Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Whats J like on Air China? Could be a way to get MEL-CAN...

If it's A330, it's pretty good. I have flown in three times in 2014 and the hard product is really good, it's a fully flat bed, very similar to TK's J seat. IFE, food and beverage are all decent. Service isn't but if you lower your expectations you'll be fine.
I've also flown on a refurbished B772 with an even newer J seat, it's the same one AA have on their A321 transcontinental (also United have them). The seat was very good but where the entertainment screen is supposed to be - there was nothing, just a piece of plastic! I asked about the IFE and was given a Samsung Galaxy tablet with a few movies :shock:

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Intra-asia to/from Japan is a good example for Asia redemptions. Japan is traditionally high in terms of business and economy fares (Shanghai-Tokyo would regularly be in the USD700 region for economy on JAL/ANA, and business in the ~$2000 range for a two hour flight).

BKK-CDG - it would be touch and go for an award v revenue ticket. UL/AI would be way cheaper than an award, QR/AY would be coming right on or close to the price of an award. (plus of course for revenue you get points and status and whatever else).

Lets not forget ANA F that's recently started NRT-SIN. One of the best F around.

 

[get me outta here]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Doesn't DL charge for transferring miles??

.... Or for those who wants >75000 miles, get your dad, mum, brothers, sisters' DL number and open a virtual account so you can keep transferring and keep getting more miles. Just remember, there is still a maximum of 150k miles (including bonus) you can receive in one account.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Doesn't DL charge for transferring miles??

DL = Driver's license.

 

[Guvner]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

If anyone wants to write to Avianca's I.T Director regarding the "glitch"....


Claudia Arenas Bianchi
International Director
Tel: (502) 2279-5700 - (502) 2279-5600
E-Mail: [email protected]

or Lifemiles President

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-vincett/18/a33/36a

 

[BobbyFlyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Talking about glitches, anyone else noticed the issues of trying to book Air China about 11 months out...japan to china routes just come up with error each time even though they show availability....

 

[Mranderson]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Looking at flights in April from DPS to PER via SIN on Singapore airlines in J,the flights show up as seperate awards ie DPS to SIN and SIN to PER but it won't show up as a single award(7 hr connection time) does anyone have an idea of my chances of booking this as one award if I email the support website??

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Looking at flights in April from DPS to PER via SIN on Singapore airlines in J,the flights show up as seperate awards ie DPS to SIN and SIN to PER but it won't show up as a single award(7 hr connection time) does anyone have an idea of my chances of booking this as one award if I email the support website??

should be fine.

 

[Mranderson]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Have emailed lifemiles and will report back when/if I get a response

 

[get me outta here]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I have just today joined LM. I don't really want to buy any, but am thinking to buy and share with someone who then ends up with all the miles to maximise it for them. Any clues on the best way to do that?

 

[Beta4Me]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I have just today joined LM. I don't really want to buy any, but am thinking to buy and share with someone who then ends up with all the miles to maximise it for them. Any clues on the best way to do that?

Best way might be to PM me?

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I have just today joined LM. I don't really want to buy any, but am thinking to buy and share with someone who then ends up with all the miles to maximise it for them. Any clues on the best way to do that?

Best way might be to PM me?

Heel there, get me outta here. Is this a promo where members who join after the announcement are eligible to participate in?

 

[get me outta here]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I thought so yes, but I may be wrong. I don't want an miles, just thought I'd help someone else who has 'volunteered'.

Heel there, get me outta here. Is this a promo where members who join after the announcement are eligible to participate in?

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I thought so yes, but I may be wrong. I don't want an miles, just thought I'd help someone else who has 'volunteered'.

From my experience in the past. Yes. I haven't tried this time though.

 

[robcuk]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Looking at flights in April from DPS to PER via SIN on Singapore airlines in J,the flights show up as seperate awards ie DPS to SIN and SIN to PER but it won't show up as a single award(7 hr connection time) does anyone have an idea of my chances of booking this as one award if I email the support website??

I thought with lifemiles award seats flying Singapore Airlines that is how bookings have to be made. I havent read anywhere about contacting them and they manually process the award as one booking? The manual process only seems recent due to the IT 'glitch'.

I booked flights for my folks LHR - SYD via SIN nearly two years ago and the legs had to be made separately.

Good luck though - will be interesting to hear there response.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I thought with lifemiles award seats flying Singapore Airlines that is how bookings have to be made. I havent read anywhere about contacting them and they manually process the award as one booking? The manual process only seems recent due to the IT 'glitch'.

I booked flights for my folks LHR - SYD via SIN nearly two years ago and the legs had to be made separately.

Good luck though - will be interesting to hear there response.

with the exception of the 14 day booking rule, prior to the glitch you could book SQ flights with connections via SIN on the one award.

 

[curtainbounce]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Getting no luck with Thai Airways in regards to the TG472 schedule change, they are saying I have to contact Lifemiles, have spoken to a few people now, below is their latest response:

While we do understand that the flight time changes have been made by Thai Airways International, we are unable to make any changes to the booking for Mr xx_X as the booking has been made through Avianca using frequent flyer points.

THAI does have a flight at 10am on the same day however this is currently not available in First class. There are seats in Business class should Mr xx_X need to travel on this flight.

The flight at 10am on the 16[SUP]th[/SUP] of May is full in both First and Business.

The flight at 10am on the 18[SUP]th[/SUP] of May is full in First and available in Business with First class available Bangkok to London.

If any of these options are not suitable Avianca may possibly be able to offer alternatives on other airlines.

We do apologise for the time change however you will need to contact Avianca to have the flights rebooked.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

that is the correct procedure for changes. thai cannot change or revalidate your ticket. they best they can do is provisionally move you, subject to ticketing/revlaidation by lifemiles.

as the flights are full, looks like they're not willing (at this stage) to create award inventory out of revenue seats.

contractually, flight times are not guaranteed, and neither thai nor lifemiles is under an obligation to accommodate you on another service this far in advance.

a good cross reference is that EU261 recognises compensation would not be payable in a case like this.

 

[legroom]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

One of the bugbears of "manual linking" is the return phone call from Avianca to sort out the miles / $$$ components which can come at odd hours (1am, 10am AEST etc...).

I missed their call and did not ring back until 60 min later explaining the situation that I "needed to finalise payment with the specialised department" quoting the new manually issued Booking Reference emailed to me 24 hrs earlier.

To her credit, the CSR understood and acted promptly...... 45 min later everything was done with e-tickets in my INBOX another 20 min later.

I did pre-warn my bank of the impending Avianca LM charges so that may have helped.

It seems to me that we can turn off our phone and call back once we see the missed call if we are busy with work (or sleep).

It's one data point (and for 60 min only).

Is that a reasonable inference or that is too risky with LM ??

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Getting no luck with Thai Airways in regards to the TG472 schedule change, they are saying I have to contact Lifemiles, have spoken to a few people now, below is their latest response:

While we do understand that the flight time changes have been made by Thai Airways International, we are unable to make any changes to the booking for Mr xx_X as the booking has been made through Avianca using frequent flyer points.

THAI does have a flight at 10am on the same day however this is currently not available in First class. There are seats in Business class should Mr xx_X need to travel on this flight.

The flight at 10am on the 16[SUP]th[/SUP] of May is full in both First and Business.

The flight at 10am on the 18[SUP]th[/SUP] of May is full in First and available in Business with First class available Bangkok to London.

If any of these options are not suitable Avianca may possibly be able to offer alternatives on other airlines.

We do apologise for the time change however you will need to contact Avianca to have the flights rebooked.

there is not much you can do about it. There is a good article on situation like this:

How To Handle US Airways Award Ticket Schedule Change? - One Mile at a Time

The 2 best options you can do:
1. If you really need to make this trip, take the offer to fly business class. It's the shorter leg, and being an earlier flight it gives you plenty of time to enjoy first class lounge in BKK. The only issue is that LM may not reissue the ticket as it's mixed cabin.
2. Get full refund and rejigger the whole itinerary.

Good luck.