Banco Popular Avianca LifeMiles Visa Cards Review (Discontinued)
Updated November 15, 2018
The Facts
There are two Avianca Visa cards in the U.S., both issued by Banco Popular in Puerto Rico: Avianca Vuela Visa and Avianca Vida Visa.
Avianca Vuela Visa
Avianca Vida Visa
The Math
Avianca Vuela vs. Avianca Vida: the Vuela Visa is $90 more expensive than the Vida Visa, and offers one additional mile for Avianca/gas/groceries, waived foreign transaction fees, free additional bags, and up to two 50% discount certificates for certain awards travel. If you don't use the last three features, you will need to spend $6,429 per year on Avianca, gas, and groceries combined to beat the $90 difference in annual fees if you happen to value LifeMiles at 1.4 cents a piece as we do, as 6,429 mile x 1.4 cents/mile = $90. If you are able to take advantage of the last three features, you will find upgrading from Vida to Vuela rewarding. For new customers, getting Vuela is recommended due to the much higher signup bonus. You may downgrade the card after the first year if you can't beat the difference in annual fees.
The Conclusion
If collecting LifeMiles is your primary goal, having one of the LifeMiles Visa cards will be rewarding. If you can take advantage of the Avianca benefits provided by Vuela Visa and/or your annual spending on Avianca/gas/groceries exceeds a certain amount, you will find Vuela Visa is a better card among the two. For general spending, we still recommend Amex SPG as the SPG points can be transferred into LifeMiles at 1:1.25 ratio.
The Facts
There are two Avianca Visa cards in the U.S., both issued by Banco Popular in Puerto Rico: Avianca Vuela Visa and Avianca Vida Visa.
Avianca Vuela Visa
- Annual Fee: $149
- Signup Bonus: (1) 40,000 miles after the first purchase within 3 months of new account opening. (2) 60,000 miles after the first purchase within 3 months of new account opening - visit the same landing page as below, hit "Apply Now", and in the next page enter the promotion code LM17WB to receive 60K offer. Historical best bonus of the card: 60,000 miles with a promotion code in 2016 and 2018.
- Rewards: 3x Avianca, 2x gas and groceries, 1x everywhere else.
- The Best Use of LifeMiles: LifeMiles is the frequent flyer program and also the mile currency of the Avianca, a Star Alliance member. LifeMiles are generally valuable when redeemed for flights on Avianca or partner airlines.
- Avianca Benefits: (1) A 50% discount on an award ticket redeemed for travel to Central America or Colombia from the United States for each $12,000 spent each year, up to two discount certificates (up to $24,000 annual spending). (2) One free additional piece of baggage for travel between the United States and Central America. (3) 15% discount on purchasing miles when you use "Multiply Your Miles".
- Other Benefits: Waived foreign transaction fees, with an embedded EMV chip.
Avianca Vida Visa
- Annual Fee: $59
- Signup Bonus: 20,000 miles after the first purchase within 3 months of new account opening.
- Rewards: 2x Avianca, 1x everywhere else
- Other Benefits: embedded EMV chip (foreign transaction fees are not waived)
The Math
Avianca Vuela vs. Avianca Vida: the Vuela Visa is $90 more expensive than the Vida Visa, and offers one additional mile for Avianca/gas/groceries, waived foreign transaction fees, free additional bags, and up to two 50% discount certificates for certain awards travel. If you don't use the last three features, you will need to spend $6,429 per year on Avianca, gas, and groceries combined to beat the $90 difference in annual fees if you happen to value LifeMiles at 1.4 cents a piece as we do, as 6,429 mile x 1.4 cents/mile = $90. If you are able to take advantage of the last three features, you will find upgrading from Vida to Vuela rewarding. For new customers, getting Vuela is recommended due to the much higher signup bonus. You may downgrade the card after the first year if you can't beat the difference in annual fees.
The Conclusion
If collecting LifeMiles is your primary goal, having one of the LifeMiles Visa cards will be rewarding. If you can take advantage of the Avianca benefits provided by Vuela Visa and/or your annual spending on Avianca/gas/groceries exceeds a certain amount, you will find Vuela Visa is a better card among the two. For general spending, we still recommend Amex SPG as the SPG points can be transferred into LifeMiles at 1:1.25 ratio.