Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

TG availability has really dried up since UA started offering it again... looking at October, BKK-MEL was pretty much available every day from mid October... now the first date is 5 December! Get in quick if you want seats.

 

[luxury-lizard]

TG availability has really dried up since UA started offering it again... looking at October, BKK-MEL was pretty much available every day from mid October... now the first date is 5 December! Get in quick if you want seats.

Totally agree (to/from SYD) has similar issues - sometimes see 1 F seat but zero J - not great if you're 2 people travelling. I took the plunge and just bought more LM's under the current promo (242,500 with the 140% bonus) - hope we'll be able to use them. With other *A airlines only releasing 1 award seat (ANA and recently AC and even OZ) it's pretty grim. Of course once you get to an Asian hub then your options to Europe are much better - but if you buy a ticket (in J) to Asia then use an award to Europe the economics are not good at all - might as well just buy a J ticket (various specials get this between $5-6K quite often).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Totally agree (to/from SYD) has similar issues - sometimes see 1 F seat but zero J - not great if you're 2 people travelling. I took the plunge and just bought more LM's under the current promo (242,500 with the 140% bonus) - hope we'll be able to use them. With other *A airlines only releasing 1 award seat (ANA and recently AC and even OZ) it's pretty grim. Of course once you get to an Asian hub then your options to Europe are much better - but if you buy a ticket (in J) to Asia then use an award to Europe the economics are not good at all - might as well just buy a J ticket (various specials get this between $5-6K quite often).

Indeed. In fact on one ways ex Europe Air India has very competitive pricing to SYD at the moment - from OSL is just AUD1990 one way. While it's not singapore airlines, the flights are quick and have a flat bed. The food is tasty (if not winning any awards for presentation).

The paid fare gives complete flexibility, and by the time you factor in the miles earned (at 1.5c each credited to LM) the price actually works out about AUD50 cheaper per person.

If you have upcoming trips to Europe, likely you can get cheaper (paid) round-trips originating in Europe over LM.

 

[boomy]

Indeed. In fact on one ways ex Europe Air India has very competitive pricing to SYD at the moment - from OSL is just AUD1990 one way. While it's not singapore airlines, the flights are quick and have a flat bed. The food is tasty (if not winning any awards for presentation).

The paid fare gives complete flexibility, and by the time you factor in the miles earned (at 1.5c each credited to LM) the price actually works out about AUD50 cheaper per person.

If you have upcoming trips to Europe, likely you can get cheaper (paid) round-trips originating in Europe over LM.

While $1,990 AUD is not bad for one way in J, using LM it’s only few hundred more to fly better airline all the way in F to SYD.

QR are known for cheap round trips in J from Scandinavian countries to Australia, this can be useful for pax who can position themselves in Europe.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

While $1,990 AUD is not bad for one way in J, using LM it’s only few hundred more to fly better airline all the way in F to SYD.

Absolutely agree. But the problem at the moment is availability Finding that F seat is not so easy.

 

[twiningb]

I bought minimum miles (1000 + bonus -> 2150) today just to get my expiry date reset. It's all gone through but the expiry date did not reset (per the Avianca app it's still Nov-19 based on my last purchase Nov-18; it's not visible on the new web UI at all). Is this something that will self-correct in a day or two or will I need to contact them?

 

[goldenhorn]

I saw someone booked this itinerary:


SYD-BKK F ( TG )
BKK-ICN J ( TG )
ICN-LAX F ( OZ )

85000 miles +$1915 USD

To book a similar itinerary on LM, would this be a multi-trip search?

I haven't had much luck searching on LM so far for similar itineraries.

 

[boomy]

I saw someone booked this itinerary:


SYD-BKK F ( TG )
BKK-ICN J ( TG )
ICN-LAX F ( OZ )

85000 miles +$1915 USD

To book a similar itinerary on LM, would this be a multi-trip search?

I haven't had much luck searching on LM so far for similar itineraries.

You will need to use screenshots for this itinerary.

Search each segment separately then send all screenshots to LM.

 

[goldenhorn]

You will need to use screenshots for this itinerary.

Ah okay. That explains it.

TY!

 

[boomy]

Is Air India currently blocked on LM?

 

[bcworld]

Is Air India currently blocked on LM?

No.

 

[goldenhorn]

You will need to use screenshots for this itinerary.

Search each segment separately then send all screenshots to LM.

Q: Once you send the screenshots, do you have to have the LM in your account in advance or can you pay over the phone when they get back to you?

 

[boomy]

No.

They don’t match UA availability then.

 

[boomy]

Q: Once you send the screenshots, do you have to have the LM in your account in advance or can you pay over the phone when they get back to you?

You don’t need to have all points in your account but it’s best if you let them know in the email that you are going to purchase the remaining points over the phone at time of booking otherwise they may offer you itineraries that only match you current points balance.

Btw today is the last day of 140% bonus, something you may want to consider as it will be significantly more expensive to purchase later (unless LM decide to extend the promo).

 

[bcworld]

They don’t match UA availability then.

Well you didn't say what you were searching for. I only know that if searching for MEL-DEL it shows up on most days it operates...so there is no blanket block on AI.

 

[boomy]

Well you didn't say what you were searching for. I only know that if searching for MEL-DEL it shows up on most days it operates...so there is no blanket block on AI.

Searching for TLV-DEL. Only gives me indirect options for the dates I’m searching although UA show the direct flight available.

 

[bcworld]

Searching for TLV-DEL. Only gives me indirect options for the dates I’m searching although UA show the direct flight available.

It's one of those cases - where LifeMiles does not believe that AI flies to TLV in their list of airlines mapped to airports.

 

[twiningb]

I bought minimum miles (1000 + bonus -> 2150) today just to get my expiry date reset. It's all gone through but the expiry date did not reset (per the Avianca app it's still Nov-19 based on my last purchase Nov-18; it's not visible on the new web UI at all). Is this something that will self-correct in a day or two or will I need to contact them?

This self-corrected this afternoon, at least as far as the Avianca app goes.

 

[RB]

I haven't been using the Lifemiles website recently. Can someone give me a tip of how to look up the expiry date of my miles on the site (I have an old email from them so I know the date but cannot work out how to find it in my profile)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I haven't been using the Lifemiles website recently. Can someone give me a tip of how to look up the expiry date of my miles on the site (I have an old email from them so I know the date but cannot work out how to find it in my profile)

It's not on the website as yet. Coming soon apparently.