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Avianca has released the latest LifeMiles award chart updates that will make all frequent flyers scream for joy. The Colombian-based airline will now adapt distance-based pricing for its domestic Canadian flights and international US-Canadian flights.
Now that the US government has reopened its borders to vaccinated Canadians (and vice versa), Avianca is making its move to encourage flyers to redeem flights within Canada or between US and Canada.
Take note that all redemptions for US domestic flights will still follow the zone-based award chart. Now, let’s dive deeper into what the LifeMiles award chart updates are.
Read More: Is American Airlines Removing Award Charts?
LifeMiles Adapts Distance-Based Pricing
Flyers who are redeeming award flights for Canada domestic routes and Canada-US routes will see huge price drops in LifeMiles’ new distance-based pricing.
LifeMiles used to have a zone-based award chart for the US and Canada. The award prices had a flat rate of 12,500 miles for a one-way economy flight and 25,000 miles for a one-way business class flight.
If you add taxes and fees to those rates, you’ll even get more expensive award prices that are double the price of a short-haul domestic U.S. award flight.
Here are the LifeMiles award chart updates for domestic Canadian flights and US-Canada flights.
Domestic Canadian Flights
| Distance (in miles) | Economy | Business |
| 0 – 500 | 6,000 | 15,000 |
| 501 – 1,500 | 10,000 | 20,000 |
| 1,501+ | 12,500 | 25,000 |
Now, domestic Canadian flights will have cheaper award prices. For example, a 428-mile economy class flight from Vancouver to Calgary would only cost you 6,000 LifeMiles on the new award chart – a 48% price drop from the old flat rate of 12,500 LifeMiles.
Flights within Canada are now a much better deal with the new award chart. Image courtesy of Twetny20.com
Let’s take a look at another example. A flight between Montreal and St.Johns has a distance of 1,008 miles so if we use the new award chart, it would now cost you 10,000 LifeMiles for economy class and 20,000 LifeMiles for business class.
International Flights Beteen US. and Canada
| Distance (in miles) | Economy | Business |
| 0 – 500 | 6,500 | 15,000 |
| 501 – 800 | 7,500 | 16,000 |
| 801 – 1,200 | 10,000 | 18,000 |
| 1,201 – 2,000 | 12,500 | 20,000 |
| 2,001+ | 13,500 | 25,000 |
If you’re flying economy between Chicago and Toronto (436 miles), you’ll only pay 6,500 LifeMiles which is a 52% price drop from the old award chart.
Another example would be an economy flight between Vancouver and Los Angeles which will now cost 10,000 LifeMiles – an 8% price drop.
Earning Avianca LifeMiles Through Transfer Partners
Flying with Avianca airlines isn’t the only way of earning Avianca LifeMiles. Keep in mind that you can convert your American Express Membership Rewards Points, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou points to Avianca LifeMiles at a 1:1 ratio.
And you don’t just get to transfer your points but you also get more perks and benefits once you sign up for a credit card from one of the issuers mentioned above.
For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card gives new cardholders a welcome bonus of 100,000 Capital One Miles for those who can spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. You can earn up to 10x points on rewards categories and also get valuable statement credits.
You can also try the American Express Business Platinum which comes with a 120,000-point welcome bonus after spending $15,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. The card lets you earn up to 5x points on rewards categories and it also gives you free lounge access.
Using LifeMiles On Other Star Alliance Members
Since Avianca is a Star Alliance member, LifeMiles members can use their miles on all alliance partners below:
- Aegean Airlines
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air India
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian Airlines
- Avianca
- Brussels Airlines
- Copa Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- Egyptair
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Eva Air
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Scandinavian Airlines
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Swiss
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways International
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
Redeeming LifeMiles for flights between the US and Mexico on Aeromexico can be a real bargain. Image courtesy of Twetny20.com
Read More: Qatar Airways New Business Class Fares, Revamped For The 2nd Time
Bottomline
Overall, Avianca’s adaptation of a distance-based pricing is a great move since it reduced all of the prices for its award flights. The only exception would be transborder flights between the US and Canada that are 2001 miles or more which increased from 12,500 LifeMiles. to 13,500 LifeMiles.
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