Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[burmans]

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

Hello All! Just joined this forum. I am a regular contributor on the FT site! Other than the known Asia-to-Asia via Europe "trick" are there other such circuitous routes possible for lower mileage? Looking specifically to/from US. I have a few tricks that I already have which I am happy to share. Feel free to PM me!

Thanks!

Welcome but I think you'll find most here wants you to contribute something, not just take. The short answer is yes there are but you'll find this information is given more on an "exchange" basis.

 

[transpac]

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

Welcome but I think you'll find most here wants you to contribute something, not just take. The short answer is yes there are but you'll find this information is given more on an "exchange" basis.

Ofcourse, I understand. Hence my request to PM me. I do have something to contribute - just did not wish to divulge in an open forum.

 

[bcworld]

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

Other than the known Asia-to-Asia via Europe "trick"

Of all the tricks I find this one of the most objectionable. There's something about it that just seems so incredibly selfish.

I wouldn't expect it to last too long though - I noticed one of our, ahem, esteemed more over entitled members posting openly about it on Sqtalk.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

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

Of all the tricks I find this one of the most objectionable. There's something about it that just seems so incredibly selfish.

I wouldn't expect it to last too long though - I noticed one of our, ahem, esteemed more over entitled members posting openly about it on Sqtalk.

I too have a similar feeling.

To me it seems a little selfish to use up available flights simply to fly some extra miles in first for the fun of it.

Hopefully the airline systems will eventually just pick the most efficient route available at the time of booking.

 

[bcworld]

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

To me it seems a little selfish to use up available flights simply to fly some extra miles in first for the fun of it.

I think it's one thing to add a tag on to some obscure Chinese city you never plan to visit...but this Asia to Asia via Europe thing steals seats on long haul sectors including some many of us frequently look to genuinely redeem on and where in recent times availability has dramatically reduced.

 

[transpac]

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

I too have a similar feeling.

To me it seems a little selfish to use up available flights simply to fly some extra miles in first for the fun of it.

Hopefully the airline systems will eventually just pick the most efficient route available at the time of booking.

I disagree. This is in the same vein as getting a cheaper fare when flying an extra leg as opposed to flying directly. Recently there was an Etihad fare to fly from Singapore to BNE via Abu Dhabi versus directly - so just because people used the SIN-AUH capacity to get a lower fare makes them selfish?

 

[bcworld]

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

I disagree. This is in the same vein as getting a cheaper fare when flying an extra leg as opposed to flying directly. Recently there was an Etihad fare to fly from Singapore to BNE via Abu Dhabi versus directly - so just because people used the SIN-AUH capacity to get a lower fare makes them selfish?

Did they actually fly to BNE though?

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

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

transpac

you might have a point IF the miles required are lower, but quite often I read about peoples itinerary for USDM rewards and it's blatantly obvious they have gone the extra long scenic route over a much more direct routing.

Some people seem to now think it's a right to fly to USA via Europe in F.

My worry is if the system is too abused then flights via buying points with the bonus thrown in will be severely restricted, and that benefits no one.

Personally I hate being stuck in a metal cylinder with low pressure and humidity. A j / F seat make the experience a bit more palatable, but still not fun. I'll take the direct route usually, even it it costs me a bit extra. Prefer to have the time for the holiday, not in transit

 

[bcworld]

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

you might have a point IF the miles required are lower, but quite often I read about peoples itinerary for USDM rewards and it's blatantly obvious they have gone the extra long scenic route over a much more direct routing.

I think you're missing the point Jeffrey. People are not doing this to fly extra miles. They book these itineraries with the intention of never flying the final segment. So with Asia - Asia via Europe they hop off at the EU transit point never to be seen again! Of course the inventory back from EU - Asia is wasted.

 

[trooper]

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

"Blatantly obvious" with USDM rewards?

Tell you what Jeffrey... YOU find me reasonable availability in Business class from OZ>USA and back that does NOT involve routings through Asia or Europe (and preferably not on UA OK?) and I'll agree with you.

I just route the way I have to to be ABLE to travel.....and the airline can restrict it as/when it no longer works for them. I would suggest from the miles purchases and subsequent bookings I've made recently that is far from the case...

 

[burmans]

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

Some people seem to now think it's a right to fly to USA via Europe in F.

My worry is if the system is too abused then flights via buying points with the bonus thrown in will be severely restricted, and that benefits no one.

Actually under the current system they do have the right, and they clearly think it benefits them. You may not like it (and I respect your views and rights), but equally I respect theirs. The only difference to me is I don't see them trying to restrict your rights.

 

[Shanye2233]

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

I have been trying to book syd-ala for weeks , before the price increase. I have tried different browsers different computers . The dates are 13th syd-ala and return ala-syd 28th may 2013 i need 2 in J if someone can get to the final page please show me how. I can see availability on SQ on the outbound and this seems to be the only issue. The return on TG seems to price out price.

 

[mella2007]

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

I have been trying to book syd-ala for weeks , before the price increase. I have tried different browsers different computers . The dates are 13th syd-ala and return ala-syd 28th may 2013 i need 2 in J if someone can get to the final page please show me how. I can see availability on SQ on the outbound and this seems to be the only issue. The return on TG seems to price out price.

Haven't you asked on FT?

 

[Shanye2233]

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

Haven't you asked on FT?

No I haven't

 

[BobbyFlyer]

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

Does anyone know what the issue with booking on SQ in J class with life miles is?
I've been trying to book some fares with them later next year from Sing to Tokyo and although i get the initial indicator to show availability, once i select the flight and try and continue the system throws out an error message. I've tried many routes and same issue. Only happens when i book in J class not for Y.

 

[smit0847]

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

Does anyone know what the issue with booking on SQ in J class with life miles is?
I've been trying to book some fares with them later next year from Sing to Tokyo and although i get the initial indicator to show availability, once i select the flight and try and continue the system throws out an error message. I've tried many routes and same issue. Only happens when i book in J class not for Y.

SIN-NRT is operated by an A380. Only Y on SQ A380 allowed (not J or F), hence the error.

 

[anat0l]

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

SIN-NRT is operated by an A380. Only Y on SQ A380 allowed (not J or F), hence the error.

I was going to ask what kind of error BobbyFlyer got; I would've thought that if the availability was not bookable, it would not be shown as such (indeed, not selectable). Then again, stranger things have happened (not in LifeMiles, but just in the realm of award travel in general).

That all said, there appear to be bookable SQ J flights between Singapore and Tokyo, but these flights arrive at HND rather than NRT, which may or may not suit one's needs. And, of course, the aircraft these are operated by are not A380 or 77W.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

I was going to ask what kind of error BobbyFlyer got; I would've thought that if the availability was not bookable, it would not be shown as such (indeed, not selectable). Then again, stranger things have happened (not in LifeMiles, but just in the realm of award travel in general).

That all said, there appear to be bookable SQ J flights between Singapore and Tokyo, but these flights arrive at HND rather than NRT, which may or may not suit one's needs. And, of course, the aircraft these are operated by are not A380 or 77W.

sin-HND are operated by a330s, no problems getting awards in those.

 

[wafliron]

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

Does anyone know what the issue with booking on SQ in J class with life miles is?
I've been trying to book some fares with them later next year from Sing to Tokyo and although i get the initial indicator to show availability, once i select the flight and try and continue the system throws out an error message. I've tried many routes and same issue. Only happens when i book in J class not for Y.

Are you searching SIN-TYO (generic airport code for all Tokyo airports), or SIN-NRT/SIN-HND specifically? As per some posts of mine a little further back in the thread, I was helping a friend book MEL-xSIN-TYO in J recently and we'd have SQ J availability (on non-A380/77W services) appear when searching SIN-TYO, but it would error when we tried to book (tried many times over a several day period). If we instead searched SIN-HND the same availability would appear, but then also allowed us to proceed and book without error. Note that we still had problems initially with the site throwing an error when trying to search / book using HND instead of TYO, but it just came good after a few hours.

I think there were/are two separate problems in play, the first being a "permanent" / ongoing problem when trying to book after searching using TYO, and the second being a transient problem (temporary issues with Avianca's or SQ's booking systems?) when we were initially trying to book after searching using HND.

SIN-NRT is operated by an A380. Only Y on SQ A380 allowed (not J or F), hence the error.

I'm almost positive that some of the SIN-NRT services are operated by 77W or 773 - a week or two back I was searching MEL-xSIN-NRT return for October next year (via SQ direct) and saw a mix of A380 and 77x (and was disappointed, as I was looking for Suites and they only seemed to have 77x at times that suited me (no pun intended)!).

sin-HND are operated by a330s, no problems getting awards in those.

Again, I think there might be some 773s and/or 772s in the mix SIN-HND too? As per above, a friend of mine booked MEL-xSIN-HND on SQ in J using LifeMiles a week or two back, and I'm pretty sure both flights were 777s of some variety (obviously 773 MEL-SIN - not sure if 772 or 773 SIN-HND though).

 

[Aussie_flyer]

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

worth mentioning that mel-sin-zrh with SQ and LX is possible in J and also mel-sin-ist in SQ J (refurb'ed 777-300 and 777-200)