Citi ThankYou cardholders have a limited-time opportunity to boost their rewards: a 25% bonus when transferring points to Avianca Lifemiles, from March 22 to April 18, 2026. This means 1,250 Lifemiles for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou points transferred—a significant improvement over the usual 1:1 ratio.
Why This Matters
Transfer bonuses like this are common in the points and miles world, but they’re vital for maximizing value. Lifemiles, part of the Star Alliance network, lets you redeem points for flights on airlines like Lufthansa, All Nippon Airways, and United without exorbitant fuel surcharges. This is especially useful for booking premium cabins (first or business class) at discounted rates.
The Details
The promotion applies to all Citi ThankYou cards that earn transferable points, including the Strata Premier® Card and Strata Elite℠ Card. Points can be combined across different Citi cards for larger transfers.
Lifemiles Availability
While Lifemiles offers great redemption potential, award availability isn’t always guaranteed. Unlike some other programs, Lifemiles sometimes lacks access to certain partner awards, or may have limited seats compared to what other Star Alliance programs offer.
Before transferring, always check if award seats are available for your desired flights. “Dummy” searches (pretending to book to see what’s available) are crucial to avoid transferring points only to find no suitable flights.
Is This a Good Deal?
For travelers planning trips on Star Alliance airlines, this bonus is valuable. The 25% boost makes Lifemiles even more competitive, potentially unlocking first-class or business-class fares at lower point costs. However, the actual benefit depends entirely on your travel plans and whether you can find available award seats.
The Citi ThankYou to Avianca Lifemiles bonus offers a real opportunity to reduce travel costs, but only if you have specific flights in mind and verify availability before transferring points.
This promotion is a good reminder that transferable point programs thrive on flexibility. If you already have a Star Alliance itinerary in mind, this bonus can be a smart move. If not, it’s best to wait or explore other redemption options.
