Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[StringerBell]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Recently booked my first lifemiles redemption MXP-BKK-MEL in TG J for next January.

This is probably a really basic question, but do you have to have a passport number recorded against your reservations when you turn up to check in at the airport? My travel partner will have a new passport number by the time we fly next January. so I left this blank at the time of booking. Would I need to contact LM or TG before we depart to add these details?

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Recently booked my first lifemiles redemption MXP-BKK-MEL in TG J for next January.

This is probably a really basic question, but do you have to have a passport number recorded against your reservations when you turn up to check in at the airport? My travel partner will have a new passport number by the time we fly next January. so I left this blank at the time of booking. Would I need to contact LM or TG before we depart to add these details?

No, it's not compulsory. I never do. You can add later on the airline's website as some airline will automatically check-in for you if they have that information (eg. ANA). But it's purely optional.

 

[StringerBell]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

No, it's not compulsory. I never do. You can add later on the airline's website as some airline will automatically check-in for you if they have that information (eg. ANA). But it's purely optional.

Thanks for that, that's good news.

Also, when booking I selected the title "Mss" for my partner. But in the booking/e-ticket it seems to either show this as a middle name or affix it to her first name. Is this something I will need to fix up?

It appears others have had similar issues going back a couple of years, but because it's my first Lifemiles redemption I'm hoping someone can ease my concerns if they've had the same experience.

 

[travelislife]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Thanks for that, that's good news.

Also, when booking I selected the title "Mss" for my partner. But in the booking/e-ticket it seems to either show this as a middle name or affix it to her first name. Is this something I will need to fix up?

It appears others have had similar issues going back a couple of years, but because it's my first Lifemiles redemption I'm hoping someone can ease my concerns if they've had the same experience.

No issue at all. The only thing you need to check is that e-ticket numbers have been issued. This can be confirmed by bringing your booking up on Thai Airways website (where you can also select seats and book the cook meals) or on checkmytrip.com.

 

[Guvner]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Thanks for that, that's good news.

Also, when booking I selected the title "Mss" for my partner. But in the booking/e-ticket it seems to either show this as a middle name or affix it to her first name. Is this something I will need to fix up?

It appears others have had similar issues going back a couple of years, but because it's my first Lifemiles redemption I'm hoping someone can ease my concerns if they've had the same experience.

That's happened every time I have booked a ticket for my partner and we've never had a problem.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Thanks for that, that's good news.

Also, when booking I selected the title "Mss" for my partner. But in the booking/e-ticket it seems to either show this as a middle name or affix it to her first name. Is this something I will need to fix up?

It appears others have had similar issues going back a couple of years, but because it's my first Lifemiles redemption I'm hoping someone can ease my concerns if they've had the same experience.

It happened to my sister as well (who unfortunately divorced and became miss again). No problem at all!

 

[bwhouse]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just wondering if anyone has any good tips for routings from Rome to Sydney. Trying to find a J or F ticket around the 1st of October and having very little luck. Other than Air India. I have tried all the stop over options I can think of BKK, PEK, SIN, HND.

 

[Eric Barasa]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just wondering if anyone has any good tips for routings from Rome to Sydney. Trying to find a J or F ticket around the 1st of October and having very little luck. Other than Air India. I have tried all the stop over options I can think of BKK, PEK, SIN, HND.

have you checked what routes exist to begin with? star alliance route map on star alliance website
have you then checked availability for individual segments on united or ana site?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just wondering if anyone has any good tips for routings from Rome to Sydney. Trying to find a J or F ticket around the 1st of October and having very little luck. Other than Air India. I have tried all the stop over options I can think of BKK, PEK, SIN, HND.

nothing wrong with air India!! the food is basic but hot. the champagne is chilled. the service is pretty good. 787 with full flat beds. they would rank well above Thai's angled beds in business.

 

[bwhouse]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

have you checked what routes exist to begin with? star alliance route map on star alliance website
have you then checked availability for individual segments on united or ana site?

Yes I have, but I am looking for less direct routes with multiple stop overs as the direct 1 stop over routes have no availability on both the individual segments and the whole route.

nothing wrong with air India!! the food is basic but hot. the champagne is chilled. the service is pretty good. 787 with full flat beds. they would rank well above Thai's angled beds in business.

Thanks Mel_Traveler, I have read so many mixed reports about Air India I was skeptical, might have to look at it as a more serious option.

 

[travelislife]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

First time playing with Lifemiles. Went perfect. Bought miles on AMEX, points straight into my account.

Booked online Brisbane-Bangkok-Milan with Thai in Biz for 2 people for mid July in peak season. Tickets issued immediately. $1800 AUD. Good deal.

Good stuff. What was $1800?

As a guide at current AUD:USD exchange rate my one way booking HND-BKK-MEL in J was the following (all costs in AUD):

Buy 17,000 miles: $370.89
Booking: $560.89 (which consisted of $470 23,000 miles buy up, $34 booking fee, $56 taxes)

Total cost AUD: $930 per person
Total cost USD: $680 per person

Oh for the days of 1:1 AUD:USD!

 

[Guvner]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Good stuff. What was $1800?

As a guide at current AUD:USD exchange rate my one way booking HND-BKK-MEL in J was the following (all costs in AUD):

Buy 17,000 miles: $370.89
Booking: $560.89 (which consisted of $470 23,000 miles buy up, $34 booking fee, $56 taxes)

Total cost AUD: $930 per person
Total cost USD: $680 per person

Oh for the days of 1:1 AUD:USD!

wouldn't the $1800 just be $930 x 2 roughly??

 

[travelislife]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

wouldn't the $1800 just be $930 x 2 roughly??

But it's a Europe fight so 2 x $930 doesn't make sense. I suppose it must be about $1800 one way per person, that would make more sense. No biggie either way I am just always intrigued by the numbers!

 

[travelislife]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Remember using screen shot you can push out the layovers to just under 24h. So if you can find you flight back in to Aus on TG, NH, OZ, SQ then work back from there. Those 4 airlines have a lot of flights from Europe in to their hubs. Oh plus Air China who from all reports are meant to be semi decent these days.

 

[tania73]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

And you booked it online, no screenshots? Normally SE Asia connections need screenshots

 

[VOZ102]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Yes - from buying points to getting the tickets - it took 5 mins tops.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Remember using screen shot you can push out the layovers to just under 24h. So if you can find you flight back in to Aus on TG, NH, OZ, SQ then work back from there. Those 4 airlines have a lot of flights from Europe in to their hubs. Oh plus Air China who from all reports are meant to be semi decent these days.

Air China is pretty good (all things considered). Just like air India, the food is basic, but the champagne is still chilled and the service is as good as they can offer given the difference in service culture and the language.

the only unfortunate thing is that Air China is not book able anymore through life miles... it shows on line but can't be booked and all accounts of screen shot method are returned with a 'sorry, not available anymore'.

In theory LM should be able to book it, so always worth a shot asking. but have a solid back up.

 

[tania73]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Yes - from buying points to getting the tickets - it took 5 mins tops.

Wow - LM is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. I think there is one other route from BNE you can get not using screenshots (can't remember what it was) but this will be useful for someone.

 

[hummel]

Re: Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

Yes - from buying points to getting the tickets - it took 5 mins tops.

Even better the 787 ex BNE!

 

[hummel]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Air China is pretty good (all things considered). Just like air India, the food is basic, but the champagne is still chilled and the service is as good as they can offer given the difference in service culture and the language.

the only unfortunate thing is that Air China is not book able anymore through life miles... it shows on line but can't be booked and all accounts of screen shot method are returned with a 'sorry, not available anymore'.

In theory LM should be able to book it, so always worth a shot asking. but have a solid back up.

I was speaking to LM last week while processing a booking and asked what the deal with Air China was.

They said only temporary and should be fixed in a month or so...

Somehow I don't believe them but I don't want to try them MEL-PVG-CAN if possible.