Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I use a good calling card company for overseas... GoTalk in particular. The quality of the lines is good, and I've never had a drop out in 5 years of calling the USA or Columbia (or calling Hong Kong or Bangkok for CX/TG). The call cost is a fraction of a cent per minute. It's much less stressful than being worried when your're on hold via skype for 10-15 minutes that your call will get cut off.

I've had to start using skype to call US Airways as for some reason their phone system cuts off my calling card when they transfer me to the USDM department (I get a message 'your call can't be connected').

Re schedule changes... I monitor the booking itself and airlineroute. (The latter particularly for equipment changes - particularly for transatlatic travel where UA may change from three-class to two-class operations.)

 

[stoneman]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Thankyou for that tip, I will google GO TALK

 

[prozac]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

A call on "Viber Out" is 1.4c/minute to USA or 5c/minute to Colombia.

 

[robcuk]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

A call on "Viber Out" is 1.4c/minute to USA or 5c/minute to Colombia.

I too have been cut off with Skype so i just use my mobile as I never use my allocation of minutes from my tariff.

 

[ComeGroundWithMe]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Are you guys referring to desktop Skype or the mobile version? Or are both the same?

 

[Alanslegal]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

For those frustrated with LM's ongoing issues with TG, I have just received an email from UA advising that they are selling miles up to 40% off when buying 30,000 or more miles. I don't know whether its targetted or not but you might want to either check your emails or log into your UA account to find out. 40,000 miles (enough for SYD-HKG-BKK in F is US$840 + taxes).

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

For those frustrated with LM's ongoing issues with TG, I have just received an email from UA advising that they are selling miles up to 40% off when buying 30,000 or more miles. I don't know whether its targetted or not but you might want to either check your emails or log into your UA account to find out. 40,000 miles (enough for SYD-HKG-BKK in F is US$840 + taxes).

My email says save 50% on 40k+ miles.

 

[Alanslegal]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

My email says save 50% on 40k+ miles.

I'm jealous Mine's 30k to 150k, save 40%

 

[hummel]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I'm jealous Mine's 30k to 150k, save 40%

Assuming it is for current UA members?

 

[coolkid101]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I'm jealous Mine's 30k to 150k, save 40%

i've got an account but never bought miles before. only got 30% from 12k to 120k

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

i've got an account but never bought miles before. only got 30% from 12k to 120k

Me too So obviously targeted at different tier.

 

[robd]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Mine's only 10% - eeeeeek :shock:

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Also, AwardWallet tracks changes to award flights when you check your points balance and sends you an email with changes

For some reason, all my LM redemptions are not detected by Award Wallet. Therefore it won't notify me of any changes. Did anyone experience the same?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

For some reason, all my LM redemptions are not detected by Award Wallet. Therefore it won't notify me of any changes. Did anyone experience the same?

i can't answer directly on award wallet, but I would be reluctant to rely on a third party provider to keep you up to date. a resource like airlineroute will give you an advanced heads-up for something like planned equipment changes, something that you may not discover until too late if you wait for actual changes to come through.

a case in point, UA changed aircraft on a transatlantic flight affecting class of service offered. this was mentioned on airlineroute, but never notified on line (and wouldn't have been as UA mapped over award inventory even though it was a downgrade).

 

[Mranderson]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Update on my DPS-SIN-PER booking,
Sent in screenshots and got email back saying all good to book,got a SIA booking number which brought up the flights on SIA website so thought great just have to wait for a call from LM to pay taxes,LM rang to take payment 2hrs before ticketing deadline.
Tried 2 different credit cards none of which would work so the agent said ring the banks to see if they are blocking transaction and she will ring back in an hour,rang the bank they said no we are not blocking any transactions from them,LM agent rang back and tried the cards again which still didn't work so ticket ended up being cancelled.
Back to plan B for me I guess

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Update on my DPS-SIN-PER booking,
Sent in screenshots and got email back saying all good to book,got a SIA booking number which brought up the flights on SIA website so thought great just have to wait for a call from LM to pay taxes,LM rang to take payment 2hrs before ticketing deadline.
Tried 2 different credit cards none of which would work so the agent said ring the banks to see if they are blocking transaction and she will ring back in an hour,rang the bank they said no we are not blocking any transactions from them,LM agent rang back and tried the cards again which still didn't work so ticket ended up being cancelled.
Back to plan B for me I guess

What a shame! But yes, I've heard some people have trouble with their credit cards with LM. Which cards did you use? Have you used it to buy miles before or redeem online with LM before? I always use my Westpac Black MC and never had problem.

 

[Guvner]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Same here. I have an ANZ black VISA which never works and I have a NAB "plain old no frills" VISA which always works.

 

[hummel]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Same here. I have an ANZ black VISA which never works and I have a NAB "plain old no frills" VISA which always works.

2 x ANZ cards we've used in the family for LM bookings always have trouble. Get flagged, never work etc Bloody falcon!

My Citibank Signature though, no issues with approx 12 bookings in the past 18 months.

 

[boomy]

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

My Black MasterCard Altitude always works but the Black Amex Altitude never works for some reason.
Is it possible LM don't accept Amex?

 

[aaronjames000]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

My Black MasterCard Altitude always works but the Black Amex Altitude never works for some reason.
Is it possible LM don't accept Amex?

They definitely accept Amex for miles purchases... so surely they would accept it for taxes etc?