Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[Flashback]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Right, I'm assuming that screenshots of what you book should be fixable if you contact LM. But that is a big assumption. And if this happened recently and you didn't have any confirmation somewhere of what you booked, I wouldn't know how to fix that.

Would also mean that J seat needs to a) still be available and b) not be phantom availability and hence the reason it booked into Y.

 

[cleaver]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Right, I'm assuming that screenshots of what you book should be fixable if you contact LM. But that is a big assumption. And if this happened recently and you didn't have any confirmation somewhere of what you booked, I wouldn't know how to fix that.

Unfortunately my screenshot is from two days before booking. Just remembered I also photographed the booking confirmation screen and will email that through as well. Clearly shows that the first two legs booked into business.

Suppose either I get my miles and taxes back, or they just refuse to help, and I have to pay $50 USD each to cancel get them back. Considering the value I have got out of this scheme either is probably ok (although the first would be better!).

 

[cleaver]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Good news!

Got a generic 'we have escalated your issue to the relevant department email on 25 Jan 16.

Then at about 11pm last night, e-tickets were issued albeit not showing the booking class as they would normally do which was a bit weird. Checked TG and CheckMyTrip which both showed we had now been correctly booked in J for that second BKK-NRT leg. Then a second email:

'In regard to your case, we are glad to inform you that your reservation has been updated according to the flights and cabins selected originally etc etc.'
So it took an email, and a screenshot, and a photo of the screen but we got there in the end. Just thankful I got in the habit of taking snaps of lifemiles booking refs during the payment stage when they were in the habit of timing out.

Moral of the story - Screenshot everything at each stage if doing a mixed class booking (or any booking really!).

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Good news!

Got a generic 'we have escalated your issue to the relevant department email on 25 Jan 16.

Then at about 11pm last night, e-tickets were issued albeit not showing the booking class as they would normally do which was a bit weird. Checked TG and CheckMyTrip which both showed we had now been correctly booked in J for that second BKK-NRT leg. Then a second email:

'In regard to your case, we are glad to inform you that your reservation has been updated according to the flights and cabins selected originally etc etc.'
So it took an email, and a screenshot, and a photo of the screen but we got there in the end. Just thankful I got in the habit of taking snaps of lifemiles booking refs during the payment stage when they were in the habit of timing out.

Moral of the story - Screenshot everything at each stage if doing a mixed class booking (or any booking really!).

Thank you for doing this for the team. There are bound to have teething problems with the new mixed cabin rule. So I agree, take screenshots for record keeping. As soon as booking is made, check airline website and CMT to confirm you got the class you are booked for. Any issues should be escalated to LM immediately

 

[thehound]

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

Hi everyone, can anyone help me with some urgent advice please? We're currently at Whistler in Canada and my wife broke her wrist on day one on the slopes! It needs to be operated on, and we're currently living in Toronto. I've got 3xJ seats booked via Lifemiles on a return ticket (YYZ-YVR already used to get here) on Feb 2, but I want to try and change to Jan 31 where 2xY and 1xJ are available. Can someone suggest the best way to do this? Should I cancel the remaining current ticket, get a miles refund and then book the tix for the earlier date (can I even do that since the outbound journey has already been taken)? Or should I just pay the change fee with the call centre, and ask to get the appropriate miles refund for going from J to Y on two of the passengers?

Any advice would be great! What number is the best call centre again? Thank you!

 

[hummel]

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

Hi everyone, can anyone help me with some urgent advice please? We're currently at Whistler in Canada and my wife broke her wrist on day one on the slopes! It needs to be operated on, and we're currently living in Toronto. I've got 3xJ seats booked via Lifemiles on a return ticket (YYZ-YVR already used to get here) on Feb 2, but I want to try and change to Jan 31 where 2xY and 1xJ are available. Can someone suggest the best way to do this? Should I cancel the remaining current ticket, get a miles refund and then book the tix for the earlier date (can I even do that since the outbound journey has already been taken)? Or should I just pay the change fee with the call centre, and ask to get the appropriate miles refund for going from J to Y on two of the passengers?

Any advice would be great! What number is the best call centre again? Thank you!

It has always been my understand once travel has been started on an award ticket there isn't the possibility to do changes/refunds etc

I'm happy to be proven wrong, especially in this case and that really sucks for you and your wife!

 

[Guvner]

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

Hi everyone, can anyone help me with some urgent advice please? We're currently at Whistler in Canada and my wife broke her wrist on day one on the slopes! It needs to be operated on, and we're currently living in Toronto. I've got 3xJ seats booked via Lifemiles on a return ticket (YYZ-YVR already used to get here) on Feb 2, but I want to try and change to Jan 31 where 2xY and 1xJ are available. Can someone suggest the best way to do this? Should I cancel the remaining current ticket, get a miles refund and then book the tix for the earlier date (can I even do that since the outbound journey has already been taken)? Or should I just pay the change fee with the call centre, and ask to get the appropriate miles refund for going from J to Y on two of the passengers?

Any advice would be great! What number is the best call centre again? Thank you!

What did your Travel Insurance company advise?

Normally they would get you to Toronto and then reimburse the cash vale of the miles you were unable to use.

 

[Cynicor]

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

What did your Travel Insurance company advise?

Normally they would get you to Toronto and then reimburse the cash vale of the miles you were unable to use.

As both these places are in Canada (unless my geography is whacked) there is the distinct possibility of no TI.

 

[sergeyvzn]

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

It has always been my understand once travel has been started on an award ticket there isn't the possibility to do changes/refunds etc

I'm happy to be proven wrong, especially in this case and that really sucks for you and your wife!

Yes, you can change it once the travel started

i did it in July when I got stuck in Shanghai because of a typhoon and could not get to BKK on time to make my Thai F flight to SYD. I called LifeMiles and got my return leg changed for May 2016 for $150

 

[hummel]

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

Yes, you can change it once the travel started

i did it in July when I got stuck in Shanghai because of a typhoon and could not get to BKK on time to make my Thai F flight to SYD. I called LifeMiles and got my return leg changed for May 2016 for $150

And I am now even happier that I've been proven wrong!

 

[thehound]

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

What did your Travel Insurance company advise?

Normally they would get you to Toronto and then reimburse the cash vale of the miles you were unable to use.

As both these places are in Canada (unless my geography is whacked) there is the distinct possibility of no TI.

You're right Cynicor, no TI that includes trip interruption or cancellation. I have a Canadian Amex Platinum charge card that includes medical expenses without charging the trip to the card, but activation of the other parts of the policy requires payment of flights with the card - obviously not done in this case. Medical expenses are covered for us anyway since we have canadian health insurance.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

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

Hi All

I just booked SYD - YYZ with SYD - YVR in J and YVR-YYZ in economy ( mixed cabin booking )

I can see now on LM website the same flight, same day YVR-YYZ sector is available in J

I thought I might be able to change cabins from Y to J seeing as I have "paid" a business class redemption

Has anyone had experience with this. I did talk to LM but they say you bought the ticket mixed so that's the rules no change allowed.

 

[bcworld]

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

Has anyone had experience with this. I did talk to LM but they say you bought the ticket mixed so that's the rules no change allowed.

I would have thought they'd happily take another $150 off you to make that change.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Hi All

I just booked SYD - YYZ with SYD - YVR in J and YVR-YYZ in economy ( mixed cabin booking )

I can see now on LM website the same flight, same day YVR-YYZ sector is available in J

I thought I might be able to change cabins from Y to J seeing as I have "paid" a business class redemption

Has anyone had experience with this. I did talk to LM but they say you bought the ticket mixed so that's the rules no change allowed.

The mixed cabin is all new to us, including the agents. From the disclaimer about mixed cabin, it sounds like cabin changes are allowed.

I would try email LM as email agents seem to be more capable than phone agents with the quotes of that disclaimer.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

The mixed cabin is all new to us, including the agents. From the disclaimer about mixed cabin, it sounds like cabin changes are allowed.

I would try email LM as email agents seem to be more capable than phone agents with the quotes of that disclaimer.

Thanks VAG Newbie

I did actually email yesterday with a screen shot of the J sector available. The email reply I received was not even addressing my question.

Anyway, I have re sent email with a very simple explanation and I hope it can be clarified this time around

Cheers

 

[CJEMNMAC]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Furthermore, it comes down to the interpretation of this from the booking screen ( my highlight )

Your selection includes mixed cabins, meaning combining segments in economy, business and first class. The mileage needed for the whole award ticket corresponds to the mileage for the highest cabin. Reimbursements and date changes are subject to an administrative charge. Date changes are subject to availability. If there is no availability on the redeemed cabin on the desired date, if the member chooses to do so, cabin changes are allowed if at least one segment of each Origin/Destination is on the highest cabin. Change in cabins (even to an inferior cabin) will not result in a redeposit of the redeemed miles. Terms and conditions apply to the redemption of award tickets in mixed cabins, which can be found in the Terms and Conditions of the LifeMiles Program.


This is from the terms and conditions on lifemiles.com ( my bolding and underline)

• Date changes are subject to availability. If there is no availability on the redeemed cabin on the desired date, if the member chooses to do so, cabin changes are allowed. Change in cabins (even to an inferior cabin) will not result in a redeposit of the redeemed miles. For date changes to proceed at least one of the segments of each Origen/Destination must be on the highest cabin redeemed.

I will report back with the reply I hopefully receive overnight

 

[Guvner]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I could have sworn LH ceased F to JNB last year??

 

[CJEMNMAC]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I would have thought they'd happily take another $150 off you to make that change.

The mixed cabin is all new to us, including the agents. From the disclaimer about mixed cabin, it sounds like cabin changes are allowed.

I would try email LM as email agents seem to be more capable than phone agents with the quotes of that disclaimer.

Emailed LM and "cut and paste " the terms and conditions and here is the reply....


Greetings CJEMNMAC

A pleasure to greet you.

In regard to your case, we would like to inform you that we are unable to upgrade the segment YVR to YYZ without fee. If you want to change the cabin of the aforementioned segment, you should pay $150.00 USD plus applicable taxes, per each ticket. To do so, you have to get in contact with our Call Center.

Keep in mind the change of cabin in your tickets is subject to seat availability in the airline operating the flight.

Thank you for using our services; if you have any other inquiry, do not hesitate to contact us back.

Best Regards,

 

[smit0847]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Emailed LM and "cut and paste " the terms and conditions and here is the reply....


Greetings CJEMNMAC

A pleasure to greet you.

In regard to your case, we would like to inform you that we are unable to upgrade the segment YVR to YYZ without fee. If you want to change the cabin of the aforementioned segment, you should pay $150.00 USD plus applicable taxes, per each ticket. To do so, you have to get in contact with our Call Center.

Keep in mind the change of cabin in your tickets is subject to seat availability in the airline operating the flight.

Thank you for using our services; if you have any other inquiry, do not hesitate to contact us back.

Best Regards,

Some programs let you upgrade cabin for free, some charge you a fee.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

THAI S16 Preliminary Operation Changes as of 31JAN16 | Airline Route

TG A350 to MEL! Although, I'm sure I read they were postponing delivery of these aircraft?