Suddenly no availability in Thai Business from Europe using Lifemiles

[MEL_Traveller]

MEL, SYD, BNE & PER all reduced to 3 x weekly from March 29th.
Of my three current bookings I've had two cancellations and one downgrade from B747 F to B777 J.
I expect further reductions to come.

That would explain it. Thanks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So cruel!! Looks like TG has opened up award space, non date restricted, through to the end of the booking calendar. And bookable through LM! Smattering of dates during each week.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

So cruel!! Looks like TG has opened up award space, non date restricted, through to the end of the booking calendar. And bookable through LM! Smattering of dates during each week.

ohhhh this is really cruel... hopefully it will stay like this till we are all ready to fly again

 

[Notyourbag]

Do we take a risk? If Avianca is going down the toilet would Thai even hold any flights booked through LM?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do we take a risk? If Avianca is going down the toilet would Thai even hold any flights booked through LM?

I think I read it depends if LM has 'paid' for the seats already, and whether LM is forced to close if Avianca closes (they are in theory separate entities). I wouldn't be buying miles speculatively, but if you already had them... and were willing to risk the $200 canx fee if the flight was still operating but you no longer decided to fly...

Either way, what's to lose? If you book TG and LM goes bust you either have a seat, or you lose your miles that you'd certainly lose if LM went out of business.

 

[burmans]

Do we take a risk? If Avianca is going down the toilet would Thai even hold any flights booked through LM?

I believe it’s been mentioned before but LM is a different company to Avianca so the answer is maybe.

 

[Finale]

I don't think you will miss much. Got some miles left and been trying different routes past few days but kept getting an error on any date.

We're sorry! we could not process your request, try again. If the problem persists contact our Call Center (option 3) or send us an email to [email protected]

This didn't happen when trying with another airlines ie ANA, EVA etc.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks finale. Was that also selecting Thai as the only carrier (rather than smart search)? That can sometimes kick it to make it work.

 

[Finale]

MEL, I just tried selecting Thai only on a couple of routes and same result. I only used this new site once I believe but that sounds like they carried the bug from the old site lol

 

[luxury-lizard]

Hum - I've been monitoring TG J/F award availability for March 2021 (hoping that our planned Swiss ski trip will be possible) and availability has gone from everyday to not one single day - not even SYD-BKK is available. Oh well - I wasn't ready to book anyway - - - too much uncertainty with travel restrictions and LM. (Maybe if the trans-Tasman bubble opens I can use those LM points for multiple trips to NZ - oh wait, NZ almost never releases j award seats). And on a lighter note - maybe Virgin will rise from the ashes as a *A member

 

[MEL_Traveller]

and availability has gone from everyday to not one single day - not even SYD-BKK is available.

Yes I was looking at availability through Aeroplan because of their upcoming US 1c mile sale. But nil results cam back. Think I will have to hold off buying Aeroplan

 

[luxury-lizard]

Yes I was looking at availability through Aeroplan because of their upcoming US 1c mile sale. But nil results cam back. Think I will have to hold off buying Aeroplan

I would not recommend buying Aeroplan miles - read on one of the travel blogs that their program is very glitchy at the moment (sounded a bit like LM) and there's a devaluation coming as AC re-integrates Aeroplan (which was a separate company) + AC charges crazy surcharges on it's own metal and a few other *A partners. Finally those Aeroplan prices do not include Canadian sales tax (which could be as high at 17% - not sure about miles). Anyway @MEL_Traveller I'm sure you're across all of these considerations - but maybe others aren't.

(I follow AC and Aeroplan quite closely as I have used LM often for AC bookings and/or bought paid tickets on AC).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would not recommend buying Aeroplan miles - read on one of the travel blogs that their program is very glitchy at the moment (sounded a bit like LM) and there's a devaluation coming as AC re-integrates Aeroplan (which was a separate company) + AC charges crazy surcharges on it's own metal and a few other *A partners. Finally those Aeroplan prices do not include Canadian sales tax (which could be as high at 17% - not sure about miles). Anyway @MEL_Traveller I'm sure you're across all of these considerations - but maybe others aren't.

(I follow AC and Aeroplan quite closely as I have used LM often for AC bookings and/or bought paid tickets on AC).

Thanks. I agree. I was looking at a couple of specific awards through Aeroplan. But agree that the glitches, and current lack of availability are a no-go for buying miles right now.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

Was having a look for flights at random times, a few months out and then later, 7-11 months out and it looks like it has all dried up again for premium seats