Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[whole-lotta-moxie]

Re: LifeMiles cancellations may have just quadrupled in price

I have just purchased tickets to Europe and return and I am confused by the charges and costs. I believe they are incorrect.
Can someone please tell me if I have made a mistake or if this is correct.

I have purchased
2 x melb to europe – business class tickets (total points req 85,000 per person = 170,000)
2 x FRA to Syd – first class - (115,000 per person x = 230,000)

The first tix to Europe I opted to use all points as I had points to burn
Return tixs – use 143,000 points and purchase 87,000 points at a cost of $1,305 USD

The charges to my account are
first charge of $1584.34 USD (I was expecting $1305)
second charge of $241.56 USD (I was expecting $100 for the redemption fees $25 per person per tix)

The points in my account are correct eg they have taken out $170,000 +143,000

I don’t understand these charges, they are a lot more than I was expecting. They seem too high, can someone please confirm if I have stuffed up my calculations or if Lifemiles have stuffed up

Thank you in advance

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Re: LifeMiles cancellations may have just quadrupled in price

I have just purchased tickets to Europe and return and I am confused by the charges and costs. I believe they are incorrect.
Can someone please tell me if I have made a mistake or if this is correct.

I have purchased
2 x melb to europe – business class tickets (total points req 85,000 per person = 170,000)
2 x FRA to Syd – first class - (115,000 per person x = 230,000)

The first tix to Europe I opted to use all points as I had points to burn
Return tixs – use 143,000 points and purchase 87,000 points at a cost of $1,305 USD

The charges to my account are
first charge of $1584.34 USD (I was expecting $1305)
second charge of $241.56 USD (I was expecting $100 for the redemption fees $25 per person per tix)

The points in my account are correct eg they have taken out $170,000 +143,000

I don’t understand these charges, they are a lot more than I was expecting. They seem too high, can someone please confirm if I have stuffed up my calculations or if Lifemiles have stuffed up

Thank you in advance

Just to clarify, is the US$241.56 not the taxes etc. for the first booking, and the $US1584.34 the taxes + cost of miles for the second?

 

[bcworld]

Re: LifeMiles cancellations may have just quadrupled in price

Yup, it basically sounds like you have forgotten to include taxes in your calculations.

e.g. FRA-SYD in F x 2

Top up miles USD1305
Taxes USD250
LM Fees USD 50

...or thereabouts.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

Re: LifeMiles cancellations may have just quadrupled in price

Yup, it basically sounds like you have forgotten to include taxes in your calculations.

e.g. FRA-SYD in F x 2

Top up miles USD1305
Taxes USD250
LM Fees USD 50

...or thereabouts.

Ohhhh no!!! Taxes!!! I didn't think they would be so high.

Thank you all.

I assumed that the first charge was for the all the booking fees and taxes and then the second charge was just the miles redemption.
The first charge is booking fees + tax. (for first tix)
Second charge booking fees + tax + redemption. (for homeward bound tix)

Thank you so much for your assistance

 

[cleaver]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

'Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.'

Aarrrgh. After selecting flights, and trying to proceed to taxes/fees etc page. Mixed class booking, PER - AMS via BKK and FRA

No clear solution - other than a manual/screenshot booking I suppose?

Shall see.

 

[TheEmu]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

'Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.'

Aarrrgh. After selecting flights, and trying to proceed to taxes/fees etc page. Mixed class booking, PER - AMS via BKK and FRA

No clear solution - other than a manual/screenshot booking I suppose?

Shall see.

Yes, screenshot and email support.
I've been having the a similar drama of a couple of days with FRA-BNE flights for my sister and her husband. No problem booking outbound flights online (BNE-LHR) - I emailed screenshots (for the return flights) to support and got a fairly quick response but I haven't heard back after I responded to that, for over 24 hours. This is unusual for the support team - once they take it on, it is usually resolved pretty quickly with a call from them.
I'm using TheEmuNo.1Son (14y.o.)'s account so I hope this isn't somehow causing an issue.

 

[luxury-lizard]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Yes, screenshot and email support.
I've been having the a similar drama of a couple of days with FRA-BNE flights for my sister and her husband. No problem booking outbound flights online (BNE-LHR) - I emailed screenshots (for the return flights) to support and got a fairly quick response but I haven't heard back after I responded to that, for over 24 hours. This is unusual for the support team - once they take it on, it is usually resolved pretty quickly with a call from them.
I'm using TheEmuNo.1Son (14y.o.)'s account so I hope this isn't somehow causing an issue.

This happens literally every time I try to book AC (Air Canada) - support used to take overnight to reply with itinerary and call back instructions - however, I have been waiting more than 3 days currently - the seats are now no longer showing as available. I would have followed up with another e-mail and phone call but I've changed my mind about booking the flights due to the increased cancellation fees. As everyone is now aware - if you book 2 one-ways for 2 people and need to change or cancel it's going to be up to $USD800 - I will now only book LM flights close in when the chances of needing to change/cancel are very low. These seats were 355 days out - just too risky.

I'm certainly not going to buy LM points any longer and will run down my (and MR LL) current balances. In fact I can buy the return business class tickets I need (SYD-YVR in Jan / Feb 2018) for $5200 pp on NZ (via AKL). We're also considering either the LH or LX ATW fares at around $6300 pp ex Sydney.

 

[Pele]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Gday

I agree with Luxury Lizard- the cancellation fees are now prohibitive. I have 60,000 points that i am looking to spend asap and wont be buying more any time soon. Someone up above alluded to a lack of availability on ANA between HND and SYD. 6 months ago there was good availability on this route and now it is either less than 3 weeks out or nothing, not even 350 days out. Basically i think Lifemiles has moved into a zone where i would only use them if they have a buy points special on and there is an immediate need to travel and you can see it is available. Otherwise the risk is just too high.

Pele.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Gday

I agree with Luxury Lizard- the cancellation fees are now prohibitive. I have 60,000 points that i am looking to spend asap and wont be buying more any time soon. Someone up above alluded to a lack of availability on ANA between HND and SYD. 6 months ago there was good availability on this route and now it is either less than 3 weeks out or nothing, not even 350 days out. Basically i think Lifemiles has moved into a zone where i would only use them if they have a buy points special on and there is an immediate need to travel and you can see it is available. Otherwise the risk is just too high.

Pele.

The NH SYD-HND just gets taken by people very quickly. They are still there but you almost have to snatch it as soon as it's released. It won't last 24 hours.

It's that popular.

 

[PlutekPlutek]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Hi. I purchased a whole bunch of LM a few years ago. Used most of those on J bookings. Now have 10,000 left, no plans to travel in the short term that would enable their use, plus they expire in 10 days.
Is there any use for those points ? I think 10,000 was around USD300 worth. Buying a one way economy ticket for brother in law is 17,500, or all my points + 100USD, where the same flight can be purchased for less than that in cash.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I think 10,000 was around USD300 worth.

More like USD150 if you bought at the right time or in the right way.

 

[PlutekPlutek]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

More like USD150 if you bought at the right time or in the right way.

I stand corrected. You are right.

 

[Cynicor]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Hi. I purchased a whole bunch of LM a few years ago. Used most of those on J bookings. Now have 10,000 left, no plans to travel in the short term that would enable their use, plus they expire in 10 days.
Is there any use for those points ? I think 10,000 was around USD300 worth. Buying a one way economy ticket for brother in law is 17,500, or all my points + 100USD, where the same flight can be purchased for less than that in cash.

wait for a transfer bonus and gift them to someone or ask them to pay a nominal amount (i.e. enough to cover the transfer cost)?

 

[futaris]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

The NH SYD-HND just gets taken by people very quickly. They are still there but you almost have to snatch it as soon as it's released. It won't last 24 hours.

It's that popular.

Indeed you are right. As I mentioned earlier, availability opens up three weeks before the flight. Alternatively, ~11months in advance...

This is like trying to find an award trans-pacific to the USA.

Are awards on Asiana similar?

 

[futaris]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Hi. I purchased a whole bunch of LM a few years ago. Used most of those on J bookings. Now have 10,000 left, no plans to travel in the short term that would enable their use, plus they expire in 10 days.
Is there any use for those points ? I think 10,000 was around USD300 worth. Buying a one way economy ticket for brother in law is 17,500, or all my points + 100USD, where the same flight can be purchased for less than that in cash.

https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/use/don/dondonmilproc.aspx

Donate 500 miles and it will extend the life of your remaining miles by 24 months.

 

[Pele]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Indeed you are right. As I mentioned earlier, availability opens up three weeks before the flight. Alternatively, ~11months in advance...

This is like trying to find an award trans-pacific to the USA.

Are awards on Asiana similar?

Gday

Futaris in my experience Asiana awards between ICN and SYD are easy to come by and there is a good reason for that- they run an old plane with sloping sleepers, ie an inferior product to what NH run from HND to SYD. Having said that i have an Asiana award on the old plane booked later in the year to see how the airline stacks up and also to spend a day in Seoul.

Pele.

 

[tallboy]

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

Apologies if this has been asked/answered before, I searched but could not find:

Can anyone advise if there is a maximum number of screenshots that can be used to book an itinerary? (ie., apart from the first showing no availability, are three screenshots allowed?).

I am looking for MEL-BCN in J and can't find with less than 3.

Thanks in anticipation.

tb

 

[I love to travel]

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

Apologies if this has been asked/answered before, I searched but could not find:

Can anyone advise if there is a maximum number of screenshots that can be used to book an itinerary? (ie., apart from the first showing no availability, are three screenshots allowed?).

I am looking for MEL-BCN in J and can't find with less than 3.

Thanks in anticipation.

tb

I dont think there is any limit. I have done 3 before. Also dont worry about not avaliable screenshot I haven't done this for about 6 months and they have never asked for it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

If the pricing is something that people want to keep to themselves, then don't bother posting the details at all. It is of no use in this thread.
[/mod hat]

I would still say it is of use... if only because it states it is possible to make a booking for that route, and by which method. The pricing... well... other than an error - which should never be expected and cannot be demanded - it takes less time to google the award chart than it does to ask the question.

 

[tallboy]

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

I dont think there is any limit. I have done 3 before. Also dont worry about not avaliable screenshot I haven't done this for about 6 months and they have never asked for it.

Thanks. Am giving it a try.

Will report back in successful thread if it works out.

tb