Should I open card with an airline you fly a lot of times, usually ? The Avianca Lifemiles American ExpressTM Card could well be a very good fit up your alley if you’re on Aviansha flights.

Its free Avianca elite status is the key selling point of this mid-tier airline card. And I think it’s a good fit for people who fly frequently to Colombia and Central America, the areas where Avianca has its route network is most strong. You already have status with Avianca or fly only occasionally with the carrier, so if you can’t afford to justify this card’s $99 annual fee (see rates and fees)?

Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Avianca Lifemiles Amex: The basics

At first sight the Avianca Lifemiles Amex is a fairly standard middle-of–the road card, as does the look of an average mid-road card. This includes an annual fee of $99; it earns bonus miles on Avianca purchases and a variety in common types, as well as airline-specific benefits. Those airline perks are what distinguishes it from other airline cards.

Specifically the Avianca Lifemiles Amex offers free airline elite status, something you rarely see on airline cards. With this card, you’ll be Avianca Silver; it will give you the following perks, among others.

• Avianca lounge access

twice each year

• Extra-legroom seat selection
• Select upgrade options
• An extra free checked bag (excludes Basic and Light fares)
• Priority check-in and boarding (Group B)

ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

A lot of airline cards have checked bags and priority boarding as the centerpieces of their benefits; for me, here is that lounge access. The discovery of sub-$300 cards with any kind of lounge access is very rare.

While it may be less far-reaching as a Priority Pass membership, this card could be ‘good compromise’ if you are not keen on annual fees.

Aside from the fact you earn through Avianca Silver status, this card has no foreign transaction charges (see rates and fees) and 5% discount on redemptions for Aviansa flights booked via Lifemiles.

It’s important to note that, even though the name is a reference, American Express does not issue Avianca Lifemiles Amex. It’s Rather, it’re issued on behalf of Cardless by First Electronic Bank through Amex’.

Avianca Lifemiles Amex pros and cons

| Pros | Cons |
| — | — |
| * Complimentary Avianca Silver status * A good option for Avianca purchases * Redemption discount for Avianca flights * No foreign transaction fees * Star Alliance Silver benefits, including priority waitlist and priority standby | * Not a great fit for those who fly Avianca infrequently * Weak earnings on everyday spending * Offers little if you already have Avianca status * Limited benefits when flying Star Alliance partners |

Avianca Lifemiles Amex benefits

Today, Avianca has four status tiers. In the second tier is Silver status, which typically requires 12,000 qualifying miles in a status qualification year (3,000 of which must be earned on Avianca flights). If you’re looking for basic benefits such as priority waitlisting and standby with an entire airline alliance, it matches Star Alliance Silver status, a good value proposition.

Note that you’ll only get two Avianca lounge visits a year, but any lounge access is essentially symbiotic perk with – $99 each year. To what extent does this particular benefit extend for you will depend on whether you have lounge access with another card and which lounges are in the airports where you pass through most of your passengers?

You’ll get all Avianca VIP lounges with Silver status (although it’s important to note that the Miami International Airport (MIA) lounge location is part of the Priority Pass network). One of your entry passes can also be used for a friend (except the Miami lounge) with you.

It may or may not be useful card benefit, depending on how many lounges you can use in the airports where you frequent.

Avianca VIP Lounge in Miami International Airport (MIA). GISELLE GOMEZ/THE POINTS GUY

Basic and Light fares don’t offer you your extra free checked bag, which could be a big con for this card if you regularly book those fliers. It’s a good deal for your extra checked bag to cost more than ten dollars, depending on where you are from and where it is going; this benefit alone can help pay the money you spend on the card’ll annual fee. But I wish this card was like the other airline cards, offering a free checked bag from the beginning instead of tacking an additional bag onto the one that is on your fare with it.

The perks of this card can be helpful to the people with no Avianca status, but for anyone who has an Aviaca Gold or Diamond position, it won’t get much. This card’s backbone is Avianca Silver; it already has perks on Gold and Diamond, as well as its ties.

Related: San Francisco gets a new nonstop flight to Central America beginning June 1

How to earn and use your rewards

How to earn your rewards

I see members of Avianca Gold or Diamonds getting meaningful value from the Aviaca Lifemiles Amex, but only if they spend so much on the card.

This card’s bonus categories are:

• 2 miles per dollar spent on Avianca and Lifemiles purchases,

dining

and

groceries

• 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else

Airline cards are nearly never the best place to put your daily routine. But if you put those costs on a general travel rewards card instead, you’ll earn transferable points or miles that you can use with many airlines and hotels. So you can get the most out of your rewards, so that’s a lot easier for s to do what you earn.

The Avianca Amex is no exception I don’t recommend putting your everyday spending on this card.

United Polaris business class. ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

But if you’re very loyal to Avianca or you have to top off your Lifemiles balance for a particular redemption, that card earns moderately well on groceries and dining. It’s a good option for Avianca purchases, except you have if you get – or even with – i.e. card that earns more on flights (American Express Platinum Card®)).

It is a card that I’d like to see for the highest earning rate on Avianca purchases since many airline cards with an annual fee offer at least 3 miles per dollar spent.

How to redeem Avianca Lifemiles

A powerful force is Avianca Lifemiles, which are redeemed for flights on any Star Alliance airline (not just Aviantca) and can be used as flight replacements. I am a cardholder, and you’ll want to fly with Avianca at least once every year so that you can take advantage of your Silver status.

Apart from this you can find some great award redemptions on other Star Alliance airlines like United Airlines, Air Canada and Lufthansa. Lifemiles is a good program for points and miles beginners to practice partner award redemptions, as well as the lifemile’s program.

FLIGHTCONNECTIONS

In a one-way flight from Juan Santamara International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica to Mexico City International airport (MEX), TPG’s lead writer for points and miles Katie Genter recently earned 8,280 Lifemiles plus $81 in taxes and fees. She received 219 cash, $279. It is 39 cents per mile in value, .

Would Katie save more than 400 miles if she had the Avianca Amex and used its 5% redemption discount to get 2? A value of 5 cents per mile is 5cents a mile.

Potential drawbacks to the Avianca Lifemiles Amex

Avianca Silver status If you’re someone who flies with Aviaca all the time, then you may not be sure what benefits Avians get to be enough. If you fly a lot of the cards, depending on how often you are flying, you can become Gold or Diamond.

My point docks from the Avianca Lifemiles Amex for only two lounge visits per year. This isn’t a premium airline card, so I won’T dock too many points because of this? However, it may be a disadvantage for someone who thinks having lounge access is the top priority.

THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES

Finally, this card doesn’t pay the highest rates of any . Despite its good reputation on Avianca purchases, it’s also underrated by numerous general travel rewards cards which pay more per dollar spent on flights.

Avianca Lifemiles Amex vs. Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite

The older brother of the Avianca Lifemiles Amex’s elder sibling is an additional premium, with a $249 annual fee (see rates and fees)-based AvianicaLifemile.

Both cards offer Avianca Silver status, but the Avianca Amex Elite offers additional perks beyond this, including:

• Up to 6,000 bonus miles annually, deposited as 500 miles per month
• 10% of your miles back on Star Alliance redemptions
• An up to 25% discount on Avianca redemptions
• 3 miles per dollar spent on Avianca purchases
• 2 miles per dollar spent on dining and travel, instead of dining and groceries

CARLINA TETERIS/GETTY IMAGES

TPG estimates that 6,000 Lifemiles are worth $84, according to the April 2026 valuations of lifemile. The Avianca Amex Elite’s annual fee is not too high, and its other benefits are hard to value. I personally would use the Avianca Lifemiles Amex.

Is the Avianca Lifemiles Amex worth it?

Avianca Lifemiles Amex (company) If you’re a big fan of Aviantca or fly frequently with Star Alliance airlines, I would be very interested in the Avianica lifemile. AmEx While it isn’t the strongest or most well-rounded card in the world, a good card has enough for the right cardholder. Just remember that you’ll want to fly with Avianca a couple of times yearly in order to take advantage of Aviantca Silver status.

When to apply for the Avianca Lifemiles Amex

The first 90 days after the account opening, new Avianca Lifemiles Amex cardholders spend $3,000 on purchases to earn 40,000 miles.

According to TPG’s valuations, that welcome offer is worth $560.

Remember: Since this card isn’t issued by Amex, you won’t need to worry about Amex’s once-per-lifetime welcome bonus rule.

Other cards to consider if you don’t want the Avianca Lifemiles Amex

If the Avianca Lifemiles Amex doesn’t quite sound like the right fit for you, consider one of these options instead:

• If you want a card that earns more on flights: The

American Express Platinum Card

earns 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly or through

American Express Travel®

(on the first $500,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent). Those

American Express Membership Rewards

points can be transferred to Avianca Lifemiles. To learn more, check out our

full review of the Amex Platinum

.

• If you want a card with better earnings on dining and groceries: The

Citi Strata Premier® Card

(see

rates and fees

) earns transferable

Citi ThankYou Rewards

points on dining and groceries. Citi has

more than 20 transfer partners

, including Avianca Lifemiles. To learn more, check out our

full review of the Citi Strata Premier

.

• If you want a flat-rate rewards card: The

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

This card is good for a simple wallet, with almost all purchases being paid 2 miles per dollar by . Its miles can be transferred to ‘s.

15-plus partners

, including Avianca Lifemiles. To learn more, check out our full review of the

Capital One Venture Rewards

.

For additional options, browse our picks for the best travel cards.

Bottom line

Avianca Lifemiles Amex is a good option for Aviansca fans, as it has been described in the past. It’s a moderate commitment to the airline, but you don’t have to fly with Avianca just to get incredibly value.

A card that earns transferable rewards on flights or general travel if you already have Avianca Gold or Diamond status. If you have a Silver status with this card, otherwise, it’s little to make your experiences with Avianca more fun.

Apply here: Avianca LifeMiles American Express Card

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