A couple of weeks ago I explained why AviancaTaca LifeMiles is perhaps the most generous program in the Star Alliance.
Most folks wouldn’t naturally be interested in a Central American frequent flyer program. But they are partners with United, US Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss, Singapore, and the rest of the Star Alliance. So their miles can be used on those airlines.
And they offer one-way awards for half the price of roundtrip, there are no fuel surcharges, and most lucratively they have “cash and points” awards where you only need 40% of the miles required for the ticket you want to book and then ‘buy up’ the rest of the miles necessary for the award at under 1.3 cents apiece.
Commenter M. on that thread asked me to flag the next time that AviancaTaca was offering a 100% bonus on purchased miles. (They last offered it in July.)
Well via Lucky, the offer is back and running through September 28.
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago,
Brand new accounts can’t usually participate in these bonus offers, so it makes sense to join their LifeMiles program to be prepared for when one of these offers comes back.
And indeed, this 100% bonus on purchased miles is only available to accounts that were open prior to today.
If you have an open account, this is a great way to get started with the program. You can buy up to 75,000 miles at 3 cents apiece and receive 150,000 miles (for a cost per mile of 1.5 cents). And then you can leverage those miles with the cash and points award chart for up to 375,000 miles’ worth of awards.
If you don’t have one, it’s worth opening one to be prepared for the next time this offer comes back, and it’s worth checking out my previous post about the program to understand some of the unique, valuable features that it offers.
Could you please elaborate on :
And then you can leverage those miles with the cash and points award chart for up to 375,000 miles’ worth of awards.
Thanks
@JackW – as I explain you only need 40% of the miles for an award in your account to take advantage of cash and points (buying the other 60%)
@JackW,
He means cash and points. From the article
“They have “cash and points” awards where you only need 40% of the miles required for the ticket you want to book and then ‘buy up’ the rest of the miles necessary for the award at under 1.3 cents apiece”
So you can “buy up” your 150,000 miles to 375,000.
so basically for travel to Europe or south Asia it’s cheaper to buy their miles than us air… that’s a good deal.
😉
Just signed up and this 2 X 1 shows up on the buy points page. If I try, what will happen?
Is there anywhere we can look at the rules of the program (e.g. stopovers, re-deposit fees, etc.)?
Ok–if I’m reading this correctly, I can buy 7000 miles for $210. (Don’t know if that is the regular price or discounted/doubled price?) They have a deal now for 6500 points to buy 20 Cineopolis movie tickets. That’s half price for the luxury theater..wow!
Is there a foreign currency transaction fee for the miles purchase? Do they take Amex.?
The forex is a good question. My guess is that the answer is yes.
@ Kathy : you need to have an account prior to September 3 (today).
There is also the US Airways ‘grand slam’ promotion which is better and yields US miles at less than 1 cent a piece, so I’m passing on this.
Another plus with US is the call center, although sometimes geographically challenged, they speak english (vs. the avianca call center which is spanish speaking). I see a bigger chance of US de valuing their chart since its been around for awhile.
Lol, still no answer to re-deposit fees, etc. Can’t pull trigger until I know what I am getting into.
Regarding Cineopolis tickets–not valid in USA.
I’m just wondering what makes everyone so sure that the US Airways Grand Slam will happen this year, given the talks underway with AA? what is their incentive to do this if the program will turn into AA miles on OW?
Gary,
Is it worth buying these miles over usair refundable ticket and maximer miles at 1.2 cents? In order to fly biz or first to Europe from Lax?
Gary,
Is it worth buying these miles over usair refundable ticket and maximer miles at 1.2 cents? In order to fly biz or first to Europe from Lax?
Forex applies.
@Stephan – not clear at all that Grand Slam will be back, but whether it is or not I doubt the decision is merger speculation-related
How generous are they with their routings? Do the call centre agents check the MPM?
@Kai they offer crazy routings online, don’t have a ton of experience yet with their call center agents
The website mentioned SQ redemptions being allowed w/eff September, but that still doesn’t seem to be the case.
Call centre agents are still rather clueless.