Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[anat0l]

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

Dates I'm looking at are from today to around 1.5 months from today's date.

Yeah, if you're searching with departures on SQ to/from Australia then that is not going to work.

If you like to live on the edge, you'll need to book each of your journeys at earliest 14 days before departure.

If you don't like to live on the edge, you'll need to find availability on another airline, or split the journey and thus increase the cost.

 

[JessicaTam]

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

Yeah, if you're searching with departures on SQ to/from Australia then that is not going to work.

If you like to live on the edge, you'll need to book each of your journeys at earliest 14 days before departure.

If you don't like to live on the edge, you'll need to find availability on another airline, or split the journey and thus increase the cost.

Well I plan to live on the edge. I will be booking my flight from SEA home sometime in November, so I can try SQ J (as long as I get the right aircraft, that is).

 

[anat0l]

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

Well I plan to live on the edge. I will be booking my flight from SEA home sometime in November, so I can try SQ J (as long as I get the right aircraft, that is).

To be real, unless the capacity is truly swamped in due to the season, it isn't actually too bad odds, even in J. From the USA, though, could be a slight challenge.

 

[hummel]

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

FWIW I book within 7 days on SQ J using LM, MEL-SIN-CAN is the routing. We just book the one way as no idea how long we will be in China.

Might not get the exact date/aircraft but the value is impossible to beat.

This has worked 6+ times this year.

 

[drron]

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

Ah the wonders of the lifemiles website.Was away during the last promo.Did take my Avianca details with me but obviously took a dislike for trying to access from BKK and froze our accounts.Have rung twice since with no result.Tried to log on when this promo came out still locked out.
Tried again tonight as off tomorrow and I was allowed straight into my account.mrsdrron's was locked but able to change password on line so both of us got a lot more miles!

 

[anat0l]

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

FWIW I book within 7 days on SQ J using LM, MEL-SIN-CAN is the routing. We just book the one way as no idea how long we will be in China.

Might not get the exact date/aircraft but the value is impossible to beat.

This has worked 6+ times this year.

I can't imagine that those two sectors could be ridiculously busy at any given time, or at least the frequency means it can't be too difficult.


Hmmm... just realised that after this promotion, not only are the mileage prices going to increase (if not redeemed before the changeover date), but the mileage price will also increase, which is a compounding effect (when purchasing miles in the future or using the points+pay technique). Oh well, relatively speaking, it's still good value.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

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

I can't imagine that those two sectors could be ridiculously busy at any given time, or at least the frequency means it can't be too difficult.


Hmmm... just realised that after this promotion, not only are the mileage prices going to increase (if not redeemed before the changeover date), but the mileage price will also increase, which is a compounding effect (when purchasing miles in the future or using the points+pay technique). Oh well, relatively speaking, it's still good value.

Its decreasing on several awards ex australia

 

[HWilliams]

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

If you like to live on the edge, you'll need to book each of your journeys at earliest 14 days before departure.

Well that's what we kinda decided, but our departure date we were willing to prolong for around a month. So from early this month to early next month. But so far no luck getting any decent tickets. As stated I have checked T-14 dates extensively and can't find any reasonable ones out of Istanbul, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens or Rome. Last we want is to go TG as we had a very bad experience with them on J. Going to keep checking and perhaps I can get a Lufthansa from Frankfurt or something.

It's just not as easy as perhaps what is indicated. Granted, it is kinda peak time for returning from Europe which is perhaps causing these issues.

 

[anat0l]

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

Well that's what we kinda decided, but our departure date we were willing to prolong for around a month. So from early this month to early next month. But so far no luck getting any decent tickets. As stated I have checked T-14 dates extensively and can't find any reasonable ones out of Istanbul, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens or Rome. Last we want is to go TG as we had a very bad experience with them on J. Going to keep checking and perhaps I can get a Lufthansa from Frankfurt or something.

It's just not as easy as perhaps what is indicated. Granted, it is kinda peak time for returning from Europe which is perhaps causing these issues.

Well the peak time travel is not helping. That said, I just did random searches for two Business Class seats leaving a couple of European ports going to Melbourne within the next couple of days, and there's availability indeed! And no, it's not all on TG, though cutting out TG from your searches will naturally reduce your options.

If you have any more demands on top of that, then again your options will reduce considerably and/or you will increase the cost of your journey.

Given the season and also that the redemption is for two people, I'm surprised myself that there are seats available anyway, and so close to today.

 

[robcuk]

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

When I bought SQ award tickets last month from BKK SIN SYD on one booking I selected Singapore Airlines from the drop down menu without doing that the tickets did not show up - so perhaps try that? Good luck & just keep trying those European cities & more!

 

[Limewood]

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

If two of us join this program is there a waiting period before being able to buy miles?

Once we have them and find flights how is the booking done having separate membership?.

Is there a link to miles required between cities?.

 

[anna2103]

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

If two of us join this program is there a waiting period before being able to buy miles?

Once we have them and find flights how is the booking done having separate membership?.

Is there a link to miles required between cities?.

Yes 14 day wait - so if you koin now, can get in before the end of the promo period.

You will need to make 2 separate bookings.

See previous days posts for mileage regions

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

If two of us join this program is there a waiting period before being able to buy miles?

Once we have them and find flights how is the booking done having separate membership?.

Is there a link to miles required between cities?.

you need to be a fully signed up member at the date the promotion was announced, ie 2 September.

if you were not already a member at that date, sign up anyways to be ready for the next promo

 

[ketsuzei]

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

One thing I haven't seen is a list of what cities/countries fall into which zones. In particular, where does central Asia stop and north Asia start? Noob questions, I know.

Down the bottom of this page is a good start:

https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/inc/starredawards.aspx

 

[JessicaTam]

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

Down the bottom of this page is a good start:

https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/inc/starredawards.aspx

Thanks, Just spotted that as you posted and deleted my request.

You were too quick for me!

 

[PlutekPlutek]

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

How does this promo compare to the 100% bonus that US Airways are also now offering? For going AU-EU which is a better option:
A) from a price point of view
B) general availability of seats
C) flexibility - the 8 hr rule

When travelling to/from Europe I always like to make a stop in Asia for 2 nights or so. I know this isn't possible with Avianca- but could you spilt the booking into an AU-Asia return as well as Asia-Eu return? Would that cost a lot more points than AU-EU ?

 

[quokka77]

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

Price wise it's not much different. Seat availability is perhaps a little better on Star rather than OW out of Australia and Asia (depends on specific city pairs). USDM is definitely more flexible on routing and timing, but the downside is that one ways are not permitted.

 

[scwappy]

Just been Thai'ed!!

After keeping close tabs on our Thai flights between SYD and PNH (due to the advice received on here, many thanks). Thai are no longer offering J between BKK and PNH. The booking in Check my Trip is showing

"Please note that the Airline has cancelled one or more of your selected flights. Please modify your reservation, or contact your travel agent for further information. (9115) "

The flight is now showing as confirmed in premium economy between BKK and PNH. Couldnt really care what this is, but interested in SYD-BKK to be in J.

Do I need to do anything, or will just turing up at the airport Thai wil issue BP for J to BKK and PE to PNH? Or is there a chance the whole trip may be cancelled?

Any ideas??

 

[travelislife]

Re: Just been Thai'ed!!

After keeping close tabs on our Thai flights between SYD and PNH (due to the advice received on here, many thanks). Thai are no longer offering J between BKK and PNH. The booking in Check my Trip is showing

"Please note that the Airline has cancelled one or more of your selected flights. Please modify your reservation, or contact your travel agent for further information. (9115) "

The flight is now showing as confirmed in premium economy between BKK and PNH. Couldnt really care what this is, but interested in SYD-BKK to be in J.

Do I need to do anything, or will just turing up at the airport Thai wil issue BP for J to BKK and PE to PNH? Or is there a chance the whole trip may be cancelled?

Any ideas??

You should be fine. It is because Thai uses it's subsidary Thai Smile on that route. The seating won't actually change from what you would have got in J (ie European Business) they have just rebranded it as PE. Don't let Lifemiles know though as they might want to cancel the whole award as they don't do mixed classes. Thai doing this is annoying as now you won't be able to book J all the way through.

 

[N860CR]

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

Made my first booking with surprising ease. SYD-PEK-CDG, one way, over Christmas so I was impressed with availability. Just under 1500USD in total.

I received an email overnight which I can sort of comprehend as some kind of first booking promo (it's in Spanish) but can't make out specifics. Can anyone enlighten me?