Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[BobbyFlyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Can anyone help - I am trying to cancel an award ticket. I phoned yesterday, their credit card system was not working. I phoned again today, they said a different system is not working and try to call back in 2 hours. I did that and they transferred me to someone else who said they could not do it and hung up. I am getting really deperate, its an 85,000 miles flight so I want those points back. Would be grateful for any advice _ PS am ringing US call centre

I also called yesterday as well and it took me just over 1 hour to cancel 1 ticket (in the past i would do this in 20 mins). Very slow and not sure what was happening behind the scenes. I was warned at onset that they had a large amount of voulme and that it would take awhile. Depends on how urgent you need to cancel but i'd wait another couple days until they get themselevs sorted.

 

[Alanslegal]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

If you have, 33,333 points at present you could book a ticket and cancel to get the points. If you have any points at all you could keep booking and cancelling tickets, progressively working up to 50,000 points. That said, it'll cost you $50 each time in cancellation fees. If you have no points, other than getting a LifeMiles CC because you are a foreigner, I have no idea, sorry.

Thanks for the suggestion but its a little too much 'effort' that I am unwilling to do. Also I reviewed our accounts and we only have 1,000 left. We redeemed >300k in the past 12 months. I knew I should have bought some more last month.

Not sure if this may interest you, Alanslegal:

Avianca 25% Partner Points To LifeMiles Conversion Bonus June 2 ? 30, 2014 | LoyaltyLobby

It's likely not the best value, unless you're sitting on a pile of points in those respective programmes, but depending on how much you're in a hurry (or how much of a cash thrift you want to be in the case). It could give you at least the seed points you need to generate the rest required.

I did take a look at that option too. The coversion, say for example IHG:LM at 10:2 didn't seem good value Guess I will sit tight for the next promotion.

 

[anna2103]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I've had much better results calling the El Salvador call centre.

Thanks - is that the general Columbia no - it is a bit unclear on the website

 

[burmans]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Thanks for the suggestion but its a little too much 'effort' that I am unwilling to do. Also I reviewed our accounts and we only have 1,000 left. We redeemed >300k in the past 12 months. I knew I should have bought some more last month.

Never mind, on past experience they will have another buy or share promo within 3 months.

 

[markis10]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Never mind, on past experience they will have another buy or share promo within 3 months.

Probably next month, although the annual limits might come into play.

 

[wchiri]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Hey mate, it's just a one way flight to perth somewhere between sept 21 and 24. Sorry that wasn't clear

 

[gizzard]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Thanks - is that the general Columbia no - it is a bit unclear on the website

I'm not sure about the El Salvador number but I have had success using the Colombia number in the past.

 

[Poptarts]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Question please: I need to purchase a ticket (via miles and points) that I may end up cancelling if our plans fall through. Since I would get my miles refunded from cancelling the ticket, does it matter if I purchase the ticket during a promo or not? I assume purchasing during a promo would only be the best value IF I was going to keep the ticket. Am I missing something? If it makes any difference, my current balance of miles is not enough for the ticket so I need to purchase a lot more before I can purchase with the cash/miles option. I should have purchased extra during the last promo and failed to do so.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Question please: I need to purchase a ticket (via miles and points) that I may end up cancelling if our plans fall through. Since I would get my miles refunded from cancelling the ticket, does it matter if I purchase the ticket during a promo or not? I assume purchasing during a promo would only be the best value IF I was going to keep the ticket. Am I missing something? If it makes any difference, my current balance of miles is not enough for the ticket so I need to purchase a lot more before I can purchase with the cash/miles option. I should have purchased extra during the last promo and failed to do so.

Thanks in advance!

You're not actually purchasing a promo ticket. What most AFFers do is purchase the miles during a promo for 2:1 and then make their bookings.

The only promo fares I've seen is if you're actually flying on Avianca/Taca direct, then they seem to have different rates for the same flight depending on demand.

You can buy up to 60% of the miles you need during the booking process. usually around the 50% mark gets you close to a 2:1 promo cost. If you buy in this way and cancel the ticket then you will get back all miles and no cash, except maybe the taxes back after the refund fee.

 

[Poptarts]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

You're not actually purchasing a promo ticket. What most AFFers do is purchase the miles during a promo for 2:1 and then make their bookings......

Sorry, that's not what I meant. My current mileage balance is 1,100 so at this time I cannot participate in purchasing a ticket with cash and miles. Should I wait until the next promo or purchase miles now so I can purchase a ticket with miles and cash? I'm thinking that if I cancel the ticket, it would not matter that I am not purchasing the miles during a non promo period and paying a higher rate. Am I missing something?

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Sorry, that's not what I meant. My current mileage balance is 1,100 so at this time I cannot participate in purchasing a ticket with cash and miles. Should I wait until the next promo or purchase miles now so I can purchase a ticket with miles and cash? I'm thinking that if I cancel the ticket, it would not matter that I am not purchasing the miles during a non promo period and paying a higher rate. Am I missing something?

You still don't make it very clear what you need to do. If you cancel your booking you will be refunded miles + taxes only...not miles + cash + taxes...I assume you are aware of that?

Example: you want to book an 87.5k miles one way award to Europe. If you do that with 35k miles + cash + taxes you will be refunded 87.5k miles + taxes.

You could potentially use this to generate some cheap miles, each time wearing the $75 cost to book and then cancel.

If you are OK with buying the full price miles then back to your original question, there is no difference when getting a refund...you will still not get any of your cash component back.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Sorry, that's not what I meant. My current mileage balance is 1,100 so at this time I cannot participate in purchasing a ticket with cash and miles. Should I wait until the next promo or purchase miles now so I can purchase a ticket with miles and cash? I'm thinking that if I cancel the ticket, it would not matter that I am not purchasing the miles during a non promo period and paying a higher rate. Am I missing something?

You'd still be loosing out on the minimum 40% of miles you're buying at the full rate.

They seem to do the promo in may and dec each year. depending when you're thinking of travelling the next promo might work for you?

 

[BobbyFlyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

for those that are interested, think i just found lifemiles SQ first class A380 ticket....SIN-BOM within 14 days....convenient as it links to LH first class on its 747 to FRA...

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

for those that are interested, think i just found lifemiles SQ first class A380 ticket....SIN-BOM within 14 days....convenient as it links to LH first class on its 747 to FRA...

SIN - BOM has long shown F availability on the 77W and it's not a great shock it continues with suites. Just check carefully the transit situation at BOM...I don't think it's particularly straight forward or friendly.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

for those that are interested, think i just found lifemiles SQ first class A380 ticket....SIN-BOM within 14 days....convenient as it links to LH first class on its 747 to FRA...

SIN - BOM has long shown F availability on the 77W and it's not a great shock it continues with suites. Just check carefully the transit situation at BOM...I don't think it's particularly straight forward or friendly.

I'm almost tempted to go next week!!

 

[BobbyFlyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I cant seem to get any EVA J seats to USA anymore. As of a couple weeks ago was normal to find up to 4 J seats to US from TPE 11 months out, but now nothing. Anyone know whats happening?

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I cant seem to get any EVA J seats to USA anymore. As of a couple weeks ago was normal to find up to 4 J seats to US from TPE 11 months out, but now nothing. Anyone know whats happening?

I've read on FT lots of issues with TPE-LAX...are you talking about all routes? It seemed to coincide with when a certain blogger went to the DoT with their cabotage Eva issue.

 

[BobbyFlyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I've read on FT lots of issues with TPE-LAX...are you talking about all routes? It seemed to coincide with when a certain blogger went to the DoT with their cabotage Eva issue.

Yes all routes. Just nothing available at all.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Some info on TG SYD changes.

US Dividend Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here. - Page 168

 

[SingaporeDon]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I've read on FT lots of issues with TPE-LAX...are you talking about all routes? It seemed to coincide with when a certain blogger went to the DoT with their cabotage Eva issue.

I can still see Eva availability, especially T-14, to the USA