Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

To revalidate the ticket, unfortunately you have to call them. I tried emailing them before but was told to call.

The trick is to know how to call. If you simply call LM customer service asking them to revalidate the ticket, they'll transfer you from department to department (half of them don't speak English). But if you ask for "the protection department", then the ticket will be revalidated in 5 minutes.

Good luck!

And I've done just that

I've been particularly unlucky with LifeMiles award tickets, every single one I get has a schedule change some time down the track. The most recent one has been Seoul-Sydney on Asiana, now it leaves 20 minutes earlier than scheduled originally and this apparently triggers a ticket revalidation. So I tried to do it on the Asiana website - there is a tickbox to do it in your reservation page but it gives you an error message when you press Enter. So I rang Asiana - no go as the ticket is by Avianca.

So here I ring Lifemiles, get to some girl who I actually remember speaking two a few months ago in a similar situation, she puts me through elsewhere - no luck as the person only speaks Spanish, she puts me through somewhere else and there it goes into a black hole, no signal, nothing, nada...so I ring again, this time there is a cluey girl who says "Ah, you need Schedule Change", I get put through to a guy, everything is done in 3 seconds and while I'm still on the phone new tickets have been emailed to me.

Why on earth Avianca can't automate the process, I don't know...it could as easy as ticking a box "Happy with the new flight times" or something like that and would save lots of nerves and time

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

U dont need to revalidate a simple schedule time change if theres no date or flight number change. You can safely just show up

 

[smit0847]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

U dont need to revalidate a simple schedule time change if theres no date or flight number change. You can safely just show up

I used to get flight change emails from USDM all the time. I rarely called to validate because I didn't want them studying my itinerary too closely

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I used to get flight change emails from USDM all the time. I rarely called to validate because I didn't want them studying my itinerary too closely

With VA, I get text messages plus email. The schedule change was with EY flight although it was only a 20min change. New tickets issued every time there is a schedule change (so I ended up with 4 at the end!). All of them within 30min so they didn't even ask, just reissue.

Asia Miles takes the effort even to call you.

With LM, they won't even tell you if there is a schedule change (in fact, the booking was never picked up by Award Wallet! Don't know why....), so it is wise to constantly check CMT or the airline's website.

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

U dont need to revalidate a simple schedule time change if theres no date or flight number change. You can safely just show up

Oh yes you do! Unless you want to be denied and spend a very nervous time on the phone with Avianca trying to get your ticket fixed

I have asked this question before. Last year our SA flight from Perth to Johannesburg was changed leaving 15(!) minutes earlier than scheduled. I rang SA and was told that the ticket had to be reissued otherwise no check-in and no go. Apparently it had something to do with their inability to check you in if the ticket still showed the original time.

And to reinforce the sense of panic in the community, the Asiana girl in their Sydney office this morning told me exactly the same thing - no new ticket with correct times no check-in

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Oh yes you do! Unless you want to be denied and spend a very nervous time on the phone with Avianca trying to get your ticket fixed

I have asked this question before. Last year our SA flight from Perth to Johannesburg was changed leaving 15(!) minutes earlier than scheduled. I rang SA and was told that the ticket had to be reissued otherwise no check-in and no go. Apparently it had something to do with their inability to check you in if the ticket still showed the original time.

And to reinforce the sense of panic in the community, the Asiana girl in their Sydney office this morning told me exactly the same thing - no new ticket with correct times no check-in

Amazing how I send dozens of clients without issue on tickets that have schedule changes simply by changing the status from schedule change to confirmed then isn't it!?

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Amazing how I send dozens of clients without issue on tickets that have schedule changes simply by changing the status from schedule change to confirmed then isn't it!?

You're obviously amazing and it's great to know there are amazing people there to change the status but what about not so amazing ones? Or contracted agents, or those agents in overseas airports? Are they all as amazing as you are?

as if we haven't read horror stories here about being turned down at check in

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

You're obviously amazing and it's great to know there are amazing people there to change the status but what about not so amazing ones? Or contracted agents, or those agents in overseas airports? Are they all as amazing as you are?

as if we haven't read horror stories here about being turned down at check in

You have missed the point entirely, schedule changes (that don't involve date/flight number changes) do not require re-ticketing/re-validation, simple as that. The status change is merely an acknowledgement that the agent/customer has seen the change and accepted it. Failure to update that status still would not result in the passenger being denied boarding/check-in. The airline still holds a confirmed ticket/reservation on that flight for the customer.

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

You have missed the point entirely, schedule changes (that don't involve date/flight number changes) do not require re-ticketing/re-validation, simple as that. The status change is merely an acknowledgement that the agent/customer has seen the change and accepted it. Failure to update that status still would not result in the passenger being denied boarding/check-in. The airline still holds a confirmed ticket/reservation on that flight for the customer.

I may have missed the point entirely and so did the Asiana reservations girl at 9 am today who, in no uncertain terms, told me to call Avianca and have my ticket reissued for the 20 min schedule change, the same flight number
by the way, the tickets actually got reissued - that is a different ticket number, why would Avianca do that???

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I may have missed the point entirely and so did the Asiana reservations girl at 9 am today who, in no uncertain terms, told me to call Avianca and have my ticket reissued for the 20 min schedule change, the same flight number
by the way, the tickets actually got reissued - that is a different ticket number, why would Avianca do that???

A ticket can be reissued but it's not necessary. take it or leave it, I couldn't give a flying ....

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

A ticket can be reissued but it's not necessary. take it or leave it, I couldn't give a flying ....

Look, I believe you!
the point I'm making this the operating airline DID require me to have the ticket re-issued. Was I supposed to argue or ignore the advice? Not everyone has your knowledge

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

The status change is merely an acknowledgement that the agent/customer has seen the change and accepted it.

So this is changing the segment status from TK to HK (or OK?) right? Am I right in thinking if you've (in this case 'you' meaning the agent you're talking to...say OZ in sergeyvsn's case) got access to the reservation system you should be able to do this? I know SQ did it for me on an LM issued ticket when I could no longer manage the booking due to the 'timechange' status - no ticket re-issue.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

THAI Increases Sydney Service in NS16 | Airline Route

Note that TG472 returns to attractive, Europe connecting scheduling! (I think it was previously timetabled for 3AM BKK arrival)

 

[NDiddy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

VAG newbie this information is gold!! Thanks heaps and will let you know how I go.

Ok so rang LM just after 10pm last night and true to your information they were able to revalidate the ticket. Saw the updated info come through via email about 3 hours after the call.

Confirmed with the TG mel office and they have said all good and sent me the e-ticket from TG directly as well. Guess we're over-nighting now in BKK

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Ok so rang LM just after 10pm last night and true to your information they were able to revalidate the ticket. Saw the updated info come through via email about 3 hours after the call.

Confirmed with the TG mel office and they have said all good and sent me the e-ticket from TG directly as well. Guess we're over-nighting now in BKK

Excellent! It's actually not that bad as you get to visit BKK without extra miles. Hotel there aren't that expensive. Also you can experience the first class check in. Make sure you leave plenty of time for whole body massage.

 

[NDiddy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Excellent! It's actually not that bad as you get to visit BKK without extra miles. Hotel there aren't that expensive. Also you can experience the first class check in. Make sure you leave plenty of time for whole body massage.

Thanks VAG - Yeah transited and stayed many times in BKK so all familiar with the process. Was quite relieved to have sorted it out. Still have a small issue where the TG Manage booking will not let me allocate seats on the BKK-CDG leg. TG lady said that the seats are blocked but not to worry and a note has been placed at the check-in counter to sort it out when we go.

Now time to book a BKK hotel and change my CDG-AMS flights :/

 

[Finale]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I have ICN - SYD as well. Advanced seat assignment button went missing from manage my booking after the time change so I decided to to get it revalidated.

Called LM a bit too early and (English?) protection department is still closed. The agent took my info and asked if I accept the change. He then got a Spanish speaking agent and after a few minutes, everything is good and advanced seat assignment is back. He also told me I have 48 hours if I would like to make any change at no cost, no free cancellation though (first time I heard about this). Another great and painless experience with LM call center.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

So this is changing the segment status from TK to HK (or OK?) right? Am I right in thinking if you've (in this case 'you' meaning the agent you're talking to...say OZ in sergeyvsn's case) got access to the reservation system you should be able to do this? I know SQ did it for me on an LM issued ticket when I could no longer manage the booking due to the 'timechange' status - no ticket re-issue.

exactly correct.

even if nobody updated it you still have a valid booking/ticket

 

[trixydoza]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Much prefer to transfer at ADL

I also like the way the officers etc. never seem surprised to suddenly have to deal with a whole lot of people arriving from overseas. SYD and MEL can be a bit like Groundhog Day at times. Or Pulp Fiction. ("English, mutha****a, do you speak it?!")

 

[Mranderson]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

"So, all in all I got exactly what I wanted, but took another year off my life. Very happy though. Few lessons:
1. You cannot cancel with an email, even when you beg
2. Be liberal with transit times, they don't seem to care as long as its less than 24 hours
3. Persistence pays off"

Thought ild just say that I have now cancelled 3 different bookings by emailing them and requesting a call back,the last one only 2 weeks ago, seems I may just be lucky but each time the process has been painless and extremely quick(less than 10 mins on the phone each time)