Avianca LifeMiles – Bookings and Discussion

[aaa99]

I am looking to book a Thai airways redemption from SIN to MEL

I can see SIN-BKK and BKK-MEL individually but not the full routing. Noting that the screenshot method is now dead, would it be possible to still call and get this booked?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am looking to book a Thai airways redemption from SIN to MEL

I can see SIN-BKK and BKK-MEL individually but not the full routing. Noting that the screenshot method is now dead, would it be possible to still call and get this booked?

Unlikely.

The call centre can only see what we can see… they use the same booking engine (or something very similar).

You’d need to get through to the ‘special department’ to get this ticketed, which traditionally you’d use the screenshot method for. But without that, they are unlikely to assist you, or take the call.

 

[aaa99]

Follow up on this... Would Thai check bags through if they are on separate PNRs?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Follow up on this... Would Thai check bags through if they are on separate PNRs?

I think they do, yes. But not so good price wise with the extra 9k for the economic cabin, or 20k for business, plus fees.

Might be worthwhile to call reservations… dunno if they will waive the second booking fee. But they would be able to put it all on the one ticket (just not at the ‘through fare’)

 

[aaa99]

I notice that there is a multi city tool online but it only lets me add 3 segments. There is no way i can get rid of the 3rd flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I notice that there is a multi city tool online but it only lets me add 3 segments. There is no way i can get rid of the 3rd flight.

Correct.

And the third flight takes you back to your city of origin IIRC?

It’s not a terribly useful tool for our purposes.

 

[EmBee]

Looking to see if I can book 2x TG J either SYD/MEL > BKK or BKK > SYD/MEL in April 2026. Is TG J redemption still able to be booked via Smartsearch? What is the easiest way to search for available 2x TG J? I seem to be doing the manual intensive way with not much luck . TIA.

 

[masco131]

Looking to see if I can book 2x TG J either SYD/MEL > BKK or BKK > SYD/MEL in April 2026. Is TG J redemption still able to be booked via Smartsearch? What is the easiest way to search for available 2x TG J? I seem to be doing the manual intensive way with not much luck . TIA.

I always use the United website to search because it shows a full monthly calendar and doesn’t require you to log in. If you want to get alerts, I recommend using seats.aero.


In my experience, Thai Airways tends to release award availability around three months in advance.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking to see if I can book 2x TG J either SYD/MEL > BKK or BKK > SYD/MEL in April 2026. Is TG J redemption still able to be booked via Smartsearch? What is the easiest way to search for available 2x TG J? I seem to be doing the manual intensive way with not much luck . TIA.

My recent TG redemption I only got to show using a ‘thai airways’ specific search. Smart search and star alliance returned no results.

 

[jgm]

I booked MEL-DEL-YVR with AI in J for 157000 points. I got a better deal with Aeroplan for the return, but it let me get rid of a bunch of LM points.

 

[dajop]

My recent TG redemption I only got to show using a ‘thai airways’ specific search. Smart search and star alliance returned no results.

TG can be so sensitive. We snagged 3 J tickets out of SIN with a pattern of TG->TG->LH We also wanted a fourth ticket. You could get TG->TG (with the first sector SIN-BKK in Y) if you selected Thai Airways specific search. You could the TG->LH connection ex-BKK with smart search or star alliance search. But it wouldn't bring up the three sectors in one booking (and couldn't get them piece together over phone). Seem to be a problem combing Y->J sectors on TG, smart search or star alliance wouldn't bring them up. In the end I booked #4 out of BKK instead and will fly up the night before on Scoot.

 

[YoungModern]

Lifemiles just updated their website last night. I am just navigating it and appears to be slightly faster when searching flights. Hope they also fixed those issues, specially when trying to book Thai Airways.

 

[MELso]

Avianca Lifemiles are back on sale with a 155% bonus (so not the greatest, but not bad either).

After being burned buying Lifemiles a couple of years ago, I leapt back in today to book a flight from KIX-HND-ORD in August next year in NH F for $2.7k all in.

Had to use the multi-city engine set to ANA to book (which dropped the cost of the F leg from 160K to 120K, along with 8k for the KIX-HND leg - something to bear in mind). When booking, there was a nervous wait as the booking engine crashed. Fortunately, the live chat worked well and payment of the taxes proceeded smoothly.

 

[borez]

Good to hear it worked for you, but I’m still a bit wary of Lifemiles after past issues with phantom availability and sudden changes.

 

[MELso]

Good to hear it worked for you, but I’m still a bit wary of Lifemiles after past issues with phantom availability and sudden changes.

Welcome to AFF!

Yes, I've been burned with phantom availability too! I checked SQ had the inventory I could see on AV before buying the points to minimise the risk of things going wrong.

 

[Ecco]

Not worth the stress.
They never seem to have any J awards showing on other Star alliance carriers, I've found.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Welcome to AFF!

Yes, I've been burned with phantom availability too! I checked SQ had the inventory I could see on AV before buying the points to minimise the risk of things going wrong.

Minimise, but still a pretty high risk in some cases As per below, TG was showing on all the booking engines, except AV’s. I managed, eventually, to get it to show, but i was using orphaned. lies rather than buying them.

Not worth the stress.
They never seem to have any J awards showing on other Star alliance carriers, I've found.

Sometimes you have to play around using airline specific searches. My last redemption BKK-SIN didn’t show on smart search or star alliance search, but came up when searching Thai only. And even then, didn’t show on the first two or three attempts!

 

[AviatorPJ]

Sometimes you have to play around using airline specific searches. My last redemption BKK-SIN didn’t show on smart search or star alliance search, but came up when searching Thai only. And even then, didn’t show on the first two or three attempts!

My recent experieince, also. TG and BR specifically on many hub routes. Additionally, BR's fifth freedom flight sectors BKK-TPE show when BR specifically selected.

 

[MELso]

Minimise, but still a pretty high risk in some cases

Booking on AV's website is a nervewracking experience and not for the faint of heart. However, the lure of NH F overwhelmed my vow of 'never again'. Hoping to subject myself to all this again to book a return flight in a week or so.