Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

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.

Only ex MEL and BNE IMO

 

[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...

Good news!
LM approved my screenshots and although they were showing only 1 pax traveling, they agreed to book for 2 pax in J!
I'm so happy as I really wanted an overnight flight BNE-SIN and didn't feel like taking the odd 2.30am EK departure.
So now we can confirm two important things regarding booking SQ with LM:
1. They will approve screenshots showing availability on a multi-city booking more then 14 days out even if the direct AUS-SIN sector is not available (must send both screenshots).
2. Even if the system shows availability only for 1 pax, can still email and successfully request booking for 2 (or more?).

 

[coolkid101]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Good news!
LM approved my screenshots and although they were showing only 1 pax traveling, they agreed to book for 2 pax in J!
I'm so happy as I really wanted an overnight flight BNE-SIN and didn't feel like taking the odd 2.30am EK departure.
So now we can confirm two important things regarding booking SQ with LM:
1. They will approve screenshots showing availability on a multi-city booking more then 14 days out even if the direct AUS-SIN sector is not available (must send both screenshots).
2. Even if the system shows availability only for 1 pax, can still email and successfully request booking for 2 (or more?).

Mind sharing Which itinerary you used use for the multi city and when did you book for?

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Mind sharing Which itinerary you used use for the multi city and when did you book for?

Sure, similar itinerary seritonin used, searched BNE-KUL and results were:
BNE-SIN SQ
SIN-BKK TG
BKK-KUL MS

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Good news!
LM approved my screenshots and although they were showing only 1 pax traveling, they agreed to book for 2 pax in J!
I'm so happy as I really wanted an overnight flight BNE-SIN and didn't feel like taking the odd 2.30am EK departure.
So now we can confirm two important things regarding booking SQ with LM:
1. They will approve screenshots showing availability on a multi-city booking more then 14 days out even if the direct AUS-SIN sector is not available (must send both screenshots).
2. Even if the system shows availability only for 1 pax, can still email and successfully request booking for 2 (or more?).

That'a good news.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Sure, similar itinerary seritonin used, searched BNE-KUL and results were:
BNE-SIN SQ
SIN-BKK TG
BKK-KUL MS

It seems only July has availability. I tried November and nothing for the whole month.

BTW, LM website is undergoing "maintenance" at the moment. Hopefully afterwards, the glitch would be gone and screenshot would be unnecessary.

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

BTW, LM website is undergoing "maintenance" at the moment. Hopefully afterwards, the glitch would be gone and screenshot would be unnecessary.

I hope so. Looking for BKK-BNE and can hardly find any availability, don't know if it's because of the glitch or not.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

It is really a love-hate relationship with LM. It is still unbeatable in terms of value when it comes to Star Alliance redemption because of the lack of YQ. I just booked first class on ANA from LAX-SIN (19 hrs of first class service!) for only 41000 miles plus $870 miles co-payment + $18.78 in tax + $25 booking fee! Similar booking on SQ using KF would cost me 91375 miles + $1180 in YQ+taxes!!! As this routing is easily found online, there was no need of screenshots! Simple! (Just when I was about to say that.......)

As I entered my credit card detail and pressed proceed with payment, it crashed! The payment did not go through, miles was not deducted, but the reservation was made as I got the reservation number and I can see it on CMT. Therefore the availability is out of Starnet and I can't book it again until the reservation cancels itself after 3 days and it goes back to the inventory. So I had to call LM again (of course after checking with my bank to ensure CC wasn't blocked). I thought it was just simple as giving them the credit card detail and make the final payment. Nothing could be farther from the truth. They were having trouble processing my card. They asked me to call back at 10pm EST so that their payment department is open. I did, but then got transferred between departments again and ended up with some Spanish speaking guy again. HUACA. This time before they push that transfer button, I explained the situation, but somehow they just can't process my CC. I was asked to do everything online again as my CC wasn't charged and no miles deducted. I explained that the reservation is on hold so no more availability. However, they could manually disable the hold and I could book online again. This time everything went smooth.

On the hind sight, I might've accidentally typed a wrong number when I booked that's why they have trouble processing it. (Basically they won't take the credit card number, they will play a recording and ask you to confirm the last 4 digits of your credit card that you put in at time of booking, and type in the expiry date and CVV.) So the lesson from this:

1. Please triple check your credit card detail when you put in before you press the proceed to pay button, and make sure your bank won't block it.
2. They actually charge more when you book manually. There is a "Star Alliance redemption fee" of $60 which they don't charge for online booking.
3. It might be a way to hold reservation for 3 days. That is, book the seat that you want but purposely put the wrong CC detail so it would not go ahead, yet hold the seat. However, I don't see the point in this as you can't proceed with your booking if you want it. You have to wait until it comes back to the inventory and assuming no one snatch it.

Anyway, after all a good outcome. 41000 miles + $913.78 for 19 hours is unbeatable! LM, I hate you yet I love you!

 

[smit0847]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Hopefully afterwards, the glitch would be gone and screenshot would be unnecessary.

Ill believe that when i see it!

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Ill believe that when i see it!

No, it's not fixed. But we can always hope....

 

[Stanman]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I have 50k lifemiles i purchased last year

do they expire? I thought it was 12 months?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I have 50k lifemiles i purchased last year

do they expire? I thought it was 12 months?

24 months. if you log into your account it will show the expiry date just under the balance.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I have 50k lifemiles i purchased last year

do they expire? I thought it was 12 months?

I think it's 24 months of inactivity. If you have redeem flights, then clock resets again.

Only program I know that will have expired miles irrespective of activity is Krisflyer.

 

[BobbyFlyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

2x1 "plus 10%" offer now on for LM until 29 May....nice that they add the 10% given appreciation of USD

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

2x1 "plus 10%" offer now on for LM until 29 May....nice that they add the 10% given appreciation of USD

I was just thinking, it's about time, where is the sale?

Edit:
It is not listed on their website yet, but I played a bit, it is actually more like 120% bonus. ie. If you want to max out the promotion, you buy 68000 miles and you get a bonus of 81600 to a total of 149600 miles. It works out to be 1.5 cents exactly. (I wonder why they bothered to raise the price......)

The beauty of LM is you get same rate of bonus irrespective of how much you buy, so in a way you can just buy what you need. Hmm, temptation, temptation.....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I'd probably advise to get in quick!!

The promo clearly says '+10%' so if they're offering 20% (which it appears they are ATM) I'd be in there buying!

That's not to say LM couldn't reverse the transaction later (reduce the bonus, even after purchase), but if you're not in it your're not in it! (IIRC wasn't there some program where there was a bonus 5000 miles or something incorrectly credited which was later reversed?)

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

(IIRC wasn't there some program where there was a bonus 5000 miles or something incorrectly credited which was later reversed?)

Yep, it was LM.

 

[anna2103]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I was just thinking, it's about time, where is the sale?

Edit:
It is not listed on their website yet, but I played a bit, it is actually more like 120% bonus. ie. If you want to max out the promotion, you buy 68000 miles and you get a bonus of 81600 to a total of 149600 miles. It works out to be 1.5 cents exactly. (I wonder why they bothered to raise the price......)

The beauty of LM is you get same rate of bonus irrespective of how much you buy, so in a way you can just buy what you need. Hmm, temptation, temptation.....

To save me looking - how much USD is 68,000 miles?
But I swear I am not buying - the Singapore t-14 glitch plus TG being so precarious (esp Brisbane which they will most likely discontinue, the options out of OZ are really limited in J

 

[Alanslegal]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I thought my LM days were done and dusted having used up all my points. Looks like I am back on the TG bandwagon once again

 

[juddles]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

To save me looking - how much USD is 68,000 miles?
But I swear I am not buying - the Singapore t-14 glitch plus TG being so precarious (esp Brisbane which they will most likely discontinue, the options out of OZ are really limited in J

$2244 as at today.