Overview
The Avianca Lifemiles American Express® Card is a mid-tier airline card with a $99 annual fee whose main hook is complimentary Avianca Silver elite status. It’s a sensible fit for travelers who fly Avianca regularly—particularly to Colombia and Central America—or who want an inexpensive path to Star Alliance Silver benefits. If you rarely fly Avianca or already hold Gold/Diamond status, the card’s value is limited.
Key features
– Annual fee: $99.
– Complimentary Avianca Silver status (matches to Star Alliance Silver).
– Two complimentary Avianca lounge visits per year.
– Extra free checked bag on Avianca fares (not valid on Basic/Light fares).
– Priority check-in and Group B boarding; extra-legroom seat selection and select upgrade options.
– 5% discount on Lifemiles redemptions for Avianca flights booked through Lifemiles.
– No foreign transaction fees.
– Issued by Cardless on behalf of First Electronic Bank using the Amex network (not issued by American Express).
Why the status matters
Avianca Silver normally requires 12,000 qualifying miles in a year, so getting it via a card is uncommon among airline credit cards. Silver grants useful alliance-wide perks: priority waitlist and standby, priority handling, some upgrade availability, and lounge access at Avianca VIP locations. The small but meaningful benefit here is lounge access—two visits annually—which is rare on cards with sub-$300 fees.
Earnings
– 2 miles per $1 on Avianca and Lifemiles purchases, dining and groceries.
– 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
This is modest compared with general travel cards that earn transferable points. The card earns decently for Avianca purchases and for topping up Lifemiles balances, but it’s not ideal for using as your primary everyday-spend card.
How to redeem Lifemiles
Lifemiles can be redeemed on Avianca and Star Alliance partners (United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, etc.), which makes the currency versatile. Example redemption: a one-way SJO→MEX for 8,280 Lifemiles + $81 in fees produced ~2.39 cents per mile in value; with the card’s 5% redemption discount, the effective cents-per-mile increased modestly. Lifemiles are beginner-friendly for partner award redemptions and can offer excellent value on many routes.
Pros and cons
Pros:
– Complimentary Avianca Silver status.
– Useful benefits on Avianca flights (lounge access, checked bag, priority).
– Redemption discount and no foreign transaction fees.
– Star Alliance Silver perks (priority waitlist/standby).
Cons:
– Not good value for infrequent Avianca flyers.
– Weak everyday spending earn rates compared with transferable-point cards.
– Only two lounge visits per year; limited companion access (Miami lounge excluded).
– Extra checked bag doesn’t apply to Basic/Light fares.
– Little incremental value if you already have Avianca Gold or Diamond.
When the card makes sense
The card works best if you:
– Fly Avianca a couple times a year and can use Silver benefits and lounge entries.
– Want a low-cost way to secure Star Alliance Silver perks.
– Plan to use Lifemiles for partner awards and can benefit from the 5% redemption discount.
When it doesn’t make sense
– You fly Avianca rarely or primarily book Basic/Light fares (no checked-bag benefit).
– You already have Avianca Gold/Diamond status (the card’s Silver benefits are redundant).
– You prefer cards that earn transferable points or higher rates on flights, dining, and groceries.
Welcome offer
Current new-cardholder offer: 40,000 Lifemiles after $3,000 in purchases within 90 days of account opening. Valuations place that welcome bonus value in the several-hundred-dollar range, which boosts initial card value. Because the card is not issued by American Express directly, Amex’s once-per-lifetime welcome bonus rules do not apply.
Avianca Lifemiles Amex vs. Avianca Lifemiles Amex Elite
The Elite version carries a $249 annual fee and includes additional perks:
– Up to 6,000 bonus miles annually (500 miles/month).
– 10% miles back on Star Alliance redemptions.
– Up to 25% discount on Avianca redemptions.
– 3x miles per $1 on Avianca purchases.
– 2x on dining and travel (rather than dining and groceries).
Those additions help offset the higher fee for some users, but many will find the $99 card sufficient if their goal is status and occasional Avianca-focused benefits.
Alternatives
– American Express Platinum Card: Stronger flight earnings (5x on flights booked directly/through Amex Travel), extensive lounge access, and transferable Membership Rewards that can transfer to Lifemiles.
– Citi Strata Premier: Better earnings on dining and groceries and transferability to multiple airline partners, including Lifemiles.
– Capital One Venture Rewards: Simple 2x flat-rate earnings and transferable miles to partners, including Avianca.
Bottom line
The Avianca Lifemiles Amex is a good, inexpensive way to obtain Avianca Silver and the associated Star Alliance perks for travelers who use Avianca with some regularity. Its low annual fee, lounge access, checked-bag benefit (when not on Basic/Light fares) and redemption discount create tangible value for the right person. If you rarely fly Avianca, already have higher Avianca status, or prefer stronger everyday earning and broader transfer options, a different travel rewards card will likely deliver more value.