Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I have just had a response from LM - they are escalating my screenshots to the specialised department. Dunno if this means they do or don't work over the weekend, even though their hours suggest they do.

 

[oneworld82]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Hopefully our tickets will come through soon!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

This is excruciatingly slow After the acknowledgement I sent through a new flight which had opened up. Five hours later another acknowledgement that the new request has been sent to the specialised team. Meanwhile the seats I wanted have gone. So I dunno what the outcome will be. There are other options, but not on airlines LM is readily willing to give (LH).

 

[oneworld82]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I managed to get mine booked!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I managed to get mine booked!

When did you hear from them? I'm hoping this might be an indicator for me. Although maybe I need to add a couple extra days if they have a queue.

From what I can work out - emails to 'support' go into some sort of email file, handled in order. They are then referred to the 'special' department.

 

[I love to travel]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Anyone tried to pay for miles using a pre paid travel card eg travelex or an ANZ travel card

 

[LA10]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Interesting that HKG - SFO is 75k in J, while Syd - SFO is 80K in J. I thought the Australia - US route increased in mileage?

With the AUD at 80c, I am now going to use less miles than previously thought of using.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Interesting that HKG - SFO is 75k in J, while Syd - SFO is 80K in J. I thought the Australia - US route increased in mileage?

With the AUD at 80c, I am now going to use less miles than previously thought of using.

new award prices from 1 November.

My recent experience (intensive searching over the last week) shows lifemiles now blocks or severely restricts the following:

UA F
TG F
LH F
NH F
OZ F
NH J
AI J

as well as the ones we know about... SQ, CA, NZ

Not all F and J for the list of carriers is blocked, but I'd say a good 60-70% minimum... matching against UA has really shown the limitations.

I haven't looked at other carriers but can't assume they will be readily more available.

Screenshots are are a possible way around some of the restrictions, but with a three day turnaround for flights they basically don't want to give you (mainly F), the seats are gone by the time they get around to it.

So unless you're doing point to point, or simple flights on say TG J (which are good value), seriously do homework before investing.

 

[Eric Barasa]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Depends largely on the route and, for multi segment itineraries, whether it is the "most obvious route" for a city pair.
Some observations I have over the last few months.

UA F - pick your routes. E1-E2 from east coast has few issues
TG F - fickle and sporadic . Sometimes you see O1 (one seat available) on NH/AC/UA sites but LM shows nothing.
NH/OZ F - direct flights have no issues! This limits you to/from Tokyo/Seoul
LH - u need the stars to align.

 

[Danger]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I haven't read the article but the headline sounds interesting:

20000 Lifemiles: 50 Euro - You Have Been Upgraded

 

[Eric Barasa]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

“Complete your 1st hotel stay LM 400 > LM 400
Complete your 2nd hotel stay LM 600 > LM 1,000
Complete your 4th hotel stay LM 1,000 > LM 2,000
Complete your 6th hotel stay LM 3,000 > LM 5,000
Complete your 8th hotel stay LM 5,000 > LM10,000
Complete your 10th hotel stay LM 10,000 > LM 20,000”

 

[Finale]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I haven't read the article but the headline sounds interesting:

20000 Lifemiles: 50 Euro - You Have Been Upgraded

Got an email about it. You have to register by July 31. Just have to do 10 hotel stays before Sep 30 lol Probably impossible in Australia to find a 5 EUR a night place.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

NH/OZ F - direct flights have no issues! This limits you to/from Tokyo/Seoul

No issues for NH flight when LM wants to show them. I've come across several in the last week, even for non-stops, where LM is blocking the inventory (using multiple search options... NH only, star, smart search, and manipulating each of those by time). Aeroplan and UA both showing the flight but not LM.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I sent a further chaser to lifemiles support asking them to expedite my request given imminent travel. They responded that there is nothing they can do once it is sent to the specialised department, and they aim to respond to request in 72 hours.

So I think if your seats are critical (limited availability), you may struggle under these timelines. The other frustration being that if flights disappear (or reappear), no way to contact the 'special department' to update them on what you now want.

 

[Raymond]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

In my case the flight was showing and bookable on LM. Came up with an error when trying to book. I got the support email but no subsequent email from them, it has been 3 days. Flight isn't on LM anymore. Perhaps would have been better off calling them and booking this one on the phone as the screenshot method wasn't required, only used to address a problem on their system.

 

[tallboy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

In my case the flight was showing and bookable on LM. Came up with an error when trying to book. I got the support email but no subsequent email from them, it has been 3 days. Flight isn't on LM anymore. Perhaps would have been better off calling them and booking this one on the phone as the screenshot method wasn't required, only used to address a problem on their system.

Regarding several of the above posts, in my experience the 'special department' is quite helpful at finding and proposing an alternative itinerary if the flights originally requested are no longer available / or if the routing is not optimal. This has happened twice to me this year. Curiously, SQ flights, including A380 sectors, were part of the alternative itinerary booked and offered each time (they were not visible via LM search).

 

[jayel]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I haven't read the article but the headline sounds interesting:

20000 Lifemiles: 50 Euro - You Have Been Upgraded

There is references to a eurobonus promotion last year in the with a similar mattress run strategy. it seems people have managed to have stays credited at cheap asian hostels where it appears unlikely they would register the no shows back to the booking site. as this is based on stays rather than miles, you could test the waters with a 1 night stay and see if it credits then make your next few bookings at various hostels nearby to minimize risk.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

So, a final update. They called just now, the seats that disappeared they actually took for me... so the booking was created two and a half days ago, but they must have had to get 'approval' or something which took extra time. If it works that way, will relive some of the angst. Just sit back and wait for the call! (All is forgiven.)

 

[Cynicor]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Oh Ye of Little Faith

Glad you got the seats.

 

[Raymond]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just a reflection on LM... I think I have been using it now for about 4 years and this last year's flights in particular have been incredibly difficult to find (we normally book from MEL to Europe somewhere). I used to purchase points in advance with confidence in respect to finding flights but I'm really skeptical about doing so moving forward. Has anyone else experienced the same difficulty? Is there any objective info to suggest that LM is releasing less flights?

This time round we used LM to book 3 J from SIN into Europe and had to book a separate flight going from MEL to SIN.

I remember people also noting that SG J flights get released close to the travel date. Looking at the next few weeks I can't seem to even find 1 J seat with SG, even for connections excluding Australia.

Perhaps time to have a look at United? I dunno if United is as economic as LM though.