Candy Spot Sunday: Utilizing LifeMiles to guide Aeromexico enterprise class award tickets

As a switch companion of all the key bank card currencies (aside from Chase Final Rewards), Avianca LifeMiles are among the many best factors and miles to earn. The loyalty program additionally routinely affords profitable gross sales whenever you buy LifeMiles. By way of Feb. 22, you should purchase LifeMiles at simply 1.25 cents apiece.
We frequently advocate utilizing LifeMiles for Star Alliance flights on airways like United, Lufthansa and ANA; nevertheless, among the best candy spots is on a non-alliance companion — Aeromexico.
I not too long ago bought LifeMiles for an Aeromexico flight to South America. Here is why utilizing LifeMiles for Aeromexico flights makes this week’s version of Candy Spot Sunday.
Why it’s particular
Enterprise-class award area to Buenos Aires is notoriously tough to seek out. On most days, Aeromexico operates two day by day flights between Mexico Metropolis Worldwide Airport (MEX) and Ezeiza Worldwide Airport (EZE). In my expertise, there’s extra award area on the daytime flight.
On many Aeromexico flights with LifeMiles award area, Aeromexico’s personal Membership Premier loyalty program costs considerably extra miles (assume 200,000-500,000 miles). One-way money costs on this flight typically go for $3,600.
By redeeming 52,500 LifeMiles on this flight, you will probably get round 6.7 cents per LifeMiles, roughly quadrupling TPG’s valuation of LifeMiles.
Financial system class generally is a nice deal too
It is no shock, however Aeromexico economic system class award area is usually simpler to seek out. 30,000 LifeMiles can get you from Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to Buenos Aires.
No stopovers in Mexico Metropolis, sadly
Now, I do know what you are considering — why not spend a couple of days in Mexico Metropolis earlier than persevering with to Argentina?
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LifeMiles would not permit stopovers (connections longer than 24 hours). If you wish to spend a couple of days in Mexico Metropolis, you will should guide a separate ticket from the U.S. to Mexico after which from Mexico to Argentina.
I booked an affordable economy-class ticket on American Airways from Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) to Mexico Metropolis, spent three days in Mexico after which redeemed 52,500 LifeMiles for the nine-hour business-class flight from Mexico Metropolis to Buenos Aires, which I purchased for round $655.
Associated: ¡Viva México! A evaluate of Aeromexico’s enterprise class on the 787-9 from Mexico Metropolis to Buenos Aires
guide
The remainder of the reserving course of is simple. All it’s a must to do is choose your flight, comply with the on-screen prompts and pay the taxes and charges.
Associated: Can’t discover award availability with Avianca LifeMiles? Don’t hand over till you do that trick
Incomes the miles for this award
You possibly can switch rewards from American Specific Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards to LifeMiles at a 1:1 ratio. Bank card level transfers to LifeMiles typically take lower than one hour.
Listed here are a number of the bank cards we might advocate for LifeMiles transfers.
You may also think about shopping for LifeMiles. For my Aeromexico flight, I purchased LifeMiles, however they did not go instantly into my account, which prevented me from locking within the flight immediately. It took round 36 nerve-racking hours for them to seem in my account.
Initially, three seats had been obtainable, however one had been taken when the LifeMiles posted to my account. I used to be touring with two associates to Argentina. Regardless of frequently checking LifeMiles award area for our Aeromexico flight main as much as the flight’s departure, we finally could not journey collectively on the Aeromexico flight, so one among us traveled on Copa Airways to Argentina.
That is all of the extra cause to switch bank card factors, which, as talked about, typically take much less time earlier than the miles seem in your account.
Associated: Right here’s why you want a wholesome stash of Avianca LifeMiles
Backside line
LifeMiles has developed a repute for having rigid award tickets, difficult-to-reach customer support and pesky technical points. That being stated, the loyalty program affords interesting awards on Aeromexico, which I used to journey to Argentina for round $700 in enterprise class.
Whereas Aeromexico’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner boasts a extra dated 2-2-2 lie-flat configuration in enterprise class, the meals and repair onboard had been superior to lots of my premium cabin flights on U.S. carriers. And the daytime flight was best for jet lag.
The following time my journey plans name for South America, I do know the place I will begin.