What Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card unlocks

If you hold the Avianca LifeMiles American Express Elite Card, you already have Avianca LifeMiles Silver status — it comes with the card itself, along with a LifeMiles+ subscription, for the card's $249 annual fee. There's no separate application or waiting period; the status shows up as soon as the account is active.

The card also earns elite-qualifying miles at a rate of one for every two card miles you spend, which sounds like a path upward, but it isn't one on its own. Avianca's Gold and Diamond tiers require miles actually flown with Avianca, so card spend alone keeps you at Silver no matter how much you charge. If you want to move past Silver, that has to happen in the air, not on the card.