Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I'm looking to use LM's one way from EUR (AMS or FRA) next year. I would be happy to book J, but am a bit scared we might end up on the angle seats on the BKK-MEL leg, so I'm thinking perhaps F instead FRA - SYD. Is TG921 to BKK with the arrival time of 06:25 able to be paired with either TG471 departing at 07:00 or TG475 at 19:20? Or do both flights miss on MCT for TG471 and over 8hr transit for TG475?

Bit of a catch-22.

Minimum connecting time at BKK TGi->TGi is 55 minutes. And the manual method for LM bookings is still [often] subject to the same conditions as before the glitch (ie no transfers over 8 hours).

However - certainly worth putting in a request for the later flight and see what LM says. They might allow it!

 

[robd]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Bit of a catch-22.

Minimum connecting time at BKK TGi->TGi is 55 minutes. And the manual method for LM bookings is still [often] subject to the same conditions as before the glitch (ie no transfers over 8 hours).

However - certainly worth putting in a request for the later flight and see what LM says. They might allow it!

Thanks.

Hmmmm... I guess I'll have a look around at a few more routings and see what alternatives I can come up with.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Thanks.

Hmmmm... I guess I'll have a look around at a few more routings and see what alternatives I can come up with.

I think the TG911 from London will get you in just at minimum connecting time for the SYD flight. But extra departure tax.

 

[smit0847]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

My advice for anyone in business class on a 772/773 wanting sleep is to ask the crew before take-off if there are any spare blocks of three seats in economy. They'll hold those for you before economy pax have a chance to snag them. With the business class pillow and duvet you can get a more comfortable sleep.

Ummm.... no!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Ummm.... no!

I guess it depends how you sleep

Anything other than sleeping on your back those angled seats aren't so good... certainly difficult to sleep on your side.

It doesn't make much sense to hang out in business class when there's a good flat bed down the back.

 

[robd]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

How do you work out the More Points/More Money option with the screen shot method?

 

[Flashback]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

How do you work out the More Points/More Money option with the screen shot method?

I would suggest doing a dummy booking for a trip that would price up the same (in full miles cost) then play with the slider there to work it out? Just an educated guess.

 

[JessicaTam]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

How do you work out the More Points/More Money option with the screen shot method?

My understanding is that when the agent rings to charge your CC, you ask to pay with a mix of points and $.

 

[robd]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

My understanding is that when the agent rings to charge your CC, you ask to pay with a mix of points and $.

I managed to find a route in F (MUC-SYD) to have a bit of a play with. Obviously the $$ wont be exact, but I have a general idea of the mix now.

 

[coolkid101]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

hi guys, was hoping to pick the collective wisdom of some of you
i've just made a booking with screenshot method - HND-BKK-SIN-ADL going TG-SQ-SQ with mix of miles 44,000 and rest in cash.
My initial booking which i managed to do online was HND-SYD with ANA (49,000 miles and cash) that would have left me having to buy a 2nd ticket separately back to ADL so when i saw the combination of flights that permitted that screenshot i went for it and sacrificed 2 days of my trip and the $50x2 cancellation fee.

now when they called me to confirm the ticket the guy was quite good, except for some trouble trying to understand me when i said i wanted to use more miles instead... so i just stuck with 44,000 (2 passengers)
he told me the cash component would be 674.56 USD for 2 people . this is what i found online with a dummy booking (using North-asia to Aus) and the same miles/cash ratio(- 540 USD for the miles, 84.56 USD for taxes and 50 USD for booking fee)

i got my confirmation and eticket about 10mins after putting down the phone, but have been very confused with what i've received.
first were 2 emails from [email protected] that said this
[TABLE="width: 782, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="class: ecxmsgTd, colspan: 4"]MG MILEAGE ACCRUAL
ICW:
RMKS: MG MILEAGE ACCRUAL[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: ecxmsgTd, colspan: 4"]270.00[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: ecxmsgTd, colspan: 4"]NON ENDORSABLE / NON REFUNDABLE
MG MILEAGE ACCRUAL[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: ecxmsgTd, colspan: 5, align: left"]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 1"][/TD]
[TD="class: ecxmsgTd, colspan: 4"]1344xx_xx[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: ecxmsgTd, colspan: 2"]USD 270.00


[/TD]
[TD="class: ecxmsgTd, colspan: 2"]VIxx_xx_xx_xx_xx_X/270.00 USD

[/TD]
[TD="class: ecxmsgTd, colspan: 2"]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: ecxmsgTd"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
i assume this is for the extra miles - 270USD per person = 18,000LM at 0.015$ each which works out by my calculation

next was the confirmation from LM saying

Aditional miles purchase


Payment details

Cash: $ 723.20

Ticket tax: $ 81.56

Total: $ 804.76



does anyone know what to make out of this cash component being $130 more than the quoted price?

thanks in advance guys

 

[coolkid101]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

How do you work out the More Points/More Money option with the screen shot method?

My understanding is that when the agent rings to charge your CC, you ask to pay with a mix of points and $.

from my experience yesterday it is much easier to find out exactly what you want first with a dummy booking then in your email with the screenshots tell them exactly what you want your miles/cash ratio to be. by the time they call you they would have already calculated everything and i found it hard to try to re-explain things.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

does anyone know what to make out of this cash component being $130 more than the quoted price?

thanks in advance guys

Unless there's a major hurry - I'd wait and see exactly what comes up on your credit card's on-line statement (as in actual billed charge, not authorisation).

LM sometimes sends out invoices which may include various fees which never get charged (like the star alliance booking fee)

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

My understanding is that when the agent rings to charge your CC, you ask to pay with a mix of points and $.

I made this kind of request in my email, and then confirmed when I spoke to an agent.

I knew I was going to be short in total points for the redemption I selected. I don't know whether I was charged the standard cost of purchasing points or whether it was (would be) according to the More Miles / More Money selector if it were possible to book my combination online. In my case it probably made little to no difference as the number of points I had to make up was small.

 

[hummel]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

You can expect a fairly decent drinks trolley (they mix a good dry martini). And economy food served on crockery.

My advice for anyone in business class on a 772/773 wanting sleep is to ask the crew before take-off if there are any spare blocks of three seats in economy. They'll hold those for you before economy pax have a chance to snag them. With the business class pillow and duvet you can get a more comfortable sleep.

That's going a bit far isn't it!... I'll stick to my sloping bed!

 

[JessicaTam]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

from my experience yesterday it is much easier to find out exactly what you want first with a dummy booking then in your email with the screenshots tell them exactly what you want your miles/cash ratio to be. by the time they call you they would have already calculated everything and i found it hard to try to re-explain things.

I made this kind of request in my email, and then confirmed when I spoke to an agent.

I knew I was going to be short in total points for the redemption I selected. I don't know whether I was charged the standard cost of purchasing points or whether it was (would be) according to the More Miles / More Money selector if it were possible to book my combination online. In my case it probably made little to no difference as the number of points I had to make up was small.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[coolkid101]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

thanks MEL. i'll write back when i get the final amount... would have been nice to burn some of my LM instead of pay cash at the current AUD rate.. oh well.. can't complain with a itin like that!

when cancelling an award booking, is the 50USD fee per person or per booking? and do i also get back the initial 25USD per person booking fee or is that forfeited? thanks again guys

Unless there's a major hurry - I'd wait and see exactly what comes up on your credit card's on-line statement (as in actual billed charge, not authorisation).

LM sometimes sends out invoices which may include various fees which never get charged (like the star alliance booking fee)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

thanks MEL. i'll write back when i get the final amount... would have been nice to burn some of my LM instead of pay cash at the current AUD rate.. oh well.. can't complain with a itin like that!

when cancelling an award booking, is the 50USD fee per person or per booking? and do i also get back the initial 25USD per person booking fee or is that forfeited? thanks again guys

$50 per ticket. The $25 booking fee is non-refundable.

Lifemiles award terms and conditions: https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/abo/wnb/wnbtercond.aspx

 

[smit0847]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

That's going a bit far isn't it!... I'll stick to my sloping bed!

I agree. Whats the point in booking J if youre going to spend the flight in Y?!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I agree. Whats the point in booking J if youre going to spend the flight in Y?!

a couple of reasons. If you can sleep perfectly well on an angled bed... that's fine. But if you can't, there's a point where practicality takes over and you make the best of the situation. What's the point arriving tired after a flight in business class if you can arrive refreshed after sleeping soundly in economy?

Booking economy is potentially unlikely to give you three or four seats to lie on... but if business class is the only class offered and you ask the crew to reserve a triple seat in economy (if loads allow), you'll be accommodated if they can. It's a one minute transaction, done discreetly. No one is any the wiser (except maybe your seat mate in business who thinks you were a seat poacher!! )

You can always head back to your seat for the meal service before landing if you wish. (I usually just stay put and have the economy offering without all the fuss of the front cabin.)

 

[Nizar]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Guys is it possible to book air new zealand J from AKL-PER using LM ?
Any tips ? Perhaps just very far out or days from departure ? Just wondering what the go is as I am looking for this October and am quite flexible but can't find anything not even in Y.