Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[Major]

Trying to book flights to PVG but keep getting the error message. Email support and they asked for screenshots. Sent this morning, now to wait and see

 

[I love to travel]

No issue with 21 hour layover

 

[boomy]

I had a booking late last year using the screen shot method - worked a treat and included a 13 hour layover.

Looking at a flight for next year using the same method - thoughts on likelihood of getting a ticket with 21 hour layover?

You can get up to 24hr layover with LM.

I managed to somehow get > 24hr but that was due to one of the flights time change. The rule is up to 24hr.

 

[Major]

Trying to book flights to PVG but keep getting the error message. Email support and they asked for screenshots. Sent this morning, now to wait and see

I have now moved to the next step having received this email last night

Greetings Mr. Major

We have escalated your manual booking request to the respective department. We recommend you to be aware of your calls or emails; if your request is approved, the itinerary will be sent to your email address with instructions to contact the Call Center to complete the redemption process. Deadline for payment will be specified below the itinerary.

Keep in mind that our specialized department can be found within the next business hours:

• Monday-Friday: 06:00 am to 09:00 pm (-05:00 GMT Medellin, Colombia Time).
• Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 8:00 am to 04:00 pm (-05:00 GMT Medellin, Colombia Time).

Thank you for your valuable time.

Kind regards,

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have now moved to the next step having received this email last night

Greetings Mr. Major

We have escalated your manual booking request to the respective department. We recommend you to be aware of your calls or emails; if your request is approved, the itinerary will be sent to your email address with instructions to contact the Call Center to complete the redemption process. Deadline for payment will be specified below the itinerary.

Keep in mind that our specialized department can be found within the next business hours:

• Monday-Friday: 06:00 am to 09:00 pm (-05:00 GMT Medellin, Colombia Time).
• Saturday, Sunday and Holidays: 8:00 am to 04:00 pm (-05:00 GMT Medellin, Colombia Time).

Thank you for your valuable time.

Kind regards,

Indeed, but note that the Lifemiles department doesn't open until at least 8.00am local time (the call centre is from 6am). If you call at 6am you will be told to call back later (like 8am), and even then, the department may not take your call. If they can't take your call at that time they will offer to call you back 'in the next couple of hours', but you might need to point out the time difference and ask for 6 or 7 hours later. (Although that doesn't always work either.... they may call you anywhere from 6am!)

 

[Mattg]

I received an email from LifeMiles today advising of "reductions and increments" to the cost of economy award seats on Avianca-operated flights. I assume nobody here actually uses LifeMiles to book economy AV flights, but here's the a link to the details anyway:

https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/tra/pro/proofenot.aspx?D=TTN741&utm_campaign=20180323-LM-cambio-redencion-eng&utm_medium=email&utm_source=151123-LM-Noticias/ofertas

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I assume nobody here actually uses LifeMiles to book economy AV flights, but here's the a link to the details anyway:

I suspect you could be right

 

[sjk]

Just a small note for anyone concerned about extending Lifemiles expiry before April 15: having just cancelled a December 2018 flight, I saw my expiry extended to December 2020. Of course, this might also happen after April 15

I've also seen my miles expiry extended by a points + pay redemption, so that might very well keep working too.

 

[kpc]

Donating (Under "Use" points) eg 1 point also extends your miles for 2 years....not sure doing this after April 15th still has the same effect

 

[1022]

I'm not sure if it's been noted already but I just discovered that the Avianca website now has a somewhat functional "ticket status" page where I was able to select J seats on a couple of TK operated LM bookings. Seat selection is under the "special services" menu. I ended up there via a link in an email from the service centre that was meant to have contact phone numbers upon advice I need to speak to the infamous involuntary changes department due to a 15 minute departure time change that was throwing up errors on the TK website and preventing me from selecting seats. (That issue still needs resolving - when I pluck up the strength to call Bogota). But in the mean time seat selection seems to have flowed through to my TK MMB page and to Check my Trip.

Out of curiosity I tried it on a separate LM booking on TG. My existing seat selections showed and I was able to switch around on the Avianca site if I wanted to. So it might be worth having a shot with airlines that are notoriously tricky to pre-select seats on for award bookings. (e.g. has OZ finally sorted their website out??)

 

[auriga]

I'm not sure if it's been noted already but I just discovered that the Avianca website now has a somewhat functional "ticket status" page where I was able to select J seats on a couple of TK operated LM bookings. Seat selection is under the "special services" menu. )

Thanks to reading this, I went to have a look, and found that one of my flights has been cancelled!! And rebooked for another flight which doesn't connect!!

 

[Lizzi]

Thanks to reading this, I went to have a look, and found that one of my flights has been cancelled!! And rebooked for another flight which doesn't connect!!

Same thing just happened to me! Good thing I have a few months before my flight, so I have time to reorganise things...

 

[I love to travel]

Under which tab was this ticketing page I can't find it. Thanks.

 

[1022]

Under which tab was this ticketing page I can't find it. Thanks.

From the Avianca home page, click on Ticket Status in the white bar underneath the reservation pane and Bob's your uncle.

 

[auriga]

Same thing just happened to me! Good thing I have a few months before my flight, so I have time to reorganise things...

Had to spend just over 3 hours on the phone to them this morning!!!! So NOT impressed.

 

[I love to travel]

From the Avianca home page, click on Ticket Status in the white bar underneath the reservation pane and Bob's your uncle.

Thanks. Found it and logged in. Anyone else find wording at the top of the booking: Warning no policy found for this itinerary

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Had to spend just over 3 hours on the phone to them this morning!!!! So NOT impressed.

When I read your post I was going to suggest emailing. I've had a couple issues with them recently and just emailed them. They've been remarkably competent with resolving the issues - one very complex with a ticketing error.

If anyone else is in this situation and your flight plans are not immediate, I'd suggest an email to 'support'. They're actually pretty switched on Calling on the other hand can be fustrating.

 

[1022]

Anyone else find wording at the top of the booking: Warning no policy found for this itinerary

Yup. I get that odd bit of web code at the top of the page too.

 

[auriga]

When I read your post I was going to suggest emailing. I've had a couple issues with them recently and just emailed them. They've been remarkably competent with resolving the issues - one very complex with a ticketing error.

If anyone else is in this situation and your flight plans are not immediate, I'd suggest an email to 'support'. They're actually pretty switched on Calling on the other hand can be fustrating.

Yes, I did email them first.
Overnight received a reply to call them.

Now 48hours since I called them, but ticket still not been reissued.

 

[Major]

From the Avianca home page, click on Ticket Status in the white bar underneath the reservation pane and Bob's your uncle.

Silly me...tried to find "ticket status" on the Lifemiles website, then re read your post. Pulled up the Avianca site, followed your instructions and was easily able to select seats.

Many thanks