Citi is running a 25% transfer bonus from ThankYou Points to Avianca LifeMiles. Through October 24, 2026, every 1,000 ThankYou Points you move to LifeMiles turns into 1,250 LifeMiles instead of the usual 1,000. If you have a Star Alliance award in mind, this is one of the cheaper ways to fill a LifeMiles account right now.
Key details (as of October 2026)
- Bonus: 25% on Citi ThankYou Points transferred to Avianca LifeMiles.
- Dates: Started September 20, 2026, and runs through October 24, 2026.
- Ratio: Normally 1:1 in 1,000-point increments, so 1,000 ThankYou Points become 1,250 LifeMiles during the promotion.
- Which cards: The 1:1 base ratio applies to Citi’s annual-fee cards that earn full ThankYou Points, such as the Citi Strata Premier and Citi Strata Elite. Citi’s no-annual-fee cards generally get a weaker transfer ratio, so check what your account shows before you transfer.
- Speed: Citi transfers to LifeMiles are widely reported to post instantly or close to it, but give yourself some buffer before the deadline.
What 25% more miles gets you
LifeMiles is Avianca’s loyalty program, and because Avianca is in Star Alliance, you can use LifeMiles on partners like United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, EVA Air and others. Two things make it popular with US travelers: LifeMiles generally doesn’t add carrier fuel surcharges to partner awards, and it lets you book mixed-cabin itineraries, which can lower the price when one leg is in economy.
LifeMiles partner pricing is no longer a simple fixed chart, so prices move around. Recent examples reported by The Points Guy and AwardWallet put one-way US to Europe business class awards roughly in the 59,500 to 75,000 mile range, depending on route and date. Here’s what the bonus does to the number of Citi points you’d need:
| LifeMiles needed | Citi points without bonus | Citi points with 25% bonus |
|---|---|---|
| 15,000 | 15,000 | 12,000 |
| 60,000 | 60,000 | 48,000 |
| 75,000 | 75,000 | 60,000 |
Keep in mind that LifeMiles typically adds a small booking fee at checkout (AwardWallet reports a flat $25 on most awards), plus government taxes.
Who should use it, and how
- Find the award first. Search the exact flights on lifemiles.com before moving a single point. Transfers can’t be reversed, and LifeMiles sometimes shows different partner availability than other Star Alliance programs.
- Transfer only what you need. LifeMiles generally expire after 12 months without earning activity (a transfer counts as earning activity, but redeeming does not reset the clock), so don’t park a huge balance there with no plan.
- Compare to buying. LifeMiles is also selling miles with up to a 145% bonus through October 20. We broke down that math in our post on the LifeMiles buy-miles sale. If you value your Citi points highly, topping off with purchased miles can make sense.
- Chasing status? Transferred miles don’t earn elite status. If that’s your goal, see our guide to Star Alliance Gold through LifeMiles.
Other ways to get LifeMiles
Citi isn’t the only option. American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, Bilt and Wells Fargo all transfer to LifeMiles at 1:1, and Marriott Bonvoy transfers at 3:1. As of mid-October 2026, Citi’s offer is the only active LifeMiles transfer bonus we could confirm. Earlier 2026 bonuses from Amex and Capital One have ended. Chase Ultimate Rewards does not transfer to LifeMiles.
Prefer Amex points? Membership Rewards transfer to LifeMiles at 1:1, and if you’re thinking about an American Express card, you can apply through our American Express referral link.
Disclosure: This is our personal American Express referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn referral rewards, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on American Express’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
Our take
A 25% bonus is a solid boost to an already useful program, especially for Star Alliance business class without fuel surcharges. If you hold Citi points and have a specific trip that prices well on LifeMiles, this is a good time to transfer. The downsides: LifeMiles customer service has a mixed reputation, its partner pricing can change without notice, its 12-month expiration policy is stricter than many programs, and Citi points also transfer to other useful partners. Speculative transfers rarely pay off. Book a real award, not a maybe.
Sources: One Mile at a Time; Roame; point.me; NerdWallet; AwardWallet (transfer partners); AwardWallet (sweet spots); Frequent Miler; The Points Guy
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