Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[auriga]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

Interesting indeed!

 

[smit0847]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

For those who are interested in the choice between the new-comer Avianca (which seems to be BMI DC's replacement!) and old-faithful USDM - I crunched some numbers on what seems to be the most popular sector - AUS - EUR return in J. All amounts are in US$

US Air Dividend Miles - 120K miles required

When bought with a 100% bonus (i.e. 50K free) = $1750 + $700 = $2450
When bought without a 100% bonus = $1750 + $1750 + $700 = $4200

Avianca Life Miles - 170K miles required

When bought with max pay (60%) min points (40%) and a 100% bonus (i.e. 34K free) = $1020 + $1301 = $2321
When bought with max pay min points without a 100% bonus = $2040 + $1301 = $3341

So, obviously it's much cheaper to take advantage of the 100% bonus buy miles offer each program has a couple of times a year. However, it seems like, for Europe at least, in both circumstances, Avianca is slightly cheaper. Note each program has very, very different methods and rules for booking (US does not allow one-ways, must be done over the phone, can create long, complicated indirect itineraries if you have the patience and knowledge of how to do so where as Avianca can book one-ways for 50% of the return price, can do the entire thing online but will usually only allow the most direct, logical routing).

YMMV - both programs have their good and bad points - I'm just extremely glad we have 2 to choose from!

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

Spot on! Although it would be nice to have a tie in with Hilton and Europcar.

Or even better, have local credit card partners to earn points (eg AU Amex!)

 

[burmans]

Re: Avianca LifeMiles Buy Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

So, obviously it's much cheaper to take advantage of the 100% bonus buy miles offer each program has a couple of times a year.

Actually would suggest that's the difference, Avianca has it twice a year, US is on track to have it 6-8 times this year. So you can probably build up more miles with US, though with the points/pay Avianca offers you don't actually need to buy as many.

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Avianca LifeMiles Buy Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

For me I think it will most likely be the DM program I stay with, simply as I have become used to having multiple continents on my trips on either a OW 140k trip (probably in Y) or a DM J trip extending to two continental zones and this will probably remain my preference for the future... So the chance to get more of a trip out of the DM for a similar price than you do with LM on a per flight basis appeals to me even if its a bit more work...

With DM you also have the Grand Slam each year (well you have had for the last 2 years that I know of) and i got 10k DMs for a few bucks last year and could probably get more relatively cheaply this year now that I understand it more... Don't suppose Avianca has any equivalent contest/offer???

But yeah great to have two options and this may work well if I switch back to shorter, less ambitious itineraries... It probably makes up for DM greatest failing for me which is no one way award options... Is the Y award requirements similar to the situation with DM in that its really no cheaper than buying a Y fare and you would only use it for the higher J/F classes??

 

[dajop]

Re: Avianca LifeMiles Buy Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

For me, based in SIN, the question is whether Avianca can access premium SQ inventory. Getting availability on SQ on A380s, 77Ws etc through BMI was very easy particularly in the last 12 months. However, I have heard that very difficult using dividend miles, TG being the most common award carrier with inventory in SE Asia. TG is not a very good substitute, particularly travelling to Australia, as it almost doubles the total travel time.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

new-comer Avianca (which seems to be BMI DC's replacement!)

let's sincerely hope it's NOT a BMI DC replacement. The fuel surcharges they introduced were very high. Cost of miles cheap... but almost on par with US by the time they includes the 'taxes'.

 

[smit0847]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

I've scoured the FT discussions on this and here is some additional information people may be interested in:

- Stopovers are not allowed with on-line bookings without paying additional costs. I guess this is the biggest downside of this program when compared with USDM. If you are wanting a stopover, or looking to try as many airlines as possible, you need to do a multi-city booking and you will be charged each leg as a point-to-point (like a LCC would charge). This would allow you to pick the *A carrier you wanted on that route. The website will otherwise route you a logical, quick itinerary from your origin to destination. That being said, multi-cities are still good value. A SYD-BKK leg + a BKK - ZHR leg to get a BKK stopover charged as two legs is not that much more than a SYD-BKK-ZHR leg with no stopover. I think with my dummy booking Australia - North Asia, to add a stopover was only 10K more miles. However, remember that when you build a multi-city to get a stopover, that stopover does NOT need to be a *A hub as your 'stopover' is the destination for that leg.
- If you are able to call the call centre and actually make yourself understood I imagine you might be able to convince them to add a stopover by making your next flight a few days later rather than a few hours later. General consensus if that the LM website it easy to use, the call centre is a nightmare because it is not an English speaking carrier. If you speak Spanish I would attempt to call up and see what they can do for you.
- There aren't a huge amount of earning opportunities for Australians outside car rentals and hotel stays (and even these don't offer huge points when considering how cheap they are to buy). A 100% buy bonus is definitely the best way to get points.
- There is a suggestion that the tax payable on buying miles differs depending on which country your LM account is registered in. I'll need to look into this more as I thought it was a flat tax regardless of country but someone said if you register your address as US there is no tax payable?
- It's only US$50 to cancel a reservation (and you get all your LM back into your account!) Thats cheaper than changing it!

Now we wait for the next 100% buy promo, which I expect in December this year. I would have your proposed itinerary ready to go and book as soon as the bonus is offered if you are looking for A380 or SQ J redemption - I think this will dry up very quickly as lots of people will be doing the same.

 

[bcworld]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

SQ J redemption - I think this will dry up very quickly as lots of people will be doing the same.

I still don't think it's real. Like the LH F options (and I believe also some SQ) that show up on United.com but fall over at the confirmation stage.

 

[travelislife]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

Thanks for the extra info. I am pretty sure by registering with an Australian address there is no tax charged on buying the miles. I did a dummy buy miles transaction a few days ago and it came up with 0 tax added and I am registered through an Australian address.

I think this program is great for itineraries to Asia (which BMI was good for too) as it seems a bit cheaper than USDM on that front with a double miles promo.

 

[juddles]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

...
Now we wait for the next 100% buy promo, which I expect in December this year.....

I hate to be negative, but why are people confident that LifeMiles will have more 100% bonus sales. When they used to do it they were not redeemable for *A awards. I suspect (fear) that they are in a very different ball game now.

 

[smit0847]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

I still don't think it's real. Like the LH F options (and I believe also some SQ) that show up on United.com but fall over at the confirmation stage.

Meh - easy come, easy go. I'm not expecting to ever be flying SQ J on this offer - if I ever do that's a bonus. They guard their premium cabins like hawks and for good reason. The fact that SQ is the only carrier you cannot 'select by carrier' when searching LM (despite them coming up in lots of general searches) suggests you may be right.

I guess we wont know until someone bites the bullet and books an SQ - it seems like everyone is waiting out for a 100% buy promo. Maybe we could convince someone on FT who already has miles to book an SQ redemption?

My personal opinion is that, ironically, the SQ availability legitimating exists for now as it's such a new program and SQ and LM haven't quite realised what's going on yet/got their act together. I believe that by the time the next 100% buy promo comes along (prob in 6 months time) and people start making lots of redemptions, SQ will realise whats going on and quickly remove their availability.

 

[bcworld]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

I hate to be negative, but why are people confident that LifeMiles will have more 100% bonus sales. When they used to do it they were not redeemable for *A awards. I suspect (fear) that they are in a very different ball game now.

Not sure I agree.

2 reasons.

1. They've run 3 100% promos in the run up to their entry into Star...if we were paying attention & feeling brave we could've taken part & be booking now.

2. What they would be offering is really no different to what US and bmi DC have been offering for years - it would be like a combination of the two.

 

[mhen]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

Like juddles I suspect (fear) there may not be any more 100% bonus sales. But if there are I will buy some. For those who are wondering whether this program is for them I suggest you join soon as previous 100% bonuses have been limited to those who were members before the promo was anounced.

Advantages of LM are that with cash and miles you don't have to have as much "money" tied up in miles waiting for a redemption opportunity and that you can book one-way.

A disadvantage is that you can't put awards on hold to see if more seats are released in the class you want when you have travel companions.

Booking on the web is both an advantage and a disadvantage. I found some simple bookings e.g. SYD-BKK-LHR (no stopover) difficult to do on some days that availablility showed up on KVS. The LM web booking engine would not pick it up as a through trip and would only find it as part of a multi trip thus charging more miles for the two components. But same itinerary on other days was fine.

No doubt those of use trying to get the most value (however we define it) for our travel dollars will soon get to grips with the quirks of this program and use it when it suits us. Thanks heavens we have AFF and FT so we can share info.

 

[burmans]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

I hate to be negative, but why are people confident that LifeMiles will have more 100% bonus sales. When they used to do it they were not redeemable for *A awards. I suspect (fear) that they are in a very different ball game now.

Hah, when I read this I had to just go and check the definition of suspicion (as below with my bolding).

The act of suspecting something, especially something wrong, on little evidence or without proof.

I agree with bcworld, the evidence is
a) they have done it before
b) other * alliance do it so there are obviously no @ alliance "rules" against doing it

Both points of view are of course speculation, but the speculation they will is the one more backed with fact. Of course no one here is making plans based on this, we are just joining Avianca in case, I don't think anyone is giving up the DM accounts!

 

[juddles]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

Hope you are right!

 

[burmans]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

Hope you are right!

I think we all hope that!

 

[smit0847]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

I've had more of a play around with the Life Miles booking system today (looking at random dates from SYD and MEL 6 - 9 months out) and here is what I have learnt:

The following burn rates apply (+ minimal taxes):

- AUS - EUR J return (BCN as dest) = 170K points ($5100). Max pay + min points = 68K points + $1301 ($3341). Where the min points are bought at a 100% bonus, total cost is $2321 + taxes.

YMMV.

Finally managed to find the F burn rate for Europe - only 200K return which is not much more than J (170K above). F availability seems even rarer than US DM and I could only find it by doing really logical routes (SYD-BKK-FRA). Based on the calculations above:

- AUS - EUR F return (FRA as dest) = 200K points ($6000). Max pay + min points = 80K points + $1531 ($3931). Where the min points are bought at a 100% bonus, total cost is $2731 + taxes.

Trying to get F online is really tricky, time-consuming and buggy - I wouldn't be looking at Avianca for F redemptions unless you have a simple routing and a lot of patience.

 

[bcworld]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

I didn't have any problems finding F once I realised it was mistakenly shown as 'Economy' on the list of results. Clicking through to the next step showed First...as far as I can see the availability matches up with ANA (SQ excepted).

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: US Dividend Miles Buy/Gift Miles 100% bonus - Cheap way for F/J *A Awards

Even with purchase miles at full price you can still get some excellent business class one way tickets to Asia if you want. I've already decided my miles are going to this program within *A. I have *G with A3 now for 3.5 years so I'll use that for lounge access as required.