Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Oh noez... LM is a scam. Run.

http://travellingtheworld.boardingarea.com/2017/06/avianca-lifemiles-one-big-scam/

The hyperbole might be lost here as most forum members travel on airlines with considerable availability (and yes, UA premium availability is scarce).

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Oh noez... LM is a scam. Run.

http://travellingtheworld.boardingarea.com/2017/06/avianca-lifemiles-one-big-scam/

The hyperbole might be lost here as most forum members travel on airlines with considerable availability (and yes, UA premium availability is scarce).

I get the frustration and also feel there is less availability and more errors on the website but with a lot of patience and flexibility I still manage to get good value out of LM.

 

[drron]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I have had no problems but I use it just for point to point F awards.Sure it doesn't show up UA but that is of no concern to me.
I can see nothing but upside if an award booker pulls out from LM redemptions.

 

[hummel]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I have had no problems but I use it just for point to point F awards.Sure it doesn't show up UA but that is of no concern to me.
I can see nothing but upside if an award booker pulls out from LM redemptions.

Likewise. The Americans get very funny about their loyalty programs and really don't realise how good they have it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

If I read it correctly, the guy makes money by booking award travel... so basically he's complaining he's making money less easily than he used to.

US airlines award space is extremely limited anyway... try finding AA space across the pond or domestically for July... been sold out for months. UA not much better.

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Regardless if that guy makes multiple awards for profit he does have a valid point. The LM system doesn't show all availability and it does errors on multiple occasions so it can be very frustrating at times.

Can be worse tho, try dealing with the AS website...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

PS. Whats this screen shot method most people are talking about?

For bookings you can't make on line you need to send a screen shot to lifemiles support. This is generally for circumstances where flights are available A-B and B-C, but don't show if you search A-C. To use your example, it would be a case where MEL-BKK shows available, and BKK-NRT shows available, but MEL-NRT comes up as 'sold out'. In that case you'd send screenshots of MEL-BKK, BKK-NRT and another one for the 'sold out' page, and then LM books it and calls you for payment.

A practical example is say Europe or the USA... you'd usually start finding availability on an easy tool such as United (which shows even complex end-to-end itineraries). Then try and replicate that on LM as a whole, and if unavailable, search sector by sector, taking screenshots.

 

[firstclasser]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

For bookings you can't make on line you need to send a screen shot to lifemiles support. This is generally for circumstances where flights are available A-B and B-C, but don't show if you search A-C. To use your example, it would be a case where MEL-BKK shows available, and BKK-NRT shows available, but MEL-NRT comes up as 'sold out'. In that case you'd send screenshots of MEL-BKK, BKK-NRT and another one for the 'sold out' page, and then LM books it and calls you for payment.

A practical example is say Europe or the USA... you'd usually start finding availability on an easy tool such as United (which shows even complex end-to-end itineraries). Then try and replicate that on LM as a whole, and if unavailable, search sector by sector, taking screenshots.

Thanks mate. Didn't know about that. I'm gonna start looking into LM more for future trips.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Thanks mate. Didn't know about that. I'm gonna start looking into LM more for future trips.

There are some sweet spots out there... like BKK or SIN to USA via Tokyo all on NH F for 99K (can be booked on line). Or originating in Australia for 111K (TG to BKK followed by NH/NH) - which I think requires a screenshot.

 

[LuisT]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Anyone had recent success in getting a screenshot booking that involves a change in airport (eg NRT-HND)?I had one denied a while back, but since then I thought I read of people managing to get them booked...

 

[jgm]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I had a booking last year with a change NRT-HND, but I was able to book it online. It was BRU x NRT x HND - SYD. on ANA all the way.

 

[Pele]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I had a booking last year with a change NRT-HND, but I was able to book it online. It was BRU x NRT x HND - SYD. on ANA all the way.

Gday

Last week i went KUL- NRT//HND- SYD on ANA but it was booked online too. I am yet to hear of anyone getting a screenshot booking done with a change of airport.

I reckon just send them an email. Worst they can say is no, and then you can look at other options.

Pele.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Thanks mate. Didn't know about that. I'm gonna start looking into LM more for future trips.

You will also need to add colour scans of your passports for the people traveling otherwise they won't book it and it can be frustrating emailing back and forth with their booking dept

 

[JessicaTam]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Screenshot method

SYD-BKK-HND TG F 50,000 LMs + USD91.35

The two points worth noting other than the number of points are that they allowed a 20:40 transit and that my source of all things Avianca has it on good authority that the screenshot method is on its last legs.

So will we be stuck with what we can book online?

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

So will we be stuck with what we can book online?

That's the implication as far as I can tell. I cannot envisage the online booking system improving materially...

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

AC BNE-YVR-YUL in J. 35k + $675. 787 all the way.

Was able to see the routing online but errors out as I continue. I was forced to use screenshot. If screenshot is coming to an end, they better fix the bug first. I couldn't even book what's available online! (FWIW, even a simple BNE-YVR errors out!)

Not helpful for your particular booking, but YVR-BNE/SYD-AKL will sometimes work online where YVR-BNE/SYD doesn't, which can be fine for HLO.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Not helpful for your particular booking, but YVR-BNE/SYD-AKL will sometimes work online where YVR-BNE/SYD doesn't, which can be fine for HLO.

If they really stop the SS, they've killed their own golden goose. I suspect not many people will but miles from them with such a buggy online booking system.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

If they really stop the SS, they've killed their own golden goose. I suspect not many people will but miles from them with such a buggy online booking system.

would certainly cut down on the amount of miles us aussies buy, but not sure if we'd be large enough market to worry them??

 

[juddles]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Hey there all, I am lowering myself to ask one of those questions that can make one cringe when you see other overly-optimistic people....

Is there any chance at all of scoring not 1, not 2, not 3, but FOUR first class redemptions BNE-CDG? (On Thai I assume?) Is there a way to try to do this? (Like getting two then waiting....)

 

[juddles]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Or any other way to take family of four to Europe with at least one sector in First? (ie using a positioning flight in J to some other city in SE asia or similar craftiness)

Or if not, is there any other decent long-haul sector on the planet that could maybe have 4 x F availability? Dates are pretty much unimportant, destination is too, really - just owe my family for the solo travelling in F that I have done then telling them all about it