Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I've never been able to find domestic NH in J or F on LM, hence it can't be combined.

Screenshots will work

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Except LM doesn't allow mixed class. So for business class TPAC it can be very difficult finding a connecting flight in the USA or China. For F it's fine. The recerse is true for Europe - can fly there in F but can't connect from the gateway.

Very easy in Europe with J:
one of my booking was Thai/LH SYD-BKK-FRA-LED, all in J, no problem at all
in fact I had even more choice with Austrian and LOT

 

[incumbent]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Screenshots will work

You're saying if you show them (say) ORD-NRT in F and NRT-cough in Y, LifeMiles will let you do it for 90,000 points?

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just got a UA +80% offer...ends 20 Nov. Something to add into the LM vs AA vs whoever mix!

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just got a UA +80% offer...ends 20 Nov. Something to add into the LM vs AA vs whoever mix!

Yeah, i already mentioned that, and I believe AA will eventually sell miles at much higher bonus. UA rarely give bonus more than 50% last year, but this year they are throwing them out like crazy. The after effect of devaluation.

But UA miles are still too expensive. Even when maxed out the bonus, its 2.43 cents per mile. But the advantage is no stupid routing rules associated with either LM or AA.

 

[Guvner]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Here's an interesting quirk of the LM booking system.

[TABLE="class: tiny-fonts, width: 873"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 91"]Selected Flights[/TD]
[TD="width: 91"]Required miles per passenger[/TD]
[TD="width: 276"]Route[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Departing[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Arriving[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Cabin Type[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"]

---

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 91"][/TD]
[TD="width: 91"]1 x 80,000[/TD]
[TD="width: 276"]Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) - Los Angeles (LAX)[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"][/TD]
[TD="width: 82"][/TD]
[TD="width: 82"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]



[TABLE="class: flights product-main-table, width: 860"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 7"]Flight 1 - May, 3rd, 2016



Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Los Angeles (LAX)



[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: table-legends-bg"]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading dbr1 tb-grid-title"]Airline[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 65"]Flights[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 230"]Departs[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 230"]Arrives[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 50"]Duration[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 60"]Stops[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading dbr2 tb-grid-title, width: 70"]Cabin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: table-legends-bg"]
[TD="colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: fr-table-data-bold rowF0_1, width: 220"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 65, align: center"]UA840[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 180, align: center"]Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) 09:50[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 180, align: center"]Los Angeles (LAX) 06:30[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 80, align: center"]13:40[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 80, align: center"] 0[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 130, align: center"]Business[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tabla-tabulada-gris"]
[TD="colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: button-bar, colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[TABLE="class: tiny-fonts, width: 873"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 91"]Selected Flights[/TD]
[TD="width: 91"]Required miles per passenger[/TD]
[TD="width: 276"]Route[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Departing[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Arriving[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Cabin Type[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"]

---

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 91"]Multiple[/TD]
[TD="width: 91"]1 x 60,000[/TD]
[TD="width: 276"]Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) - Honolulu (HNL)[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]09:50[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]15:44[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Business[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[TABLE="class: flights product-main-table, width: 860"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 7"]Flight 1 - May, 3rd, 2016



Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Honolulu (HNL)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: table-legends-bg"]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading dbr1 tb-grid-title"]Airline[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 65"]Flights[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 230"]Departs[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 230"]Arrives[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 50"]Duration[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 60"]Stops[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading dbr2 tb-grid-title, width: 70"]Cabin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: table-legends-bg"]
[TD="colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tbl-collapse"]
[TD="class: fr-table-data-bold rowF0_1, width: 220"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, align: center"]Multiple[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) 09:50[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Honolulu (HNL) 15:44[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 50, align: center"]25:54[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 60, align: center"]Multiple[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 70, align: center"]Business[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tbl-detail"]
[TD="width: 220"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 65, align: center"]UA840[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) 09:50[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Los Angeles (LAX) 06:30[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 50, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 60, align: center"] 0[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 70, align: center"]Business[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tbl-detail"]
[TD="width: 220"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 65, align: center"]UA1431[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Los Angeles (LAX) 13:00[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Honolulu (HNL) 15:44[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 50, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 60, align: center"] 0[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 70, align: center"]Business[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tabla-tabulada-gris"]
[TD="colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: button-bar, colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Take hand luggage and get off at LAX. 20k miles saved.

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

You're saying if you show them (say) ORD-NRT in F and NRT-cough in Y, LifeMiles will let you do it for 90,000 points?

No, I'm saying that you can do it yourself online if the whole itinerary is in J...be humble -

 

[incumbent]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

No, I'm saying that you can do it yourself online if the whole itinerary is in J...be humble -

OK, could you please show me an example of domestic NH J online?

And if I can do it myself, what was the reference to screenshots?

 

[FrankC]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Here's an interesting quirk of the LM booking system.

[TABLE="class: tiny-fonts, width: 873"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 91"]Selected Flights[/TD]
[TD="width: 91"]Required miles per passenger[/TD]
[TD="width: 276"]Route[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Departing[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Arriving[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Cabin Type[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"]

---

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 91"][/TD]
[TD="width: 91"]1 x 80,000[/TD]
[TD="width: 276"]Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) - Los Angeles (LAX)[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"][/TD]
[TD="width: 82"][/TD]
[TD="width: 82"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]



[TABLE="class: flights product-main-table, width: 860"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 7"]Flight 1 - May, 3rd, 2016



Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Los Angeles (LAX)


[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: table-legends-bg"]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading dbr1 tb-grid-title"]Airline[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 65"]Flights[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 230"]Departs[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 230"]Arrives[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 50"]Duration[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 60"]Stops[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading dbr2 tb-grid-title, width: 70"]Cabin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: table-legends-bg"]
[TD="colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: fr-table-data-bold rowF0_1, width: 220"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 65, align: center"]UA840[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 180, align: center"]Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) 09:50[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 180, align: center"]Los Angeles (LAX) 06:30[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 80, align: center"]13:40[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 80, align: center"] 0[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 130, align: center"]Business[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tabla-tabulada-gris"]
[TD="colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: button-bar, colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[TABLE="class: tiny-fonts, width: 873"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 91"]Selected Flights[/TD]
[TD="width: 91"]Required miles per passenger[/TD]
[TD="width: 276"]Route[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Departing[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Arriving[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Cabin Type[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"]

---

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 91"]Multiple[/TD]
[TD="width: 91"]1 x 60,000[/TD]
[TD="width: 276"]Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) - Honolulu (HNL)[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]09:50[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]15:44[/TD]
[TD="width: 82"]Business[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[TABLE="class: flights product-main-table, width: 860"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 7"]Flight 1 - May, 3rd, 2016



Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to Honolulu (HNL)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: table-legends-bg"]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading dbr1 tb-grid-title"]Airline[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 65"]Flights[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 230"]Departs[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 230"]Arrives[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 50"]Duration[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading drbn tb-grid-title, width: 60"]Stops[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-heading dbr2 tb-grid-title, width: 70"]Cabin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: table-legends-bg"]
[TD="colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tbl-collapse"]
[TD="class: fr-table-data-bold rowF0_1, width: 220"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, align: center"]Multiple[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) 09:50[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Honolulu (HNL) 15:44[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 50, align: center"]25:54[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 60, align: center"]Multiple[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 70, align: center"]Business[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tbl-detail"]
[TD="width: 220"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 65, align: center"]UA840[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Sydney, Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) 09:50[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Los Angeles (LAX) 06:30[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 50, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 60, align: center"] 0[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 70, align: center"]Business[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tbl-detail"]
[TD="width: 220"]

[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 65, align: center"]UA1431[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Los Angeles (LAX) 13:00[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 230, align: center"]Honolulu (HNL) 15:44[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 50, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data rowF0_1, width: 60, align: center"] 0[/TD]
[TD="class: fr-table-data, width: 70, align: center"]Business[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tabla-tabulada-gris"]
[TD="colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: button-bar, colspan: 7"][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Take hand luggage and get off at LAX. 20k miles saved.

Thanks, v interested
Think you don't need to do hand luggage only, as you have to go through custom at LAX, and after that you have to manually check in for HNL, so you should have your bags with you

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I have a LM booking on NH F from LAX-NRT-SIN. Then I booked SIN-BNE on SQ J using my KF (no choice, as LM can't book SQ to BNE, and no F to BNE so it's mixed cabin). I called NH and they say they can't check my baggage through to BNE so I'll need to clear custom and collect luggage in SIN.

I thought that's really off consider both NH and SQ are in *A so check through shouldn't be a problem.

I'll arrive SIN at 1am, and the SQ flight will depart at 9:30am, so a good 8:30 layover but not overly long that they can't check through the baggage. I would appreciate that I don't need to collect my luggage so I can simply book the transit hotel and sleep there for the night.

Anyone had similar experience?

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

This is unusual, I suggest you ask the NH staff at LAX again, they should be able to do it.

I had two separate bookings earlier this year CDG-BKK-HKG on TG F connecting to HKG-SYD on QF J. My initial request to send luggage all the way to SYD was denied but when I asked again at the F counter in CDG the reply was: "you're flying F, sure we can do it for you!". Have to admit I found that answer a bit odd but my luggage was indeed transferred to SYD.

In your case it should be simple as *A to *A.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I have a LM booking on NH F from LAX-NRT-SIN. Then I booked SIN-BNE on SQ J using my KF (no choice, as LM can't book SQ to BNE, and no F to BNE so it's mixed cabin). I called NH and they say they can't check my baggage through to BNE so I'll need to clear custom and collect luggage in SIN.

I thought that's really off consider both NH and SQ are in *A so check through shouldn't be a problem.

I'll arrive SIN at 1am, and the SQ flight will depart at 9:30am, so a good 8:30 layover but not overly long that they can't check through the baggage. I would appreciate that I don't need to collect my luggage so I can simply book the transit hotel and sleep there for the night.

Anyone had similar experience?

I do know some star alliance airlines can't provide through check-in at certain airports... LH->CA at PVG for example... can't be done even on the same ticket.

However, reservations is generally the last people I'd call to ask about a check-in issue. Very few res staff actually have airport knowledge.

I suspect you'll be fine. But in the event that you do need to collect bags, you should only do this the next morning, not as soon as you arrive. Go to the hotel first. Your bags will be collected from the reclaim and securely stored for you. You must however remember to only use the arrivals hall for your incoming flight if that arrivals hall is a different terminal to where you have booked the transit hotel (ie, if you arrive T2, but book the hotel at T1, you must return to the T2 arrivals hall as that's where your bags will be).

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I do know some star alliance airlines can't provide through check-in at certain airports... LH->CA at PVG for example... can't be done even on the same ticket.

However, reservations is generally the last people I'd call to ask about a check-in issue. Very few res staff actually have airport knowledge.

I suspect you'll be fine. But in the event that you do need to collect bags, you should only do this the next morning, not as soon as you arrive. Go to the hotel first. Your bags will be collected from the reclaim and securely stored for you. You must however remember to only use the arrivals hall for your incoming flight if that arrivals hall is a different terminal to where you have booked the transit hotel (ie, if you arrive T2, but book the hotel at T1, you must return to the T2 arrivals hall as that's where your bags will be).

I know, so I took it with a grain of salt and gonna try my luck in LAX. I would expect Changi to be the best airport in terms of luggage check through.

The transit hotel I'm thinking of is the Ambassador hotel in the airside so don't wanna clear custom unless I have to.

But if I have to, where is the baggage reclaim area in Changi?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I know, so I took it with a grain of salt and gonna try my luck in LAX. I would expect Changi to be the best airport in terms of luggage check through.

The transit hotel I'm thinking of is the Ambassador hotel in the airside so don't wanna clear custom unless I have to.

But if I have to, where is the baggage reclaim area in Changi?

In this case it's not the airport that you need to be concerned about, it's the airline. If the airline dun wanna through check bags, they don't have to. Obviously SIN airport can do it.

But I can't foresee any problem NH-SQ.

All ambassador hotels are airside. You go there directly when your flight arrives. If you need to collect bags, do it the next morning shortly before check-in for your SQ flight. Each terminal has its own immigration, baggage reclaim, and 'left luggage' office. That's why you need to enter SIN at the applicable hall for your arriving flight.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

In this case it's not the airport that you need to be concerned about, it's the airline. If the airline dun wanna through check bags, they don't have to. Obviously SIN airport can do it.

But I can't foresee any problem NH-SQ.

I know. It's ANA, and I'm a first class passenger. Not only both in *A, I think they have JV with SIN/NRT flights.

All ambassador hotels are airside. You go there directly when your flight arrives. If you need to collect bags, do it the next morning shortly before check-in for your SQ flight. Each terminal has its own immigration, baggage reclaim, and 'left luggage' office. That's why you need to enter SIN at the applicable hall for your arriving flight.

Got it. I'll enquire as I get to SIN. Thanks for the advice.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Got it. I'll enquire as I get to SIN. Thanks for the advice.

No 'enquiry' to make. You don't have to contact anyone to let them know. They will automatically assume you have stayed in the transit area to go to the hotel and will simply take your bags off the reclaim and store them. The left luggage office is very obvious and easy to find.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

My prediction was right again! AA did devalue, LM went on sale again! Only problem is it hasn't gone up to 150%, but maxed at 125%. Although I think it's worth wait for a while (unless you need a redemption right away), there may be some cyber Monday kind of promo if they realize they aren't selling as many miles.

Right again! We can get up to 135% bonus.

Extra 10% Bonus On The Purchase Of Lifemiles - One Mile at a Time

So, 1.4 cents each....

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Oh lifemiles, why do you torture me soooooo.

Trying to cancel a booking. Lost the card I made the original booking with so not sure if that's part of the problem.

First time round entering CC details for the transaction the system say no

second time system say accepted but then something else wrong and told to call back in 30 minutes or an hour.

I wish there was an option to say they can keep the refunded taxes and leave it at that.

cheap miles but you spend it on covering up the bald patches from ripping ya hair out in frustration.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just out of interest, when did GUM aka 'that little dot in the Pacific' cease to be classified as domestic USA?

I signed up to AV LM late July 2013 then was able to take advantage of a 100% bonus miles offer in August.

Paid USD150.00 for 5K and received 10K which was enough for GUM UA x/NRT UA x/ORD UA BOS in J.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just out of interest, when did GUM aka 'that little dot in the Pacific' cease to be classified as domestic USA?

I signed up to AV LM late July 2013 then was able to take advantage of a 100% bonus miles offer in August.

Paid USD150.00 for 5K and received 10K which was enough for GUM UA x/NRT UA x/ORD UA BOS in J.

I think it was this time last year... when they fixed that, it caused the glitch we now have. We have some guy to thank for that... he booked GUM-USA via Tokyo, but not on United... so they refused to carry him because of cabotage. He wrote to the DOT or something to complain. So LM 'fixed' it.