ticket
How do I request wheelchair or accessibility assistance on an Avianca LifeMiles award booking?
On Avianca flights, request it in Manage your booking on avianca.com (reservation code and last name) or through the Contact Center at least 24 hours before departure, or 48 hours on flights to or from Europe; Avianca cannot guarantee requests made later. Arrive at least 4 hours before an international flight and 3 hours before a domestic one.
Recent changes and what is coming
Devaluations, renames, new partners and how the program announces changes.
How does Avianca LifeMiles notify members of changes?
Through the contact details in your profile: LifeMiles asks members to keep their account updated so they receive all Program notifications, and its account deletion page shows that it sends members communications by email and phone.
Pages these answers were read from
- Avianca help centre: Lifemiles miles terms and conditions · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: family pooling · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: retrieve your LifeMiles number · official page
- Avianca help centre: VIP lounge access for Business Class and Lifemiles Elite members · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: delete your LifeMiles account · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: LifeMiles profile update · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: account merger · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: contact numbers · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: account unlock · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: miles accrual with Avianca · official page
- LifeMiles: Avianca elite benefits (current elite page) · official page
- LifeMiles: US flight deals page (2024 sale terms) · official page
- Avianca help centre: earning miles on Avianca and partner airlines · official page
- Avianca help centre: what are qualifying miles · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: miles accrual with air partners · official page
- Cardless: avianca lifemiles American Express Card · official page
- Cardless: avianca lifemiles American Express Elite Card rewards terms (May 2024) · official page
- Capital One: miles transfer partners (January 2026) · official page
- Cardless: avianca lifemiles American Express Elite Card · official page
- Cardless: avianca lifemiles American Express cards compared · official page
- BAC Credomatic: LifeMiles card accrual rules, Panama · official page
- Marriott Bonvoy: transfer points to airline miles · official page
- Biirdee: buy or transfer points, the guide to points arbitrage (May 2026) · secondary source
- Avianca help centre: elite status and benefits (2026) · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: benefits of my Elite status · official page
- Avianca help centre: Star Alliance and LifeMiles tier equivalents · official page
- Avianca help centre: redeeming miles on Avianca and partner airlines · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: redeeming miles for flights with Avianca and air partners · official page
- Avianca help centre: refund fees on tickets redeemed with Lifemiles · official page
- Avianca help centre: cost of a child or infant ticket · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: name correction on partner reservations · official page
- Avianca help centre: partnership with GOL Linhas Aereas · official page
- Avianca help centre: redeeming miles for cabin upgrades · official page
- Avianca help centre: changing a ticket redeemed with Lifemiles · official page
- Avianca help centre: delayed or cancelled flights · official page
- Avianca help centre: changing the name on a ticket redeemed with Lifemiles · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: miles redemption for Business cabin upgrades · official page
- Avianca: manage your LifeMiles miles · official page
- Avianca help centre: Business Class upgrades with Elite status · official page
- Avianca help centre: compensation and how to use it · official page
- Avianca help centre: buy onboard menu · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: redeeming miles for VIP lounge access · official page
- Avianca help centre: duplicate charges on LifeMiles transactions · official page
- Avianca help centre: what is a codeshare · official page
- Avianca help centre: shop only on official sites · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: claims (fraud report) · official page
- LifeMiles help centre: 2-step verification activation · official page
- Avianca help centre: requesting wheelchair service · official page