Avianca LifeMiles – Bookings and Discussion

[Clayton]

I had a similar problem with a LH intra-Europe flight. Called Lifemiles multiple times got nobody who could do anything, the last one told me to contact LH. So I did, on the LH website, and the change was accepted, and everything I checked indicated the flight was locked in..... until check-in time and the flights said I had to contact LH customer service. Did so multiple times and each diligently investigated and each time they said they needed to get instructions from another department and would call me back shortly. Never a call back. Finally one LH agent pursued and advised the ticket needed to be reticketed by Avianca. Spiralling towards too late to take alternatoive action. So quickly booked another ticket on the new flight, and once confirmed contacted Lifemiles to cancel the original ticket because LH had cancelled the flight and wouldn't re-ticket without Avianca standing in. The LM agent was very diligent and posted a request to another team to refund due to partner fault and after waiting about 6 weeks, the points and all cash component has been refunded.

Moral to this story, when a Lifemiles booking has a schedule change, be very careful as its likely your ticket will go permanently into limbo.

 

[Flashback]

I had a similar problem with a LH intra-Europe flight. Called Lifemiles multiple times got nobody who could do anything, the last one told me to contact LH. So I did, on the LH website, and the change was accepted, and everything I checked indicated the flight was locked in..... until check-in time and the flights said I had to contact LH customer service. Did so multiple times and each diligently investigated and each time they said they needed to get instructions from another department and would call me back shortly. Never a call back. Finally one LH agent pursued and advised the ticket needed to be reticketed by Avianca. Spiralling towards too late to take alternatoive action. So quickly booked another ticket on the new flight, and once confirmed contacted Lifemiles to cancel the original ticket because LH had cancelled the flight and wouldn't re-ticket without Avianca standing in. The LM agent was very diligent and posted a request to another team to refund due to partner fault and after waiting about 6 weeks, the points and all cash component has been refunded.

Moral to this story, when a Lifemiles booking has a schedule change, be very careful as its likely your ticket will go permanently into limbo.

The same is true for any airline really. This was also a big issue when using US Airways Dividend Miles. Always, always check for the e-Ticket number!

 

[repete]

Thanks for that…emailed them but said I should call…BUT is this just tonight? but all their numbers do not work…I have called them a million times in that past but nothing working at the moment…anyone else having same issue?

Have you had any success making contact? I had a positive experience with an agent earlier in the year. Looking back at my Skype record it seems to have been via calling 787-1800-2842-622. That might be one you've tried but thought it worth mentioning in case.
Much to my surprise the agent on that call voluntarily offered a much better routing on Singapore Air home compared to a booking with EVA that had some issues! You just never know with the agents sometimes it seems...

 

[BobbyFlyer]

Have you had any success making contact? I had a positive experience with an agent earlier in the year. Looking back at my Skype record it seems to have been via calling 787-1800-2842-622. That might be one you've tried but thought it worth mentioning in case.
Much to my surprise the agent on that call voluntarily offered a much better routing on Singapore Air home compared to a booking with EVA that had some issues! You just never know with the agents sometimes it seems...

Thanks will try again tonight!! Really appreciate this forum in terms of “de-stressing” me!

 

[Flashback]

It seems like manual bookings have gone the way of the dodo.

LifeMiles has ended manual bookings by email

LifeMiles used to offer the ability to make manual bookings by emailing them, but it looks like that option has now disappeared.

frequentmiler.com

 

[bcworld]

We had some (passport) dramas during our recent trip to Europe which meant we had to rapidly change plans and find easy options. Managed to burn some of the LifeMiles stash:

2x FAO - MUC on LH J - 40k + 85USD booked 2 days out
1x MUC - VIE - IST on LH J / TK Y 18k + 98USD booked 3 days out

Glad to find a way to burn some of these things!

LH J as expected...but TK Y was great on the short flight VIE - IST.

 

[ozmouse]

i tried calling just now to cancel reward. 10am aussie time to usa 1800 number, and on hold 30 min. does anyone have any better suggests for number or times to call?

 

[bernardblack]

Last week I booked HND-SYD on NH in J for the end of the calendar. Initially they only had the evening flight for that day, and I wanted the daytime one, but a few hours later it appeared and I grabbed it. 40k LifeMiles plus ~USD80.

 

[ozmouse]

i tried calling just now to cancel reward. 10am aussie time to usa 1800 number, and on hold 30 min. does anyone have any better suggests for number or times to call?

HUCA.... same number. answered straight away. cancelled 2 rewards with pin and credit card email 9:50min!

 

[Finale]

Just saw BKK-SYD TG J showing up on LM and same availibility as United. Not sure when they could start booking TG J again but this is cool. I'm pretty sure I searched this route a couple of weeks ago with no result. Just booked and ticketed with no issue.

 

[ozmouse]

HUCA.... same number. answered straight away. cancelled 2 rewards with pin and credit card email 9:50min!

oops.... 5 days have passed... no points in account yet.....

 

[bernardblack]

Just saw BKK-SYD TG J showing up on LM and same availibility as United. Not sure when they could start booking TG J again but this is cool. I'm pretty sure I searched this route a couple of weeks ago with no result. Just booked and ticketed with no issue.

Yeah, I saw a TG result last week but it didn't appear when I went back and it was available through United still.

Post automatically merged: Aug 25, 2023

I've also seen fleeting SQ availability in J.

 

[burmans]

Just saw BKK-SYD TG J showing up on LM and same availibility as United. Not sure when they could start booking TG J again but this is cool. I'm pretty sure I searched this route a couple of weeks ago with no result. Just booked and ticketed with no issue.

Nice!!

 

[seritonin]

Just booked 2 X J BKK-MEL in February. Ticketed straight away and no issue. I think TG is back back on Lifemiles.

 

[Gold Member]

The recent TG availability on LM is great news. Let’s hope it stays this way and is not a temporary glitch.

As we all know, not all partner awards are priced the same between partner/affiliate airlines with LM very likely paying among the lowest rung for any premium cabin awards, hence less availability. So I wonder if it’s TG’s loads, and yield management are releasing more award seats in the super cheap award category which LM can avail.

 

[Notyourbag]

Are we also seeing TG J availability to Europe?

 

[drron]

Close in some J redemptions SYD -BKK in J but on NH to HND then NH or TG on to BKK. Still only 50000 points

 

[AviatorPJ]

Just booked 2 X J BKK-MEL in February. Ticketed straight away and no issue. I think TG is back back on Lifemiles.

Same here. Was able to book TG J MEL-BKK mid October through LM. Saw availability come up on seats.aero. Cancelled a SQ J booking I'd made through Aeroplan for the same day after I'd received the TG ticket. LM PNR issued was immediately recognized on the TG - albeit clunky - online website and could select seat. I couldn't change/update any of the other TG passenger information fields online, though. Appreciate to know how/if other AFFs have had success to include own email address, into the TG online system under their PNR? I'm not a Royal Orchid member. Used the LM 140% bonus offer on its last day to secure the TG seat ,which was a doubly good outcome.

 

[Happy Trails]

I couldn't change/update any of the other TG passenger information fields online, though. Appreciate to know how/if other AFFs have had success to include own email address, into the TG online system under their PNR?

I had an LM redemption with TG earlier this year and those fields became available once online check-in opened.

 

[Cynicor]

Just need PER-BKK back. Wonder if it will come anytime next few years