Avianca LifeMiles American Express® Card Review
Overview
The Avianca LifeMiles card earns LifeMiles, a Star Alliance currency that US collectors like for its lack of fuel surcharges and some solid award sweet spots. For someone who knows how to use LifeMiles, the card is a way to build a balance and grab a welcome bonus.
The miles are tied to LifeMiles, and you can also buy or earn them through transfers, so this co-brand card is mainly for dedicated collectors.
Think twice if: you do not collect LifeMiles, since the currency can be earned through transfers and purchases instead.
Our 5.3 out of 10 rating
Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.
Rewards: how it earns
You earn bonuses on dining and groceries, in LifeMiles, plus a base rate elsewhere. LifeMiles are useful across Star Alliance and avoid fuel surcharges, so their value comes from smart redemptions rather than everyday earning. This is a card for someone with a LifeMiles plan.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dining and restaurants | 2x | Bonus category |
| Groceries | 2x | Bonus category |
| Everything else | 1x | Everything else |
Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.
Pros and cons
- LifeMiles are useful across Star Alliance
- No fuel surcharges on many awards
- Solid 40,000-mile welcome bonus
- Miles locked to LifeMiles
- Currency can be earned via transfers and purchases instead
- Modest everyday earning
The welcome bonus
The welcome bonus is solid: 40,000 miles after $3,000 in 90 days, a decent LifeMiles haul and the main reason to get the card.
Is it worth the annual fee?
The $99 fee is modest, but with the miles locked to LifeMiles, you need to value that currency to justify it. Without a LifeMiles strategy, the fee is hard to justify.
First-year value vs ongoing value
| Welcome bonus | 40,000 miles |
| To earn it | $3,000 in 90 days |
| Est. first-year value* | $683 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $283 |
The welcome bonus makes year one the high point: roughly $683 in value once you count the bonus, this card’s rewards, and its credits, minus the $99 fee. After that, the honest figure is about $283 a year, so judge whether it earns its keep on the ongoing number, not the first-year headline.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- Complimentary LifeMiles Silver status with a 20% bonus on Avianca flight miles
- No foreign transaction fees
Lounge access
This card includes airport lounge access. Here is exactly what you get, including the Priority Pass distinctions that vary by card:
- 2 Avianca VIP lounge visits per year plus 1 companion visit per year, via complimentary LifeMiles Silver status (renews while the card is open)
Statement credits
This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.
Who should get it, and who should skip it
If you collect LifeMiles and know the Star Alliance sweet spots, this card is a reasonable way to build a balance, mainly through the welcome bonus.
If you have no LifeMiles plan, you can earn the currency other ways with more flexibility. This is a collector's card.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
Offer details verified against issuer sources as of August 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
