Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

australia to bangkok on tg is still ok, and round trip there will cost 80k vs 170k to europe. for just a few dollars more than the cost of that point differential (90k, or 45k at the 2-4-1 rate) you can buy business class on Sri Lankan. and get points and SCs. and a full flat bed for the long haul. (and a stopover in bangkok if you want and better food, and a chauffeur car, and full flexibility for choice of destinations and....)

 

[seritonin]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Yeah TG seem to really look after their Scandanavian customers.

TG has affinity to Scandis, after all they helped starting the airline. I don't think TG wants to compete with SQ, MH is more of their competition. They have the best Y product in the world in my opinion and they don't need to focus on business travellers since Thailand is a tourist destination...

 

[phantompharter]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Hey All,

Just trying to book a flight from Aus (either east or west coast) to the US for a friend. As noted in previous posts there was a heap of availability with SQ a few weeks back and nothing now. Anyone have any tips on how to piece this award together now? Or are the only options via a positioning flight to BKK or SIN?
TIA

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Hey All,

Just trying to book a flight from Aus (either east or west coast) to the US for a friend. As noted in previous posts there was a heap of availability with SQ a few weeks back and nothing now. Anyone have any tips on how to piece this award together now? Or are the only options via a positioning flight to BKK or SIN?
TIA

You could try SYD - ICN then separate booking ICN to xx_ with OZ - the flights to USA from ICN are in the morning so more than 8 hours from when you're likely to get there from SYD or MEL

On the way home you can prob do a single booking from USA back to Australia.

I did the above for October next year. SYD - ICN ICN - JFK LAX - ICN ICN - SYD ( I did F for the the USA segements but I could have got LAX - SYD for 85K miles if I'd wanted to.

 

[stoneman]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

australia to bangkok on tg is still ok, and round trip there will cost 80k vs 170k to europe. for just a few dollars more than the cost of that point differential (90k, or 45k at the 2-4-1 rate) you can buy business class on Sri Lankan. and get points and SCs. and a full flat bed for the long haul. (and a stopover in bangkok if you want and better food, and a chauffeur car, and full flexibility for choice of destinations and....)

Hmmm.. thankyou for that thought.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

You could try SYD - ICN then separate booking ICN to xx_ with OZ - the flights to USA from ICN are in the morning so more than 8 hours from when you're likely to get there from SYD or MEL

On the way home you can prob do a single booking from USA back to Australia.

I did the above for October next year. SYD - ICN ICN - JFK LAX - ICN ICN - SYD ( I did F for the the USA segements but I could have got LAX - SYD for 85K miles if I'd wanted to.

You can do SYD-ICN-LAX all in one booking for 85k in J as well. There is an evening flight to LAX

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

You can do SYD-ICN-LAX all in one booking for 85k in J as well. There is an evening flight to LAX

seems pretty slim picking for both OZ and UA ex Au to the usa. from melbourne, UA looks virtually sold out.

For what is there ex SYD, the preference would have to be for UA over OZ.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Is LM search engine still having issues with searches to Asia on SQ and TG?

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

seems pretty slim picking for both OZ and UA ex Au to the usa. from melbourne, UA looks virtually sold out.

For what is there ex SYD, the preference would have to be for UA over OZ.

For covenience, yes UA>OZ. But in terms of both hard and soft products, IMHO OZ>>>UA (yes, I know SYD-ICN is angled lie flat, but ICN-LAX is the staggered lie-flat Smartium business class. Service is wayyyy better.)

Availability, OZ is also wide open where as UA is really needle in the haystack.

Other option includes AC and transit in YVR. Might be useful for going to other US cities.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Is LM search engine still having issues with searches to Asia on SQ and TG?

Last time I checked, yes. That's yesterday.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

For covenience, yes UA>OZ. But in terms of both hard and soft products, IMHO OZ>>>UA (yes, I know SYD-ICN is angled lie flat, but ICN-LAX is the staggered lie-flat Smartium business class. Service is wayyyy better.)

Availability, OZ is also wide open where as UA is really needle in the haystack.

Other option includes AC and transit in YVR. Might be useful for going to other US cities.

OZ is not only angled, but has IFE on a loop, not on demand. And the smartium beds are apparently quite short for tall people? (same as TG's ones).

33+ hours of OZ vs 14 hours on UA (with a good - certainly not worse - bed, and good IFE).

I know people rave about service, but the question is - how much service can you actually get? You might have what... 10-15 minutes of 1-on-1 interaction on a long haul flight?

 

[Princess Fiona]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

OZ is not only angled, but has IFE on a loop, not on demand. And the smartium beds are apparently quite short for tall people? (same as TG's ones).

33+ hours of OZ vs 14 hours on UA (with a good - certainly not worse - bed, and good IFE).

I know people rave about service, but the question is - how much service can you actually get? You might have what... 10-15 minutes of 1-on-1 interaction on a long haul flight?

Not all the aircraft on SYD-ICN have loop IFE. I've flown it with on-demand IFE and the food and service were terrific.
The only downside would be the angled lie-flat on the overnight ICN-SYD IMO.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Not all the aircraft on SYD-ICN have loop IFE.

thanks! That's good to know.

 

[burmans]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I know people rave about service, but the question is - how much service can you actually get? You might have what... 10-15 minutes of 1-on-1 interaction on a long haul flight?

For me about every 10 minutes to ask if she could top up my glass (no she didn't actually top up that often), and the meal service was spread out over about 1.5-2 hours so definitely more than 15 minutes!

 

[st4ff]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Ah that makes more sense - I see their flying the 777-300 out of CPH and ARN. Can I expect the same angled seats that they use from MEL to BKK?

Realise this is a bit old, but worth responding to. TG operates the 77W (with Solstys style seats) to all Scandinavian capitals year around. From CPH they also have direct flights to HKT.

The front J cabin is sold as J, and the back J cabin is sold as Premium Economy (J seats with Premium Econ service). The Premium Econ seats used to be really cheap from Scandinavia to Australia (with the BKK-AU leg in full J), around $3,500 or so. Sadly prices have gone up considerably when the fares were last updated. They are closer to $5k now.

EDIT: Browsing through the thread I noticed a lengthy discussion on TG's Scandinavian ops. Nevermind the above!

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Never mind! All inputs are welcome.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

OZ is not only angled, but has IFE on a loop, not on demand.

That is surprising to hear that. I wouldn't expect any airline to use loop IFE, but you are right. Based on their schedule they will give SYD-ICN on the old 777 with loop IFE. It's pure luck if they give you the A330 with AVOD on the day. Not a major problem if you have your iPad loaded with your own movie.

And the smartium beds are apparently quite short for tall people? (same as TG's ones).

I am not that tall, only 175cm, so it's not an issue for me. But I agree, for tall people, most Asian airlines J-seat can be a bit short. Even SQ A380 J seat can be a bit short.

33+ hours of OZ vs 14 hours on UA (with a good - certainly not worse - bed, and good IFE).

I know people rave about service, but the question is - how much service can you actually get? You might have what... 10-15 minutes of 1-on-1 interaction on a long haul flight?

For me it is more availability that matters. At the moment, OZ is wide open and if you book far enough, you can find seats on almost everyday of the week. UA on the other hand is like needle in the hay stack. It will be pure luck if you can score one.

What I would do, if I have to go to US, LM won't be my first choice. I would go for other FFPs, like USDM or AS and fly CX (or QF if you can ever find a seat!), or use velocity for VA flights if I need direct flight. LM is only to use it to fly first class suite on ANA and Asiana just to experience it.

 

[stoneman]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

have just received an answer from an email sent 7/12, thought it could be worth mentioning should anyone else be 'waiting'..

 

[anna2103]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Any new information to add other than the standard reply others are receving

 

[vitagen]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I sent them an email and replied back requesting information on flights, passenger details and screenshots. I'm trying to do a TG F from FRA-BKK-SYD. Can't find any other European city with F to connect to the BKK-SYD service