Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Or Asiana. The availability is wide open. Even though they downgraded SYD-ICN back to angled slider, there is a slight possibility they will bring QS flat seat back next year.

Yes but Asiana keep missing the runway when they land.... pass

 

[Sparra]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Yes but Asiana keep missing the runway when they land.... pass

Only once, wasn't it?

 

[prozac]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Only once, wasn't it?

You only need once...

 

[Sparra]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

You only need once...

True but they don't "keep missing the runway". I guess you don't fly QF either, Bangkok 1999....

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

Only once, wasn't it?

Actually, twice. Once in SFO last year, second time in Hiroshima, just a couple of months ago.

 

[robd]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

3 flights on an angled-flat bed to get to the US? No thanks.

Try AC or CA.

I flew Asiana to HNL last year via ICN. Won't do that again. Nothing wrong with the flights (landed safely in ICN and HNL), but it doubled the flying time and without lie flat seats, it just wasn't worth it IMO. I'd only consider it if ICN-HNL at least, had lie flat.

 

[tm.smile]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Hoping someone might have some advice!

I made a booking for a friend through Avianca LM for a one-way TG award from SYD-BKK-ZRH in J for the end of this month. Checking the reservation, the first leg of the flight SYD-BKK has had a schedule change from early afternoon to evening and this means that now there is a negative 3hr connection, which would obviously mean my friend misses his ZRH flight.

How would you suggest I tackle this conundrum. Thai says I need to speak with Avianca (fair enough), but by reports, Avianca's call centre should be avoided at all costs. Would Avianca ask TG to open up a seat on the morning SYD-BKK flight (there are no award seats available at the moment) or alternatively a seat on the BKK-ZRH flight on the next day, or do I need to find an alternative route.

The other scenario I was considering was, does my friend check in as normal and have a 'miss-connect' in the hope that Thai will sort it out at the airport for him.

Cheers.

 

[Guvner]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Avianca will have to revalidate the SYD-BKK segment anyway won't they?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Hoping someone might have some advice!

I made a booking for a friend through Avianca LM for a one-way TG award from SYD-BKK-ZRH in J for the end of this month. Checking the reservation, the first leg of the flight SYD-BKK has had a schedule change from early afternoon to evening and this means that now there is a negative 3hr connection, which would obviously mean my friend misses his ZRH flight.

How would you suggest I tackle this conundrum. Thai says I need to speak with Avianca (fair enough), but by reports, Avianca's call centre should be avoided at all costs. Would Avianca ask TG to open up a seat on the morning SYD-BKK flight (there are no award seats available at the moment) or alternatively a seat on the BKK-ZRH flight on the next day, or do I need to find an alternative route.

The other scenario I was considering was, does my friend check in as normal and have a 'miss-connect' in the hope that Thai will sort it out at the airport for him.

Cheers.

TG should have automatically protected the passenger following the misconnect into Bangkok. This is likely to mean accommodation on the next TG service to ZRH, which means an extended stay in BKK. (Unlkely TG will accommodate on another airline, or rebook via another TG port with a connection to ZRH.)

LM will only be able to reacommodate the passenger if there is award seating available on the replacement flight. If there are no award seats, TG will have to transfer a revenue seat to an award seat, and transfer the passenger accordingly. LM will need to accept the changes and make sure the ticket is on order.

I would first check the LM site to see if there are alternative award seats available. This will be the quickest method. Make sure the change fee is waived.

If there aren't any award seats, try calling TG at first instance, making it clear that their schedule change has caused the misconnect. If they give you the run-around, email them instead (that'll give them time to properly consider the issue).

In either event, make sure LM correctly accepts any changes to the ticket. Without a valid ticket, carriage may be refused.

Whether or not TG will also pay for a hotel is another issue. I seem to recall this matter being discussed previously? Not sure of the outcome.

 

[tm.smile]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Hmmm, thanks for your suggestion.

There are no alternative award seats available (there was one via DEL on AI and LX, but didn't really want to put my friend on AI...), however that option is now gone.

I will email TG and see their response.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Hmmm, thanks for your suggestion.

There are no alternative award seats available (there was one via DEL on AI and LX, but didn't really want to put my friend on AI...), however that option is now gone.

I will email TG and see their response.

To be honest AI is perfectly fine. 787, full flat bed, comfortable bedding. Food is fairly basic... but service was attentive and I'd rank them ahead of TG (if nothing else because of the full flat bed). The new AI terminal at Delhi airport also (surprisingly) ranks above BKK in my opinion. Transfer security was quick and easy.

In your email to TG point out that you appreciate TG cannot make changes to the booking as it is controlled by LM, however, you need TG's assistance to confirm space on the next TG service to ZRH, and once that's done, you will check back with LM to get the ticket put in order.

 

[coolkid101]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

TG should have automatically protected the passenger following the misconnect into Bangkok. This is likely to mean accommodation on the next TG service to ZRH, which means an extended stay in BKK. (Unlkely TG will accommodate on another airline, or rebook via another TG port with a connection to ZRH.)

LM will only be able to reacommodate the passenger if there is award seating available on the replacement flight. If there are no award seats, TG will have to transfer a revenue seat to an award seat, and transfer the passenger accordingly. LM will need to accept the changes and make sure the ticket is on order.

I would first check the LM site to see if there are alternative award seats available. This will be the quickest method. Make sure the change fee is waived.

If there aren't any award seats, try calling TG at first instance, making it clear that their schedule change has caused the misconnect. If they give you the run-around, email them instead (that'll give them time to properly consider the issue).

In either event, make sure LM correctly accepts any changes to the ticket. Without a valid ticket, carriage may be refused.

Whether or not TG will also pay for a hotel is another issue. I seem to recall this matter being discussed previously? Not sure of the outcome.

pardon the stupid question and please correct me if i am misunderstood - my understanding is that if one has yet to start his journey and this incident occurs then it is the role of the ticketing carrier to sort something out in the first instance? as you indicated if LM is unable to access any other seats then it goes to the operating carrier for that segment which is causing the subsequent misconnects to help you continue on your journey (i.e. TG to transfer revenue seat to award seat etc) - is this something you can/need to do directly with TG yourself? it hasnt happened to me before but i can only imagine the dreaded run-around by LM and TG going "talk to the other guy"

while i understand that once you have started your journey then the carrier (either ticketing or operating carrier) must get you back; however this does not apply if you have yet to begin? so in the OP's case - if LM says they can't find any replacement seats and TG washes their hands of this as well saying they won't/can't open another award seat then the ticket is unusable? would there be any other options then?

in that last instance would it be pointless rocking up to the airport anyway to take the first segment knowing the subsequent will be a misconnect and forcing the airline to sort something out there and then?

thanks in advance for everyone's collective wisdom and experience.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

the advice I outlined applies prior to travel.

note you are not asking TG to change or amend the ticket in anyway... only to create space. Once this has been done, it must go back to the issuing carrier (LM) to ensure the ticket is in order.

even though LM has issued the ticket, the contract of carriage is between the passenger and the airline. TG is not off the hook entirely if they have caused the misconnect and alternatives are available.

(there's two issues, one is the contract around the fare, the other is the contract of carriage. The operating airline won't usually get involved in the contract around the fare, because that could have all sorts of conditions on it imported by the issuer. the contract of carriage however, is something they can control.)

as you say, once travel has commenced, the airline responsible for the misconnect (or whatever, including recounting due to IRROPS) can take control of the ticket itself (and that's governed by a whole range of agreements between airlines)

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I flew Asiana to HNL last year via ICN. Won't do that again. Nothing wrong with the flights (landed safely in ICN and HNL), but it doubled the flying time and without lie flat seats, it just wasn't worth it IMO. I'd only consider it if ICN-HNL at least, had lie flat.

I don't think there are that many airlines which service fully lie flat to HNL. Angled lie flat is as good as you can get, consider many airlines still offer recliners including their own Hawaiian airlines.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - Questions and Discussion

I don't think there are that many airlines which service fully lie flat to HNL. Angled lie flat is as good as you can get, consider many airlines still offer recliners including their own Hawaiian airlines.

JAL is about the only one I can think of? Air China has a couple of A332s with just 12 seats which I know they were using to HNL, but they're deep angled/recliner style. NH is a recliner only.

 

[smit0847]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Try calling TG in Sydney- theyre usually pretty helpful.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Try calling TG in Sydney- theyre usually pretty helpful.

Not in my case sadly. I had the same issue a couple of months ago due to the change of schedule for TG flights SYD-BKK, flight at end of June and Award seat available on acceptable alternative flight. TG in Sydney wouldn't touch the booking, multiple HUACs and email contact made. Only resolved for me when I called LM's.

 

[Shanye2233]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Let thai sort him out its their job to get him to their destination i have never heard of lifemiles calling and asking the airline to open up seats.

I also wouldnt be calling thai sydney the lady there is a dragon and no helpful at all once she realises your on a lifemiles ticket.

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Let thai sort him out its their job to get him to their destination i have never heard of lifemiles calling and asking the airline to open up seats.

Did you read the post before your's?

 

[Shanye2233]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

I dont need to read posts this has happened to me many times all around the world

if he calls lifemiles they will tell him to cancel and re-book. If he calls thai they will tell him to call lifemiles . If he arrives at the airport without any notification thai will sort it out for him . Unless thai emails the person travelling and informs them of the change at which point he/she becomes notified and then will have no choice but to call lifemiles.