Another day, another transfer bonus — but this one might be better than you think. Through April 12th, you can transfer Citi ThankYou points to Avianca LifeMiles with a 25% bonus. While some sweet spots have disappeared, others are still very much in play. Here’s how to make the most of this deal.
A Once-Great Deal Takes a Hit
Not long ago, one of the best ways to use LifeMiles was to book a business-class ticket from the East Coast to London for just 45,000 miles. Unfortunately, that redemption is now 80,000 miles — ouch.
Even with the 25% transfer bonus, it’s no longer the incredible deal it once was. But don’t worry… there are still ways to get serious value from your LifeMiles.
Where You Should Be Using LifeMiles
One of the best redemptions right now? Business class from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD). This route costs 100,000 LifeMiles, which means with the transfer bonus, you’d only need 80,000 ThankYou points to book it. That’s more than 15 hours in a lie-flat seat for the same number of points many programs charge for a much shorter flight.
But the real hidden gems with LifeMiles are international partner redemptions, especially routes that don’t touch the U.S.
For example, Lufthansa business class between Frankfurt (FRA) and Johannesburg (JNB) is just 55,000 LifeMiles. With the transfer bonus, that’s only 44,000 ThankYou points for 11 hours in business class. That’s a steal compared to other programs.
Similarly, Lufthansa business class between Frankfurt and Bangalore (BLR) costs just 45,000 LifeMiles — or 36,000 ThankYou points with the bonus. Nine hours in business class for 36K points? Yes, please.
Attention, Economy Flyers
While business class gets all the attention, economy redemptions can be just as valuable. That Frankfurt-to-Bangalore flight costs only 25,000 LifeMiles in economy, which means with the transfer bonus, you’d need just 20,000 ThankYou points.
For a long-haul flight, that’s an incredible deal and a great way to stretch your points.
The Bottom Line
This 25% transfer bonus to Avianca LifeMiles isn’t necessarily an automatic transfer situation, but it can be a phenomenal deal if you use it right.
While some of the best redemptions have vanished, others are still alive and well, especially on international partner airlines. If you’ve been sitting on a stash of Citi ThankYou points, this could be the perfect time to put them to good use.
