Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

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

How good does TG SYD-BKK-NRT F on Lifemiles look!

PS - surely Hawaii on USDM is priced wrong?

no - Hawaii is a higher zone than the USA. an anomaly yes, but not an error. Some people have scored HNL as a stopover (even though not a star hub) - that has brought it to the same price as USA.

Which does raise a good point - with USDM you do get a stopover included with the fare!!

 

[anat0l]

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

Which does raise a good point - with USDM you do get a stopover included with the fare!!

That is a worthy point! That said, one has to decide whether that is worth the extra cash.

On top of that, as mentioned by smit0847 in the chart, LM doesn't (seem to) allow mixed class redemptions. That hurts a bit.

For my two key destination zones - North America or Europe - seems LM comes out ahead. In fact, in all of J and F, LM either beats DM a bit, or by a lot. Too bad I don't have an account at the moment. Probably should consider making one. That said, it is a bit of a bummer not to be able to have an en route stopover. Also, I'd only see it mostly useful for J redemptions only, as F redemptions with LM would be limited-ish if all sectors must be F.

That all said, thanks to the recent US DM Share Miles promo and a very kind AFFer who provided a 50k miles "seed", the horde of points I've just created is substantially lower in cost than that detailed in the table. But this is an 'exception'.

Excellent work smit0847 - really appreciate all your efforts.

 

[Shanye2233]

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

After my recent issues with USDM I'm into LM i have booked 4 J syd - Europe just waiting for another promo in December to buy the return .

oh and thank you for the chart my eyes seem to open wider when I can see dollar signs :shock:

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

That is a worthy point! That said, one has to decide whether that is worth the extra cash.

On top of that, as mentioned by smit0847 in the chart, LM doesn't (seem to) allow mixed class redemptions. That hurts a bit.

For my two key destination zones - North America or Europe - seems LM comes out ahead. In fact, in all of J and F, LM either beats DM a bit, or by a lot. Too bad I don't have an account at the moment. Probably should consider making one. That said, it is a bit of a bummer not to be able to have an en route stopover. Also, I'd only see it mostly useful for J redemptions only, as F redemptions with LM would be limited-ish if all sectors must be F.

exactly. For the $150 difference AU-Europe - I'd be using USDM. Get a stopover, and can mix classes so TG to FRA then connecting in business to anywhere in Europe. With LM you'd be restricted to TG only destinations, AND, could only leave from SYD (so you'd have to factor in positioning flights to SYD, even if you did those in coach that would bump up the cost by $200.

North America - there is a good saving. But no doubt a lengthy call to get a routing via Asia (if they allow that?)

however - intra asia lifemiles seems to come up trumps! SIN-NRT using SQ or various other combinations... business class for 9,500 miles and $168 in cash (plus taxes). Bargain!!

 

[BOZZ]

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

Thanks for the chart Smit0847. Interesting reading

 

[alieninperth]

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

But you can get a stop over with LM in each direction when booked as O/W and through their call centre cant you? I'm sure that I read that somewhere.

 

[anat0l]

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

But you can get a stop over with LM in each direction when booked as O/W and through their call centre cant you? I'm sure that I read that somewhere.

If you can do that, then that would be very good. That said, not being able to mix classes - even feeder connections - is a bummer, unless your redemption is in J or Y.

 

[alieninperth]

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

I've just beeen looking into this over on FT and it appears that a stopover is only allowed on a rtn ticket. So the same as DM then.

 

[anat0l]

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

I've just beeen looking into this over on FT and it appears that a stopover is only allowed on a rtn ticket. So the same as DM then.

I haven't checked FT, but do you know if there are restrictions on the stopover, viz. with DM, must be at a *A hub and inbound flight to the stopover must be on a carrier hubbed there?

I assume it is only one stopover (i.e. just like US DM) allowed.

 

[smit0847]

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

I haven't checked FT, but do you know if there are restrictions on the stopover, viz. with DM, must be at a *A hub and inbound flight to the stopover must be on a carrier hubbed there?

I assume it is only one stopover (i.e. just like US DM) allowed.

There is very little info because very few people have actually done it, but apparently you are allowed 1 stopover on a return only as mentioned above - no idea if this has to be a *A hub. I would lean towards no because the agents would have such little knowledge of hubs and partner airlines.

Apparently depending on agent you can pick your flights leg by leg by ringing up and listing them step by step (i.e. dont tell them dest at first) if you dont like your online options. This would avoid UA across the pacific.

 

[travelislife]

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

I have never once heard (either on here or over on FT or anywhere else) of a successful stopover being booked on either a return or one way Life Miles itinerary. I booked mine using all one way segments. One booking was made over the phone.

 

[FMX]

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

As requested - please check your destinations - they may not be zoned the same in both programs.

Thank you, smit0847, a very useful chart! It would be good to include the regular (non-promo) prices as well, since the promos are not always available and even when they are the number of miles you can buy under them is limited.

Newbie question, but is there a limit on the total number of miles one can buy per year in either LM or DM? Eg. AA only allows buying 40K miles per calendar year, which is rather limiting.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

Thank you, smit0847, a very useful chart! It would be good to include the regular (non-promo) prices as well, since the promos are not always available and even when they are the number of miles you can buy under them is limited.

Newbie question, but is there a limit on the total number of miles one can buy per year in either LM or DM? Eg. AA only allows buying 40K miles per calendar year, which is rather limiting.

USDM is unlimited. Max 50K bonus per promotion however (and they run pretty much every month). But you can buy more miles without promo if you want.

 

[casanovawa]

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

Yeah as I stated earlier for my way of travelling USDM suits me as flying simple routes just to the US or to Europe LM probably comes out ahead, but flying US AND Europe, or two continental zones i imagine USDM is cheaper and fairly well establish routine for how and where you can book your stopover plus destination... Anything one way LM would win of course, like i am thinking of doing... And for the simpler, more direct routing then yes LM looks like the way to go...

Anat0l was it you who said about you might think of using LMs? If so go and open your account asap because i don't think you can buy miles if an offer comes out and you don't have an account open when the promo is announced (unlike USDM whose promos run for a month and you can access the offer 12 days after your account has been activated), so much better to open one anytime and just let it lie dormant until you feel like using it...

 

[robcuk]

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

Hi Guys,

After a quick look through this thread and drawing a blank can anyone let me know the policy when cancelling flights booked through this scheme?
I seem to remember they just credit the account with miles and no cash!?!? Is there a fee?

I have a booking on the 30.12 from Mad to Syd in J and the company I work for have annouced they will be having an extended shutdown over the
Xmas period so I may be able to extend my trip to Europe. Availabilty maybe tough but Im just looking at my options i.e staying longer, any links or
info would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[robcuk]

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

Hi Guys,

After a quick look through this thread and drawing a blank can anyone let me know the policy when cancelling flights booked through this scheme?
I seem to remember they just credit the account with miles and no cash!?!? Is there a fee?

I have a booking on the 30.12 from Mad to Syd in J and the company I work for have annouced they will be having an extended shutdown over the
Xmas period so I may be able to extend my trip to Europe. Availabilty maybe tough but Im just looking at my options i.e staying longer, any links or
info would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Well after reading through FT it looks like its just $50 cancellation fee and the refund is in miles only, no cash. Not sure about taxes?

 

[auriga]

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

They used to refund the cash component as miles, but that's no longer the case from I gathered. I don't know about taxes.

 

[joeborgo]

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

Hi robuck

I recently cancelled a booking, can only be done by ringing the call centre. The fee is $50US per passenger and the points are credited - not the cash. Also taxes are refunded. Be prepared to spend at least half an hour on the phone.

Regards
Joe

 

[robcuk]

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

Hi robuck

I recently cancelled a booking, can only be done by ringing the call centre. The fee is $50US per passenger and the points are credited - not the cash. Also taxes are refunded. Be prepared to spend at least half an hour on the phone.

Regards
Joe

Thanks Joe,

Well i spent a long time on the phone with them after I had booked the flights due to some availability issues!

However, I have found a flight from CDG to SYD which is showing on life miles so im considering a change - do
you know if there is $150 fee to change?

Cheers

 

[joeborgo]

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

Hi robuck

Better of cancelling and re-booking as only costs $75 (original $25 plus $50 cancel fee) compared to $175 (original $25 plus $150 cancel fee) to change the dates etc.

Joe