First Electronic Bank

avianca lifemiles American Express® Elite

Highest earn rate in Dining at 2.4% effective value

The avianca lifemiles American Express® Elite from First Electronic Bank earns up to 2.4% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Its annual fee is $249. New applicants may see: Earn up to 100,000 miles: 60,000 miles after spending of $4,500 in the first 90 days and an additional 40,000 miles after spending a total of $25,000 in the first 12 months. Madeen compares this card against the cards you already carry — no bank login required.

Top category
Dining
Effective value
2.4%
Annual fee
$249

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avianca lifemiles American Express® Elite card art
Reviewed by Madeen editorial review
Catalog snapshot 2026-05-01
Updated 2026-06-03
Data source Madeen catalog analysis

Madeen compares public issuer terms with its card-rule catalog. Issuer pages control rewards, fees, benefits, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice.

Madeen analysis

What does the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite earn in each category?

Dining is the strongest category at 2.4% effective value (2x miles at about 1.2 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 63% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Dining is the strongest category at 2.4% effective value (2x miles at about 1.2 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 63% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category.

Category Earn rate Effective value
Dining
Restaurants, cafes, takeout
2x miles 2.4% Top category
Grocery
Supermarkets and grocery stores
1x miles 1.2%
Gas
Gas stations and fuel
1x miles 1.2%
Travel
Flights, hotels, transit
1x miles 1.2%
Other
General everyday spend
1x miles 1.2%

Madeen values Avianca LifeMiles at about 1.2 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.

Reward rules

What are the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite reward caps and conditions?

The avianca lifemiles American Express Elite has 1 notable cap or condition rule(s) in Madeen's catalog, including activation windows, spend limits, and category exclusions. Review each bullet below before assuming unlimited earn rates. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

  • 2x miles on dining
Madeen take

Who should get the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite?

The avianca lifemiles American Express Elite fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.

avianca lifemiles American Express Elite fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. Madeen ranks its dining effective rate higher than about 63% of the catalog in that category. Compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen — no bank login required.

Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 2x miles. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.

Compare it against simpler no-fee cards if you want minimum complexity.

Best for dining-heavy spend when the $249 fee fits your usage; confirm issuer terms before applying. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Pros

  • Strongest Madeen category is dining at about 2.4% effective (2x miles).
  • No foreign transaction fee listed.
  • Welcome bonus may add value if you can meet spend requirements.

Cons

  • $249 annual fee requires enough spend in bonus categories to offset.
  • Avianca LifeMiles value depends on how you redeem, not straight cash back.
Fees and bonus

Does the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite have an annual fee, and what's the welcome bonus?

The avianca lifemiles American Express Elite has an annual fee of $249 and a foreign transaction fee of None. New applicants may see: Earn up to 100,000 miles: 60,000 miles after spending of $4,500 in the first 90 days and an additional 40,000 miles after spending a total of $25,000 in the first 12 months. Confirm current issuer terms before.

Annual fee
$249
Foreign transaction fee
None
Signup bonus
Earn up to 100,000 miles: 60,000 miles after spending of $4,500 in the first 90 days and an additional 40,000 miles after spending a total of $25,000 in the first 12 months
Benefits

What benefits come with the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite?

The avianca lifemiles American Express Elite includes 10% discount, 10% miles back, 25% redemption discount in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

  • 10% discount

    Up to 10% discount on lifemiles cars

  • 10% miles back

    Get 10% miles back on Star Alliance flight redemptions

  • 25% redemption discount

    Up to 25% redemption discount on avianca airlines flights

  • 40% more miles

    Up to 40% more miles on lifemiles hotels and lifemiles cars

  • 6,000 miles annually

    Get up to 6,000 miles annually. Each month you automatically get 500 miles

  • avianca lifemiles silver elite status

    Each year your status will automatically renew if you maintain an active avianca lifemiles card, with access to benefits, like avianca lounge access, premium seat selection, select upgrade options, additional checked bag, 30% bonus miles, priority check-in, priority boarding

Common questions about the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite

Does the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite have an annual fee?

The avianca lifemiles American Express Elite carries an annual fee of $249 in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Issuer terms can change, so confirm the current fee on the issuer's site before you apply. Madeen does not predict approval or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

What category earns the most with the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite?

Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite at about 2.4% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Does the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite charge foreign transaction fees?

The avianca lifemiles American Express Elite does not charge a foreign transaction fee in Madeen's catalog snapshot, which can make it stronger for purchases outside the U.S. Issuer terms still control international acceptance and other fees. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

What is the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite welcome bonus?

The avianca lifemiles American Express Elite welcome offer in our snapshot: Earn up to 100,000 miles: 60,000 miles after spending of $4,500 in the first 90 days and an additional 40,000 miles after spending a total of $25,000 in the first 12 months. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change.

Is the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite annual fee worth it?

Whether the $249 annual fee pays off depends on how much you spend in dining and whether you use the card's benefits. Madeen compares effective rates across the cards you already carry without bank login. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

What credit score do you need for the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite?

Madeen's catalog lists a typical credit range of Good to Excellent for the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite. Issuers decide approval using their own criteria; Madeen does not predict approval odds or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.

Compare

How does the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite compare to similar cards?

Compare the avianca lifemiles American Express Elite against Brooks Brothers World Mastercard (4% on Dining, $0 fee); Qatar Airways Privilege Club Infinite (3.8% on Dining, $499 fee); Bilt Obsidian Card (3% on Dining, $95 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.

CardTop categoryEffective valueAnnual fee
avianca lifemiles American Express Elite
This card
Dining2.4%$249
Dining4%$0
Dining3.8%$499
First Electronic Bank
Dining3%$95
Dining3%$0
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