Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[Stanman]

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.

Hi,

What do you mean by "last time before the changeover?

I have been using lifemiles for about 18 months now to book flights to canada for my partner and I, I would be gutted if it was the end

I have been trying to get into this a little deeper, I have found one hidden city out of Singapore I was looking to utilise next year, but I was just going to wait for the propotional 2 for 1 early next year... will there be no more promos?

If anyone could fill me in on some of the lifemiles hidden cities I would be eternally grateful! I have been pouring over the internet for hours now, I am not expecting anyone to tell me how to do this step by step but if someone could put me on the right track it would be great

 

[JessicaTam]

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

Hi,

What do you mean by "last time before the changeover?

I have been using lifemiles for about 18 months now to book flights to canada for my partner and I, I would be gutted if it was the end

I have been trying to get into this a little deeper, I have found one hidden city out of Singapore I was looking to utilise next year, but I was just going to wait for the propotional 2 for 1 early next year... will there be no more promos?

If anyone could fill me in on some of the lifemiles hidden cities I would be eternally grateful! I have been pouring over the internet for hours now, I am not expecting anyone to tell me how to do this step by step but if someone could put me on the right track it would be great

Welcome to AFF, Stanman.

LifeMiles are going from $30 to $33 per 1,000 in October. They have also re-jigged the points required across the network.

 

[Stanman]

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

Welcome to AFF, Stanman.

LifeMiles are going from $30 to $33 per 1,000 in October. They have also re-jigged the points required across the network.

ah ok

thanks for the info

 

[Glider_]

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

Thanks for the heads-up on that one. I had tapped out my LM purchases earlier this year (sortof- I bought/bonused 148k points not 150k) and didn't receive that email. However, I tried asking for an extra 25k+25k on my account last night and it worked. Bonus!

This was directly after maxing out MrGlider's LM 150k limit, and I couldn't purchase him an extra 25k+25k after that transaction.

So at face value it's hard to figure out how they've targeted it.

 

[burmans]

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

So at face value it's hard to figure out how they've targeted it.

It may not be targetted, in the past it has taken up to 2 days for emails to come out after first person reports receiving one!

 

[Glider_]

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

It may not be targetted, in the past it has taken up to 2 days for emails to come out after first person reports receiving one!

Understood, but my point was that I was unable to also apply this extra offer to MrGliders account.

 

[TheEmu]

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

Understood, but my point was that I was unable to also apply this extra offer to MrGliders account.

It is difficult to comprehend their systems at times - my account was maxed early in the year but I still got the last bonus offer which then would not let me purchase.
Maybe wait a day or 2 (ends midnight 25th Columbia time so you have until 11:00am on the 26th in Aus) and try again?

 

[Princess Fiona]

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

Thanks for the heads-up on that one. I had tapped out my LM purchases earlier this year (sortof- I bought/bonused 148k points not 150k) and didn't receive that email. However, I tried asking for an extra 25k+25k on my account last night and it worked. Bonus!

This was directly after maxing out MrGlider's LM 150k limit, and I couldn't purchase him an extra 25k+25k after that transaction.

So at face value it's hard to figure out how they've targeted it.

That's excellent news
I'm going to sit this one out I think as I have a fair few LifeMiles in my kitty

 

[N860CR]

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

What are the recommendations for the best "First" options using Lifemiles? I'm thinking of booking another as more of a "once in a very special occasion" trip in First so it doesn't really matter where it's going to.

TG seems available on most flights. UA has some ex Aus to California however I don't know if UA is all that exciting or special. LH doesn't seem to come up. Any ideas?

 

[bcworld]

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

TG seems available on most flights. UA has some ex Aus to California however I don't know if UA is all that exciting or special. LH doesn't seem to come up. Any ideas?

SQ suites has been known to show availability on SYD<>SIN but I haven't checked for it recently...it would only be available at T-14 anyway.

LH F has I believe now been blocked from the booking engine.

TG F would be routinely available ex SYD assuming they don't pull the cabin from sale again!

Otherwise you should be able to find OZ or NH starting your itinerary elsewhere...these would both be more 'special' than TG I expect.

There's also CA of course...but, meh!

 

[Glider_]

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

I was just mucking around on the Lifemiles website and tried asking for another 25k+25k AND IT WORKED.

To recap, I'd already maxed out the usual 150k yearly purchase limit. Then without receiving the additional 25k+25k email offer I successfully purchased that. Then I successfully purchased that again the next day.

 

[Glider_]

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

Ah, some new information...

I tried asking *again* for another 25k+25k and was refused with this message:



New (or error?) 250k annual purchase limit?

 

[Glider_]

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

I'm feeling lucky today... my bank account has taken a huge hit with this and the USDM promo (both of which also earnt me enough citibank points for a SQ J return flight), but for my strategy I think it's good to buy up before the point price rise and the AUD tanks further.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

I'm feeling lucky today... my bank account has taken a huge hit with this and the USDM promo (both of which also earnt me enough citibank points for a SQ J return flight), but for my strategy I think it's good to buy up before the point price rise and the AUD tanks further.

The increase in $ terms is only 10% which is not much in itself... but I have pretty much decided these miles deals only bring us in line with regular commercial fares available in the US and Europe. There are a raft of special premium fares currently on offer ex US and EU for travel to US/EU/Asia - many in the 1500-1800 Euro range, and on top tier carriers such as BA. Ex Asia is the same as well. Plenty of cheap options. They allow you complete flexibility for choice of carrier and day you want.

We just get slugged far too much here in AU and these miles deals far from being 'outstanding value' are really just giving us the same as they enjoy in most of the rest of the world.

 

[N860CR]

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

Are we expecting to see a roughy 10% increase in the "cash" component of the award fares? Or is this a case of wait and see?

 

[JessicaTam]

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

Are we expecting to see a roughy 10% increase in the "cash" component of the award fares? Or is this a case of wait and see?

I don't think that has been discussed as part of the new award tables. Very much wait and see I think.

 

[travelislife]

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

Yesterday I booked a simple BKK-MEL-BKK return in Business class on Thai for my old man to come out Thursday head back Saturday night to watch the AFL Grand Final thanks to Serfty's generosity. Straight forward online booking, all up cost was circa AUD$1750. Both flights overnight and scheduled on the 77W with flat beds, so actually better than SQ options. He is actually coming from SGN and already had SGN-BKK-SGN flights booked for Friday to Sunday so had to make a change on that. Otherwise revenue business fares out of Vietnam are really good value. SGN-BKK-MEL return on Thai in Business is about USD$2300 standard. When the straight BKK-MEL return is usually $3000+.

There was also plenty of availability on various Singapore options as well but obviously with a connection through SIN extending the flight times which isn't ideal for a 2 day trip. So if you have flexibility there are definitely SQ options available in non peak times.

 

[Nizar]

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

Yesterday I booked a simple BKK-MEL-BKK return in Business class on Thai for my old man to come out Thursday head back Saturday night to watch the AFL Grand Final thanks to Serfty's generosity. Straight forward online booking, all up cost was circa AUD$1750. Both flights overnight and scheduled on the 77W with flat beds, so actually better than SQ options. He is actually coming from SGN and already had SGN-BKK-SGN flights booked for Friday to Sunday so had to make a change on that. Otherwise revenue business fares out of Vietnam are really good value. SGN-BKK-MEL return on Thai in Business is about USD$2300 standard. When the straight BKK-MEL return is usually $3000+.

There was also plenty of availability on various Singapore options as well but obviously with a connection through SIN extending the flight times which isn't ideal for a 2 day trip. So if you have flexibility there are definitely SQ options available in non peak times.

77W on TG looks pretty decent. Its a shame that TG are so unreliable with aircraft substitutions and schedule changes.

 

[travelislife]

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

77W on TG looks pretty decent. Its a shame that TG are so unreliable with aircraft substitutions and schedule changes.

Our family is pretty frequent on this route and 'luckily' schedule wise it has been very consistent over the last number of years with the 2 flights a day being very convenient sticking at the times they have and the aircraft have been consistent as well. Just hoping the 77W continues in the winter schedule as it drops off at the end of October.

 

[PlutekPlutek]

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

Took the plunge this morning and bought the 75k + 75k bonus. Haven't used LM before, so hopefully this will become handy (judging from people's past experiences)
I'll see if I can purchase the additional 25k tomorrow.