Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[prozac]

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

Patience is a virtue. If you really want it bad enough, it's the price you pay. I think in sport they call it 'unrewarded running'.
................................................................
I assumed that's what everyone else does too!

That's good (or not) as it confirms what I am doing. So it is not me....

Yep. it is a slog, but the benefits outweigh the time spent IMHO.

I can't begin to explain the permutations I tried before I found FCO-MUC-FRA-IAD LH J just to get the 748.

I am usually about to doze off when the results turn up. Generally I do not get every leg available or the only result would be in whY.

As an aside, does anyone see the drop in the USD/AUD forex rate a disincentive?

 

[Princess Fiona]

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

Had an email from Lifemiles saying I can buy another 25K with 100% Promo over and above the 150K I already bought. Don't know if it's general or targeted

 

[hummel]

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

it's the standard seat map for TG's own 77Ws - 2 class, with flat seats in a staggered arrangement for business. Preferred seats are the window seats, giving a buffer between you and the aisle.

The seats are reportedly somewhat short in length, so side-sleeping may be the order of the day. EF seats are cosy for a couple, but not something you would want to share with a stranger.

Yep after I posted i did some investigation and realises the old angled seats aren't every flight.

Have flown the angled many times but not the lie flat so hopefully I do t get tg'd!

 

[TheEmu]

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

Had an email from Lifemiles saying I can buy another 25K with 100% Promo over and above the 150K I already bought. Don't know if it's general or targeted
View attachment 35137

It is targeted: This promotion is exclusive for LifeMiles members with a registered email and have received the email with the promotion; This promotion applies for members that as of September 19th, 2014, have achieved the limit of 150.000 purchase (including the bonus for the promotional miles purchase)
MrsTheEmu and I got one each, so pretty happy to put another 100k into the LM bank as I was already maxed out this year.
MrsTheEmu now a big fan of LM after great Thai J flights in January and J flights booked now for the whole TheEmu flock to join me in the Middle Kingdom for Christmas, for basically the cost of Y. And it is always a wonderful thing to make MrsTheEmu a happy camper

 

[TheEmu]

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

it's the standard seat map for TG's own 77Ws - 2 class, with flat seats in a staggered arrangement for business. Preferred seats are the window seats, giving a buffer between you and the aisle.

The seats are reportedly somewhat short in length, so side-sleeping may be the order of the day. EF seats are cosy for a couple, but not something you would want to share with a stranger.

Had this configuration several times in the last few months and I like it. The window seats are great for privacy and I found them quite comfortable. I'm only 177cm so had no problem with the length.

 

[prozac]

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

Just playing around, managed to get 2 one way J FRA-SYD flying Air China for 175,000pts. That's about $2,600usd without the 2:1 offer. Now if I booked SQ at less than 14 days to say ZRH, MUC, FRA, CDG, well you get the picture, just somewhere in that region, I would have a return trip in J for 2 for I'd expect somewhere in the order of $5,200-5,500 usd or about aud$6,200 in today's money. Is that ok for a short booked sojourn?
What is Air China like?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

What is Air China like?

Air China is good! At least on their A330-200. Great beds. Perhaps one of the best business class beds.

The 77W however is reported to have ultra short beds, and the positioning of the side seats means the aisle person is kind of looking over the shoulder of the window pax. A bit odd. But both LH and CA have gone for that arrangement.

Service is very friendly - as long as you are understanding of the language barrier. Food is mediocre and served very quickly. The plain salad was fine. Depending on the crew, canapes, entree, main and dessert can sometimes come out all in the first 5 mins. you'll have to find room on your tray to accommodate them. Which is superb for over night flights or for wanting to sleep.

 

[JessicaTam]

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

It is targeted: This promotion is exclusive for LifeMiles members with a registered email and have received the email with the promotion; This promotion applies for members that as of September 19th, 2014, have achieved the limit of 150.000 purchase (including the bonus for the promotional miles purchase)
MrsTheEmu and I got one each, so pretty happy to put another 100k into the LM bank as I was already maxed out this year.
MrsTheEmu now a big fan of LM after great Thai J flights in January and J flights booked now for the whole TheEmu flock to join me in the Middle Kingdom for Christmas, for basically the cost of Y. And it is always a wonderful thing to make MrsTheEmu a happy camper

Curious. I have received the offer, yet have not come close to reaching the 150k limit.

 

[boomy]

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

Had an email from Lifemiles saying I can buy another 25K with 100% Promo over and above the 150K I already bought. Don't know if it's general or targeted
View attachment 35137

Got that too. I see they know how much I like buying their miles

 

[Wozz]

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

I didn't get this - probably because I did not participate in this round's 2 for 1 offer

 

[TheEmu]

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

We will try Air China's J service on 01/01. CA959 is listed as a 77L, so a regional 2x2x2 config. according to the seat map. This is fine for us on a 4.5 hour afternoon flight and I'm looking forward to trying it out. I have flown CA regional/domestic in Y a number times some years ago and it was generally ok - much like using the fast trains but with lots of delays...

 

[hossein_au]

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

Curious. I have received the offer, yet have not come close to reaching the 150k limit.

Well, I've also received the offer, and have never bought any LM points at all!!

 

[TheEmu]

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

Curious. I have received the offer, yet have not come close to reaching the 150k limit.

I maxed my account early in the year. We maxed MTE's a/c in the current one. We will top up again, thank you LifeMiles!
I have changed my redemption strategy - I was finding the sweet spot when booking, now I am simply using mimimum points, max cash - it's still fantastic value IMHO.

 

[prozac]

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

Air China is good! At least on their A330-200. Great beds. Perhaps one of the best business class beds.

The 77W however is reported to have ultra short beds, and the positioning of the side seats means the aisle person is kind of looking over the shoulder of the window pax. A bit odd. But both LH and CA have gone for that arrangement.

Service is very friendly - as long as you are understanding of the language barrier. Food is mediocre and served very quickly. The plain salad was fine. Depending on the crew, canapes, entree, main and dessert can sometimes come out all in the first 5 mins. you'll have to find room on your tray to accommodate them. Which is superb for over night flights or for wanting to sleep.

Thanks for the feedback M_T. The flights FRA-PVG and PVG-SYD are each A330. Am not booking, just trying a few dummies.

 

[RB]

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

Re the Mile Purchase offer I received the email but Mrs RB did not. Our accounts have basically been handled the same since inception.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

We will try Air China's J service on 01/01. CA959 is listed as a 77L, so a regional 2x2x2 config. according to the seat map. This is fine for us on a 4.5 hour afternoon flight and I'm looking forward to trying it out. I have flown CA regional/domestic in Y a number times some years ago and it was generally ok - much like using the fast trains but with lots of delays...

I'm not sure of the current state of the 777-200 fleet. They were supposed to be going to a standard configuration of flat seats (removal of first class on some aircraft and increase in seat pitch for 2-class planes). But information is a little hard to come by.

Thanks for the feedback M_T. The flights FRA-PVG and PVG-SYD are each A330. Am not booking, just trying a few dummies.

Here is a difference between the 330-200 and 330-300 fleets. Assuming FRA is 332 it will be fine. The 333 fleet is also, I believe, in the process of being standardised from angled flats to full flats for long hauls, but again, not sure of the progress on this.

 

[anat0l]

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

So torn whether to take up this promotion or not.

On one hand, it's definitely good value and a "last time" thing before the changeover.

On the other hand, now I'm in Europe (and in a *A country), I'm not exactly ideally placed to take advantage of any lucrative offers on the new awards chart. The Australians have it good. Apart from that, availability in general from my department - just based on the range of carriers - is not necessarily excellent. So I could be on a fairly lacklustre investment here.

Of course the argument could be, just buy now and work it all out later, because you won't get this opportunity again. After all, it's only a commitment of a couple of grand, right?

Aaaah..... decisions, decisions.

 

[prozac]

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

So torn whether to take up this promotion or not.

On one hand, it's definitely good value and a "last time" thing before the changeover.

On the other hand, now I'm in Europe (and in a *A country), I'm not exactly ideally placed to take advantage of any lucrative offers on the new awards chart. The Australians have it good. ...........................

Aaaah..... decisions, decisions.

anat01, I feel a bit like you, unsure whether to take up the offer. Mainly because I am a Luddite when it comes to booking LF fares. Well I a searched a fare today FRA-PVG-SYD and got a hit, but then you probably do not want to come to oz?

 

[anat0l]

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

anat01, I feel a bit like you, unsure whether to take up the offer. Mainly because I am a Luddite when it comes to booking LF fares. Well I a searched a fare today FRA-PVG-SYD and got a hit, but then you probably do not want to come to oz?

A tempting idea, but often these things need (a) a reason - apart from "just because", and (b) time - also tightly coupled with a concept known as "annual leave"

 

[boomy]

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

So torn whether to take up this promotion or not.

On one hand, it's definitely good value and a "last time" thing before the changeover.

On the other hand, now I'm in Europe (and in a *A country), I'm not exactly ideally placed to take advantage of any lucrative offers on the new awards chart. The Australians have it good. Apart from that, availability in general from my department - just based on the range of carriers - is not necessarily excellent. So I could be on a fairly lacklustre investment here.

Of course the argument could be, just buy now and work it all out later, because you won't get this opportunity again. After all, it's only a commitment of a couple of grand, right?

Aaaah..... decisions, decisions.

If you won't be able to make a good use of the points, you could probably find someone in the family that will be happy to fly J for little more then it cost to buy a ticket in Y.