Capital One just dropped a solid transfer bonus for anyone sitting on a stash of miles. Through August 31st, you'll get a 15% bonus when transferring Capital One miles to Avianca LifeMiles—turning every 1,000 miles into 1,150 LifeMiles.

While 15% won't break any records, it's actually pretty noteworthy coming from Capital One, which offers transfer bonuses far less frequently than Chase or Amex. Plus, LifeMiles can deliver exceptional value for Star Alliance redemptions, especially when you need to get to Europe without paying those brutal Lufthansa fuel surcharges.

Why This Transfer Bonus Matters

The real win here isn't just the extra 15%—it's what you can do with LifeMiles afterward. Business class flights to Europe typically cost 69,000-80,000 LifeMiles but would normally include $700-1,000 in fuel surcharges on Lufthansa. With LifeMiles, you skip those fees entirely.

Here's the math that makes this interesting: A business class seat to Europe that normally costs 69,000 LifeMiles would only require 60,000 Capital One miles with this bonus. That's meaningful savings, especially if you're already planning a trip.

Best Ways to Use Your Bonus LifeMiles

Business Class to Europe (69,000-80,000 LifeMiles)
Fly SWISS, Lufthansa, or TAP Air Portugal without fuel surcharges. The no-fees aspect alone saves you hundreds compared to booking directly with Lufthansa.

Domestic US Flights (7,500+ LifeMiles)
United flights within the same US zone start at just 7,500 LifeMiles one-way—perfect for positioning flights or quick domestic hops.

South America Routes (35,000+ LifeMiles)
Competitive pricing to both Northern and Southern South America, again with no fuel surcharges on Star Alliance partners.

How to Take Advantage

You'll need a Capital One card that earns transferable miles. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium option with 2X miles on everything, while the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers 1.25X miles with no annual fee.

Sign into your Capital One account, navigate to rewards, and select Avianca LifeMiles as your transfer partner. The 15% bonus applies automatically—no registration required.

Important heads-up: Always check award availability on LifeMiles.com before transferring. LifeMiles expire after 12 months of account inactivity, and transfers can't be reversed once completed.

Bottom Line

This 15% bonus won't blow you away, but it's worth considering if you've got specific Star Alliance redemptions in mind—especially to Europe where you'll dodge those expensive fuel surcharges. Just make sure you've done your homework on availability first.

The sweet spot here is for travelers who already know exactly what flight they want to book. For everyone else, it might be worth holding onto those flexible Capital One miles until you have a concrete plan.

Learn more about maximizing your Capital One miles through our complete guide to Capital One transfer partners and get the full scoop on the Avianca LifeMiles program.