Transferable points always beat cash when you know how to use them right. But it’s even better when you can get a transfer bonus!
From now until Dec 12th, you can get 1,250 Avianca miles for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou points transferred.
I wrote a deep dive on the best uses for Avianca miles last year when they became a Citi transfer partner, so start there if you’re not sure how to best use Avianca.
A highlight is always the ability to use Avianca for First Class awards between the US and Europe for 87,000 Avianca miles. That includes Lufthansa’s famed First Class (with the First Class Terminal). Avianca is one of the few carriers that will not pass on Lufthansa’s exorbitant surcharges which can top $500 one way.
With this promotion, just 70,000 Citi ThankYou points will get you that First Class ticket.
Or, fly Business Class for 63,000 miles (51,000 ThankYou points).
Keep in mind that a) Avianca doesn’t not always have the same inventory as every other Star Alliance partner (we have no idea why) and that b) should you need to change/cancel your flight, dealing with Avianca won’t be fun.
Right now, the best credit card for earning ThankYou points is the Citi Premier, which has a 50,000 point bonus when you spend $3,000 in 3 months.
Have you experienced Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal? Let me know here, on Twitter, or in the private MilesTalk Facebook group.
New to all of this? My new “introduction to miles and points” book, MilesTalk: Live Your Wildest Travel Dreams Using Miles and Points is available now.
HT: IADisGr8 on Twitter
How fast do the ThankYou points transfer?
Instant
Fyi… it happened instantly