Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[ermen]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

One of the rare times where a lifemiles redemption availability is better than SQ's own... strange...

 

[FreddyFattler]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Just sent them an email online re the search/booking engine.

See if they give me the same bs reply they seem to like repeating on facebook :/

 

[RB]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

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.

Perhaps takes into account the customer being able to adjust using the "slider" to use different amounts of cash/miles?-Just a conspiracy theory of mine

 

[ns0418]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Hi guys
This morning I signed up to the Avianca Life Miles FF program to purchase miles using the 2x1 special.

However, I don't appear to be eligible as the terms state that it is only available for existing members "Applies only to members enrolled in the program prior to November 19th, 2014".

I did try purchasing miles but I couldn't get any bonus points.

Does anybody know away around this?

cheers

Nick

 

[bean]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

There is no way-Ive tried emailign them countless times and cant even get a response. Heck all the spam they send me is in spanish and I cant even get them to send it in english. It all seems much more trouble than its worth...and with the massive amount of points sold over the last month Id be a little concerend about the value/usefulness of the points anyway..

 

[JessicaTam]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

And I wouldn't be too concerned, as there is likely to be another offer in a month or few.

 

[bean]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Has there been any talk of them using these sales to supplement their cash flow? Risk of the points being lost if not used immediately? Seems all a little dodgy....

 

[FreddyFattler]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

And I wouldn't be too concerned, as there is likely to be another offer in a month or few.

Which may not be worth it unless they sort out the engine haha.

Have a play with the engine between now and when youre able to buy points to see if it suits.

I bought for the first time this promo and atm just about everything i was interested in has vanished.

 

[ns0418]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Yeah I should have read the terms and conditions before signing up. Anyway, will just have to wait for any new offers.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Has there been any talk of them using these sales to supplement their cash flow? Risk of the points being lost if not used immediately? Seems all a little dodgy....

It's not the first time they sell miles. They run this promotion 3-4 times a year so there shouldn't be any indication they use this for their cash flow.

But with what had happened to the search engine, I think it is better to have some trips in mind before you commit.

 

[bean]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

It's not the first time they sell miles. They run this promotion 3-4 times a year so there shouldn't be any indication they use this for their cash flow.

But with what had happened to the search engine, I think it is better to have some trips in mind before you commit.

The big question for me though is how does the whol system work? How/why would SIA sell a J or F class seat to LM for a fraction of what the retail price is?

 

[FreddyFattler]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Yeah I should have read the terms and conditions before signing up. Anyway, will just have to wait for any new offers.

Best to sign up now so next time they sell youre all good to go rather than trying to guestimate when to sign up.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Perhaps takes into account the customer being able to adjust using the "slider" to use different amounts of cash/miles?-Just a conspiracy theory of mine

Well, they are from Columbia after all!

My conspiracy theory is getting worse. I personally start to believe it is a global conspiracy agreed amongst all airlines, to isolate Australia to be the hardest place to redeem miles.

Here is a quote from a professional award booking expert, Alex:

"Think about how frustrating it is to book award tickets to Australia. Now just imagine every trip you plan involving getting to or from Australia. This probably explains why PointsPros receives so many award requests from “down under.”

Best Uses Of Australian American Express Points - One Mile at a Time

This quote is from View From the Wing:

"I find the single most difficult award to get from North America is flying to Australia and New Zealand."

The Two Most Difficult Frequent Flyer Award Redemptions Out There - And How to Book Them - View from the Wing - View from the Wing

AA's redemption to Australia to/from US won't allow you to transit in Asia, and to/from Europe won't allow you to transit middle east (except DXB with QF). So 2 tickets needed!
USDM will merge with AA soon, so the above rule will apply.
United has recent major devaluation.
Alaska is only useful flying CX to USA (and apparently they have a different inventory as OW partners). To go to Europe, you need 2 separate booking too!
SQ has blocked all wards to/from Australia until T-14. Now we don't even have that option.
EVA simply closed all awards to/from Australia.
TG using LM was our last hope. So it won't surprise me that they block awards to/from Australia that requires TG connection. (As the IT glitch seem to only affect flights involving connection to Australia. Yes, I know OZ and CA is unaffected at the moment, but it only service SYD, which makes people living outside of SYD a bit hard to use)

Yes, How frustrating it is when every trip we plan involves getting to or from Australia!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

The big question for me though is how does the whol system work? How/why would SIA sell a J or F class seat to LM for a fraction of what the retail price is?

the simple answer is - SQ don't.

In general - award seats are seats airlines don't think they are going to be able to sell anyway. On some flights there may be none, on others there may be lots.

SQ is making an award seat - not a revenue seat - available for its partners.

As for miles sales, some would argue it propped up multiple US airlines during very difficult times.

It also makes a lot of sense. Why sell the miles to banks (credit cards) for 1c each, when then can sell them direct to the passenger for double?

 

[Buzzard]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Yeah I should have read the terms and conditions before signing up. Anyway, will just have to wait for any new offers.

I signed up in anticipation of their next offer. Too late once you see the offer.

 

[bean]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

the simple answer is - SQ don't.

In general - award seats are seats airlines don't think they are going to be able to sell anyway. On some flights there may be none, on others there may be lots.

SQ is making an award seat - not a revenue seat - available for its partners.

As for miles sales, some would argue it propped up multiple US airlines during very difficult times.

It also makes a lot of sense. Why sell the miles to banks (credit cards) for 1c each, when then can sell them direct to the passenger for double?

This is the part I dont follow-Im sure if SIA or the likes offered these award seats for sale at comparable rates they woudl be snapped up in an instant?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

This is the part I dont follow-Im sure if SIA or the likes offered these award seats for sale at comparable rates they woudl be snapped up in an instant?

it's part of the 'loyalty' philosophy. you fly, you earn points, you redeem.

alliances mean that passengers earn and redeem across a network, not just a single carrier.

if SQ (or any other airline) was to sell the seats for the same price, people wouldn't fork out huge dollars to buy business class fares in the first place for $8000, they'd buy them at $3000. The airline then doesn't make a profit.

Airlines would rather have 10 passengers paying $8000, earning some points and fighting for a single award seat, than sell 10 seats for $3000.

 

[FreddyFattler]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Then nobody would pay the asking rate and wait for the airline to lower the price.

 

[bean]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Then nobody would pay the asking rate and wait for the airline to lower the price.

If you were able to gamble with seat availability perhaps....booking tickets is a gamble at the best of times. I once booked some J class tickets 3 months out only to see then $2k cheaper when I checked a couple of days before the flight was due to depart

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

If you were able to gamble with seat availability perhaps....booking tickets is a gamble at the best of times. I once booked some J class tickets 3 months out only to see then $2k cheaper when I checked a couple of days before the flight was due to depart

So you payed the cancellation fee and rebooked?