Plan ahead and save up to $19,278 in First Class.
Have you memorized our formula for anyone to realize super-powered travel?
RGV=BR2
It means Really Great Value = Be Ready, Squared.
We’ve mentioned it a couple times recently and it means being ready (really ready) to take advantage of great miles-purchase deals (NO miles necessary to start).
In September we looked at American Airlines purchase miles opportunities, and in August we analyzed Iberia’s purchase miles opportunities, including how to get round-trip travel between the U.S. and Europe for just $1,123.
This month, the same formula applies, but this time it’s for LifeMiles (LM), the loyalty program of Colombia-based Avianca, a United partner and Star Alliance member.
Like American and Iberia, LifeMiles often has great buy-miles deals and low-cost mileage award rates for travel on United flights as well as flights on Star Alliance and other partner airlines all over the world. It’s an impressive, wide-ranging list.
What You Need to Know About LifeMiles and How to Buy Miles at 1.35¢
Happily, you don’t have to fly frequently with Avianca to enjoy the many LifeMiles booking opportunities. As with a lot of our strategies, the true value lies in the partner opportunities that arise, and of course, applying the formula: RGV=BR2
LifeMiles frequently runs sales on its miles and does it in several ways. While the normal price per mile is 3.3¢, the LifeMiles program regularly offers a 100% to 145% bonus on purchases, amounting to miles as low as 1.35¢.
[aside headline="Recent Buy LifeMiles Deal " alignment="aligncenter" width="big" headline_size="default"]In September LifeMiles had a sale of just 1.35¢ per mile, and you could buy up to 200,000 miles. Note that this LifeMiles bonus deal applies only to current LifeMiles members. If you’re not a current member, no sweat. Become a LifeMiles member now so you are ready for the next sale, because they come up regularly.[/aside]
FCF’s 3-Step Action Plan for Using LifeMiles
Step 1: Follow FCF Sweet Redeems Alerts.
We’ll let you know when the miles sales are on, as well as details on routes and partners where low-cost mileage award availability is abundant.
Step 2: Buy miles when they’re on sale.
Let’s look at an example. In September, LifeMiles had a buy-miles deal that offered a purchase bonus of up to 290,000 miles. So at that time you could buy up to 200,000 LifeMiles (the maximum amount) and receive another 290,000 (total 490,000) for $6,600, at a cost of 1.35¢ each.
Step 3: Book the low-cost mileage award ticket.
Here are some specific deals that demonstrate the power of this approach:
ASIA FIRST CLASS FOR $2,508 R/T (UP TO 88% OFF) ON ALL NIPPON
LifeMiles charges 180,000 miles round-trip in First Class from the continental U.S. to Japan, which you can buy when they’re on sale for 1.35¢, making this ticket $2,508 round-trip (includes about $84 in award tax). Details here and here.
ASIA BUSINESS CLASS FOR $2,066 R/T (UP TO 52% OFF) ON ASIANA
LifeMiles charges 150,000 miles round-trip in Business Class from the continental U.S. to Seoul, which you can buy when they’re on sale for 1.35¢, making this ticket $2,066 round-trip (includes about $46 in award tax). Details here.
MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS CLASS FOR $2,201 R/T (UP TO 58% OFF) ON SWISS
LifeMiles charges 156,000 miles round-trip in Business Class from the continental U.S. to the Middle East, which you can buy when they’re on sale for 1.35¢, making this ticket $2,201 round-trip (includes about $100 in award tax). Details here.
SOUTH PACIFIC BUSINESS CLASS $2,275 R/T (UP TO 60% OFF) ON AIR CANADA
LifeMiles charges 160,000 miles round-trip in Business Class from the continental U.S./Canada to the South Pacific on partner Air Canada, which you can buy when they’re on sale for 1.35¢, making this ticket $2,275 round-trip (includes about $120 in award tax). Details here.
AFRICA BIZ CLASS $2,238 R/T (UP TO 63% OFF) ON SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS
LifeMiles charges 156,000 miles round-trip in Business Class from the continental U.S. to Africa, which you can buy when they’re on sale for $2,106, plus ~$132 in award taxes, making the total $2,238. Details here.
EUROPE BUSINESS CLASS FOR $1,797 R/T (UP TO 65% OFF) ON SWISS
LifeMiles charges 126,000 miles round-trip in Business Class from the continental U.S. to Europe on partner SWISS, which you can buy when they’re on sale for 1.35¢, making this ticket $1,797 round-trip (includes about $100 in award tax). Details here.
SOUTH AMERICA BUSINESS CLASS FOR $1,820 R/T (UP TO 67% OFF) ON UNITED
LifeMiles charges 120,000 miles round-trip in Business Class from the continental U.S. to South America, which you can buy when they’re on sale for $1,620, plus ~$200 in award taxes, making the total $1,820. Details here.
More Reasons to Buy Miles Through LifeMiles
#1 Searching for availability using LifeMiles can be done online; just log in to your account. (Getting an account takes just a few minutes.)
Then click on “FLY” and search by all Star Alliance airlines (or one particular airline, like All Nippon or United ) by clicking on the drop-down menu. The search can be done round-trip or one-way and for up to eight passengers by a cabin request in “Business or First.”
Just a heads up: Two drawbacks to the LifeMiles search tool for award space—when compared to some other airline websites—are that you cannot filter by nonstop flights, and there’s no date selection at the first step of the search. On the next screen, however, you will be able to select your travel dates.
On the positive side, LifeMiles shows how many seats are available in the flight select view. The example screenshot below indicates flights with All Nippon showing two seats available in First Class. (Total cost is 180,000 LifeMiles miles plus $57 in taxes.)
#2 Low award taxes for LifeMiles partner flights
LifeMiles charges low award taxes for partners because it often doesn’t charge for fuel taxes. Take, for example, the New York to Frankfurt route on Lufthansa in Business Class. LM only charges $117 in taxes, while Lufthansa charges $1,353.
#3 LifeMiles + Money
The LifeMiles “Miles + Money” option allows you to bring down the price for an award ticket—in miles—by paying more in cash while booking an award ticket.
#4 Get up to a 31% discount on some Star Alliance flight awards.
LifeMiles often runs a sale on select award redemptions, where they’re offering 10% to 31% off selected routes. Take, for example, Seattle to Taipei. LifeMiles normally charges 150,000 miles round-trip in Business Class for this route, but with the discount, the rate is 128,000 LifeMiles from the continental U.S. to Asia on partner Eva Air. You can buy miles to cover this rate when they’re on sale, coming out to $1,824 spent on miles for the round-trip flight (includes about $100 in award tax). More details.
#5 No close-in booking fees, which means you can save on last-minute award availability.
#6 Miles will not expire as long as you have qualifying earning activity every 12 months, which can include purchasing LifeMiles. Simple and easy.