Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[jgm]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

This appeared to be down to bmi's then ownership by LH though...and it seemed the me that right at the very end the access to SQ dried up.

Not so. I got 2 seats in J on SQ 380 SIN-LHR on 3 May for mid April next year (basically as soon as they became available). & the return again on the 380 on 28 May. I initially wanted to come back with TK from either CDG or AMS to avoid the UK departure slug, but BMI weren't able to see any TK for about 2 weeks near the end, so I grabbed the SQ seats as soon as they became available. Then with only 2 or 3 days to go, BMI could suddenly see TK availability again, but it wasn't worth the risk trying to change & hoping to get them ticketed in time.

 

[bcworld]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Not so. I got 2 seats in J on SQ 380 SIN-LHR on 3 May for mid April next year (basically as soon as they became available). & the return again on the 380 on 28 May. I initially wanted to come back with TK from either CDG or AMS to avoid the UK departure slug, but BMI weren't able to see any TK for about 2 weeks near the end, so I grabbed the SQ seats as soon as they became available. Then with only 2 or 3 days to go, BMI could suddenly see TK availability again, but it wasn't worth the risk trying to change & hoping to get them ticketed in time.

I tried many times to get MEL-SIN-PVG towards the end on flights that were wide open for Kris saver awards...I always got a very quick nothing available. I also noticed that the SQ premium awards thread on FT got very, very quiet.

 

[burmans]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

I wonder why there is a delay with SQ but seemingly not other carriers? SQ's superiority complex at work again?

I think they maybe have no availability after the recent stuffup where a huge no of redemption were freely available on UA (and others, some booked on AC and UA) over the conversion weekend. As far as I can tell these redemption's are being honored.

 

[bcworld]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

I think they maybe have no availability after the recent stuffup where a huge no of redemption were freely available on UA (and others, some booked on AC and UA) over the conversion weekend. As far as I can tell these redemption's are being honored.

The message about SQ not being available til September was on the LifeMiles website before all that went down though.

 

[jgm]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

I tried many times to get MEL-SIN-PVG towards the end on flights that were wide open for Kris saver awards...I always got a very quick nothing available. I also noticed that the SQ premium awards thread on FT got very, very quiet.

I could see more Kris Saver than BMI as well, but with 3 flights daily between SIN & LHR there was one each way that they could see too. Ended up with long stopovers at SIN both ways, but getting J for around the same price as I would have had to pay for Y is adequate compensation. Besides we can always relax in the lounge for a few more hours. FWIW the fact that we were looking over 330 days out may have helped. There were others also reporting SQ success on FT right up to the end. The consensus seemed to be that if you got through to Pune you were ok (my experience both times), but if it was the extras they roped in in the UK you were usually out of luck. In any case it was the usual story with DC - if you didn't get anywhere, HUACA.

 

[burmans]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

The message about SQ not being available til September was on the LifeMiles website before all that went down though.

The message may have been there but so was availability!!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

The message may have been there but so was availability!!

yes, and now it's not. coincidence or?

 

[bcworld]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

The message may have been there but so was availability!!

Supposedly. I'm pretty sure what we were seeing on LifeMiles at the beginning was 100% phantom.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

when my friend told the agent that she wanted to redeem a flight. the agent promptly informed my friend that all agents in charge of redemptions spoke only spanish. my friend, shocked, told the agent that it was not true because in her last phone call, she had reached two redemption agents who spoke english.

There's word on FT that if this happens ask for that the person you are speaking to (who speaks English) be guided on how to do the redemption by a redemptions supervisor (who speaks Spanish). They should be able to do it for you.

 

[Edward@MEL]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

I tried many times to get MEL-SIN-PVG towards the end on flights that were wide open for Kris saver awards...I always got a very quick nothing available. I also noticed that the SQ premium awards thread on FT got very, very quiet.

On the Route operated by 380 and 77W and 345, Usually J class tickets only available with in 1 month perior to departure, and the seat control release redemption ticket one by one

Just wait and use aeroplan to search it, Maybe you can get SQ F Class in some route

 

[fatlady]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

There's word on FT that if this happens ask for that the person you are speaking to (who speaks English) be guided on how to do the redemption by a redemptions supervisor (who speaks Spanish). They should be able to do it for you.

oh i see! thanks for that smit0847!

 

[arraitch]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Well, we decided to dip our toes into the AV LM bathwater just a little way and right at the bell too, using the $30USD for 1K and sharing routine. The upshot is that, after spending $615USD, we have 40K of brand new shiny LMs, which is enough (along with ~$800) for both of us to fly PER-AKL return or maybe even as far as RAR or NAN or (inventory permitting) PPT return in J. Not up there for value with US DM perhaps, but I do look forward to booking it online!

 

[wafliron]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Decided to "jump in the deep end" as well: just booked SYD-xBKK-CDG on TG in F for mid-August. 747 SYD-xBKK, 8 hour stopover in BKK to thoroughly enjoy the Thai F Lounge and Spa, followed by 777 suites xBKK-CDG. I assume the 747's TG use on SYD-BKK have the "newer" non-suites F cabin - i.e. not brand-new-suites, but not all-series?

I bought 2,000 miles and did the back-and-forth transfers up to 48,000 (total cost $765 USD), and then paid the rest in cash ($709.78 USD + $84.49 USD taxes) - total cost $1,559.27 USD. Probably could have done it a bit cheaper by optimising the number of miles I used (40k was the minimum) and how I acquired them, but I was in a rush.

A question here: how do I know that the ticket has actually been issued? I was given a reservation number (PNR) (and sent a confirmation e-mail) instantly, and when checking the booking via Thai's website this morning it says "Document 202-246081xx_x" under "e-ticket numbers". Does this mean the ticket has been issued?


Finally, a couple of issues I ran into that others booking through LifeMiles should be aware of:

1) Like some other posters, I had my CC (Citi Select) blocked after buying / transferring LifeMiles. I managed to get through all five transactions required to get the 48,000 miles, but when I tried to use the CC 10 minutes later to pay the cash component of the booking it was declined.

2) The fact my CC was declined when trying to make the booking actually turned into quite an issue: when it failed I ended up with a reservation number (and the award seats I wanted being held in that reservation), but no miles withdrawn from my account and no info on how to complete the booking - you don't get a second opportunity to enter CC details.

I tried live chat to get the issue fixed, but they simply told me I had to call. Called the US Avianca number (+1 (1) 800 284 2622, for reference) and after a bit of stuffing around was advised that the only option was for them to cancel the existing reservation, hope the award seats were added back to available inventory, and then re-book - they had no ability to process payment from a different CC and complete the original booking. This made me a bit nervous, but luckily as soon as the original reservation was cancelled the seats reappeared online and I was able to complete a new booking (using a different CC!).

So, my advice to anyone who is buying LifeMiles and making a booking at the same time would be to ensure you have a couple of CCs handy, and use a different CC to complete the booking then you used to buy the miles as it's a major PITA if your card gets declined during the booking process for any reason.

And finally, for the record, when I called Avianca's USA number I didn't have any issues with being passed from agent-to-agent, and the agent I spoke to was fairly competent and spoke to spoke good English - he could well have been a native (American) English speaker. The only issue was the very poor quality of the phone line, which did make the conversation a bit challenging at times - if Avianca invested in some decent telecoms then I'd have absolutely no issue calling them.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

yes the 202- is the Avianca issued e-ticket. So all good to go there.

my NAB Gold Banking account has NOT been blocked on numerous TACA Panama transactions as they come out on the statement for mileage transactions.

 

[wafliron]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

yes the 202- is the Avianca issued e-ticket. So all good to go there.

Great - thanks for the advice dazz. Can't wait...

 

[Flashback]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Would also suggest even a pre-call to your CC issuer advising of the multiple tx that are about to happen.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

so just to confirm AU-Europe in F for $1550?? Wow. Compared to US dividend miles of about $3000. Bit of a bargain!

edited... oh - is that one way??

 

[bcworld]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

so just to confirm AU-Europe in F for $1550?? Wow. Compared to US dividend miles of about $3000. Bit of a bargain!

edited... oh - is that one way??

Yes, it's OW.

 

[wafliron]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

so just to confirm AU-Europe in F for $1550?? Wow. Compared to US dividend miles of about $3000. Bit of a bargain!

edited... oh - is that one way??

Yes, it was one-way unfortunately.

SYD-xBKK-CDG in TG F replaced an existing SQ J (award) booking MEL-xSIN-CDG. I would have replaced the return MH J (award) CDG-xKUL-MEL with TG F as well, but unfortuately Enrich (MH) award bookings are non-cancellable - the best you can do is change dates/routing.

 

[burmans]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

So, my advice to anyone who is buying LifeMiles and making a booking at the same time would be to ensure you have a couple of CCs handy, and use a different CC to complete the booking then you used to buy the miles as it's a major PITA if your card gets declined during the booking process for any reason.

I had a similar issue with CC usage during the US Grand Slam last year, and had a few CC's stopped temporarily until I rang, they ALL told me that if you tell them advance you will be making a number of overseas transactions they will make a note on your CC file and this is less likely to occur.

All CC companies also release this stop quickly when you ring them and explain (with appropriate ID so they know its really you), they just think these are potentially fraudulent and are trying to protect you. For that I think we actually should be thankful.