Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[scwappy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Have there been any reports of success with an NZ award using LM?

I have never seen availability, but have made limited searches on routes they operate.

tb

I have a J flight from PVG to AKL on a 787 coming up in three weeks

 

[TheBOSman]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Apparently this extra 100k miles offer is targeted. I didn't get the email so I can't buy any more (not that I want to). My dad got the email and he can buy the extra 100k.

The only difference between me and my father is that I took the 125% bonus cyber Monday deal but not my dad. So I guess this is only offered to people who didn't take the cyber Monday bonus?

I didn't take the cyber Monday bonus and didn't receive an increased purchase allowance.

I have a J flight from PVG to AKL on a 787 coming up in three weeks

Damn you're gonna beat me! Mine is next month.

To OP asking about awards on NZ with LM, NZ wasn't showing recently on most medium/long haul routes that I looked at as of a few days ago. Don't know if it is caught up in this glitch or not. I also had to have them manually process an award for me involving NZ (was not a tricked award in any way).

 

[robd]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I didn't take the cyber Monday bonus and didn't receive an increased purchase allowance.



Damn you're gonna beat me! Mine is next month.

To OP asking about awards on NZ with LM, NZ wasn't showing recently on most medium/long haul routes that I looked at as of a few days ago. Don't know if it is caught up in this glitch or not. I also had to have them manually process an award for me involving NZ (was not a tricked award in any way).

What? I was under the impression that if it wasn't available online, it was not bookable. Can you please elaborate?

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

What? I was under the impression that if it wasn't available online, it was not bookable. Can you please elaborate?

They will gladly process awards which fail at some point during the booking process...assuming the inventory wasn't phantom to begin with. You still need to find it via the online engine though.

 

[TheBOSman]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

What? I was under the impression that if it wasn't available online, it was not bookable. Can you please elaborate?

I could get A-B (which was on NZ) and B-C (which was on another carrier) to individually show as bookable all the way to payment. I could get A-B-C to show online, but after selecting the desired itinerary and clicking continue, it errored out. So, it was available online, but the system consistently errored out when I attempted to book it. Stay on them though if you need to do this, I sent them info they requested and it took a week for them to get back to me, and we all know how fickle awards can be (NZ particularly so).

 

[st4ff]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Apparently this extra 100k miles offer is targeted. I didn't get the email so I can't buy any more (not that I want to). My dad got the email and he can buy the extra 100k.

The only difference between me and my father is that I took the 125% bonus cyber Monday deal but not my dad. So I guess this is only offered to people who didn't take the cyber Monday bonus?

I bought miles during the Cyber Monday offer so it can't be that.

 

[zainman]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

They will gladly process awards which fail at some point during the booking process...assuming the inventory wasn't phantom to begin with. You still need to find it via the online engine though.

Any idea if they would also book the SIN to IAH route on SQ? That always fails to book online...

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I bought miles during the Cyber Monday offer so it can't be that.

So looks like it's random....Oh well, I haven't missed out much considering they haven't fixed the glitch yet so I won't be buying more anyway until that's fixed.

 

[ermen]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

There may be some hope writing to them... however, i found TG J availability instead and decided to book that online rather than risking to deal with the lifemiles call centre... when i spoke to an agent, he was suggesting that we could do a "manual ticketing" process but that could take some time fwiw...


Dear Sir/Madam,
1. I am having trouble with the lifemiles reward booking engine
2. I am looking to book PER xSIN - HKG on 16 Dec 2014 in SQ (Singapore Airlines) business class.
3. During a search, no availability is found
4. However, searching PER to SIN as one segment (SQ216) and then SIN to HKG (SQ856) as one segment separately yields good results
5. There seems to be an error with the booking engine. Could you please investigate as I would like to book ASAP Thank you


+++++
Reply


It a my pleasure to greet you.
Regarding your case, it will be required to verify the connection in Singapore and verify that such route is valid for a ticket redemption. In order to evaluate this request, we need you to send us the following:

• Phone number to contact you, please specify the country it belongs to.
• The passenger's information, gender, name and date of birth according to the passport.
• The screenshots of the selected flights when looking individual flights.
• The screenshots of our website showing lack of available seats when looking the complete route (PER-SIN).

+++++

 

[anna2103]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I tried doing that, they refused to do Hong Kong - BKK - SYD in F for 50,000 points, they wanted almost double that. Not sure what is going on, maybe they have Asian routes with connections to AUS as valid routes.

There may be some hope writing to them... however, i found TG J availability instead and decided to book that online rather than risking to deal with the lifemiles call centre... when i spoke to an agent, he was suggesting that we could do a "manual ticketing" process but that could take some time fwiw...


Dear Sir/Madam,
1. I am having trouble with the lifemiles reward booking engine
2. I am looking to book PER xSIN - HKG on 16 Dec 2014 in SQ (Singapore Airlines) business class.
3. During a search, no availability is found
4. However, searching PER to SIN as one segment (SQ216) and then SIN to HKG (SQ856) as one segment separately yields good results
5. There seems to be an error with the booking engine. Could you please investigate as I would like to book ASAP Thank you


+++++
Reply


It a my pleasure to greet you.
Regarding your case, it will be required to verify the connection in Singapore and verify that such route is valid for a ticket redemption. In order to evaluate this request, we need you to send us the following:

• Phone number to contact you, please specify the country it belongs to.
• The passenger's information, gender, name and date of birth according to the passport.
• The screenshots of the selected flights when looking individual flights.
• The screenshots of our website showing lack of available seats when looking the complete route (PER-SIN).

+++++

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I tried doing that, they refused to do Hong Kong - BKK - SYD in F for 50,000 points, they wanted almost double that. Not sure what is going on, maybe they have Asian routes with connections to AUS as valid routes.

That's bad news! They might take this glitch for granted and remain that way.

 

[Alanslegal]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I tried doing that, they refused to do Hong Kong - BKK - SYD in F for 50,000 points, they wanted almost double that. Not sure what is going on, maybe they have Asian routes with connections to AUS as valid routes.

A bit sad to hear that. I have flown on several HKG-BKK-SYD F flights now and was hoping to book another one for April 2015, but I guess worst case for me is paying 60K to fly ex-BKK (and potentially save some $ from a positioning flight from BKK-HKG, to subsidise the +10K difference)

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

maybe they have Asian routes with connections to AUS as valid routes.

SE Asia to be precise. You will have no problem connecting flights in North Asia as OZ and CA still ok. But it doesn't explain that someone who was able to find some complex itinerary originating ADL and connecting in SIN with SQ, but couldn't do it simply ADL-SIN. At the end of the day, whoever made the tweak in LM booking engine messed it up. Let's hope it will be fixed soon, that's all we can do.

My plan B in case if LM decided to take it for granted and won't bother to fix it:
- Europe bound: BNE-BKK in J, then BKK-LHR/CDG/FRA in F. I would have to book 2 separate tickets anyway
- US bound: I will use OZ. Consider ICN-USA leg in F suite just to burn up these worthless LM. Or use F with ANA, and fly BNE-NRT on revenue ticket (good thing that QF will offer direct flight)
- North Asia bound other than Korea: Forget using LM
- The rest of the world, I will try to originate from SIN/KUL/BKK and use cheap revenue ticket (Scoot/AirAsia/Jetstar) to get to these hubs.....

 

[RB]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

My plan B in case if LM decided to take it for granted and won't bother to fix it:
- Europe bound: BNE-BKK in J, then BKK-LHR/CDG/FRA in F. I would have to book 2 separate tickets anyway
- US bound: I will use OZ. Consider ICN-USA leg in F suite just to burn up these worthless LM. Or use F with ANA, and fly BNE-NRT on revenue ticket (good thing that QF will offer direct flight)
- North Asia bound other than Korea: Forget using LM
- The rest of the world, I will try to originate from SIN/KUL/BKK and use cheap revenue ticket (Scoot/AirAsia/Jetstar) to get to these hubs.....

Depending on dates (only seasonal while 777-300ER is in use) but Air China F SYD-CDG does show as 115,000. Stopover in PEK is 8hrs though

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Depending on dates (only seasonal while 777-300ER is in use) but Air China F SYD-CDG does show as 115,000. Stopover in PEK is 8hrs though

Good suggestion. What are the dates that CA uses 777-300ER? (although I am still a bit sceptical about flying CA)

Any other ideas of burning LM?

PS. Call me paranoid, but I am starting to think the TG issue is deliberate. LM probably realized they made a mistake by making F from AUS-North Asia cheaper than going to SE Asia (thus encourage throw away ticket). The best way to solve this mistake? Block it!

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

They will gladly process awards which fail at some point during the booking process...assuming the inventory wasn't phantom to begin with. You still need to find it via the online engine though.

Just an idea. What if we pretend the inventory was available online? We can just say "I was booking the flight SYD-BKK-HKG on TGxx_ connecting TGxx_ on dd/mm/yyyy, then it showed error and asked me to contact LM.....". Since their agent has no clue, it might work?

 

[damienp]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

SE Asia to be precise. You will have no problem connecting flights in North Asia as OZ and CA still ok. But it doesn't explain that someone who was able to find some complex itinerary originating ADL and connecting in SIN with SQ, but couldn't do it simply ADL-SIN. At the end of the day, whoever made the tweak in LM booking engine messed it up. Let's hope it will be fixed soon, that's all we can do.

My plan B in case if LM decided to take it for granted and won't bother to fix it:
- Europe bound: BNE-BKK in J, then BKK-LHR/CDG/FRA in F. I would have to book 2 separate tickets anyway
- US bound: I will use OZ. Consider ICN-USA leg in F suite just to burn up these worthless LM. Or use F with ANA, and fly BNE-NRT on revenue ticket (good thing that QF will offer direct flight)
- North Asia bound other than Korea: Forget using LM
- The rest of the world, I will try to originate from SIN/KUL/BKK and use cheap revenue ticket (Scoot/AirAsia/Jetstar) to get to these hubs.....

There are actually some connection options missing on OZ via ICN as well.
i was looking at SYD-HKG and definitely ICN was given as a option (OZ-OZ), this option is now gone as well and I'm only given an OZ-ET flight where OZ is definitely still available on ICN-HKG.

 

[damienp]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Good suggestion. What are the dates that CA uses 777-300ER? (although I am still a bit sceptical about flying CA)

Any other ideas of burning LM?

PS. Call me paranoid, but I am starting to think the TG issue is deliberate. LM probably realized they made a mistake by making F from AUS-North Asia cheaper than going to SE Asia (thus encourage throw away ticket). The best way to solve this mistake? Block it!

Definitely their award chart is flawed.

I do not mind paying 10k more for SYD-BKK-HKG but just do not take the option away....

 

[RB]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Good suggestion. What are the dates that CA uses 777-300ER? (although I am still a bit sceptical about flying CA)

Any other ideas of burning LM?

PS. Call me paranoid, but I am starting to think the TG issue is deliberate. LM probably realized they made a mistake by making F from AUS-North Asia cheaper than going to SE Asia (thus encourage throw away ticket). The best way to solve this mistake? Block it!

According to Aust Business the Air China option is from Dec 11th 2014 til March 5th 2015.
Some people may call you paranoid, you certainly have had a lot of conspiracy theories in the last couple of weeks

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

you certainly have had a lot of conspiracy theories in the last couple of weeks

Well, it adds up. In fact if they really blocked it there is nothing we can do about it. Even though we all know that AUS-N. Asia is 50K in F, the award chart did say that the actual mile needed will be shown at the time of booking. That is saying "we can charge whatever mile we want to charge". That is their T&C.