Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

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re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

MEL_Traveller said:
No problem to collect bags in the four hours. However... a friend of mine did it just last month and found out the CA check-in doesn't open until three hours prior to departure... so if the LH flight is early you'll have a bit of time up your sleeve before you can go back through. (The airport doesn't offer wi-fi land-side, but if you really want to get on line you can go to one of the cafes land-side and log-in there.)

You can get transit without visa for shanghai if you don't already have a visa... and you can ask if LH will through check your bags. They wouldn't through check the bags for my friend because they originated in London (via Frankfurt) - or so they claimed. You'll have to clear immigration anyway as I don't recall seeing LH->CA on the transit list.

CA has good availability, and I wouldn't even consider TG if CA was available.
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our experience was slightly different. we did a LM redemption TPE - MEL via PVG. We flew EVA air from TPE to PVG and arrived about 8 hours before PVG-MEL. collected our bags and went straight to CA check in and no questions asked - bags checked in x4 and off we went on the Maglev into the city for a quick walkaround and some local food.
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

coolkid101 said:
our experience was slightly different. we did a LM redemption TPE - MEL via PVG. We flew EVA air from TPE to PVG and arrived about 8 hours before PVG-MEL. collected our bags and went straight to CA check in and no questions asked - bags checked in x4 and off we went on the Maglev into the city for a quick walkaround and some local food.
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with China who knows! to be honest I was surprised when my friend told me they had to wait for checkin to open... air China has a common check in for all flights at PVG (single counter for all premium pax, for all flights). I had assumed you could check in at any time.

obviously sometimes as in your case there aren't restrictions.

nz09... i don't know if there is anywhere to store luggage at pvg... but I'd wholly recommend a 12 hours stay. that's just perfect to get in all the sights and ride the maglev!
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

MEL_Traveller said:
with China who knows! to be honest I was surprised when my friend told me they had to wait for checkin to open... air China has a common check in for all flights at PVG (single counter for all premium pax, for all flights). I had assumed you could check in at any time.

obviously sometimes as in your case there aren't restrictions.

nz09... i don't know if there is anywhere to store luggage at pvg... but I'd wholly recommend a 12 hours stay. that's just perfect to get in all the sights and ride the maglev!
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maglev was awesome. but 8 mins was all! then you have to take a taxi or the train another 15mins to get into the city, which was slightly inconvenient. we went to the bund to have a walkaround but it was too close to chinese new year, that crowd was just ridiculous. we ate some street food and headed back to the lounge.
and yea we went to the common check in and was all easily done
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

MEL_Traveller said:
No problem to collect bags in the four hours.
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nz09: Just also be aware of the opposite issue which is having a delayed arrival on your first flight when travelling on separate PNRs. If you arrive too late for check-in you may forfeit the subsequent flight. The 12 hour layover may not be such a bad idea.

tb
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

After 72 hours of screenshot email, still no reply from LM. I wonder if it's officially dead this method. Will send the email again today.
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

anna2103 said:
Keep us posted please.
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After second email, LM has replied and booked last night, with the usual generic apology for the delay "due to unusual amount of request lately". Now just waiting for them to call. So I guess it is still open, but don;t expect a quick reply. This time took 4 days!

I must say that despite this inconvenience, LM is still super cheap especially to North Asia. At 50000 miles and no YQ (if miles plus cash, it's only 20000 miles plus $472.08 USD or $613 AUD) in first class to Japan is just unbeatable. KF would charge ~66000 miles in J and 80000 in F plus >$400 in YQ. I know I lost a few night's sleep awaiting for the call, but now I know the tactic if they don't call me in 3 days, plus I booked super early this time (it's for Feb 16), so even if I lost the booking, there are still plenty of award seats.

The only downside is it is still TG, and I don't know if I will be TG'ed again just like my September booking which I got downgraded to business class because they substituted 747 with 787. But this time I booked the BKK-NRT leg on TG640 which is operated by A380, I think it is less likely they will TG that one. But you never know. It's TG after all.
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

VAG newbie said:
.... I know I lost a few night's sleep awaiting for the call, but now I know the tactic if they don't call me in 3 days.. .
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May we know what that tactic is ?

PM if you prefer.

Thanks
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

legroom said:
May we know what that tactic is ?

PM if you prefer.

Thanks
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It's OK. It's no secret. I've already post it but maybe you missed it. All I did was call them after 10pm Sydney time, telling the agent my booking is about to be cancelled if I don't ticket it within the next 2 hours, and ask them to please help me. It worked for me as I think begging is better than demanding them to transfer us to their billing department. But I think your way might work too by telling them that you missed the call, although there may still be a risk of them telling you" that someone will call you back".

BTW, amazingly, I didn't need any tactic this time. Despite it took 4 days for my email to get replied, LM called me just 30 minutes ago to complete the booking! That is within 12 hrs (I don't know what time they booked me over night, so it could be shorter). So first class SYD-BKK-NRT in F (with BKK-NRT in A380!) for only 20000 miles plus $730AUD. Bargain! I wish AUD was stronger still.....

Now I only have need to worry if I will be TG'ed! Fingers crossed!
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Anyone know how many LM for SYD-HKT J TG?
I think I would need to do this with screen shots?

Thanks
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

craiglm said:
Thanks MEL_Traveller. Do you know what the sweet spot is for points - pay?

Thanks
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the sweet spot is $15 per 1000 miles co-pay.

you can do a dummy booking for BKK, then use the slider... you will see the co-pay starts at about USD30 per thousand, gradually reducing until each 1000 miles costs just a few cents (or in fact negative cents!) until it reaches an overall average of $15 per 1000 miles. It then remains at $15 per thousand thereafter.

So you can either choose to use a few less miles and pay more cash (handy if you have another trip planned) or use the full minimum of 40% miles and the rest cash.
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

MEL_Traveller said:
the sweet spot is $15 per 1000 miles co-pay.

you can do a dummy booking for BKK, then use the slider... you will see the co-pay starts at about USD30 per thousand, gradually reducing until each 1000 miles costs just a few cents (or in fact negative cents!) until it reaches an overall average of $15 per 1000 miles. It then remains at $15 per thousand thereafter.

So you can either choose to use a few less miles and pay more cash (handy if you have another trip planned) or use the full minimum of 40% miles and the rest cash.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Just did a dummy booking and the sweet spot $15 per thousand is at 50%.
Will have to do screen shots for the booking.

Cheers
 
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re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

craiglm said:
Thanks for that. Just did a dummy booking and the sweet spot $15 per thousand is at 50%.
Will have to do screen shots for the booking.

Cheers
Click to expand...

it's actually at about 24 or 25000 miles. Depends how many miles you have left, and if you need those miles for somewhere else (saving 5000 miles here might be enough to give you minimum miles for another trip).
 
re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

MEL_Traveller said:
it's actually at about 24 or 25000 miles. Depends how many miles you have left, and if you need those miles for somewhere else (saving 5000 miles here might be enough to give you minimum miles for another trip).
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And depends on if the trip is business related. If it's business related, i maximize the cash component. Even tho it will be a bit more expensive at 1.56c each, I get to claim tax back. It will be hard for you to claim the mile portion with ATO
 
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