Avianca Vida Visa® Card

At a Glance

The Avianca Vida Visa® Card is a solid airline reward credit card from Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. The card offers reliable mile earning potential through the Avianca LifeMiles program, with cardholders getting double miles on purchases made directly with Avianca, and single miles for all other eligible purchases. New account holders also earn 20,000 bonus miles with their first use of the card made within 90 days of account opening. The card also boasts a competitive APR, as well as an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 12 months. All of this value is available for the annual costs of $59.

Ideal for Those Who:

• Frequently fly with either Avianca or another Star Alliance Airline
• Want to earn double miles for purchases made with Avianca

Avianca Vida Visa® Card Review

The Avianca Vida Visa® Card is a reliable airline reward credit card from Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. The card, like its big brother, the Avianca Vuela Visa® Card, earns miles for every purchase made – miles which are applicable towards Avianca’s LifeMiles frequent flyer program. LifeMiles are redeemable towards flights with Avianca, or with other Star Alliance partner airlines, including United Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, and more leading carriers worldwide.

The Avianca Vida Visa Card earns double LifeMiles (2 miles per dollar spent) on Avianca purchases and one LifeMile for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. Additionally, new cardholders earn 20,000 bonus LifeMiles when they make their first purchase with the card within 90 days of account opening. While 20,000 miles may not seem like much at all, a one-way transcontinental flight with United can be redeemable for as few as 25,000 LifeMiles. Even better, those 25,000 miles get you a business class seat.

Like the Avianca Vuela Visa, the Vida card benefits from 0% introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 12 months, followed by a competitive APR for both purchases and balance transfers after that. And while the card charges foreign transaction fees, it is lower than what customers can find in competing cards. Further, if cardholders won’t be making too many transactions abroad, the total amount charged as a result of foreign transaction fees won’t be harsh.

Should You Apply for the Avianca Vida®  Visa Card?

The Avianca Vida Visa has the same protections as the Vuela, meaning cardholders can expect travel accident insurance and auto rental collision damage protections. Additionally, Vida cardholders get emergency card replacement and cash advance services should their card be lost or stolen, as well as complete fraud and unauthorized use protection.

The Avianca Vida Visa® Card has a $59 annual fee, which is a cool $90 less than the Avianca Vuela Visa® ($149). The card also offers reduced earning potential over its bigger brother, however. If you can make do with fewer miles for your everyday purchases, however, the Vida is a solid airline reward credit card that offers exceptional redemption value through the LifeMiles program.

Don’t think you fly enough to justify an card? Consider a cash back card like the Chase Freedom Flex, unlimited,  WF Active Cash,  or Citi Custom Cash℠ Card.