Avianca Lifemiles and Asiana redemptions

[sighing]

Hi all

I know I can't be the only one experiencing this problem but just wondered if anyone has had success when attempting a lifemiles redemption using an Asiana flight to or from Philippines (via Seoul)?

For about 2 months, I've been checking on this. There are multiple flight selections always available eg: CEB -> BKK one way (in this case a combination of Asiana and Thai) and on selecting one of them and click continue the next page opens up with a message along the lines of " Sorry there was an error processing this transaction...".

I've called LM on about 5 occasions and each time am told that there is an issue and that it is being looked at. I then get told to try again in a day or so (in some cases I even get told to try in half an hour - that's wishful thinking IMHO! ).

I'm not having much success calling LM this morning. The call gets disconnected half way through (I believe that could be Telstra's faulty internet). I'll persist but I am grateful if there are any similar experiences that resulted in a successful outcome...or is this just phantom data I'm looking at?

Cheers,
Sigh

 

[aikman]

From what I've read here in AFF and FT, if you see that error message come up then you won't be able to book that itinerary, not even over the phone.

 

[sighing]

Hi aikman - I'm beginning to realise this, thanks. I can get it working if the destination is CEB but not if it is the departure point. Must have something to do with this.

 

[aikman]

I just played around with the Lifemiles booking engine and it spits out the error message for any OZ flight originating in the Philippines, including Manila. There's probably a reason for this but it will probably be very difficult, if at all possible, to get around it.

 

[sighing]

yep - thanks for trying and letting me know. I had a feeling it may be to do with OZ and Philippines departure point but no clue why. Neither it seems does LM.

 

[Alanslegal]

However a few days back I was able to find quite a few flights ex-MNL/CEB to SYD. There was a MNL-xICN-SYD OZ/OZ and the CEB-xx_-SYD was with OZ/CA

Just now I did a quick search, MNL-xICN-SYD with OZ and plenty available for 1 seat for March

 

[sighing]

Hi Alanslegal

There is no problem with finding the flights - it's just when you go to the next page that it goes wrong.

cheers,
Sigh

 

[mushypeas]

i always get similar issues when trying to get flights AKL > HNL/YVR... finds them but try to buy and it ****s itself

 

[Alanslegal]

Hi Alanslegal

There is no problem with finding the flights - it's just when you go to the next page that it goes wrong.

cheers,
Sigh

Oh ok, thanks for the information that you can't proceed further. I have only been looking/researching at this stage as I am booked to ICN (with SQ cdg-sin-icn) and need to make my way home from ICN and thought I'd add a side trip into MNL/CEB with OZ, then MNL/CEB -xICN-SYD with OZ. I was about to book the ICN-MNL/CEB....MNL/CEB-xICN-SYD in the next few days so thanks for the heads up.

 

[Alanslegal]

Just remembered, for what it's worth, I know it's not to/from Phillipines but I did book an OZ flight ICN-SYD for the girlfriend a few days ago.

 

[sighing]

Hi - I have a feeling that it's CEB or MNL outbound that is affected and for OZ only.

FWIW, I've instead booked TG J (x 3 pax) from MNL -> BKK understanding I need to make my own way from CEB to MNL (which I've done with directly with PAL now). I also have no problem booking SYD - ICN - CEB on OZ all the way using LM and also for 3 x pax in J.

Weird!

cheers,
Sigh.

 

[Alanslegal]

FWIW, I've instead booked TG J (x 3 pax) from MNL -> BKK understanding I need to make my own way from CEB to MNL (which I've done with directly with PAL now). I also have no problem booking SYD - ICN - CEB on OZ all the way using LM and also for 3 x pax in J.

SQ also flies out of CEB, so you could do a CEB-SIN-SYD so if you have KF points, that could have been an option as well.

 

[sighing]

Hi Alanslegal - thank you for the suggestion. I have actually done the SilkAir and SQ J route from CEB -> SIN -> SYD before and I have to say, it is one of the best ways of travelling back from Cebu, short of F class (I imagine). Unfortunately in this case we are heading to BKK after CEB and the flight schedule is not so time-friendly. If we had time to spare, would have been a no-brainer!

Cheers,
Sigh

 

[Maverick17]

There is an arcane Philippine law that says all tickets originating in the Phils must be ticketed there. I ran into it the first time booking a DL award on KE back in 2007, where I had to go to the office in Makati to get the ticket after family made the reservation over the phone in the US. Many airlines don't worry about this so much anymore, but others apparently still follow this rule. I can't find a lot of info about the rule online, but I did find this FT thread that explains it fairly well, but since I have just started posting here I can't post a link I guess. There are conflicting reports if it is about taxes, credit cards, only for foreigners or locals etc. But the end result is that some airlines make it harder than others to get award tickets out of the Phils and it appears OZ might have trouble with this, or maybe it's a LM/OZ issue in the Phils. But the point is, it is not a global OZ problem or for all OZ tickets on LM, rather it is an issue from time to time for tickets originating in the Phils.

Maybe a google search of flyertalk for the following will lead to the appropriate thread:
/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage-pre-merger/1191389-special-ticketing-procedure-award-tickets-originating-manila-mnl-philippines

 

[Alanslegal]

I can't comment ex - Phillipines but I am in CEB right now and got here from ICN using OZ. I guess the issue I with OZ is ex - Phillipines.

 

[sighing]

I can't comment ex - Phillipines but I am in CEB right now and got here from ICN using OZ. I guess the issue I with OZ is ex - Phillipines.

Alanslegal, we are doing the same flight in a couple of weeks. Did you go in J? If so, how did you find the OZ product?

Have fun in Cebu.

Cheers
Sigh.

 

[Alanslegal]

Alanslegal, we are doing the same flight in a couple of weeks. Did you go in J? If so, how did you find the OZ product?

Have fun in Cebu.

Cheers
Sigh.

AFAIK there is only J between ICN-CEB. Our flight was operated by an A321, 2-2 config with recliner seats. The Korean meal option on board was quite good though Our previous experience with OZ was F between ICN-FRA so I can't comment on other OZ J products.

If you need a hotel to stay at, we stayed at the Movenpick Mactan Island which was pretty nice & relaxing. Will definitely go back to CEB but probably fly either SQ or CX as they have direct flights from SIN/HKG respectively.

 

[burmans]

Can anyone confirm SYD to ICN is in the new Smartium seats?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Can anyone confirm SYD to ICN is in the new Smartium seats?

afaik it is not

 

[quokka77]

No flat bed / smartium SYD ICN (routinely). Better chance on the US routes but not 100%. Not sure about Europe.