As a switch associate of all the key bank card currencies (apart from Chase Ultimate Rewards), Avianca LifeMiles are among the many best factors and miles to earn. The loyalty program additionally routinely presents profitable gross sales once you buy LifeMiles. Through Feb. 22, you’ll be able to purchase LifeMiles at simply 1.25 cents apiece.
We typically advocate utilizing LifeMiles for Star Alliance flights on airways like United, Lufthansa and ANA; nevertheless, among the finest candy spots is on a non-alliance associate — Aeromexico.
I not too long ago bought LifeMiles for an Aeromexico flight to South America. Here’s why utilizing LifeMiles for Aeromexico flights makes this week’s version of Sweet Spot Sunday.
Why it’s particular
LifeMiles has a published award chart for journey on Aeromexico, however the real-time LifeMiles award charges do not all the time replicate the worth on the award chart.
Business-class award area to Buenos Aires is notoriously troublesome to search out. On most days, Aeromexico operates two each day flights between Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and Ezeiza International Airport (EZE). In my expertise, there’s extra award area on the daytime flight.
On many Aeromexico flights with LifeMiles award area, Aeromexico’s personal Club Premier loyalty program expenses considerably extra miles (assume 200,000-500,000 miles). One-way money costs on this flight typically go for $3,600.
By redeeming 52,500 LifeMiles on this flight, you will possible get round 6.7 cents per LifeMiles, roughly quadrupling TPG’s valuation of LifeMiles.
Economy class is usually a nice deal too
It’s no shock, however Aeromexico economic system class award area is mostly simpler to search out. 30,000 LifeMiles can get you from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Buenos Aires.
No stopovers in Mexico City, sadly
Now, I do know what you are pondering — why not spend a number of days in Mexico City earlier than persevering with to Argentina?
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LifeMiles does not enable stopovers (connections longer than 24 hours). If you wish to spend a number of days in Mexico City, you will need to e book a separate ticket from the U.S. to Mexico after which from Mexico to Argentina.
I booked a cheap economy-class ticket on American Airlines from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Mexico City, spent three days in Mexico after which redeemed 52,500 LifeMiles for the nine-hour business-class flight from Mexico City to Buenos Aires, which I purchased for round $655.
How to e book
Go to lifemiles.com and choose “Travel.” You’ll want to maneuver the dropdown from “Smart Search” to “Aeromexico” for LifeMiles to show Aeromexico awards.
The remainder of the reserving course of is simple. All it’s a must to do is choose your flight, comply with the on-screen prompts and pay the taxes and costs.
Related: Can’t discover award availability with Avianca LifeMiles? Don’t surrender till you do that trick
Earning the miles for this award
You can switch rewards from American Express Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards to LifeMiles at a 1:1 ratio. Credit card level transfers to LifeMiles typically take lower than one hour.
Here are among the bank cards we might advocate for LifeMiles transfers.
You may also take into account shopping for LifeMiles. For my Aeromexico flight, I purchased LifeMiles, however they did not go instantly into my account, which prevented me from locking within the flight straight away. It took round 36 nerve-racking hours for them to seem in my account.
Initially, three seats had been obtainable, however one had been taken when the LifeMiles posted to my account. I used to be touring with two mates to Argentina. Despite repeatedly checking LifeMiles award area for our Aeromexico flight main as much as the flight’s departure, we in the end could not journey collectively on the Aeromexico flight, so one in all us traveled on Copa Airlines to Argentina.
This is all of the extra purpose to switch bank card factors, which, as talked about, typically take much less time earlier than the miles seem in your account.
Related: Here’s why you want a wholesome stash of Avianca LifeMiles
Bottom line
LifeMiles has developed a popularity for having rigid award tickets, difficult-to-reach customer support and pesky technical points. That being stated, the loyalty program presents interesting awards on Aeromexico, which I used to journey to Argentina for round $700 in enterprise class.
While Aeromexico’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner boasts a extra dated 2-2-2 lie-flat configuration in enterprise class, the meals and repair onboard had been superior to a lot of my premium cabin flights on U.S. carriers. And the daytime flight was ideally suited for jet lag.
The subsequent time my journey plans name for South America, I do know the place I’ll begin.