Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[drron]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

There is more than the glitch that happened last weekend.there has been a lack of Longhaul J,F sAAver awards on AA metal for some time.The glitch was that medium haul,some domestic routes and Y sAAver awards disappeared temporarily.
No int'l. AA saver or SWU availability 11+ days out—Nov 2014 - to be Resolved - FlyerTalk Forums

But difficulties with long haul routes has been going on a lot longer-
post May19 '12 MilesAAver awards missing (important update Aug 9) - Traveling Better Forums
MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Help, Assistance & Discussion (consolidated) - Page 138 - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[burmans]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Except the only problem is you can only fly SQ T-14 days, which makes it not very practical.

But definitely a good value whatever you use it!

Not everyone can book miles in advance and while SQ only opens up t-14 there are frequently plenty of option if you are being flexible. Try getting QF or VA to Asia in the next month and see how many options open up, everything is relative in this game.

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Other LM already redeemed and awaiting to be experienced:
1. EVA BNE-LHR on business. Looking forward to royal laurel with Dom!

One of the better J products out there.
On a recent flight they served VC, not Dom.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

One of the better J products out there.
On a recent flight they served VC, not Dom.

Dom has indeed been removed.

 

[hummel]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I envy you. The nature of my job doesn't involve any traveling so no such thing as 3 day's notice. Rather, any trips will be holiday related and need to have leave booked in advance. It's so competitive in my work place that the school holiday period for Sept-Oct 2015 is fully booked out!

My strategy for that tho, is I'll take whatever award seat is available now, (mostly TG) and wait until T-14. If SQ is available, I'll change it. If not, then I'll stick with TG. Another reason why LM is a good FFP! Flexibility!

Don't worry it's not all its cracked up to be.. family business and all Normally involves flying out Friday nights and missing those weekends at home.

Holiday much the same, I book 12 months in advance so I can plan for when I'm not at work and even then it's only a couples of weeks.

At the end of the day LM and USDM has saved us $40k+ over the last couple of years in airfares.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

There is more than the glitch that happened last weekend.there has been a lack of Longhaul J,F sAAver awards on AA metal for some time.The glitch was that medium haul,some domestic routes and Y sAAver awards disappeared temporarily.
No int'l. AA saver or SWU availability 11+ days out—Nov 2014 - to be Resolved - FlyerTalk Forums

But difficulties with long haul routes has been going on a lot longer-
post May19 '12 MilesAAver awards missing (important update Aug 9) - Traveling Better Forums
MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Help, Assistance & Discussion (consolidated) - Page 138 - FlyerTalk Forums

I noticed that. Funny thing is, there seems to be more "First Saver", although half of the flights will be mixed with business.

That is why so far I have not bought any AAdvantage or USDM. Somehow OW seems to be a bit more stingier than *A.

I wish there is an easy way to obtain Skyteam miles. It seems that award spaces are a lot more generous and redemption rates lower among Skyteam. (Correct me if I am wrong, I have no experience with Skyteam...)

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Don't worry it's not all its cracked up to be.. family business and all Normally involves flying out Friday nights and missing those weekends at home.

Holiday much the same, I book 12 months in advance so I can plan for when I'm not at work and even then it's only a couples of weeks.

At the end of the day LM and USDM has saved us $40k+ over the last couple of years in airfares.

I did some dummy research today. It seems BNE-SIN in the next 2 weeks is wide open. At least one flights a day. Many days have 4+ seats. But when you try to book anything further than SIN, eg. NRT, there isn't that many choices. I managed to find a BNE-LHR on Dec 6 on SQ J. But within an hour somebody snatched that one.

I guess what I meant with the problem of T-14 is that, many other destinations ex-SIN can be easily booked in advance, but not AUS-SIN sector. So by the time SQ released their J seats ex-AUS, you have very little choice to continue further from SIN. To make it practical using LM to book SQ, we may have to book the sectors separately. Firstly, book the sector ex-SIN in advance, then at T-14, book the AUS-SIN sector (You have very good chance of finding seats). The problem with that though, is that not only you have to fork out extra miles, in the event where you missed connection due to incoming flight delays, you are on your own, SQ won't take any responsibility as it's on separate PNR ticket.

Any ideas?

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Any ideas?

Well you've pretty much summed up the situation, there really isn't anything else to say about it. Only other thing you could consider is cancelling your ex SIN leg and seeing if the thru option then becomes available. I probably wouldn't risk it. The 2 tickets give you the flexibility of a stopover or long layover although at a pretty significant miles premium.

 

[alieninperth]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I wish there is an easy way to obtain Skyteam miles. It seems that award spaces are a lot more generous and redemption rates lower among Skyteam. (Correct me if I am wrong, I have no experience with Skyteam...)

You can buy miles with Delta, 60,000 for USD$2,100. They sometimes run 50% bonus purchases so 90,000 for USD$2,100. Award table is here, J rtn to the US is 80,000 pts and EU is 90,000. Seems like it could be a good deal to me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

You can buy miles with Delta, 60,000 for USD$2,100. They sometimes run 50% bonus purchases so 90,000 for USD$2,100. Award table is here, J rtn to the US is 80,000 pts and EU is 90,000. Seems like it could be a good deal to me.

try doubling those amounts

US return is 160K EU is 180k.

They're not widely referred to as 'sky pesos' for nothing!

 

[Nizar]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I wish there is an easy way to obtain Skyteam miles. It seems that award spaces are a lot more generous and redemption rates lower among Skyteam. (Correct me if I am wrong, I have no experience with Skyteam...)

I'm also interested in looking into Skyteam. Can anyone comment on AF F award space to Skyteam partners ?
AFs new La Premiere F on their 77W is pure class. Pure pure class. Read a trip report on it a few weeks back on FT and it was absolutely phenomenal. The poster of that thread said it was the best F experience he ever had and he's tried more than 20 airlines in F apparently including EY EK SQ CX LH etc

Excuse the off topic guys...

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I have to give a big thumbs up to Avianca in sorting out issues via email.

They were responsive when I wanted my TG flight back to F and got they back to me within a day of asking for them to send me my ticket for LAX - ICN which didn't come through via the automated email.

They can be a bit tricky to deal with via the phone, but if you're not in a rush they do follow through on email requests.

 

[drron]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I have to give a big thumbs up to Avianca in sorting out issues via email.

They were responsive when I wanted my TG flight back to F and got they back to me within a day of asking for them to send me my ticket for LAX - ICN which didn't come through via the automated email.

They can be a bit tricky to deal with via the phone, but if you're not in a rush they do follow through on email requests.

Though I just got in touch with the SYD TG office when my Avianca f award disappeared.Great service and fixed instantly.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Seems like an avianca front to the amadeus res system

Check your ticket status | Avianca

At least lets you see the e ticket number easily.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Hi there

Need some assistance please, I have an account with Life Miles with 0 balance but have just received the following offer and would like some advice on whether to take up or should I look at AA miles, or what is the best value
Thanks in advance btw have an aa account but that is a 0 balance too.

Don´t wait any longer! Enjoy this Christmas with Buy Miles 2x1, the Best
Promotion in the Americas, recognized at the 2014 Freddie Awards.



Do it until December 19[SUP]th[/SUP], receive an additional bonus of 100% and
redeem them to fly more than 1,200 destinations or with the program´s extensive
commercial partner network.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Hi there

Need some assistance please, I have an account with Life Miles with 0 balance but have just received the following offer and would like some advice on whether to take up or should I look at AA miles, or what is the best value
Thanks in advance btw have an aa account but that is a 0 balance too.

Don´t wait any longer! Enjoy this Christmas with Buy Miles 2x1, the Best
Promotion in the Americas, recognized at the 2014 Freddie Awards.



Do it until December 19[SUP]th[/SUP], receive an additional bonus of 100% and
redeem them to fly more than 1,200 destinations or with the program´s extensive
commercial partner network.

Sorry I should have added that we are looking at travelling both to the USA and Europe over the next 18 months and do have enough QFF points to do a OW Award as well but wanted something as a back up

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Sorry I should have added that we are looking at travelling both to the USA and Europe over the next 18 months and do have enough QFF points to do a OW Award as well but wanted something as a back up

AA is oneworld. So Avianca will give you the back up.

Flying to USA you can use United which is excellent in First class. Availability is generally good a couple days to a week before departure.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

AA is oneworld. So Avianca will give you the back up.

Flying to USA you can use United which is excellent in First class. Availability is generally good a couple days to a week before departure.

Excellent thanks, thought OH had an account too but it seems not so he is not eligble for the bonus but have now signed him up anyway

 

[bean]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Excellent thanks, thought OH had an account too but it seems not so he is not eligble for the bonus but have now signed him up anyway

Is there anyway you can get them to extend the offer to someone just signing up? I really cant undesrtand why the offer is only extended to existing members-kinda goes against the norm where offers are only extended new joining members?

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Excellent thanks, thought OH had an account too but it seems not so he is not eligble for the bonus but have now signed him up anyway

Heading USA, neither LM or AA is any good, as it's almost impossible to redeem Qantas or UA/AC (assuming it's J cabin you are after). AA won't allow you to route through Asia and most *A requires overnight connection via Asia which is not allowed with LM (only exception is Asiana SYD-LAX, only 1:50 layover, but it won't work for return). Therefore with either programs you'll need 2 redemption.

If mile purchase is what you are after, consider Alaska, who is also running a promotion now, they'll allow you to fly to US with CX, Fiji, QF, DL, and Korean air. So you have a higher chance of scoring something.

To Europe, my choice would be LM over AA as TG availability is very good. SQ if you can wait till T-14.