One of the best ways to use points and miles to book a first-class flight to Europe has just gotten a big price increase: Avianca's LifeMiles program saw points and miles redemption rates increase by up to 50% overnight.
As first reported by One Mile at a Time, the South American-based program has increased award prices for flights operated by Star Alliance member airlines from North America to Europe without prior notice, to the following amounts:
Economy Class: 30,000 to 35,000 miles (17% increase) Business Class: 63,000 to 70,000 miles (11% increase) First Class: 87,000 to 130,000 miles (50% increase)
The LifeMiles program has not yet updated its partner rewards chart, so the previous mileage rates are still displayed, but if you search for current availability you will see higher prices.
Life Miles
Exchange rates for economy and business class on partner airlines like Swissair, Air Canada, United and Austrian have increased more slowly and remain good value compared to other programs, especially since the program doesn't impose fuel surcharges, but first class rate increases have been extreme.
LifeMiles are one of the most cost-effective ways to book first class awards to Europe. While Lufthansa Group's Swissair doesn't offer transatlantic first class awards to Europe, Lufthansa always opens up first class seats to partner airlines within 14 days of departure. Most seats are released within 2-3 days of departure, giving an advantage to those who can book last minute.
The program has also increased the price of first-class award tickets from North America to Asia on partner airlines such as All Nippon Airways from 90,000 miles to 120,000 miles, but seats on these flights have become extremely difficult to secure.
Columbia's loyalty program might not be the first place you think of to redeem miles for flights to Europe, but the program is a 1:1 transfer partner with American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou Rewards, so earning LifeMiles is easy. According to TPG's August 2024 valuation, LifeMiles are worth 1.7 cents per mile.
The timing of this decline is especially unfortunate given that Cardless just launched two Avianca-branded credit cards for U.S. residents. If you applied for the card because you were planning to book a flight to Europe, the new higher fees may mean you'll have to settle for business class instead of first class.
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If you want to book first class on Lufthansa to experience the famous first class terminal at Frankfurt Airport (FRA), your best option is currently booking through Air Canada's Aeroplan program (which is also a transfer partner for multiple credit card currencies). Business class awards to Europe on partner airlines such as Lufthansa are priced at 60,000 points from the U.S. East Coast and 70,000 points from the Midwest and West Coast, roughly the same as LifeMiles rates.
For a first-class award ticket to Europe, Aeroplan costs between 90,000 and 100,000 points depending on your North American departure point, which is better value than the 130,000 miles Avianca LifeMiles currently charges.
Air Canada
Conclusion
It's an unfortunate reality that when you earn or redeem points or miles, they depreciate in value. It's especially irritating when a program increases prices without notifying members. For many years, LifeMiles was the most cost-effective way to use miles to book premium cabin flights to Europe.
Currently, partner rates for business class are roughly in line with other programs like Aeroplan, so for first class flights, you may want to consider booking through Aeroplan.
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