Do Airline Miles Expire? All 22 Programs, Checked August 2026
Five of the programs we trade never expire miles. Eleven run an activity clock. Six expire on a fixed date nothing stops. The rule for each of the 22, dated.
Read →Buy LifeMiles for Avianca.
The Star Alliance workhorse, famous for partner awards without fuel surcharges. Buy the LifeMiles you're short, quoted before you pay.
4.8/5 on TrustpilotDelivered in 3 business daysExact price confirmed before you pay
What will LifeMiles cost?Price it, then request your free, no-obligation quote. We confirm your exact rate before you pay.
AviancaLifeMiles1.70¢Estimated cost
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Indicative rate — request a quote and we'll confirm your exact price.
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- Program
- Miles
- Estimated cost
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What happens now
- We check live availability for your program and confirm your exact rate.
- A personal reply lands in your inbox, from info@buyflightmiles.com. Quiet for a while? Check your spam folder. First replies sometimes land there.
- You decide. Nothing is paid until you approve the quote, and payment never happens on this website.
Rather talk it through? Call 855-345-3500WhatsApp us
Best ways to use LifeMiles
Where these miles stretch furthest, and when to keep your cash. Test any of it against a real fare on the right.
Great valueThe redemptions worth buying miles for
Business to Europe
from 70,000 miles · $1,190 at our rate
One way on Star Alliance partners at the standard zone price; some routes dip lower.
No fuel surcharges
LifeMiles doesn't pass on carrier surcharges on partner awards, which keeps the cash side of a Lufthansa or ANA booking small.
Mixed-cabin pricing
LifeMiles prices each segment's cabin separately, so a partly-business itinerary costs fewer miles than all-business pricing elsewhere.
Does buying LifeMiles beat the cash fare?
Paste the price from your flight search and see which side wins.
Cash fare—
Bought at our 1.7¢ rate—
Enter the miles and the cash fare and we'll run the numbers.
Just want the arithmetic? The LifeMiles miles calculator has order sizes, break-evens and the math spelled out.
From quote to LifeMiles in your account
01
Choose
Price your amount in the calculator above. We confirm your exact rate and delivery in the quote.
02
Pay
Off-site, after you approve the quote. Nothing is ever charged on this website.
03
Fly
Miles land in your own LifeMiles account, within 3 business days — then book the seat.
Or skip the search
Would you rather we found the seat?
Buying the shortfall and booking it yourself is usually cheaper, and that's what the calculator above is for. If you'd rather hand over the whole thing, tell us the route and dates and we'll come back with what's bookable in business or first, and what it costs.
Where do you want to fly?Business or first class, quoted for your dates.
Cabin
Free and no-obligation. We quote before you pay, and nothing is charged on this website. How we source your seat →
Why trust us
Every LifeMiles order is protected
No surprises
Quoted before you pay
We confirm your exact rate and delivery window in writing before any payment is made. Payment is handled off this site, so nothing sensitive is stored here.
Your name on it
Yours, in your own name
Miles land in an account you control, your own or a ready account we hand over; tickets are issued in the traveller's own name. You deal with the airline direct.
Buying Avianca miles — your questions
How much does it cost to buy Avianca miles?
Buying Avianca miles here costs 1.7¢ per mile — $17 per 1,000 miles. That rate is confirmed on your quote, before any payment is made. Use the calculator on this page to price the amount you actually need; the quote itself is free and no-obligation.
Can you buy Avianca miles?
Yes. Avianca miles are transferred into the loyalty account you already hold, and you book directly with the airline afterwards. You don't open anything new, and you keep control of the reservation. We are not affiliated with any airline or loyalty program.
How fast are LifeMiles miles delivered?
Most transfers land in your account within 3 business days. The exact window is shown on each program's page, and you'll get confirmation the moment the transfer completes.
What else are LifeMiles miles called?
LifeMiles is Avianca's frequent flyer program, and you'll also see its miles called LifeMiles points or Avianca miles. It's one currency whatever the name: buy or purchase LifeMiles miles under any of them and it's the same order here, added to your account at the same rate.
Does LifeMiles publish an award chart?
There's a zone-based chart underneath, unpublished but stable enough to plan with: US to Europe business on Star Alliance partners is 70,000 miles one way standard, with route-level variation either side; New York to Zurich has gone for 55,000. Price your route on lifemiles.com, then price the shortfall with the calculator above.
Do LifeMiles expire?
After 12 months without any earning; redemptions don't reset the clock, but any accrual, however small, extends the whole balance another year, and cardholders and elites get 24 months. Buy for a booking you're ready to make and the clock never runs out.
Can I upgrade an Avianca flight with miles?
Yes, on Avianca-operated flights for paid tickets in eligible fare classes; award tickets can't be upgraded. For partner flights the play is booking the premium cabin outright, which the calculator above prices.
Do LifeMiles awards have fuel surcharges?
No, on no partner: you pay government taxes only, which keeps several hundred dollars off a Lufthansa or ANA business award that surcharge-heavy programs would add. Most Star Alliance partner awards also book online at lifemiles.com, which is rare for a program with this kind of chart.
What payment methods do you accept?
We'll confirm the accepted payment methods when we send your quote. Payment is always handled off this site.
Is this legitimate?
Yes. We've completed 5,000+ transfers. You get a firm quote confirming your exact rate and delivery window before any payment is made, and the miles go into an account you already control.
Will buying miles affect my account?
We handle every transfer carefully to protect your account. If you have questions about a specific program, reach out before ordering and we'll walk you through it.
Ready to price your LifeMiles order?
Free, no-obligation quote first, miles delivered within 3 business days. Nothing is charged on this site.
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