Avianca LifeMiles – Bookings and Discussion

[Cynicor]

Sorry I misread your message. Thought you were saying there was no avail from AU in general.

No worries. Actually, I did feel like that.
Is that a screenshot from the tool you posted about?
What does green indicate? Based on my searches I assume it means no LM seats, but that may be coincidence.

Overall if that tool worked for 9-12 months out would be value for money potentially

 

[goldenhorn]

No worries. Actually, I did feel like that.
Is that a screenshot from the tool you posted about?
What does green indicate? Based on my searches I assume it means no LM seats, but that may be coincidence.

Overall if that tool worked for 9-12 months out would be value for money potentially

Yes that the tool. Green is non stop flight available and blue is multiple stops. I’ve done a few checks on the LM website and tend to find most the flights listed in the tool show on LM. I think maybe once I couldn’t find avail on LM that was showing on the tool.

 

[Cynicor]

Oh interesting. I had only a brief look but couldn’t find the bkk or del flights

 

[goldenhorn]

Oh interesting. I had only a brief look but couldn’t find the bkk or del flights

Looks like the first SYD-BKK has gone.

When you click the info button, it refreshes with the airline. A bit further down I checked these ones and they both exist on the LM website.

You can see all these with the free version of the tool, it's only further out that you need a Pro account (which is cheap at US$12 pm)

 

[Notyourbag]

AI has good availability but would you need a transit visa if you flew them? (And probably worse option to fly to Asia with?)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

AI has good availability but would you need a transit visa if you flew them? (And probably worse option to fly to Asia with?)

no transit visa is required flying AI, unless you make a domestic connection, which i have never seen offered on LM.

AI is ok to fly with. Absolute middle of the road, no surprises. But the bed is flat, food is tasty and champagne is chilled.

 

[goldenhorn]

Successful booking (finally!). I used a pro account on Seats.aero to find these.

May 2024, 2 pax, J, SIN-IST
(SQ SIN-SGN, TK SGN-IST)

156,000 miles and US$50 booking fee

The website wouldn't complete the booking, but I used the chat on the website, and it was very efficient. The agent sent me the itinerary to confirm all details were correct, and I got a call for payment within 24 hours.

 

[Notyourbag]

Successful booking (finally!). I used a pro account on Seats.aero to find these.

May 2024, 2 pax, J, SIN-IST
(SQ SIN-SGN, TK SGN-IST)

156,000 miles and US$50 booking fee

The website wouldn't complete the booking, but I used the chat on the website, and it was very efficient. The agent sent me the itinerary to confirm all details were correct, and I got a call for payment within 24 hours.

What time did they call back?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What time did they call back?

As a data point I got my call at 7am on the dot eastern time. So at least they waited Pre covid I used to get calls at 2am!

 

[goldenhorn]

What time did they call back?

It was a bit of an ordeal because nothing is easy when it comes to LM.

The first time I booked was a Friday, and they said the finance department would call within 24-72 hours. When I called Monday afternoon because I hadn't received a call, they said the ticket was auto-cancelled by TK as it was not paid soon enough.

The same flights were available so I booked again on the website (which failed again before payment), and this time they did call at 12 noon, 2 days after I made the booking. The payment was taken, and the call took about 25 minutes.

They did check where I was calling from and said they would make sure they call during daylight hours, so that's something.

 

[goldenhorn]

Successful booking (finally!). I used a pro account on Seats.aero to find these.

May 2024, 2 pax, J, SIN-IST
(SQ SIN-SGN, TK SGN-IST)

156,000 miles and US$50 booking fee

The website wouldn't complete the booking, but I used the chat on the website, and it was very efficient. The agent sent me the itinerary to confirm all details were correct, and I got a call for payment within 24 hours.

Curious if anyone has experienced this...I just noticed that my LM points haven't been deducted for this SQ/TK booking. I received an e-ticket from Avianca on 16 June and logged into SQ, and chose my seats on the same day.

Do I need to be concerned?

 

[I love to travel]

Curious if anyone has experienced this...I just noticed that my LM points haven't been deducted for this SQ/TK booking. I received an e-ticket from Avianca on 16 June and logged into SQ, and chose my seats on the same day.

Do I need to be concerned?

Some reports on flyertalk about this too. Does SQ website indicate confirmed?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Curious if anyone has experienced this...I just noticed that my LM points haven't been deducted for this SQ/TK booking. I received an e-ticket from Avianca on 16 June and logged into SQ, and chose my seats on the same day.

Do I need to be concerned?

Being able to select seats or meals doesn’t mean you have a ticketed reservation. This can be a problem and could lead to denied boarding at the checkin counter.

I would suggest contacting LM to arrange ‘payment’ of your ticket.

Even though this is entirely LM’s issue, better to sort it out now that try and do it at the airport!

 

[goldenhorn]

Some reports on flyertalk about this too. Does SQ website indicate confirmed?

Yes, showing as confirmed on SQ.

 

[goldenhorn]

Being able to select seats or meals doesn’t mean you have a ticketed reservation. This can be a problem and could lead to denied boarding at the checkin counter.

I would suggest contacting LM to arrange ‘payment’ of your ticket.

Even though this is entirely LM’s issue, better to sort it out now that try and do it at the airport!

Good idea. I called them, and they said the tickets were confirmed, but points would be 'manually' deducted. She couldn't give me a time frame, though. I'll keep an eye on my balance.

I actually had a decent connection and agent, so I made another booking on the phone (but waiting for finance department to call for final payment.)

Once again, seats.aero was a godsend for finding the flights I wanted.

May 2024
2 pax, LO, J,
CDG-WAW-ORD
126,000 LM
US$382.70 taxes and fees

I haven't flown LO before. It looks like a pretty basic J class, but this flight gets us direct to the US when and where we want to be.

Glad to have used up most of my LM left over from the pandemic now. I think I'm pretty much finished with this program!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Agree! When you have the likes of aeroplan, lifemiles loses it appeal.

But, credit where credit is due… LM agents are pretty good at what they do, and working within the contraints of a very difficult IT and booking portal.

 

[frequentflyer23]

Hi all, I have tested positive for covid and have Swiss flights booked through lifemiles in four days time from ZRH. Does anyone know what the lifemiles cancellation policy is with regard to positive covid test? Thanks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all, I have tested positive for covid and have Swiss flights booked through lifemiles in four days time from ZRH. Does anyone know what the lifemiles cancellation policy is with regard to positive covid test? Thanks.

I think it's the full price

But worth emailing lifemiles support, they'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Miles of course fully refundable, but the reply from lifemiles should help with your insurance claim.

 

[drron]

Last night I decided to look at LM again and see if there had been any changes. Unfortunately there had.
Absolutely no awards 10-11 months out on the routes I monitor. Even no Y awards. Hope it was just a glitch.

 

[repete]

Sadly so drron My parents are in Singapore as we speak - a lifemiles trip at least 3-4 years in the making (a covid cancellation at one point). It has been hard work to say the least to make it happen! Relieved they are this far and looking forward to some great tales of Africa and Europe in a couple of months. Not sure I'd do it again though!!