Avianca Lifemiles – How is it Useful for Middle-East?

I have professed my love for Lifemiles on more than one occasion. Lifemiles has become my default choice to credit miles traveled on Star Alliance metal.

In 2018, during the Christmas season, I had sneaked an incredible fare to travel from Dubai to Zurich on business-class at prices similar to economy ticket. You can read more details here.

Introduction to Lifemiles

Lifemiles is the frequent flyer program of Avianca S.A. Avianca is the flagship airline of Colombia and its hub is Bogota.

Avianca does not fly to any Middle East destination through its own metal. Being a Star Alliance member, it has codeshare relationship with all other members.

Lifemiles is one of the very few frequent flyer program by a Star Alliance member that gives you online access to inventory. For most other airlines, you have to pick up your phone and call.

Buying Lifemiles

Lifemiles has two or three promotions every year. In the current promotion, Lifemiles is offering up to 125% bonus miles on purchases (link). This promotion ends on March 14, 2019.

Further, readers of onemileatatime can get up to 140% bonus miles (link)

This would imply an effective purchase price of 1.375 cents per mile.

Star Alliance Partners Operating from Middle East

There are several Star Alliance members operating in the Middle East. Of these, Egypt Air and Turkish Airlines have their base here and offer global connectivity. Below is the list of all airlines

• Air China (DXB-PEK)
• Air India (connects cities in India to Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah)
• Egypt Air (global connectivity)
• Ethiopian Air (connects Addis Ababa to Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, Cairo)
• Lufthansa (FRA-DXB, FRA-JED, FRA-IST, FRA-RUH)
• Singapore Airlines (SIN-IST, SIN-DXB, SIN-JED)
• Swiss Air (DXB-ZRH, MCT-ZRH)
• Thai Airways (BKK-DXB)
• Turkish Airlines (global connectivity)

Great Deals

There are some great deals to be found especially if you are booking Business or First class. Here are a few examples

Dubai to Zurich (round-trip)

Airline: Swiss

Business class fare: $3,838 (link)

Lifemiles required: 84,000 + $75 in taxes

You pay: $1,230 (68% discount)

Jeddah to Frankfurt (round-trip)

Airline: Lufthansa

Business class fare: $2,581 (link)

Lifemiles required: 84,000 + $26 in taxes

You pay: $1,181 (54% discount)

Dubai to Bangkok (round-trip)

Airline: Thai Airways

Business class fare: $2,569 (link)

Lifemiles required: 96,000 + $63 in taxes

You pay: $1,383 (45% discount)

Conclusion

Of course, these are some incredible deals. Remember though, availability is very limited. Moreover, some airlines (Swiss, Lufthansa to name a few) release their inventory very late. So, you may not see availability a month prior to your booking but you might see one next week. This promotion ends on March 14, 2019.

For me, Lifemiles is hands down the best way to redeem miles on Star Alliance. Aegean comes a close second but does not offer frequent sales.

A word of caution here, I am not an advocate of buying miles and holding them. You never know when a devaluation might hit you.

Earn and Burn soon. Buy and burn sooner!