Skip to main content
Quick Answer

The LATAM Airlines Mastercard edges out the Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 15,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 3x vs 2x). The Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem.

Compare-first recommendation

Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card vs LATAM Airlines Mastercard

Get the clearer winner first, see the specific exception case, and only personalize further if the decision is genuinely close.

Best next move

LATAM Airlines Mastercard is the better choice for most people.

LATAM Airlines Mastercard wins the measurable comparison on this page. Choose Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card only if best if your main priority is the larger current welcome offer..

Best for most people

Best if you care most about stronger category earning on everyday spend.

Review LATAM Airlines Mastercard
Choose the other card if...

Best if your main priority is the larger current welcome offer.

Review Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card

Why we picked this winner

  • LATAM Airlines Mastercard wins 2 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
  • Top earn rate: LATAM Airlines Mastercard reaches 3x; Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card reaches 2x.
  • Annual fee: LATAM Airlines Mastercard is no annual fee; Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card is $99/yr.
  • Current public bonus values are approximately $680 and $195.

Moderate-confidence recommendation

The winner is directionally stronger, but the gap is narrow enough that annual-fee tolerance and category mix can still flip the decision.

What happens after you click: if you use an application link, you will go directly to the issuer or affiliate partner. CardCurator may earn a referral fee, but the ranking here is based on card fit first.

Which Card Comes Out Ahead?

LATAM Airlines Mastercard is the stronger all-around option for most people in this matchup because it wins more measurable categories in our scoring model. Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card still makes sense if your spending pattern lines up better with its fee profile, issuer rules, or rewards ecosystem.

Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card

Best if your main priority is the larger current welcome offer.

LATAM Airlines Mastercard

Best if you care most about stronger category earning on everyday spend.

Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card card art
Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card
Cardless
More Info
LATAM Airlines Mastercard card art
LATAM Pass
LATAM Airlines Mastercard
Cardless
More Info

Why you can trust this answer

CardCurator compares measurable card economics first, then uses deeper rewards intelligence from program data, transfer partners, award charts, and live bonuses when a decision depends on the ecosystem behind the card rather than the card headline alone.

Light personalization

Personalize this answer without sharing sensitive data

Start with a few signals that usually decide close matchups: rough monthly spend, your top category, annual-fee tolerance, and whether you already hold either card.

This step is meant to break close ties without asking for uploads, account creation, or exact spending data.

Skip to full statement review
Current recommendation

LATAM Airlines Mastercard

Assumptions: default assumptions

LATAM Airlines Mastercard still comes out ahead after a light personalization pass, which suggests the recommendation is fairly robust.

Annual Fee
$99/yr
No annual fee
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
40,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
15,000 points
Spend $1,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • restaurants, groceries, or supermarkets 2x
  • LifeMiles or Avianca airlines 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
  • LATAM Airlines Purchases 3x
  • Restaurants, Rideshare, taxis, & public transit 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Pts Value
~1.40¢/pt miles · industry est.
~1.00¢/pt points · industry est.
Key Credits
None
None
Card Perks
  • Silver Elite Status
  • Miles don't expire
None listed
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
No transfer partners
Partner marketplace

Need more travel card options?

Both cards in this comparison come from non-partner banks, so the marketplace is shown only as a separate backup path after the comparison itself.

  • Look for a welcome bonus you can realistically earn.
  • Compare the annual fee against lounge access, travel credits, or hotel perks.
  • Check issuer rules and current terms before you apply.

Use this only if you want broader partner inventory after you finish evaluating the cards in this head-to-head comparison.

Browse partner travel cards

Quick summary

A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.

The LATAM Airlines Mastercard edges out the Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 15,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 3x vs 2x). The Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card is the better choice if you prioritize a different rewards ecosystem. On raw upside, LATAM Airlines Mastercard tops out at 3x versus 2x for Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card. Current signup bonus values are roughly $680 for Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card and $195 for LATAM Airlines Mastercard. Summary generated August 3, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/avianca-lifemiles-american-express-card-vs-latam-airlines-mastercard

View source data
Winner
LATAM Airlines Mastercard
2/4 categories · up to 3x
Runner-up
Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card
1/4 categories · up to 2x
  • LATAM Airlines Mastercard wins 2 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
  • Top earn rate: LATAM Airlines Mastercard reaches 3x; Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card reaches 2x.
  • Annual fee: LATAM Airlines Mastercard is no annual fee; Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card is $99/yr.
  • Current public bonus values are approximately $680 and $195.

Common Questions: Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card vs LATAM Airlines Mastercard

Is the Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card or LATAM Airlines Mastercard better for dining?

Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card earns 2x on dining; LATAM Airlines Mastercard earns 2x on dining. Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card currently offers 40,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). LATAM Airlines Mastercard offers 15,000 pts signup bonus (spend $1,000 in 3 months). Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card and the LATAM Airlines Mastercard?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Both cards are from Cardless, so check their specific application rules.

Keep Researching

If this matchup is close, the stronger next step is usually to read the full card reviews or use a broader ranking page instead of comparing random pairs one by one.

Best next move
LATAM Airlines Mastercard
LATAM Airlines Mastercard is the stronger next step if you want to stop reopening the same comparison and move toward a real application decision.