If you fly Avianca, or use LifeMiles to book Star Alliance awards, the avianca lifemiles credit cards from Cardless are worth a look. Cardless is a fintech company that partners with airlines and brands. Its two LifeMiles cards run on the American Express network and are issued by First Electronic Bank. The headline perk is LifeMiles Silver status (Star Alliance Silver) just for holding the card. We pay for our LifeMiles purchases with it, including during sales like the current 145% bonus.
The two cards at a glance (as of October 2026)
| avianca lifemiles American Express Card | avianca lifemiles American Express Elite Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | $249 |
| Welcome offer | 40,000 miles after $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days | 60,000 miles after $4,500 in the first 90 days, plus 40,000 more after $25,000 in the first 12 months (up to 100,000) |
| Elite status | Check current terms (Silver was included when the card launched) | LifeMiles Silver, renewing each year you keep the card |
| Foreign transaction fees | None | None |
Elite card benefits
According to Cardless, the Elite card includes:
- LifeMiles Silver Elite status, renewed automatically each year your card account stays active. With Silver you get Avianca lounge access, premium seat selection, select upgrade options, an extra checked bag, 30% bonus miles, and priority check-in and boarding. Across the wider alliance, Star Alliance Silver mainly adds priority on waitlists and standby.
- Up to 6,000 bonus miles a year, credited at 500 miles a month.
- Double your first 1,000 miles each month.
- Redemption discounts of up to 25% on avianca flights, 10% of miles back on Star Alliance award flights, and better earning or discounts on LifeMiles hotels and cars.
- Miles that don’t expire as long as you use your card.
Earning: Cardless’s page advertises “up to 3x” miles. When the cards launched, One Mile at a Time reported that the Elite card earned 3x on avianca and LifeMiles purchases, 2x on travel and restaurants, and 1x on everything else. The $99 card earned 2x on avianca and LifeMiles purchases, groceries and restaurants. Confirm the current rates on Cardless’s site.
Why we use it to buy LifeMiles
LifeMiles processes miles purchases itself, so a purchase codes as a LifeMiles purchase. That’s one of the card’s bonus categories. Last year we bought LifeMiles during a sale using this card. We regularly get 4 to 5 cents of value per mile on flights between Central America and US hubs like Los Angeles (LAX), Houston (IAH) and Washington Dulles (IAD). That’s incredible when you can buy miles on sale for about 1.35 cents each. Between Silver perks on Avianca and our current Star Alliance Gold status, those trips are comfortable as well as cheap.
Things to know
- These are Cardless cards, not cards from American Express itself, so Amex’s own card limits and rules don’t apply the same way. Reports suggest Cardless may approve only one of its cards per person.
- Silver is a mid-level perk. Star Alliance Gold, with lounge access across the alliance, requires flying. See our Star Alliance Gold guide for how to earn it with LifeMiles.
- Paying $249 a year makes sense if you fly Avianca or redeem LifeMiles regularly. Occasional travelers may be better off with a card that earns transferable points.
Our take
For Avianca regulars, the Elite card is one of the cheapest ways to get real elite perks without flying for them. It also turns every LifeMiles purchase into a bonus category. For us, the clincher is upgrades: flying between Central America and San Francisco (SFO), we get enough free upgrades to business class that the annual fee is easily worth it. Pair the card with a buy-miles sale and a smart redemption, and it pays for itself fast. If you only fly Avianca once in a while, run the numbers before paying the annual fee, and keep in mind that upgrades depend on availability.
Card offers and terms change frequently; confirm current terms with the issuer before applying. Points Capital is not a financial advisor. This post does not contain referral links.
Sources: Cardless: avianca lifemiles card comparison; One Mile at a Time: Avianca LifeMiles & Cardless cards.
