Avianca LifeMiles – Bookings and Discussion

[Flywithd]

Dry rules say < 24hr.
I did, on few occasions, manage to get > 24hr when booking using screenshots but it’s not something I would rely on.

Thanks Boomy, I think I'll try out and see if
DPS-TPE Eva Hello Kitty 330
TPE-BKK Eva 777
BKK-SYD Thai 744 F

 

[disruptivedolphin]

HKG-SIN SQ B773 First
SIN-BKK TG A359 Business
BKK-SYD TG B744 First

Have these held up in the light of subsequent developments?

 

[boomy]

Have these held up in the light of subsequent developments?

All flights took off as scheduled if that’s what you’re asking.

 

[goldenhorn]

Yippee - just booked YVR-HND-SYD on Feb 2 in business (seats just popped up today) - can fly home on same flights as MR LL (He took the single award seat 11 months ago). I was booked on AC/OZ via ICN - cancellation via phone went smoothly.

First tried the booking online using Safari and after the first 'proceed' it gave the dreaded error message - I almost gave up but decided to try Google Chrome and the booking went through. Now if I can just wind down all remaining LM points - it's just too hard.

Congrats. That’s great news! I remember you discussing the separate flights a while back. Great that you can now travel together.

What month are you travelling?

We have our LM flights on AC SYD-YVR, ORD-YVR-SYD coming up in June. Really hoping that they don’t get cancelled with all the travel industry chaos at the moment. I’m looking forward to trying AC J for the first time.

 

[luxury-lizard]

We already traveled YVR-HND-SYD on Feb 2 - just before the Covid-19 virus really hit Japan and long enough ago that our next trip (March 10) to Cape Town is more than 30 days after this trip so various countries with travel restrictions for visiting / transiting Japan won't impact us.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

Successful booking via the screen shot method. Only took a couple of days
ICN via PEK to Mel for 2 via Bus class on Air China.
purchased 45,000 points at $675 USD used 35,000 points already in my account
Bought the tix in early Nov
I have heard that they aren't the greatest airline but i could not find any other options, wanted to use Thai but could not find any seats at the time of the booking

I just thought i would let you all know that i have now cancelled these flights due to the Coronavirus. They kept saying that I had to pay the cancellation fee but after escalating it and waiting a few weeks all the points were back in my account.

 

[Major]

I had a whole stack of lifemiles due to expire in April but we have no travel plans which would be useful. With a road trip coming up I have used lifemiles to book several Motels in country NSW and Vic.

It's not a very efficient use of lifemiles but better than letting them expire.

 

[bcworld]

It's not a very efficient use of lifemiles but better than letting them expire.

You also could have bought 1000 miles to extend the expiry date, no?

 

[Major]

You also could have bought 1000 miles to extend the expiry date, no?

I had already done that and no immediate travel plans

 

[VAG newbie]

LM seems have updated their page and I can't change it to English anymore. Also can't figure out where to click to redeem flights.

Anyone fluent in Spanish can help?

 

[Happy Trails]

LM seems have updated their page and I can't change it to English anymore. Also can't figure out where to click to redeem flights.

Anyone fluent in Spanish can help?

You can set it to English by using the "Idioma" button at the bottom of the login page.
I haven't figured out how to book award flights yet.

 

[Guvner]

LifeMiles

www.lifemiles.com

 

[goldenhorn]

After weeks of being in denial, I'm finally accepting the reality that there's no way my AC trip in J booked with LifeMiles SYD-YVR, ORD-YVR-SYD on June 16 is going ahead.

I did a combination of points and pay (I think I paid about 45%) so need to cancel.

I've had a look on the Lifemiles website and see that they are allowing refunds without a penalty, but cannot see anywhere I can cancel there.

Do I have to go to Avianca.com and cancel the bookings?

 

[luxury-lizard]

AFAIK you need to call then - you could try an e-mail to [email protected]. You won't get the "pay" portion of your ticket back - but all miles (including the ones you purchased) will be returned + taxes refunded and hopefully no cancellation fee.

 

[goldenhorn]

AFAIK you need to call then - you could try an e-mail to [email protected]. You won't get the "pay" portion of your ticket back - but all miles (including the ones you purchased) will be returned + taxes refunded and hopefully no cancellation fee.

Oh damn, I thought I would get the $ back - about $2, 500 I think. So perhaps it would be better for me to try and rebook for new dates next year?

I guess I need to do that on the phone...do you know if a LM award booking can be changed if you find new award availability?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Oh damn, I thought I would get the $ back - about $2, 500 I think. So perhaps it would be better for me to try and rebook for new dates next year?

I guess I need to do that on the phone...do you know if a LM award booking can be changed if you find new award availability?

I have read some reports that there is an on line functionality to request a refund - do it in writing following the email link on their website.

If you wait until the operating flight is cancelled, you won't have to pay the $200 cancellation fee.

If you try and change, there are some pretty heavily limitations on what you can and can't change. Pretty much limited to dates. But there is a $150 fee for changes (USD).

So you might be better waiting until cancellation of the flight.

As luxe-liz pointed out, your 'pay' component will be converted to miles. So you won't get that money back.

 

[goldenhorn]

I have read some reports that there is an on line functionality to request a refund - do it in writing following the email link on their website.

If you wait until the operating flight is cancelled, you won't have to pay the $200 cancellation fee.

If you try and change, there are some pretty heavily limitations on what you can and can't change. Pretty much limited to dates. But there is a $150 fee for changes (USD).

So you might be better waiting until cancellation of the flight.

As luxe-liz pointed out, your 'pay' component will be converted to miles. So you won't get that money back.

OK thank you. Ah, I misunderstood @luxury-lizard!

If I get the 'pay' component back as points, I would be happy with that. I read it that I would lose the pay component.

Thanks for your advice - I'm happy to wait until the flights are cancelled...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK thank you. Ah, I misunderstood @luxury-lizard!

If I get the 'pay' component back as points, I would be happy with that. I read it that I would lose the pay component.

Thanks for your advice - I'm happy to wait until the flights are cancelled...

Yes. The 'pay' component in effect buys you the remaining miles you are using for the award. So Those aren't lost. You'll get your $$ back (taxes etc). The only thing you probably won't get back is the $25 booking fee.

 

[repete]

I just thought i would let you all know that i have now cancelled these flights due to the Coronavirus. They kept saying that I had to pay the cancellation fee but after escalating it and waiting a few weeks all the points were back in my account.

Just to clarify - you've managed to cancel the flights and got the 80,000 points back in your account. How about fees/taxes?
I am slowly stepping foot in to territory I didn't want to explore... I may soon need to reach for the 'cancel' button on mum and dad's special trip to Africa in business thanks to avianca miles slated for June to July that I booked last year

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just to clarify - you've managed to cancel the flights and got the 80,000 points back in your account. How about fees/taxes?
I am slowly stepping foot in to territory I didn't want to explore... I may soon need to reach for the 'cancel' button on mum and dad's special trip to Africa in business thanks to avianca miles slated for June to July that I booked last year

You get all your miles, taxes and any other airline or government fees back, with the exception of the $25 booking fee.

If you have used part miles and part cash for the award itself, the 'part cash' used to top up the miles will be refunded to you as miles. Then on top of that you get your taxes fees and other airline or government fees back.