Our “Famous Card Explorer”

Avianca has really been messing with its program lately. They’ve devalued twice in the last 9 months, although in the most recent devaluation all sorts of quirks emerged with pricing. For instance a business class ticket from the US to/from Europe could be 69,000 miles or it could be 80,000 miles.

All of the same issues I’ve always had around Lifemiles customer service remain. I don’t want to ever have to deal with a schedule change than needs a ticket reissued with them again, and sometimes the website shows phantom availability and phone agents are often unable to help after incredibly long hold times.

You can also stack a Lifemiles+ membership with this (from $20 / month or free if you have the Lifemiles Amex). If you found a business class ticket for 69,000 miles, after the 10% lifemiles+ discount and 25% transfer bonus, it would be a great deal at 49,680 – if you know the risks of Lifemiles bookings and are ok with that.

So,  for expert Lifemiles users, this could be a great deal…. but would I speculatively transfer? I would not.

Redeem for flights starting at 6,000 points. We like using points for domestic Delta flights (when there is availability!) as well as for SkyTeam flights and, of course, ANA First and Business Class flights. Virgin’s own flight rewards are dynamically priced but with high surcharges. I’d been seeing a lot of Upper Class seats from 29,000 points but I’m not seeing much now so do some homework on what you are hoping to book before transferring.

ANA First and Business class awards:

• First Class to/from Japan from West Coast: 145,000 points Round Trip
• First Class to/from Japan from East Coast: 170,000 points Round Trip
• Business Class to/from Japan from West Coast: 105,000 points Round Trip
• Business Class to/from Japan from East Coast: 120,000 points Round Trip

(Note that you can book one way for half the price of the points price listed. Also you must call to book these. Find availability on United’s site first. If you see it there, Virgin can usually, but no always, book the same for much less.)

Avianca has really been messing with its program lately. They’ve devalued twice in the last 9 months, although in the most recent devaluation all sorts of quirks emerged with pricing. For instance a business class ticket from the US to/from Europe could be 69,000 miles or it could be 80,000 miles.

All of the same issues I’ve always had around Lifemiles customer service remain. I don’t want to ever have to deal with a schedule change than needs a ticket reissued with them again, and sometimes the website shows phantom availability and phone agents are often unable to help after incredibly long hold times.

You can also stack a Lifemiles+ membership with this (from $20 / month or free if you have the Lifemiles Amex). If you found a business class ticket for 69,000 miles, after the 10% lifemiles+ discount and 25% transfer bonus, it would be a great deal at 49,680 – if you know the risks of Lifemiles bookings and are ok with that.

So,  for expert Lifemiles users, this could be a great deal…. but would I speculatively transfer? I would not.

Redeem for flights starting at 6,000 points. We like using points for domestic Delta flights (when there is availability!) as well as for SkyTeam flights and, of course, ANA First and Business Class flights. Virgin’s own flight rewards are dynamically priced but with high surcharges. I’d been seeing a lot of Upper Class seats from 29,000 points but I’m not seeing much now so do some homework on what you are hoping to book before transferring.

ANA First and Business class awards:

• First Class to/from Japan from West Coast: 145,000 points Round Trip
• First Class to/from Japan from East Coast: 170,000 points Round Trip
• Business Class to/from Japan from West Coast: 105,000 points Round Trip
• Business Class to/from Japan from East Coast: 120,000 points Round Trip

(Note that you can book one way for half the price of the points price listed. Also you must call to book these. Find availability on United’s site first. If you see it there, Virgin can usually, but no always, book the same for much less.)

Avianca has really been messing with its program lately. They’ve devalued twice in the last 9 months, although in the most recent devaluation all sorts of quirks emerged with pricing. For instance a business class ticket from the US to/from Europe could be 69,000 miles or it could be 80,000 miles.

All of the same issues I’ve always had around Lifemiles customer service remain. I don’t want to ever have to deal with a schedule change than needs a ticket reissued with them again, and sometimes the website shows phantom availability and phone agents are often unable to help after incredibly long hold times.

You can also stack a Lifemiles+ membership with this (from $20 / month or free if you have the Lifemiles Amex). If you found a business class ticket for 69,000 miles, after the 10% lifemiles+ discount and 25% transfer bonus, it would be a great deal at 49,680 – if you know the risks of Lifemiles bookings and are ok with that.

So,  for expert Lifemiles users, this could be a great deal…. but would I speculatively transfer? I would not.

Redeem for flights starting at 6,000 points. We like using points for domestic Delta flights (when there is availability!) as well as for SkyTeam flights and, of course, ANA First and Business Class flights. Virgin’s own flight rewards are dynamically priced but with high surcharges. I’d been seeing a lot of Upper Class seats from 29,000 points but I’m not seeing much now so do some homework on what you are hoping to book before transferring.

ANA First and Business class awards:

• First Class to/from Japan from West Coast: 145,000 points Round Trip
• First Class to/from Japan from East Coast: 170,000 points Round Trip
• Business Class to/from Japan from West Coast: 105,000 points Round Trip
• Business Class to/from Japan from East Coast: 120,000 points Round Trip

(Note that you can book one way for half the price of the points price listed. Also you must call to book these. Find availability on United’s site first. If you see it there, Virgin can usually, but no always, book the same for much less.)