Avianca LifeMiles – Bookings and Discussion

[dajop]

Nice! Thanks for letting me know. I better email later today(Been lazy this week)

It would have taken me longer to compose an email than the length of the call I had to assign a seat. The number I used was +66 2-356-1111

So much easier than back and forth via email. It seems TG don’t outsource to Manila, Sputh Africa, Fiji or India. They have Thai staff who seem to speak OK English.

 

[desafinado74]

It would have taken me longer to compose an email than the length of the call I had to assign a seat. The number I used was +66 2-356-1111

So much easier than back and forth via email. It seems TG don’t outsource to Manila, Sputh Africa, Fiji or India. They have Thai staff who seem to speak OK English.

Thanks for the number
I am hesitant to call them since I am not sure how good their English is.

 

[dajop]

Thanks for the number
I am hesitant to call them since I am not sure how good their English is.

IIRC you press 9 for English (after listening to announcements in Thai it repeeats in English). I had no issues communicating with them for what was a fairly simple request.

 

[YoungModern]

I could not find Turkish Airlines forum so I thought I would post here. Apologies in advance. I am flying TK to Europe next week from SYD and I am thinking whether to book seats in advance or wait until check-in opens to see what seats we are assigned (2pax) without paying for them. I was hoping the flight was not full but according to the fare class info, there are only 5 seats available.

C0 D0 Z0 K0 J0 I0 R0 Y5 B5 M5 A0 H0 S0 O0 E0 Q0 T0 L0 V0 P0 W0 U0 X0 N0 G0

Can someone confirm if the above info confirm the flight is almost full? If it wasn't that full, I was hoping to have the option to have a 'middle' seat empty but my hopes are fading away. Thanks.

 

[twinaisle]

hopes are fading away.

This. Flight is 99% full. Have fun!

 

[desafinado74]

Hello everyone,
Is this the number to call if one decides to cancel an award booking?
+1 866 919 0081. And does it operate on American or Colombian time?
And can you cancel an award booking via email too?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hello everyone,
Is this the number to call if one decides to cancel an award booking?
+1 866 919 0081. And does it operate on American or Colombian time?
And can you cancel an award booking via email too?

That’s the cheapest number AFAIK, being a US number.

Works on columbia. time, and then also depends when the lifemiles team is working.

Unless it’s changed very recently, you need to call.

 

[desafinado74]

That’s the cheapest number AFAIK, being a US number.

Works on columbia. time, and then also depends when the lifemiles team is working.

Unless it’s changed very recently, you need to call.

Thank you, i will call them and see what happens.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you, i will call them and see what happens.

Unfortunately a very expensive exercise.

You don’t need to cancel in advance of travel, you have up to 365 days after the date to cancel for an omits recredit (on payment of the fee).

You could hold out for a schedule change or cancellation to try and mitigate that fee.

 

[desafinado74]

Unfortunately a very expensive exercise.

You don’t need to cancel in advance of travel, you have up to 365 days after the date to cancel for an omits recredit (on payment of the fee).

You could hold out for a schedule change or cancellation to try and mitigate that fee.

Yes, i read about this from Flyertalk a few minutes ago. Just to double check, You can still request a points refund after a no show ? But you still have to pay the USD$200 cancellation fee isn't it ?

And, my current question is related to a TG booking for next month. (I have to postpone the trip due to a health reason)
If i were to do a no show on the original booking, would i get into trouble with TG in a future booking?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, i read about this from Flyertalk a few minutes ago. Just to double check, You can still request a points refund after a no show ? But you still have to pay the USD$200 cancellation fee isn't it ?

And, my current question is related to a TG booking for next month. (I have to postpone the trip due to a health reason)
If i were to do a no show on the original booking, would i get into trouble with TG in a future booking?

Used to be USD150… gone up since then? Yikes!

But given it’s a health reason, your TI might cover it?

If not, i’d wait to see if there’s a cancellation… but given it’s TG i think that’s fairly unlikely. They seem to have extended turn-around times in AU, and run pretty much to schedule.

No reason why you’d get in to trouble with TG. Lifemiles/Avianca is your agent, If anyone, TG would get stroppy with them.

 

[desafinado74]

Used to be USD150… gone up since then? Yikes!

But given it’s a health reason, your TI might cover it?

If not, i’d wait to see if there’s a cancellation… but given it’s TG i think that’s fairly unlikely. They seem to have extended turn-around times in AU, and run pretty much to schedule.

No reason why you’d get in to trouble with TG. Lifemiles/Avianca is your agent, If anyone, TG would get stroppy with them.

Thank you for your helpful reply.
I have a decision to make then

 

[PatMcrotch]

Booked ANA SYD-HND J 2 Pax for 100k LM. Finally burned all my LM!

I won't be buying anymore due to the end of the screenshot method and the lack of availability lately.
LM used to be so good. I did so many TG F flights to Japan via BKK that I lost count...those were the good old days!
Thanks LM

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OMG!

Finally used the last of my LM! (due to expire on 31/05!)

Needed to get BKK-SIN, 9k LM… great! except of the five flights they showed on the day I needed to travel, 4 of the 5 came back with ‘error’ at the final booking stage. The remaining one was at 8am which would have been a very early start, but ok I suppose if all else failed.

Kept trying and eventually TG must have released some more seats as my preferred flight opened up.

So… as PatMcrotch says… ‘thank you’ Lifemiles! But the journey has come to an end.

Had lots of great itineraries over the years. Most notable probably the ‘error’(?) with Lufthansa First where instead of a tiny two week booking window LM somehow offered months of advanced availability. Happy days!

And a shout out to all the LM staff, too. They were - once you could get through to them! - really good at what they did. One time I forgot to include my passport for a screenshot booking so they went back into their archived and got my details from an earlier email. Well done!

 

[I love to travel]

Yes LM was a great ride whilst it lasted.

 

[YoungModern]

Booked ANA SYD-HND J 2 Pax for 100k LM. Finally burned all my LM!

I won't be buying anymore due to the end of the screenshot method and the lack of availability lately.
LM used to be so good. I did so many TG F flights to Japan via BKK that I lost count...those were the good old days!
Thanks LM

I read this but not sure what it is, can someone please explain what is the screenshot method or screenshot booking? It's fine if no longer works but just want to know what it is and how it worked?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I read this but not sure what it is, can someone please explain what is the screenshot method or screenshot booking? It's fine if no longer works but just want to know what it is and how it worked?

No longer works.

LM used to be very restrictive in offering availability where there were long connections involved, or where trips consider of more than a couple of sectors.

The screenshot method allowed you to put together more complex itineraries than those offered by the website.

You would take a screenshot of say MEL-LHR which showed no availability.

You would then screenshot MEL-BKK with availability, and BKK-LHR with availability.

You’d then send off all three screenshots and the LM team would construct your ticket for you. You could not do this via phone.

Key to the screenshot working was the first ‘zero availability’ shot for the preferred trip.

If you selected MEL-LHR and it came up with Air India, the screenshot method wouldn’t be accepted because the system was offering you something, Only if there was nothing could you then send in other options you’d found.

This was particularly useful for Thai airways where the transit in Bangkok may have been 6-8 hours. Something which the LM wouod avoid showing.

 

[Flywithd]

No longer works.

LM used to be very restrictive in offering availability where there were long connections involved, or where trips consider of more than a couple of sectors.

The screenshot method allowed you to put together more complex itineraries than those offered by the website.

You would take a screenshot of say MEL-LHR which showed no availability.

You would then screenshot MEL-BKK with availability, and BKK-LHR with availability.

You’d then send off all three screenshots and the LM team would construct your ticket for you. You could not do this via phone.

Key to the screenshot working was the first ‘zero availability’ shot for the preferred trip.

If you selected MEL-LHR and it came up with Air India, the screenshot method wouldn’t be accepted because the system was offering you something, Only if there was nothing could you then send in other options you’d found.

This was particularly useful for Thai airways where the transit in Bangkok may have been 6-8 hours. Something which the LM wouod avoid showing.

I miss the screenshot method.

Multiple times I'd send through TG or so for them to come back with availability on other airlines like SQ/Air China etc which was very accommodating of them. Great while it lasted.