Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Any ideas on the Singapore website - if i join Krismiles for example, will it then show availabilty? thanks

Avianca shows SQ (for everything outside of australia). I guess the SQ site would be good for the AU-SIN portions.

Avianca used to require screen-shots to manually book an award... avaiability for both sector(s) individually, and another to show the through connection was not available.

I'm not sure how seritonin satisfied the screen-shot requirement for the SQ flights.

 

[seritonin]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Was this a screen shot method or just an email requesting availability on the off chance?

Screenshot method. I used the link on the website initially to email them stating that I can provide screenshots. Then they replied and ask to provide these:

• The frequent flyer number from where you want to redeem your miles.
• Phone number to contact you, please specify the country it belongs to.
• The passengers information, gender, name and date of birth according to the passport.
• The screenshots

 

[NDiddy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Screenshot method. I used the link on the website initially to email them stating that I can provide screenshots. Then they replied and ask to provide these:

• The frequent flyer number from where you want to redeem your miles.
• Phone number to contact you, please specify the country it belongs to.
• The passengers information, gender, name and date of birth according to the passport.
• The screenshots

Good work mate - Which route did you plug in to send the screen shots? MEL-CGK?

 

[seritonin]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Good work mate - Which route did you plug in to send the screen shots? MEL-CGK?

MEL-KUL. It's the best option in my opinion.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

MEL-KUL. It's the best option in my opinion.

but how did you provide a screenshot for MEL-SIN? That shouldn't have been available as a sector to be booked in its own right?

 

[seritonin]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

but how did you provide a screenshot for MEL-SIN? That shouldn't have been available as a sector to be booked in its own right?

Well, I provided a screenshot of a search of MEL-SIN with no availability

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Well, I provided a screenshot of a search of MEL-SIN with no availability

ok... that's a 'glitch' in its own right then, as the manual booking is only supposed to be for flights which are available, but cannot be booked because of the glitch.

So for example if TG is available MEL-BKK and BKK-NRT, but the through booking MEL-(BKK)-NRT is not showing, you'd send in the three screenshots.

 

[seritonin]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

ok... that's a 'glitch' in its own right then, as the manual booking is only supposed to be for flights which are available, but cannot be booked because of the glitch.

So for example if TG is available MEL-BKK and BKK-NRT, but the through booking MEL-(BKK)-NRT is not showing, you'd send in the three screenshots.

I don't think the manual booking is just for the glitch, it' was used before the glitch started. As long as the agent can see the fare bucket and does NN/long sell request to SQ and come back confirmed, it's all good. I should also clarify that the process is seamless if you speak a bit of Spanish.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I don't think the manual booking is just for the glitch, it' was used before the glitch started. As long as the agent can see the fare bucket and does NN/long sell request to SQ and come back confirmed, it's all good. I should also clarify that the process is seamless if you speak a bit of Spanish.

If that was indeed the case I was unaware of it, and haven't read anywhere that it had been successful. It was long standing that agents could only book what was shown on the website.

 

[anna2103]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

If that was indeed the case I was unaware of it, and haven't read anywhere that it had been successful. It was long standing that agents could only book what was shown on the website.

Am tempted to give it a trym I wonder how long the turnaround times are as I do want to change one of my flights

Can anyone advise how long it takes to recredit points when you cancel a booking

 

[boomy]

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

Can anyone advise how long it takes to recredit points when you cancel a booking

It's done immediately. Just cancelled some flights a few days ago and points back into the account straight away.
Still waiting to get all the taxes refunded.

 

[anna2103]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

It's done immediately. Just cancelled some flights a few days ago and points back into the account straight away.
Still waiting to get all the taxes refunded.

Thanks for he quick reply - oh to be playing the lifemiles screenshot game...again..., clearly time to see my doctor again

 

[JessicaTam]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

It's done immediately. Just cancelled some flights a few days ago and points back into the account straight away.
Still waiting to get all the taxes refunded.

Agreed, taxes take a while. Last time I cancelled a flight the points were in my account before I had finished on the phone!

 

[boomy]

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

Btw I recommend calling Colombia. Very fast and efficient service, took me just a bit more then 30 minutes to cancel 4 flights.

 

[aaronjames000]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Has anybody had any joy with decreasing the miles used and increasing the co-pay (like using the slider) on bookings made with the screenshot method?? And if so, how did you calculate what the correct price should be?

About to pull the trigger on some flights using screenshot but wanted to know whether I need to spell out the amount of miles I want to use in the initial email, or if I can just tell them on the phone when they call to pay taxes...

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Has anybody had any joy with decreasing the miles used and increasing the co-pay (like using the slider) on bookings made with the screenshot method?? And if so, how did you calculate what the correct price should be?

About to pull the trigger on some flights using screenshot but wanted to know whether I need to spell out the amount of miles I want to use in the initial email, or if I can just tell them on the phone when they call to pay taxes...

Thanks in advance for any help!

I did it. I quoted the amount with the screenshot email and was granted. The way I worded was: "can I have the booking for xx_ miles as per your star alliance partner's award chart. If possible, can I pay it with Flexi Pay option with yyy miles + $zzz?"

To look up the miles and cash needed, I use a dummy booking with the same amount of miles needed that is not affected by the glitch. In my case to book SYD-NRT in F, I knew 50k miles was needed. So I did dummy booking BKK - NRT in F, which also needed 50k miles. (I did it while taking screen shot so no extra work for me!) that way I know exactly the amount of money needed.

I guess the hard one would be SYD-LHR/CDG/FRA in TG F as there is no equivalent mileage. But I guess you can always guestimate that at around 50% of your miles, the copayment will be 1.5 cents/mile.

 

[aaronjames000]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Aweseome! Thanks VAG newbie.

I would really love to do F SYD-NRT but for the dates i'm looking at early next year there is almost no availability.

Ended up with BNE-BKK-NRT return in TG J. Screenshots sent through on Saturday arvo, and they emailed me back confirming the flights this morning....

Have emailed them back with the time to call me to arranges taxes and also mentioned I would like to use the "Flexible payment option" and quoted what I think it should be (96k and $960 for 2pax)

Hopefully it's all happy days and I can post in the other thread about my success!

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Aweseome! Thanks VAG newbie.

I would really love to do F SYD-NRT but for the dates i'm looking at early next year there is almost no availability.

Ended up with BNE-BKK-NRT return in TG J. Screenshots sent through on Saturday arvo, and they emailed me back confirming the flights this morning....

Have emailed them back with the time to call me to arranges taxes and also mentioned I would like to use the "Flexible payment option" and quoted what I think it should be (96k and $960 for 2pax)

Hopefully it's all happy days and I can post in the other thread about my success!

The waiting game is what's exciting/scary part. The hold is usually 72 hours so if not ticketed, reservation is gone.

According to everybody it seems the usually calls within 72 hrs but not always. I personally experienced once they didn't call. If they don't, then call back and say that you need to ticket in the next hour or else reservation will be cancelled, please help then they'll help. Don't demand to speak to billing/ticketing department as they won't transfer you (they don't speak English anyway).

 

[aaronjames000]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I'm working away on a gas plant at the moment where we have no access to mobile phones, so my biggest fear is either missing the call or being called at some crazy hour of the night!

They asked for the best time to call me so hopefully it all works out. Fingers crossed!

 

[anna2103]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I'm working away on a gas plant at the moment where we have no access to mobile phones, so my biggest fear is either missing the call or being called at some crazy hour of the night!

They asked for the best time to call me so hopefully it all works out. Fingers crossed!

Calls are usually between 9-11pm at night or 8-10 in the morning in my experience. Last week it was 8.05am