American Express Membership Rewards is offering a 15% transfer bonus to Avianca LifeMiles through March 28, 2026. This means you'll get 1,150 LifeMiles for every 1,000 Amex points you transfer, making already competitive Star Alliance award rates even cheaper.

Key Points:

• Transfer 1,000 Amex points and receive 1,150 Avianca LifeMiles through March 28, 2026 at 11:59pm CT.
• Book United business class to Europe for just 60,000 Amex points instead of 69,000 LifeMiles (normally requires 60,000 Amex points).
• Avianca doesn't charge fuel surcharges on Star Alliance partner awards, unlike other programs that add hundreds in extra fees.

How the Avianca LifeMiles Transfer Bonus Works

This promotion is straightforward: transfer your Amex Membership Rewards points to Avianca LifeMiles by March 28, 2026, and automatically receive 15% more miles. The minimum transfer is 1,000 points, which becomes 1,150 LifeMiles after the bonus.

One important detail: you won't see the 15% bonus reflected when making the transfer in your Amex account. The bonus is applied by Avianca after your points arrive, typically within 24 hours. Most reports indicate transfers are instant, with the bonus miles posting immediately.

To participate in this promotion, you'll need an Amex card that earns Membership Rewards points. The best options include the American Express Gold Card, which earns 4X points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, the American Express Platinum Card, which earns 5X on flights booked directly with airlines, and the Business Platinum Card from American Express, which offers the same 5X earning rate on flights plus additional business benefits.

Best Ways to Use This Transfer Bonus

Avianca LifeMiles shines for booking Star Alliance partner flights without the hefty fuel surcharges other programs tack on. Here are the standout redemptions worth considering with this 15% bonus:

Business Class to Europe (60,000 Amex Points)

The standard rate is 69,000 LifeMiles one-way from the U.S. to Europe in business class. With the 15% bonus, you need just 60,000 Amex points. This beats Air Canada Aeroplan's regular 60,000-point rate since you're effectively getting a discount.

Airlines like SWISS, Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal, and Austrian Airlines are all bookable. You'll find the most consistent availability on SWISS from New York-JFK to Zurich and Lufthansa from major East Coast gateways. For more strategies on booking business class to Europe, check our guide on maximizing points for transatlantic flights.

SWISS Business Class Sweet Spot (48,000 Amex Points)

Specific routes price lower than the standard Europe rate. SWISS flights between New York and Zurich cost only 55,000 LifeMiles one-way in business class. Factor in the transfer bonus, and you're transferring just 48,000 Amex points.

United Domestic Economy (7,000 Amex Points)

Short-haul United flights within the same U.S. zone start at 7,500 LifeMiles one-way. With the bonus, that's just 7,000 Amex points for flights like Los Angeles to San Francisco or New York to Boston. The catch? United's partner award availability can be spotty. Learn more about United MileagePlus sweet spots for additional redemption ideas.

ANA Business Class to Japan (81,000 Amex Points)

Flying from the U.S. West Coast to Tokyo in ANA business class costs 93,000 LifeMiles. With the transfer bonus, you need 81,000 Amex points. ANA is consistently rated among the world's best airlines for service quality, making this an excellent use of points for a premium Pacific crossing.

Lufthansa First Class (112,000 Amex Points)

After years of blocking partner bookings, Lufthansa first class awards are bookable again through LifeMiles. The rate is 129,000 LifeMiles one-way between North America and Europe. With the bonus, transfer 112,000 Amex points instead of 129,000.

The main restriction: Lufthansa only releases first class award space 15 days before departure through partner programs. The upside? LifeMiles doesn't charge close-in booking fees, and you'll avoid the $500+ fuel surcharges you'd pay booking through programs like United MileagePlus. For tips on finding last-minute award availability, see our guide on booking premium cabin flights close to departure.

Before You Transfer: Important Warnings

LifeMiles has real limitations that make it unsuitable for everyone. Here's what you need to know:

Award Availability Can Be Limited

LifeMiles doesn't always show the same partner award space other Star Alliance programs see. Sometimes the LifeMiles search engine simply doesn't display flights that are bookable through United MileagePlus or Aeroplan, even though the space exists.

The workaround: search for your specific flights on United.com or Aeroplan first to confirm availability before transferring points. If you see space there, it should be bookable through LifeMiles even if the search doesn't show it initially. Our complete guide to finding award availability covers this process in detail.

High Change and Cancellation Fees

If your plans shift, you'll pay dearly. LifeMiles charges change fees ranging from $50 to $200 depending on your booking, and cancellation fees follow similar pricing. These fees display during the booking process.

The solution: LifeMiles+ Basic or higher subscription plans include free cancellations up to 72 hours before departure, plus a 10% discount on all award tickets. If you're booking expensive premium cabin flights, the subscription can pay for itself with one redemption.

Transfers Are One-Way Only

Once you move Amex points to LifeMiles, they're stuck there. You cannot transfer them back. This is why experienced points users always search for specific award availability before transferring. Check out our transfer partner strategy guide for more tips on when to transfer points.

Website Quirks

The LifeMiles search engine has its issues. Multi-city airport codes like NYC don't work—you'll need to search EWR and JFK separately. The "Smart Search" feature often misses availability that appears when you select a specific airline.

For mixed-partner itineraries, taxes and fees often don't display accurately until the final checkout page. The problem is you need 40% of the required miles in your account to even reach that page. Cross-reference tax estimates using Air Canada Aeroplan's search tool, which typically matches LifeMiles pricing within $25.

How to Transfer Amex Points to Avianca LifeMiles

Log into your Amex account and navigate to the Membership Rewards section. Select "Transfer Points" and scroll to Avianca LifeMiles. Enter your LifeMiles account number if you haven't linked it previously, then specify how many points to transfer.

Remember: you won't see the 15% bonus in the Amex interface. The bonus posts after Avianca receives your points. Transfers typically complete within seconds, though Avianca states bonuses may take up to 24 hours to appear.

If you don't have enough Amex points yet, consider applying for the American Express Gold Card for 4X points on dining and groceries, or the American Express Platinum Card for 5X points on flights. Both cards currently offer substantial welcome bonuses that could give you enough points for a premium cabin redemption.

Should You Transfer Now?

This bonus makes sense if you have a specific Star Alliance award in mind and you've already confirmed availability. Transferring speculatively hoping to find space later is risky given LifeMiles' limitations and high cancellation fees.

The 15% bonus effectively reduces Star Alliance business class to Europe from 69,000 miles to 60,000 Amex points. That's solid value, especially considering you won't pay the $300-500 in fuel surcharges programs like United MileagePlus and Aeroplan charge on Lufthansa Group flights.

If you're considering Lufthansa first class within the 15-day booking window, or you've found excellent availability on SWISS or ANA, this bonus extends your Amex points meaningfully. Just make certain your flights are bookable before you transfer.

The promotion runs through March 28, 2026, giving you time to research and plan rather than rushing into a transfer you might regret. For more strategies on maximizing transfer bonuses, check our complete guide to credit card transfer partners.

Still building your Amex points balance? The American Express Gold Card, American Express Platinum Card, and Business Platinum Card from American Express all earn Membership Rewards points that transfer to Avianca LifeMiles and 20+ other airline and hotel partners.

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