Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[boomy]

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

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

I used to have Black Amex Earth and then Black Amex Altitude but both never worked for LM miles purchases/transfers

 

[Jonova]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Have used an ANZ Black Amex without any issues. I normally use a 28 Degrees MC and that goes through without issue.

 

[aaronjames000]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Used the Platinum Charge card a couple of months ago to buy miles and they even gave me 2 MR ppd because it was airline spend. Bonus 5000 points!

 

[drron]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I use my Amex but after being rejected the first time for possible fraud I always ring first and no more problems.

 

[Mranderson]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

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.

Tried ANZ platinum visa which has never worked on any online redemptions with LM and just a visa debit card which I have used for all my online redemptions on LM without any problems.

 

[robd]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I've always used my 28 Degree MC without issue until the last time, when it just wouldn't go through. I had to use my Amex. Surely it couldn't be a glitch at the LM end? :shock:

 

[jsoprano]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Quick update: I figured out that there was award availability on the earlier flight SYD-BKK on my date of travel, which would get me to BKK in time for the connection to MUC, albeit it will be a connection of just more than 8 hrs. Still, after not having much luck via the phone (probably because it's weekend and the correct department is not staffed?), I tried it by email to [email protected], here's their generic response:



Oh well... I've called but no one could help me! And I don't want to cancel the ticket either! So I will keep trying to get to speak to their "operational events" department, but so far I got nowhere.

An update on my TG schedule change situation: was able to speak to the "Operational Events" department yesterday morning, was basically transfered straight through from the first operator I spoke to. The guy in that department knew what he was doing, put me on hold for probably 2 mins and then offered me to change my flight SYD-BKK to the earlier TG476 on the same date, which I accepted. Changes where visible in TG 'check my booking' straightaway, but I haven't received my updated ETKT from AV yet (should have arrived within 24 hrs, which have now passed). So have followed them up by email.

So hopefully this is all sorted know (at least until the next TG schedule change ), took 7 mins on the phone. Also to note, the flight they changed me to had award availability anyway, so that's why it went smooth I guess. Would have probably played out differently otherwise. Also, I have now 8:30 hrs connection time, which seems to cause no issue either.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Would have probably played out differently otherwise.

it would. LM can't create inventory, and are unlikely to put you on a full revenue fare.

 

[legroom]

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

Playing roulette ?

In order to request a manual booking for X Y Z I'd need to cancel the confirmed X Y sector first to release the seat back to LM inventory.

The risk is that during the back & forth emails, that seat could disappear.

The alternative is $USD450 for the Y Z sector (miles cost the same as revenue fare).

Have anyone been 'burnt' while doing that ?

Decision, decisions....

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Playing roulette ?

In order to request a manual booking for X Y Z I'd need to cancel the confirmed X Y sector first to release the seat back to LM inventory.

The risk is that during the back & forth emails, that seat could disappear.

The alternative is $USD450 for the Y Z sector (miles cost the same as revenue fare).

Have anyone been 'burnt' while doing that ?

Decision, decisions....

Too dangerous. Even if you cancel X Y there is no guarantee that it will go back to the LM inventory (or starnet to be precise). The operating airline of X-Y might decide to keep the seat as revenue if it is selling well.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

An update on my TG schedule change situation: was able to speak to the "Operational Events" department yesterday morning, was basically transfered straight through from the first operator I spoke to. The guy in that department knew what he was doing, put me on hold for probably 2 mins and then offered me to change my flight SYD-BKK to the earlier TG476 on the same date, which I accepted. Changes where visible in TG 'check my booking' straightaway, but I haven't received my updated ETKT from AV yet (should have arrived within 24 hrs, which have now passed). So have followed them up by email.

So hopefully this is all sorted know (at least until the next TG schedule change ), took 7 mins on the phone. Also to note, the flight they changed me to had award availability anyway, so that's why it went smooth I guess. Would have probably played out differently otherwise. Also, I have now 8:30 hrs connection time, which seems to cause no issue either.

Just a silly question. I also have a booking which the airline made a minor schedule change by about 10 minutes. So no issues with connecting flights. But in this situation, do I still need to ask LM to reissue the ticket?

 

[Guvner]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Same flight number and no connection issues? I wouldn't stress.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Just a silly question. I also have a booking which the airline made a minor schedule change by about 10 minutes. So no issues with connecting flights. But in this situation, do I still need to ask LM to reissue the ticket?

reissue: no
revalidate: yes. But would I proactively do this? no.

basic summary:

reissue occurs where the information on the flight coupons substantially changes... new flight numbers, carrier, or origin/destination cities, this needs to be updated by the ticket issuer. A date change may require a reissue if there is a different fare (not usually applicable for award tickets)
revalidation occurs where everything on the ticket is the same, except for example something like a time change, this can be updated by the operating airline itself

A simple time change can just be updated by the operating airline.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

There is no reason at all to revalidate a ticket after 10 min schedule change, not at all.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Thanks for all your input.

I didn't think I need to do anything. On checkmytrip it simply says "confirmed, time change", so I thought it should be ok. But because the booking is for my parents and I want to make sure they don't get stranded at the airport because the ticket was invalid.

Interestingly, I have a booking with Etihad using my velocity points, there was also a minor schedule change of 10-15 min as well, yet velocity spontaneously reissued another ticket with a completely new e-ticket number. That's why I wanted to make sure I don't have to do anything with LM.

 

[Princess Fiona]

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

Sorry to be a pain again but is there a good email address to contact LM on regarding the TG schedule changes and re-ticketing? The flight I need to change to is available online with LM. I've tried calling twice and given up because of the very lengthy call waits (make AA when a storm is on look good).
Thanks

EDIT: I have a Spanish registrar who likes Red wine, that might solve my problem

 

[Flashback]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Sorry to be a pain again but is there a good email address to contact LM on regarding the TG schedule changes and re-ticketing? The flight I need to change to is available online with LM. I've tried calling twice and given up because of the very lengthy call waits (make AA when a storm is on look good).
Thanks

EDIT: I have a Spanish registrar who likes Red wine, that might solve my problem

I'm in Spain right now and can have a vino tinto... would that help?

 

[jsoprano]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Sorry to be a pain again but is there a good email address to contact LM on regarding the TG schedule changes and re-ticketing? The flight I need to change to is available online with LM. I've tried calling twice and given up because of the very lengthy call waits (make AA when a storm is on look good).
Thanks

Hi PF, make sure you call during our early morning (i.e. now), which is mid afternoon in Colombia. I called the Medellin number (+57 4 444 3434) on Tuesday morning, select option 2 for English, and that got me through without wait. If whoever you speak to doesn't know what they are doing ask for the Operational Events department. They should be able to change your flight without issues, as long as there is award availability on LM. Hope this helps.

 

[Mranderson]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Just a further updated on DPS-SIN-PER booking,
Lifemiles emailed back after cancelling the failed booking with a new booking ref number and said they would ring to try payment again,figured it was a waste of time after 2 card payment failures but ending up putting money on my air nz onesmart travel card and bingo,card payment went thro and flights ticketed,good outcome in the end and a big thumbs up to Karla from LM

 

[anna2103]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Agree re Karla, she does seem to know what she is doing. but she does appear to work part time so its hit and miss re replies

Just a further updated on DPS-SIN-PER booking,
Lifemiles emailed back after cancelling the failed booking with a new booking ref number and said they would ring to try payment again,figured it was a waste of time after 2 card payment failures but ending up putting money on my air nz onesmart travel card and bingo,card payment went thro and flights ticketed,good outcome in the end and a big thumbs up to Karla from LM