Generally a good idea open a card with an airline you fly frequently. If you are often Avianca flightshe Avianca Lifemiles American Express® Card It is very possible that you will be interested.
The main selling point of this mid-tier airline card is its free Avianca elite status. I see it as an excellent option for those who fly frequently to Colombia and Central America, the areas where Avianca’s route network is strongest. If you already have status with Avianca or only fly with the airline occasionally, you may have a hard time justifying this card’s $99 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating It is based on the opinion of TPG editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Avianca Lifemiles Amex: The basics
He Avianca Lifemiles Amex At first glance, it looks like a pretty standard mezzanine card. It has a $99 annual fee, earns bonus miles on Avianca purchases and a selection of daily categories, and comes with airline-specific benefits. It’s those airline perks that set it apart from other airline cards.
Specifically, Avianca Lifemiles Amex offers complimentary airline elite statussomething rarely found on airline cards. You will receive Avianca Silver status with this card, which will grant you, among others, the following benefits:
- Access to the Avianca lounge twice a year
- Selection of seats with extra legroom
- Select update options
- One extra free checked bag (excludes Basic and Light rates)
- Priority check-in and boarding (Group B)
Many airline cards make checked bags and priority boarding central to their benefits, but the highlight here for me is lounge access. It’s very rare to find cards under $300 that offer any type of lounge access.
It may not be as momentous as a Priority Pass MembershipBut if your appetite for annual fees is thin, this card could be a good solution.
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In addition to what you get through Avianca Silver status, this card has no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) and offers a 5% discount on Avianca flight exchanges booked through Lifemiles.
It is important to note that despite the name, Avianca Lifemiles Amex is not issued by American Express. Rather, it is issued by First Electronic Bank on behalf of Cardless using the Amex payment network.
Avianca Lifemiles Amex pros and cons
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Avianca Lifemiles Amex Benefits
Currently, Avianca offers four status levels. Silver status is the second level, and typically requires 12,000 qualifying miles in a qualifying year (3,000 of which must be earned on Avianca flights). It matches Star Alliance Silver status, a solid value proposition if you’re looking for basic benefits like priority waitlisting and standby with an entire airline alliance.
It’s important to note that you’ll only get two Avianca lounge visits per year, but any lounge access is a significant benefit with a card that charges just $99 each year. How far this particular benefit extends to you will depend on whether you have lounge access with another card and what lounges are at the airports you travel through most frequently.
You will receive access to all Avianca VIP lounges with Silver status, although it is important to note that the Miami International Airport (MIA) Lounge The location is included in the Priority Pass network. You can also exchange one of your entry passes for a companion (except for the Miami lounge).
Depending on how many lounges you can access at the airports you frequent, you may or may not find the benefit of this card useful.
You won’t receive your free additional checked baggage on Basic and Light fares, which could be a big drawback for this card if you book those fares frequently. Your extra checked baggage could cost more than a hundred dollarsdepending on your origin and destination, so this benefit alone can give you back the money you spent on the card’s annual fee. But I wish this card would follow the pattern of other airline cards by offering a free checked bag from the start, rather than adding an additional bag to the one included in the fare.
While the benefits of this card are useful for those without Avianca status, anyone with Avianca Gold or Diamond status won’t get much. Avianca Silver is the backbone of this card and its benefits are already included in Gold and Diamond status.
Related: San Francisco receives a new nonstop flight to Central America starting June 1
How to earn and use your rewards
How to earn your rewards
The only way I see Avianca Gold or Diamond members getting significant value from Avianca Lifemiles Amex is if they put a significant expense on the card.
The bonus categories of this card are:
- 2 miles per dollar spent on Avianca and Lifemiles purchases, meal and groceries
- 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else
Airline cards are almost never a good place to keep your daily expense. If you put those expenses on a general travel rewards card, you’ll earn transferable points or miles which you can use with many different airlines and hotels. That will make it much easier to get the most value from your rewards.
Avianca Amex is no exception: I do not recommend depositing your daily expenses on this card.
That said, if you are very loyal to Avianca or need to top up your Lifemiles balance for a specific redemption, this card generates moderately good earnings on groceries and meals. It’s a decent option for Avianca purchases, unless you have a card that earns more on flights (like the American Express Platinum® Card).
I wish this card offered a higher earning rate for Avianca purchases, as many airline cards with an annual fee offer at least 3 miles per dollar spent.
How to redeem Avianca Lifemiles Miles
Avianca Lifemiles are powerful because they can be redeemed for flights at any time. Star Alliance airlinenot just Avianca. As a cardholder, you’ll want to fly with Avianca at least a couple of times a year to properly take advantage of your Silver status.
However, other than that, you can find fantastic award redemptions on other Star Alliance airlines, such as united airlines, Air Canada and Lufthansa. The Lifemiles program is a great way for points and miles beginners to practice redeeming member rewards.
Katie GenterTPG’s senior points and miles writer, recently redeemed 8,280 Lifemiles plus $81 in taxes and fees for a one-way flight from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica to Mexico City International Airport (MEX). The cash price was $279, so he received a value of 2.39 cents per mile.
If Katie had Avianca Amex and taken advantage of their 5% redemption discount, she would have saved over 400 miles and received 2.5 cents per mile in value.
Possible drawbacks of the Avianca Lifemiles Amex
If you are someone who flies with Avianca all the time, the advantages offered by Avianca Silver status may not seem like enough to you. Depending on how often you fly, you may be able to reach Gold or Diamond status, negating many of the benefits of this card.
I won’t take too many points off the Avianca Lifemiles Amex for offering only two salon visits per year, as this is not a premium airline card. Still, it could be a drawback for someone who considers having access to the lounge a top priority.
Finally, this card does not offer the highest earning rates. You earn decent earnings on Avianca purchases, but it’s outperformed by many general travel rewards cards that earn more rewards per dollar spent on flights.
Avianca Lifemiles Amex vs. Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite
He Avianca Lifemiles AmexThe older brother is Avianca Lifemiles American Express® Elite Carda more premium option with an annual fee of $249 (see rates and fees).
Both cards offer Avianca Silver status, but Avianca Amex Elite offers additional benefits on top of this, including:
- Up to 6,000 bonus miles per year, deposited as 500 miles per month
- 10% of your miles returned in Star Alliance redemptions
- Up to 25% discount on Avianca exchanges
- 3 miles per dollar spent on purchases at Avianca
- 2 miles per dollar spent on dining and travel, instead of dining and shopping
According to TPG from April 2026 ratings6,000 Lifemiles are worth $84. That won’t affect Avianca Amex Elite’s annual fee much, and it’s hard to value its other advantages. Personally, I would stick with Avianca Lifemiles Amex.
Is Avianca Lifemiles Amex worth it?
If you are a big fan of Avianca or fly frequently with Star Alliance airlines, I recommend seriously considering the Avianca Lifemiles Amex. It’s not the strongest or most complete card out there, but it offers enough to the right cardholder. Just keep in mind that you’ll want to fly with Avianca a couple of times a year to properly take advantage of Avianca Silver status.
When to apply for Avianca Lifemiles Amex
Currently new Avianca Lifemiles Amex Cardholders can earn 40,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
According to TPG ratings, that welcome offer is worth $560.
Remember: since Amex does not issue this card, you won’t have to worry about once in a lifetime welcome bonus rule.
Other cards to consider if you don’t want the Avianca Lifemiles Amex
if he Avianca Lifemiles Amex doesn’t seem like the right option for you, consider one of these options:
For additional options, explore our picks for the best travel cards.
In a nutshell
For Avianca fans, the Avianca Lifemiles Amex It’s a solid option. It requires a moderate commitment to the airline, but you don’t have to fly exclusively with Avianca to get a lot of value.
If you already have Avianca Gold or Diamond status, I would consider a card that earns transferable rewards on flights or travel in general. Otherwise, the Silver status that comes with this card can go a little way to making your experiences with Avianca more enjoyable.
Apply here: Avianca LifeMiles American Express Card
