Avianca LifeMiles Devalued Again - The Third Time in 15 Months

If you've been hoarding Avianca LifeMiles for a big Star Alliance redemption, there's news you won't love: LifeMiles has quietly raised award prices again. It's the third devaluation in just over a year, and this one is broad - hitting most popular partner redemptions, not just a handful of premium awards. Here's exactly what changed, and the harder question of whether LifeMiles still deserves a spot in your strategy.

What changed this time

As first reported by Thrifty Traveler, LifeMiles bumped up pricing across a range of routes, especially those operated by Star Alliance partners like United and Lufthansa. A few increases that stand out:

• US to Europe: economy rose from 35,000 to 40,000 miles one-way (about 14%), and business from 70,000 to 80,000 (about 15%).

• US to Asia: economy rose from 47,000 to 55,000 miles one-way (about 18%), and business from 90,000 to 100,000 (about 11%).

As Upgraded Points notes, none of this was officially announced ahead of time - the prices simply changed.

Why this one stings more

Individually, a 10-18% increase isn't catastrophic. The problem is the pattern. Three devaluations in 15 months - none announced until after the fact - turns a program from a stable sweet-spot currency into an actively depreciating asset. And because LifeMiles has no published award chart, pricing now varies unevenly by route, airline, and even how you search. That unpredictability is arguably worse than the higher numbers themselves.

Is LifeMiles still worth it?

My honest take: LifeMiles still has genuine strengths - no fuel surcharges on partner awards, access to some routes other programs can't book, and mixed-cabin flexibility. For a specific trip you can book right now, it can still beat the alternatives. What's changed is the case for banking LifeMiles speculatively. When a currency loses value three times in just over a year, holding a big balance is a bet against the house.

What this means for you

If you have LifeMiles sitting in your account, the move isn't to panic-book a bad redemption - it's to have a plan. Price out the trip you actually want, compare it against Star Alliance alternatives like United or Aeroplan, and if LifeMiles still wins, book it soon rather than later. Going forward, treat LifeMiles as an earn-and-burn currency: transfer in when you're ready to book, not just in case.