Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[prozac]

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!

So are you up in the Timor Gap or ZOCA? Sometimes I miss drilling...it doesn't last long.

 

[aaronjames000]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

So are you up in the Timor Gap or ZOCA? Sometimes I miss drilling...it doesn't last long.

Nowhere that remote... I'm only in Karratha!

 

[prozac]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Nowhere that remote... I'm only in Karratha!

That was pretty remote when I worked out of King Bay in 1982.

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

What's the current status with booking AUS-SIN under 14 days?
Can't find any availability online in J, did anyone managed to bypass this "glitch"?

 

[phantompharter]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Hi All,

Another data point to add:
Just ticketed PER-BKK-HND and NRT-BKK-PER on TG in J for July/August using the screenshot method. 160k miles for two people total.
(On a side note there was oodles of availability around that time for these flights - is this normal?)

Thanks to the help on this forum - I submitted the first email with the correct info which helped with the booking process.
Had a few emails back and forth, and requested x miles and y cash as per the slider in my dummy booking - no issue with this when it came time to pay.
I paid 74k miles and the rest with cash as that was all that I had left in the account.

I had not received a call by the third night, so I called myself and after a bit of CSR ping pong finally got to someone who could help (used the Medellin number as described in previous posts).
I had pre authorised my card - only issue was they inputed my name incorrectly the first go, and then the CVV incorrectly the second go. I had to HUACA a few times.
I imagine it would be very useful if you could speak a bit of spanish to make the process a little bit smoother.
I managed to get the same CSR a few times - Daniella - she was v. v. helpful.

Received the e-ticket number and receipt a few hours later and sorted out seats/meals on TG website using the LM PNR straight away.

Thanks for the great info in this forum

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

What's the current status with booking AUS-SIN under 14 days?
Can't find any availability online in J, did anyone managed to bypass this "glitch"?

There is currently no SQ availability showing from Australia except for flights ex PER (unless the PER thing has changed recently).

This should technically mean booking SQ flights is not possible - because there isn't a screenshot... however it has been reported (successfully) that you can manually request this anyway - simply by showing a single screenshot of 'zero' on the LM website.

You would need to confirm via an alternative source that there was award availability anyway. Not sure the best 'free' way to do that (given UA doesn't show it). You'd need either a paid service, or find another star airline that still shows SQ.

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

There is currently no SQ availability showing from Australia except for flights ex PER (unless the PER thing has changed recently).

This should technically mean booking SQ flights is not possible - because there isn't a screenshot... however it has been reported (successfully) that you can manually request this anyway - simply by showing a single screenshot of 'zero' on the LM website.

You would need to confirm via an alternative source that there was award availability anyway. Not sure the best 'free' way to do that (given UA doesn't show it). You'd need either a paid service, or find another star airline that still shows SQ.

What you are saying is interesting. I wonder if we can use the 'zero' screenshot to request flights more then 14 days ahead...
Can use ExpertFlyer to search SQ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

What you are saying is interesting. I wonder if we can use the 'zero' screenshot to request flights more then 14 days ahead...
Can use ExpertFlyer to search SQ?

seritonin reported success just a couple pages back (see discussion around post #4366 of this thread). theoretically it shouldn't be possible, and prior to this glitch, the call centre would tell you they could only book what was showing on line (no possibility for them to long sell, or manually request anything that wasn't showing on line).

if it was possible... I didn't know about it!

I would give it a go. Although if it trends... who knows if avianca will move to close it off permanently (or whether they even care).

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I would give it a go. Although if it trends... who knows if avianca will move to close it off permanently (or whether they even care).

I'll give it a shot and report back with results.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

seritonin reported success just a couple pages back (see discussion around post #4366 of this thread). theoretically it shouldn't be possible, and prior to this glitch, the call centre would tell you they could only book what was showing on line (no possibility for them to long sell, or manually request anything that wasn't showing on line).

if it was possible... I didn't know about it!

I would give it a go. Although if it trends... who knows if avianca will move to close it off permanently (or whether they even care).

Serotonin's technic was using screen shot again, except he just needed one segment on a very complicated itinerary, I believe it was MEL-SIN-CGK-KUL. It did show SQ availability on LM site so that's how it worked.

I don't think LM is willing to book you anything that shows on other tool/sites. I took screenshots from ANA and United (not SQ flights tho) and their reply was simply something like availability of different airline is different and gave me a quote of LM T&C that no guarantees on availability with award flights. Basically treat you like a dummy and that was it.

If anyone managed to get LM to manually book for you other than what's showing on LM site, please report. I'm all ears.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Serotonin's technic was using screen shot again, except he just needed one segment on a very complicated itinerary, I believe it was MEL-SIN-CGK-KUL. It did show SQ availability on LM site so that's how it worked.

I don't think LM is willing to book you anything that shows on other tool/sites. I took screenshots from ANA and United (not SQ flights tho) and their reply was simply something like availability of different airline is different and gave me a quote of LM T&C that no guarantees on availability with award flights. Basically treat you like a dummy and that was it.

If anyone managed to get LM to manually book for you other than what's showing on LM site, please report. I'm all ears.

see post #4368... seems to imply long sell...

screenshots from other airlines are not required, or requested. the manual workaround is supposed to be for connections which were previously available on LM, which continue to individually show on the LM website, but aren't there once you try for the whole journey (hence screenshots 1,2 and 3)

if LM is willing to work outside this, theoretically it could be worth trying for connections over 8 hours, and even SQ more than 14 days out.

 

[seritonin]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Serotonin's technic was using screen shot again, except he just needed one segment on a very complicated itinerary, I believe it was MEL-SIN-CGK-KUL. It did show SQ availability on LM site so that's how it worked.

I don't think LM is willing to book you anything that shows on other tool/sites. I took screenshots from ANA and United (not SQ flights tho) and their reply was simply something like availability of different airline is different and gave me a quote of LM T&C that no guarantees on availability with award flights. Basically treat you like a dummy and that was it.

If anyone managed to get LM to manually book for you other than what's showing on LM site, please report. I'm all ears.

You are correct. I sent them two screenshots, one with MEL-SIN-BKK-KUL showing available flight and another with MEL-SIN search with no availability. I didn't specifically requested a long sell right off the bat. I assumed by showing that the segment is available (i.e they can see the fare bucket), they can do a long sell with SQ for the seat. Just like MileagePlus long sell requests through HNL call centre, the inventory has to be available to be successful. I highly doubt that anyone would be successful without screenshots from Lifemiles, but I'm happy to be proven wrong.
Also, when they called me to confirm the ticket, it was a Florida number and she then called Colombia to get the ticket confirm while putting me on hold.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

You are correct. I sent them two screenshots, one with MEL-SIN-BKK-KUL showing available flight and another with MEL-SIN search with no availability. I didn't specifically requested a long sell right off the bat. I assumed by showing that the segment is available (i.e they can see the fare bucket), they can do a long sell with SQ for the seat. I highly doubt that anyone would be successful without screenshots from Lifemiles, but I'm happy to be proven wrong.
Also, when they called me to confirm the ticket, it was a Florida number and she then called Colombia to get the ticket confirm while putting me on hold.

ok - understand what the process was now. I have been able to recreate an itinerary more than 14 days in advance for MEL-SIN-BKK-KUL on SQ/TG/MS, but the SQ sector by itself doesn't show.

LM allowing the SQ sector on its own in the case of sales outside 14 days is a change in policy as those seats were previously restricted.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

ok - understand what the process was now. I have been able to recreate an itinerary more than 14 days in advance for MEL-SIN-BKK-KUL on SQ/TG/MS, but the SQ sector by itself doesn't show.

LM allowing the SQ sector on its own in the case of sales outside 14 days is a change in policy as those seats were previously restricted.

It's a bit of lottery. You need to have availability in J for all segments for all airlines involved. The ones I've seen included different mixtures of LH/TG/Ethiopian/Egypt air. So if you manage to find one on the date that suit you, grab it! MEL-SIN will be serviced all by 77W and 772 from Mar 16 with the A380 J seats or new J seats, no more A330's regional slider so good deal for 40000 LM.

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Thinking about it, there is no reason LM wouldn't accept AUS-SIN as single sector if it's available for multi sector at the same rate of 40K. Theoretically one can book the multi sector one way and stop in SIN, not that I would recommend on doing that.
Unfortunately for me I can't find availability for two in J but I'll send the screenshots anyway, nothing to lose I suppose...

 

[coolkid101]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

just tried a random date ADL-SIN-CGK-KUL for 2 in J going SQ-SQ-LH in 5months. Only need to get to SIN but for 40,000LM thats awesome even if i gave up the later 2 segments - or i might just go all the way to CGK and KUL then find a LCC back to SIN and enjoy more time in J

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

just tried a random date ADL-SIN-CGK-KUL for 2 in J going SQ-SQ-LH in 5months. Only need to get to SIN but for 40,000LM thats awesome even if i gave up the later 2 segments - or i might just go all the way to CGK and KUL then find a LCC back to SIN and enjoy more time in J

Good idea. That way you don't have to worry about screenshot technic and be confirmed immediately. Also you can write trip reports comparing different J products and lounges!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Good idea. That way you don't have to worry about screenshot technic and be confirmed immediately. Also you can write trip reports comparing different J products and lounges!

I don't think it's actually bookable.

Proceeding past the first screen where you select flights will usually return an error message.

 

[coolkid101]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I don't think it's actually bookable.

Proceeding past the first screen where you select flights will usually return an error message.

you are quite right.
might have to see if they'll accept a screenshot of that and the following error message
will update again.

 

[luxury-lizard]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

you are quite right.
might have to see if they'll accept a screenshot of that and the following error message
will update again.

Does anyone know if any of these SQ routes work ex-SYD - I searched with MEL-KUL and it found availability but SYD-KUL does not.