Time is money and the bottom line is this: adding an infant to award tickets from Avianca LifeMiles is truly a pain. That’s why I am happy to pay more miles for an identical ticket on Air Canada Aeroplan....
No LifeMiles Bonuses? Is The Sky Falling?
For as long as I could remember, Avianca has offered a bonus to buy LifeMiles. But I haven’t seen one in a while, is the sky falling? If you are considering signing up for a new credit card please...
Foolish Avianca Chairman Admits Airline Is Bankrupt In Leaked Video
It’s nice to be open and honest…to a point. But idle words can cause unnecessary pain, as the Avianca Chairman found out this week. Roberto Kriete attempted to “rally the troops” to push the troubled airline back to profitability....
Avianca Brasil Will Leave Star Alliance
Troubled Avianca Brasil will leave Star Alliance on 01 September 2019. Avianca Brasil has experienced many setbacks over the last nine months. After filing for bankruptcy last December, it faced a prolonged aircraft repossession battle with creditors. Then in...
Did Avianca Bribe Government Officials With Free Tickets + Upgrades?
Avianca is performing an internal investigation into allegations that it bribed government officials from several nations with free tickets and upgrades. While the list of nations has not been disclosed, such conduct, if verified, runs afoul of both the...
Should You Be Worried About Your LifeMiles? They Don’t Think So
LifeMiles, the loyalty program from Colombian carrier, Avianca issued an email this week to reassure members that their miles are safe. But are your LifeMiles safe? I’m not so sure and, clearly, neither is Avianca. If you haven’t followed us...
United Airlines Seeks To Oust Avianca Chairman But Vows Independent Airline
United Airlines is extending an attractive loan offer to Avianca while vowing to keep the airline independent. At the same time, it is trying to oust the company’s chairman. Last week, I wrote about the possibility of United taking...
United Airlines May Acquire Avianca
Avianca finds itself in a vulnerable position thanks to a recent default by its controlling shareholder. The default gives United Airlines a chance to take majority control of the growing Colombian carrier. Avianca is majority controlled by BRW Aviation, a...
Avianca Award Changes Model Pricing Variability
Avianca announced positive changes to their award chart for domestic United States awards with some variability, It is a perfect model for how US airlines, like American, can avoid throwing out award charts but still adding value to both...
Avianca Brasil Files For Strategic Bankruptcy
Citing fear of aircraft repossession, Avianca Brasil filed for bankruptcy protection in São Paulo on Monday. Earlier this week I wrote about the issues facing Avianca Brasil…and how it might indirectly impact United Airlines. After a Brazilian court ordered...
As Court Orders Airline To Surrender 20% Of Fleet, United Watches From Afar
A Brazilian court has ordered Avianca Brasil to surrender 20% of fleet to lessors. Meanwhile, the carrier downplays the ruling as unnecessary. Even so, investor United Airlines is watching carefully. BOC Aviation and Constitution Aircraft leases aircraft, mostly Airbus A320,...
Competition For Lufthansa First Class Heats Up
If you read my blog regularly, you know that one of my favorite mileage redemptions is for Lufthansa First Class. It’s not that Lufthansa offers the best first class product in the world (though I love it). Rather, Lufthansa...
Avianca Considers European Expansion
Bogota-based Avianca will soon launch flights to Munich and is considering an even greater European expansion. Starting on November 16, 2018, Avianca will commence five weekly flights between Bogota (BOG) and Munich (MUC) utilizing a 787-8 aircraft. Day Origin...
Lifemiles Award Chart Changes Good & Bad
Avianca sent out an email this week announcing upcoming award chart changes. While Avianca is a smaller airline, they frequently sell their points inexpensively and many readers hold Lifemiles as part of their point portfolio. The changes included many...
Horrifying Vegetarian Meal or Impressive Domestic Meal Service?
Context is always key. Outrage is often feigned. Ignorance is strength. A tweet of an airline meal has gone viral. It is purportedly an economy class “vegetarian” meal on Avianca, the Colombian flag carrier and member of Star Alliance....
The Best Program to Credit Cheap United Airlines Flights
Where you credit your miles is like a game of chess. Singapore Airlines has cut earnings on discount economy class fares on United Airlines. Fares that used to earn 100% of miles flown will now earn as little as...
US Bank Lifemiles Visa Shut Down
US Bank previously offered the Lifemiles Visa card but has since shut it down (it’s been re-offered by Banco Popular). For previous customers, they offered a replacement card an attractive bonus to stay with US Bank. US Bank Lifemiles Visa...
LifeMiles Mixed Cabin Redemptions Now Possible
In a surprising move that suddenly makes Avianca LifeMiles much more valuable, mixed cabin awards are now bookable! First, business, and economy class can now be mixed on a single itinerary, with the highest cabin establishing the price of...
3:1 Avianca Lifemiles Today Only
A targeted e-mail went out to Avianca Lifemiles members this morning with a 3:1 mileage purchase offer: buy 1,000 miles and get 2,000 free, today only. 1,000 miles costs $30 + tax, so you’re getting miles for one cent, pre-tax....
Avianca, TACA and Copa Join Star Alliance
Star Alliance has grown again today, with the addition of Avianca/TACA and Copa to the alliance. With TAM’s future in the alliance in question, Star has ensured that it maintains a vital presence in the growing Central and South...
