(EXPIRED) LifeMiles award sale: up to 67% off [select routes, economy class, Avianca flights only]

Update: LifeMiles support clarified that tickets booked under this promotion can be changed as per the carrier’s current flexible changes policy but can not be cancelled and refunded.

Avianca LifeMiles is offering up to 67% off on select routes for award tickets booked between August 20-24, 2021 for travel from either August 21st or September 1, 2021 to November 30, 2021 depending on the route. As was the case with their last award sale, the terms are contradictory with one section saying that the tickets booked through the promo are nonrefundable and another saying that they are flexible as per the carrier’s COVID policy Update: These tickets can be changed, but not cancelled. However, if you have firm plans to travel, this could save you some miles. This could stack nicely with the now-extended transfer bonus from Citi ThankYou points.

The Deal

• Avianca LifeMiles is offering a sale on award flights of up to 67% off on select routes. Book between August 20-24, 2021 and travel between September 1 – November 30, 2021. Here is the list of sale routes:
  
• Direct link to this promotion

Key Terms

• This activity applies exclusively for all members with United States as their country of residence in the LifeMiles database and is executed by and under the responsibility of LifeMiles Ltd1, owner and operator of the LifeMiles Loyalty Program, and who is responsible for the redemption of Miles from the Member´s LifeMiles account.
• The period for the redemption of tickets under the promotion is from August 20th, 2021 00:01 (GMT -6) to August 24th, 2021 23:59 (GMT -6).
• This offer is available at LifeMiles.com, Avianca Sales Offices and Avianca Call Center. If you want to redeem a ticket at an Avianca Sales Offices or Avianca Call Center, charges apply for the emission of the ticket from US$25* to US$80*+ local taxes (round trip) that must be paid at the time of redemption.
• The following flight dates apply for travel from/to Los Angeles from/to Bogota: The trip may take place between August 21st, 2021, to November 30th, 2021.
• The following flight dates apply for travel from/to Washington D.C. from/to:
  • Bogota: The trip may take place between August 21st, 2021, to November 30th, 2021.
  • Managua: The trip may take place between September 1st, 2021, to November 30th, 2021.
• The following flight dates apply for travel from/to Orlando from/to Bogota: The trip may take place between September 1st, 2021, to November 30th, 2021.
• The following flight dates apply for travel from/to Miami from/to San Salvador, San Jose, San Pedro Sula and Guatemala: The trip may take place between August 21st, 2021, to November 30th, 2021.
• The following flight dates apply for travel from/to Dallas from/to San Salvador: The trip may take place between September 1st, 2021, to November 30th, 2021.
• The following flight dates apply for travel from/to Toronto from/to San Salvador: The trip may take place between September 1st, 2021, to November 30th, 2021.
• The following flight dates apply for travel from/to Ontario from/to Guatemala: The trip may take place between August 21st, 2021, to November 30th, 2021.
• The following flight dates apply for travel from/to New York from/to Guatemala: The trip may take place between September 1st, 2021, to November 30th, 2021.
• Minimum stay 1 day.
• Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights and/or dates. Mileages under this promotion is subject to seat availability in Class X.
• Applies only for tickets on routes operated by Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A. Avianca, Taca International Airlines S.A., Avianca Costa Rica S.A., and/or Avianca-Ecuador S.A. Does not apply for tickets on code share flights with airlines other than those mentioned above.
• Applicable taxes must be paid at the time of redemption.
• No stopover allowed with this offer.
• Applies for a maximum redemption of four (4) tickets per LifeMiles account.
• Tickets redeemed under this promotion apply for Avianca’s flexible policies. Know the details in https://www.avianca.com/us/es/experiencia/covid-19/ (but see the next term below)
• Note: In case of cancellation or non use of tickets, the amount paid in cash, credit card (other than taxes) and/or the miles redeemed under this promotion are not refundable.

Quick Thoughts

Note the key restrictions above: this promo applies to a max redemption of 4 tickets per account and it is possible that these reservations will be completely nonrefundable in terms of the miles and anything paid other than taxes. I have followed up via email with LifeMiles to inquire about the seeming contradiction in terms regarding flexibility and will update if I get any clarity, but I would recommend assuming tickets booked under this offer are nonrefundable. Update: LifeMiles support has clarified that tickets booked through this promotion may be changed as per current change policies but cancelled and refunded. If you cancel, you will not get back any miles or money paid.

Personally, I would be very hesitant to book completely nonrefundable travel right now given all of the things that could change plans. On the other hand, five or nine thousand miles one-way to parts of Central or South America is a pretty stellar deal in terms of the number of miles necessary (though may be less of a deal compared to cash tickets, so don’t forget to compare).

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