Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[Eric Barasa]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

4xF using LifeMiles.....
Thai Bangkok to Osaka
ANA from Tokyo to Singapore (rare availability happens )
Air India Delhi to North America
Asiana Seoul to Los Angeles

Why not just do Eva business royal laurel class or ANA business class to Europe? Better chance of actually getting four seats, and the experience in biz is great!

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

ANA from Tokyo to Singapore (rare availability happens )

I've never seen more than one released initially, and sometimes another one in the final couple of weeks.

And currently nothing at all beyond October or so.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I've never seen more than one released initially, and sometimes another one in the final couple of weeks.

And currently nothing at all beyond October or so.

I think F might be axed on that route. You can't even book revenue F beyond Oct.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Or any other way to take family of four to Europe with at least one sector in First? (ie using a positioning flight in J to some other city in SE asia or similar craftiness)

Or if not, is there any other decent long-haul sector on the planet that could maybe have 4 x F availability? Dates are pretty much unimportant, destination is too, really - just owe my family for the solo travelling in F that I have done then telling them all about it

WOW – 4 F seats!! The approach I would take is look for 4 seats in F from Syd to BKK on Thai. I have occasionally seen 4 F seats on the first leg (not often) then on the second leg split it, 2 seats F and 2 Bus to CDG. If 4 seats on the first leg aren’t available then do 2 first and 2 bus. At least this way you will all be able to use the first class lounge as each person is allowed to have 1 guest.

I have found that to Europe there is often 2 seats released at a time. (Other routes ie Japan seem to have 1 seat at a time) Sometimes closer to the date of travel ie a day or 2 before they will release more first class seats, call up and ask to change the tix to the F seats. There is a $150 change fee but if you really want first class I think this might be only way

Let us know how you go

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

If they really stop the SS, they've killed their own golden goose. I suspect not many people will but miles from them with such a buggy online booking system.

I have been thinking about the comments that SS might no longer be allowed and thinking about how to make it work without SS.

I have come up with a work around, not sure if it would work or not. Happy to open up discussion or thoughts if this was to eventuate

So if you want to go to Europe F the cost is 115,000 but if you can no longer book it via SS. How about if it is booked online to BKK (using Thai, could work using other companies but just for this example I will use Thai)? Cost 60,000. Then call back and ask for a change to the tix and add a flight to Europe which total cost would be 115,000. Therefore you would have to pay for the extra 55,000 and the change cost which is $150.

Another example might be a flight to NRT. Get the first leg to BKK for 60,000 then call up and ask to change the tix and add a leg to NRT. In this scenario I would imagine that they would have to refund 10,000 and you would have to pay the $150 change fee.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I have been thinking about the comments that SS might no longer be allowed and thinking about how to make it work without SS.

I have come up with a work around, not sure if it would work or not. Happy to open up discussion or thoughts if this was to eventuate

So if you want to go to Europe F the cost is 115,000 but if you can no longer book it via SS. How about if it is booked online to BKK (using Thai, could work using other companies but just for this example I will use Thai)? Cost 60,000. Then call back and ask for a change to the tix and add a flight to Europe which total cost would be 115,000. Therefore you would have to pay for the extra 55,000 and the change cost which is $150.

Another example might be a flight to NRT. Get the first leg to BKK for 60,000 then call up and ask to change the tix and add a leg to NRT. In this scenario I would imagine that they would have to refund 10,000 and you would have to pay the $150 change fee.

When I've tried changes in the past, I seem to recall they basically only allow changes of times with the same origin and destination. I might very well be wrong, though.

The T&Cs also say:

Route changes are not allowed on award tickets

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Another example might be a flight to NRT. Get the first leg to BKK for 60,000

Not really germane to your point, but note also that SYD-BKK F is supposed to be 75,000 now, whereas BKK-SYD is still 60,000.

 

[Cynicor]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

For 4 F I would be travelling separately as 1A and 1C, unfortunately.

 

[Guvner]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Lifemiles.com is down for maintenance again. Wonder what enhancements we will get this time.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Lifemiles.com is down for maintenance again. Wonder what enhancements we will get this time.

The cough F glitch was back briefly. And one of the more, um, problematic boomerangs was showing again:

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Lifemiles.com is down for maintenance again. Wonder what enhancements we will get this time.

Their whole IT department should be fired. I don't understand why they can't fix all the bugs in their system once and for always??!!

 

[Guvner]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

That's quite an assumption you're making there. I doubt that there is a department.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Their whole IT department should be fired. I don't understand why they can't fix all the bugs in their system once and for always??!!

They actually fixed it once. In early 2015 when mixed cabin was introduced. I managed to book a F/J NH/SQ NRT-SIN-BNE online with 50k LM. They just killed it so I suspect the "glitch" is intentional.

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

There are pros and cons... Glitches are good when they allow booking mixed J/F paying only the J rate

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

There are pros and cons... Glitches are good when they allow booking mixed J/F paying only the J rate

Even that's not such an amazing deal, though (apart from some HLO North Asia possibilities)... I'd generally rather pay the full points and fly F all the way.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Even that's not such an amazing deal, though (apart from some HLO North Asia possibilities)... I'd generally rather pay the full points and fly F all the way.

If it's an option. MEL to Europe we are pretty much out of bookable all F options. So a long sector in F at J prices is quite nice!

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Even that's not such an amazing deal, though (apart from some HLO North Asia possibilities)... I'd generally rather pay the full points and fly F all the way.

Depends...

When departing / arriving a city like BNE or MEL with not many F options I'm happy to take mixed J/F to Europe or USA, especially when the longer leg is in F.

Another great deal is mixed J/F from Europe to Asia or USA where the first leg in J a short intra-Europe flight.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Another great deal is mixed J/F from Europe to Asia or USA where the first leg in J a short intra-Europe flight.

And you're saying you get those at J pricing?

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

And you're saying you get those at J pricing?

I believe it has been known to happen

 

[BacchusMarsh]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I believe it has been known to happen

Fair enough. I only know the ones to/from Australia.

Not quibbling that the ability to book mixed-class redemptions was an improvement.