Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Avianca LifeMiles is running a buy-miles bonus of up to 145 percent through Sept. 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central time (GMT-6). Upgraded Points and AwardWallet both report the same three-tier structure, with the top tier landing at about 1.35 cents per mile if you buy 51,000 to 200,000 miles before the bonus.
That is a cost and deadline decision, not a reason to stockpile miles on speculation. Confirm the offer inside your LifeMiles account, price a specific Star Alliance award first, then buy only the miles that close the gap. Avianca’s own program page is the Avianca airline guide most readers should open next if they still need a route, bag, or cabin baseline before they spend cash on miles.
- Deadline: Sept. 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
- Top bonus: 145 percent on 51,000 to 200,000 miles purchased, about 1.35 cents each.
- Mid and low tiers: 135 percent on 21,000 to 50,000 miles; 125 percent on 1,000 to 20,000 miles.
- Per-transaction cap: 200,000 miles before bonus, or $6,600 for 490,000 miles at the 145 percent tier.
- Catch: Offers can be targeted. Check your logged-in LifeMiles buy page before you pay.
145 Percent Bonus Drops LifeMiles to 1.35 Cents
The ordinary LifeMiles purchase rate cited by One Mile at a Time is 3.3 cents per mile before bonuses. At 145 percent, a $6,600 purchase of 200,000 miles returns 490,000 miles, or 1.35 cents each. AwardWallet’s break-even for the top tier is lower: buy 51,000 miles for $1,683 and receive 124,950 miles after the 145 percent bonus.
Upgraded Points values LifeMiles at about 1.4 cents, which puts this sale just under that figure if you already have a redemption. It is not a bargain if you cannot find award space, and it is a poor use of cash if you are buying miles to sit in an account. Purchases are processed through Points.com, so they do not count as airfare on a credit card.
The official purchase path is the LifeMiles buy-miles page. Open it while logged in. If your account shows a smaller bonus, or no bonus, do not assume the 145 percent headline applies to you.
Three Purchase Tiers Through September 25
All three outlets describe the same published ladder for the current window, which started Sept. 16, 2026:
Buy 1,000 to 20,000 miles and receive a 125 percent bonus, about 1.53 cents per mile. Buy 21,000 to 50,000 miles and receive a 135 percent bonus, about 1.50 cents. Buy 51,000 to 200,000 miles and receive a 145 percent bonus, about 1.35 cents. Miles are sold in 1,000-mile increments.
AwardWallet says purchased miles typically post in about 12 hours even though the written terms allow up to 72 hours. It also says purchases are non-reversible and non-refundable. Do not buy more than you can use on a ticket you can already see. If posting slips past 12 hours, wait the full 72 hours before opening a second purchase or a support ticket.
Buy Only When a Star Alliance Award Is Already Findable
LifeMiles is useful because it can book Star Alliance awards, often without the heavy fuel surcharges some partner programs add. Upgraded Points cites one-way business-class Europe awards in a 70,000 to 80,000 mile band on carriers such as SWISS, Turkish Airlines, and Brussels Airlines. That is an example range, not a guaranteed price on every date.
One Mile at a Time’s standing warning still applies: LifeMiles does not always see the same award space as other Star Alliance programs. Search the award before you pay. If the seat is not there, the 1.35 cent math is irrelevant.
A shortfall purchase is the cleanest use. If you are 20,000 miles short of a ticket you can already hold, the 125 percent tier may be enough. If you are building a long-haul premium ticket from zero, run the cash price against 1.35 cents times the miles required, including taxes, and only then open the buy page.
Targeted Offers and Caps Still Sit on the Buy Page
One Mile at a Time says LifeMiles promotions are now generally targeted, so different members can see different bonuses and some members may see none. That is why a screenshot from another site is not your offer. The logged-in LifeMiles page is.
The per-transaction maximum of 200,000 miles before bonus is consistent across the three reports. Annual purchase caps are not. AwardWallet describes a 500,000-mile annual figure that includes bonuses. One Mile at a Time describes 200,000 miles per calendar year before bonuses. Do not treat either number as settled until your own buy page and terms display the cap that applies to your account.
Geography is simple: the sale is priced in U.S. dollars. Canadian and other buyers should add any foreign-transaction fee their card charges. There is no public, universal eligibility list in the reporting beyond holding a LifeMiles account and seeing the offer.
July’s 130 Percent Sale Is Closed; This Window Is New
Deep Arrival covered a separate LifeMiles buy-miles window that added up to 130 percent through July 24, 2026. That sale is closed. This Sept. 16 to Sept. 25, 2026, 145 percent window is a new purchase period with a higher top bonus and a five-day remaining clock from Sept. 20.
Read the July recap only for chronology: Avianca LifeMiles 130 percent bonus through July 24. Do not use July prices. Do not assume a 160 percent bonus from earlier 2026 sales will return before this deadline.
If you already bought during a prior 2026 window, check your remaining annual room before you buy again. If you have no award in search results, skip the sale. If you do, finish the math, then pay only what the logged-in LifeMiles page shows.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Already see a Star Alliance award and are short on miles | Buy only the tier that closes the gap. 51,000 miles is the cheapest 145 percent entry, about $1,683 for 124,950 miles. |
| See 145 percent in your logged-in account | You may buy up to 200,000 miles per transaction through Sept. 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central. |
| See a smaller bonus, or no bonus | Do not force the headline rate. One Mile at a Time says these offers are often targeted. |
| Have no award in search results | Skip the sale. Purchases are non-refundable, and 1.35 cents is not a reason to stockpile. |
Sept. 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central is the hard stop. After that, the 145 percent bonus is gone unless LifeMiles extends it in a new notice.
51,000 miles is the cheapest top-tier purchase. Below that, you pay closer to 1.50 or 1.53 cents. Do not buy 50,000 if 51,000 is the rate you want.
Your logged-in LifeMiles buy page is the eligibility gate. A blog screenshot is not your offer, and annual caps disagree across reports until you read the terms on that page.
When does the Avianca LifeMiles 145 percent bonus end?
Sept. 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central time, according to Upgraded Points and AwardWallet.
How much do LifeMiles cost with the 145 percent bonus?
About 1.35 cents each if you buy 51,000 to 200,000 miles before the bonus.
How many LifeMiles can I buy in one purchase?
200,000 miles before the bonus, or $6,600 for 490,000 miles at the 145 percent tier.
Do I have to buy 200,000 miles to get 145 percent?
No. AwardWallet’s 145 percent floor is 51,000 miles, which costs $1,683 and returns 124,950 miles.
Will every LifeMiles account see 145 percent?
Not necessarily. One Mile at a Time says current LifeMiles buy bonuses are often targeted, so check the logged-in buy page.
Should I buy LifeMiles if I do not have an award yet?
No. The three reports agree purchases are for a specific redemption, and AwardWallet says they are non-refundable.
