Summary
- Be the first to earn bonus miles by signing up for avianca’s new Amex cards launching in May.
- Avianca’s new credit cards will cater to both premium and leisure travelers, offering different benefits.
- These cards will be issued in partnership with American Express and Cardless, offering rewards for US-based travelers.
Colombian flag carrier avianca is back in the US market with the announcement of two new cobranded credit cards in partnership with American Express. The cards will be introduced next month, with a special introductory offer for frequent flyers who sign up for the waitlist.
Back with a bang
The carrier has revealed that it will introduce the new American Express credit cards in “late May” to increase earning opportunities for travelers based in the United States. There will be two versions of the card, the Standard and Elite, presumably set at different price points to cater to both premium/buisness and leisure travelers. This will be the first time avianca has offered a US product since its previous two offerings with Puerto Rico’s Banco Popular were discontinued in March 2022.
Interested parties can sign up for the waitlist now, which comes with the advantage of receiving up to 10,000 bonus miles in addition to the standard sign-up bonus. A representative confirmed exclusively to Simple Flying that members who join the waitlist, apply, and get approved for the credit card within four weeks of the sign-up for the credit cards going live will receive an extra 5,000 bonus LifeMiles on the standard card or an additional 10,000 bonus LifeMiles on the Elite card, subject to minimum spend requirements.
Photo: Cardless
While further details are still to be revealed, Simple Flying can confirm the cards will be issued by American in conjunction with Cardless, the company behind the recent TAP Air Portugal Amex card launch and LATAM’s cobranded Mastercard products in the US. In an exclusive interview with Simple Flying last month, representatives for the Portuguese flag carrier confirmed its cobranded card was exceeding expectations and well on the way to reaching 10,000 cardmembers in the US by the end of this year.
A Star Alliance status option
It is not immediately clear if the new cards will provide a status boost or what the additional benefits will be. However, Avianca’s LifeMiles program is one of the largest in Latin America and provides a path to earning status in the Star Alliance.
Related
Everything You Need To Know About Avianca Lifemiles
The largest airline in Colombia offers members of its lifemiles loyalty program ample opportunities to earn and redeem miles.
The program allows members to receive benefits and earn and redeem points when traveling with other member airlines, including United Airlines, Air Canada, and Turkish Airlines. In addition to its alliance partners, avianca also has partnerships with Spanish flag carrier Iberia, Delta Air Lines’ joint venture partner Aeromexico, and Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL.
Back with a business class
The credit card news comes in advance of the carrier’s reintroduction of its premium cabin on US-bound flights. The world’s most punctual airline revealed earlier this month that it is bringing back its business class product on flights over five hours throughout the Americas, beginning on July 1st.
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avianca Reintroduces Business Class In The Americas
The airline’s Airbus A320s will feature a new business class cabin on flights over five hours within the Americas.
Eligible routes include flights from the airline’s hub at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport (BOG) to Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Washington (IAD), Boston (BOS), Toronto (YYZ), and Mexico City (MEX).
Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock
The announcement follows last month’s news that the airline is relaunching 10 US routes this summer. The routes include multiple services from New York JFK, Miami, and Orlando, in addition to links to Las Vegas, Chicago, and Washington, DC.
