Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Its Thai Airways - they swap them like musical chairs - you don't know what plane you get until you're actually on on-board

That said, they have very good premium award availability (maybe not to JP) so am very grateful they have been around for us to use out points for.

Yes they do. Last year they actually boosted up to 2 A380s during winter months but this year they decided with one A380 and 2 A330. Completely unpredictable. So it's a draw of luck and I got unlucky.

Please don't get me wrong, although I felt disappointed I'm not complaining. After all, I still get to fly F to BKK at a lower mileage needed (50k vs 60k) and I still get to use F lounge. But for Europe bound, if anyone has other FFP frequencies, consider other airlines (eg. SQ, CX, EY...etc) as they are more consistent with the products. Flying TG is like playing Russian roulette.

I'm still hoping that TG changes their mind and bring A380 or 747 back so I haven't got LM to reissue the ticket yet. You never know.

 

[diningdecadence]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Flying TG is like playing Russian roulette.

i know we're on a FF board, but please... get some perspective!

 

[noviceFF]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I'm looking at a one way J from Japan to Sydney early Feb 2016. I've been searching for it via LM website (HND-SYD) and on AA and Qantas website. I have both LM, QFF and AA miles in stock. Can't seem to find any availability. The only thing that shows up is Jetstar starclass via Melb or GC etc, rather cancel my trip than do that. It might just be the peak (snow) season and hence lack of J availability direct. Any other search tools I should be trying?? Where does the JAL J seats show up on?? Any help is appreciated.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I'm looking at a one way J from Japan to Sydney early Feb 2016. I've been searching for it via LM website (HND-SYD) and on AA and Qantas website. I have both LM, QFF and AA miles in stock. Can't seem to find any availability. The only thing that shows up is Jetstar starclass via Melb or GC etc, rather cancel my trip than do that. It might just be the peak (snow) season and hence lack of J availability direct. Any other search tools I should be trying?? Where does the JAL J seats show up on?? Any help is appreciated.

JAL availability is best searched on BA and JL website. It's not just snow season, but also Chinese NY. You can't even find revenue Y ticket on NH departing SYD on 13 Feb. It's that full

 

[noviceFF]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Thx for that.

 

[jgm]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

ANA availability shows up at 350 days. AFAIK they usually release 2 x J. Once they are gone that appears to be it, although I haven't looked at very close in flights. There also appears to be a reasonable amount of mixed class availability via either BKK or SIN for Feb. Booking these with LM will cost 2 awards though.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Thx for that.

Try JL F. You might find more seats on it than J. Also SQ F if you have a healthy amount of KF (hopefully you are not a victim of Citi scam). Yesterday I checked the availability is still pretty good. You'll be surprised but demands for F is actually quite low, much lower than J, so a lot go into award inventory.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just a hypothetical question. Has anyone experienced missed flight, no show with LM award ticket? Eg. If you have a LM flight ex-SYD, but you don't live in SYD so you bought a separate positioning flight from other capital cities. Then due to weather or other unforeseen reason you can't make it to SYD and missed the itinerary completely, what happens? Lose the ticket completely? Or you can get some refunds or change of booking? Just thought of it because we are in storm season now and I have a few bookings coming up departing SYD.

 

[smit0847]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just a hypothetical question. Has anyone experienced missed flight, no show with LM award ticket? Eg. If you have a LM flight ex-SYD, but you don't live in SYD so you bought a separate positioning flight from other capital cities. Then due to weather or other unforeseen reason you can't make it to SYD and missed the itinerary completely, what happens? Lose the ticket completely? Or you can get some refunds or change of booking? Just thought of it because we are in storm season now and I have a few bookings coming up departing SYD.

If you called LMs before the flight closed they could prob cancel/change you, if not the whole thing is forfeited.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just a hypothetical question. Has anyone experienced missed flight, no show with LM award ticket? Eg. If you have a LM flight ex-SYD, but you don't live in SYD so you bought a separate positioning flight from other capital cities. Then due to weather or other unforeseen reason you can't make it to SYD and missed the itinerary completely, what happens? Lose the ticket completely? Or you can get some refunds or change of booking? Just thought of it because we are in storm season now and I have a few bookings coming up departing SYD.

I believe LM tickets are valid for one year - so even in the event of a no-show, you have 365 days in which to apply for a refund.

 

[Guvner]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I think you have 365 days from the date of booking, not 365 days from the date of the no-show.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I think you have 365 days from the date of booking, not 365 days from the date of the no-show.

Thanks. Yes - I year from time of booking.

Note: LM award tickets cannot be cancelled between T-48 and T+24. If you need to cancel you must do so outside those times.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Thanks. Yes - I year from time of booking.

Note: LM award tickets cannot be cancelled between T-48 and T+24. If you need to cancel you must do so outside those times.

So that pretty much mean you can't cancel if you got stranded. Just gotta make sure travel insurance covers that.

 

[incumbent]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

So that pretty much mean you can't cancel if you got stranded. Just gotta make sure travel insurance covers that.

It means you need to wait until a day after the flight left. Not sure whether that would be affected if you've checked in for the flight online.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

So that pretty much mean you can't cancel if you got stranded. Just gotta make sure travel insurance covers that.

There are only two policies I know of that will cover a missed connection in these circumstances (ie where you don't have a 'special event' to attend).

One of the is worldnomads and the other insure4less. You need to check the PDS carefully as, for example, insure4less will only cover you for a replacement flight if you were scheduled to arrive at the connecting point at the earliest recommended check-in time for that connecting flight. So if the SYD flight leaves at 10am, and TG opens check-in at 7am, your separate ticket would need to be scheduled to arrive in SYD before 7am.

 

[hummel]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Thanks. Yes - I year from time of booking.

Note: LM award tickets cannot be cancelled between T-48 and T+24. If you need to cancel you must do so outside those times.

Really wow, I cancelled at T-56 the other week.. glad I did!

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I've checked the cancellation policy with LM once and was assured can cancel even after the flight departed as long as it's in the 365 days window (from day of booking).

I was never in a position that forced me to no-show but good to know this option exists in case of emergency.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

There are only two policies I know of that will cover a missed connection in these circumstances (ie where you don't have a 'special event' to attend).

One of the is worldnomads and the other insure4less. You need to check the PDS carefully as, for example, insure4less will only cover you for a replacement flight if you were scheduled to arrive at the connecting point at the earliest recommended check-in time for that connecting flight. So if the SYD flight leaves at 10am, and TG opens check-in at 7am, your separate ticket would need to be scheduled to arrive in SYD before 7am.

Thanks. That's really good to know. Yes, I always try to leave 3+ hr connection time. But you never know what will happen so it's good to know the back up options.

 

[cleaver]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Trying to log into LM and just get this message -

[h=2]We're working to give you more benefits!
!Estamos trabajando para ofrecerte m�s beneficios![/h]
Imagine if they are giving us a booking engine that works! Just imagine....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Trying to log into LM and just get this message -

We're working to give you more benefits!
!Estamos trabajando para ofrecerte m�s beneficios!


Imagine if they are giving us a booking engine that works! Just imagine....

Woo-hoo!!! The end of the glitch!!!

Somehow I doubt that right - although it has been a year now!