American Express has launched a 15% transfer bonus to Avianca LifeMiles, available now through July 15, 2026. This means every 1,000 Amex Membership Rewards points you transfer will net you 1,150 LifeMiles—making Star Alliance award bookings, especially on United and other partners, even more rewarding.
Our Take
Good news for Star Alliance award seekers. This transfer bonus is a strong play for anyone eyeing premium cabin flights on United, Lufthansa, or other Star Alliance partners. By our valuation, Amex points are worth 2¢ each, and LifeMiles 1.4¢—but with this 15% bonus, your effective value per Amex point transferred jumps to 1.61¢ when redeemed for LifeMiles awards. That's a significant boost, especially for those who can leverage LifeMiles' sweet spots.
What Changed
- Transfer bonus: 1,000 Amex Membership Rewards → 1,150 Avianca LifeMiles (was 1,000:1,000)
- Bonus valid: June 15, 2026 – July 15, 2026
- Bonus is offered by LifeMiles, not Amex (may not show in Amex portal)
Who Benefits Most
- Star Alliance premium cabin flyers: Book a United Polaris or Lufthansa business class ticket (typically 63,000 LifeMiles) for just 54,783 Amex points after the bonus—a savings of 8,217 points (~$164 at our Amex point value).
- Amex cardholders with large balances: Transferring 100,000 Amex points yields 115,000 LifeMiles, enough for two one-way business class tickets between the US and Europe (normally 126,000 miles required).
- Award travelers targeting LifeMiles sweet spots: For example, US to Northern South America in business class for 35,000 LifeMiles now requires just 30,435 Amex points (~$609 in value).
- Anyone topping up for a specific award: Even small transfers get a meaningful boost—transfer 10,000 Amex points, receive 11,500 LifeMiles (an extra $21 in value).
Who Should Be Cautious
- Travelers who don’t fly Star Alliance: If you prefer SkyTeam or Oneworld, this bonus won’t help your redemption strategy.
- Those with no immediate LifeMiles use: LifeMiles can be devalued or expire—don’t speculatively transfer unless you have a near-term award in mind.
- Amex point maximizers: If you regularly get 2¢+ per point via other Amex partners (like ANA or Air Canada), this bonus may not be the absolute best use of your points.
What To Do Right Now
- Check your Amex Membership Rewards balance and identify any upcoming Star Alliance award needs.
- Search LifeMiles.com for available award space before transferring—award inventory can be unpredictable.
- Initiate your transfer by July 15, 2026, to lock in the 15% bonus.
- Only transfer the number of points you need for a specific award to avoid orphaned LifeMiles.
- Consider stacking with LifeMiles+ for additional discounts if you’re a frequent user.
