Avianca LifeMiles – Bookings and Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

It was such a long time ago but I think i found the sing airlines seats actually online??? So have you just called and asked Lifemiles for seats on SG without seeing them?

I did not realise that i could get a flight to/from Syd/BNR/PER using Aeroplan... I have never heard or seen that. I have always just paid my own way.. WOW!!!
Can you please confirm what these are: OZ/NH/BR - Asiana / Nippon / Eva?

There have been the odd occasion where SQ 'regional' inventory has shown across *A booking engines. Flights BKK-SIN are regional, but the onwards flights to Australia are usually premium. There have been rare cases where the flights to Australia were loaded as regional, meaning you could book with SQ.

In my case i had requested a Thai Airways booking to be done manually, but they didn't complete it in time and the seats were lost. They arranged for me to go SQ all the way. Would not have been able to book otherwise.

Any Australian airport is supported by Aeroplan using VA connections. They even use VA to connect with non-*A partners, such as Etihad (for example CDG-AUH-SYD on EY followed by VA to MEL).

Correct OZ/NH/BR are the carriers you mention.

Air China and United also had availability through LM pre-covid, but who dunno when that will come back.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

In my case i had requested a Thai Airways booking to be done manually, but they didn't complete it in time and the seats were lost. They arranged for me to go SQ all the way. Would not have been able to book otherwise.

actually now that you mention it, i think this might be how i also got my Sing Airlines flight from BKK to Mel

 

[Cynicor]

Anyone taking a gamble on the current 155% promo with a USD Fx that isn’t horrendous?
I haven’t checked current availability but recent discussion suggests it may take some time. Not sure if it’s worth the money being tied up- as things improve though, the bonus will probably drop to more regular levels.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Anyone taking a gamble on the current 155% promo with a USD Fx that isn’t horrendous?
I haven’t checked current availability but recent discussion suggests it may take some time. Not sure if it’s worth the money being tied up- as things improve though, the bonus will probably drop to more regular levels.

Unless you had a specific trip in mind, and confirmed availability through LM, I think this should be a ‘pass’.

If you wanted to have some miles for a booking next year which isn’t yet available due to booking windows I’d only be purchasing the ~42%* of base miles required to make an award and using the points-plus-pay top up at the time of booking. The cost of the top up miles are 2-4-1, so not that much of a difference to the 155% promo.

*the sweet spot for top up miles at 1.5c each is somewhere around 42% IIRC. Maybe vary slightly depending on the booking.

 

[Cynicor]

Very true. I have quite a few already tbh, just sat waiting for travel! Can’t wait for WA to open, getting slowly to 90% single, and double should follow

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The only thing to watch out for is LM expiry. They have been extending points validity without much of a fanfare, but I dunno how long they intend to keep doing that. Worth checking and if going down the ‘miles purchase’ route to extend, the 155% promo is as good as any to do it. (There are other ways - of varying complexity - to extend miles. But for some like me it’s just easy to buy some!)

 

[jgm]

I've just about given up on LM, and switched to Aeroplan instead. Air Canada appear to be able to see alot more availability in *A, they also have EY partner availability for Europe, charge in CA$ (just about A$ parity), and have good bonus deals (although not as many as LM). The agents speak proper English, and there is a lot less stuffing around. I still have a heap of LM and will keep topping up with minimum amounts as required to keep them valid until I can use them up.

 

[Guvner]

Lol. How dare those Latin Americans not speak proper English.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've just about given up on LM, and switched to Aeroplan instead. Air Canada appear to be able to see alot more availability in *A, they also have EY partner availability for Europe, charge in CA$ (just about A$ parity), and have good bonus deals (although not as many as LM). The agents speak proper English, and there is a lot less stuffing around. I still have a heap of LM and will keep topping up with minimum amounts as required to keep them valid until I can use them up.

Totally agree! Aeroplan also gives domestic connections in Australia on Virgin… perfect for getting to/from *A carriers ex SYD/BNE.

Just a question… have you been able to book and pay online using an Aussie credit card? Every time I get an error message and have to call to have the payment processed manually. Would love it if there was a solution.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Totally agree! Aeroplan also gives domestic connections in Australia on Virgin… perfect for getting to/from *A carriers ex SYD/BNE.

Just a question… have you been able to book and pay online using an Aussie credit card? Every time I get an error message and have to call to have the payment processed manually. Would love it if there was a solution.

I've had the same problem but just used a valid Canadian address in the CC payment and it was accepted - I guess AmEx, in my case, does not verify the address.

 

[Cynicor]

Are aeroplan miles available on decent buy promos?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are aeroplan miles available on decent buy promos?

Their launch offering was something like 150%. They’ve had a couple at 100%. But lately it’s been 80% (bonus).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've had the same problem but just used a valid Canadian address in the CC payment and it was accepted - I guess AmEx, in my case, does not verify the address.

hmmm… might give that a go! Not sure ‘cause I think 28 Degrees checks the address?

 

[Cynicor]

hmmm… might give that a go! Not sure ‘cause I think 28 Degrees checks the address?

I have to say, I’ve never found any CC company to correlate the address. I have typed what I want for coles MC, st George and Amex no worries.

 

[burmans]

The only thing to watch out for is LM expiry. They have been extending points validity without much of a fanfare, but I dunno how long they intend to keep doing that. Worth checking and if going down the ‘miles purchase’ route to extend, the 155% promo is as good as any to do it. (There are other ways - of varying complexity - to extend miles. But for some like me it’s just easy to buy some!)

Yep, planning this for my wife's account, just so easy compared to the alternatives.

 

[jgm]

Just a question… have you been able to book and pay online using an Aussie credit card? Every time I get an error message and have to call to have the payment processed manually. Would love it if there was a solution.

No. It throws up what looks like a regular expression error (same thing twice), zeroes out the postcode and credit card details and tells you to call. I tried to put in a Canadian postcode, but it knows the Australian requirements on the entry screen and won't let you put in anything else.
I had a TK award where I called to pay, and the agent said it should work if I stored my credit card details. I just found an EY award that was a lot better, and the system accepted my stored details for the cancellation payment, but again through up the same error when I tried to pay for the new ticket. The agent said she would pass the problem on to the technical dept, but I really don't expect to see it changed in a hurry.

Anyhow, skype calls are cheap, and if you call at 7 AM Toronto time, there is virtually no waiting.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No. It throws up what looks like a regular expression error (same thing twice), zeroes out the postcode and credit card details and tells you to call. I tried to put in a Canadian postcode, but it knows the Australian requirements on the entry screen and won't let you put in anything else.
I had a TK award where I called to pay, and the agent said it should work if I stored my credit card details. I just found an EY award that was a lot better, and the system accepted my stored details for the cancellation payment, but again through up the same error when I tried to pay for the new ticket. The agent said she would pass the problem on to the technical dept, but I really don't expect to see it changed in a hurry.

Anyhow, skype calls are cheap, and if you call at 7 AM Toronto time, there is virtually no waiting.

Calling is super easy and the agents are helpful… but i wanted to make a duplicate/impossible booking (a preferred itinerary leaving from AMS and a back-up from LHR). Which the agent may have picked up on and refused to issue! Was hoping to do it incognito!

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

Anyone having any luck booking Lifemiles flights?

There is some discussion above about Areoplan. Are there any threads about aeroplan miles? I can't seem to find anything on here about it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Anyone having any luck booking Lifemiles flights?

There is some discussion above about Areoplan. Are there any threads about aeroplan miles? I can't seem to find anything on here about it.

Comprehensive guide by Matt here: How to Buy & Redeem Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Link at the end of that article to the discussion forum here on AFF.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Anyone having any luck booking Lifemiles flights?

There is some discussion above about Areoplan. Are there any threads about aeroplan miles? I can't seem to find anything on here about it.

Just the other day I booked 2 YVR-SYD on AC in J using LM - had to use 2 accounts and both bookings went through without a hitch. (Finally worked both our LM accounts down to zero - will never buy LM again). I also recommend @Matt's thread on Aeroplan miles - it's a very good program but they rarely have points on sale which is required to make buying miles cost-effective. Also AC have variable pricing on awards on their own metal.