Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[coolkid101]

Depends on the reason for the change. If it comes in because of the summer/winter schedule changes, it's unlikely to change back. If it's a one off, might change back.

Any way to find out which it is? We're on TG 622/623 in early jan

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Any way to find out which it is? We're on TG 622/623 in early jan

There's nothing listed on routesonline about the KIX route in particular for W17 timetable changes. I note on 10 January (the first date I picked) the 747 and A380 are both operating BKK-KIX (and both with F awards available). A quick search on some earlier dates in Jan showed nothing on TG available. Maybe they took the 747/A380 for peak European services?

Routesonline can be found here: Top Stories :: Routesonline I've given the link for the top stories page, but searching airline specific in the box will narrow schedule changes to the airline in question

 

[coolkid101]

There's nothing listed on routesonline about the KIX route in particular for W17 timetable changes. I note on 10 January (the first date I picked) the 747 and A380 are both operating BKK-KIX (and both with F awards available). A quick search on some earlier dates in Jan showed nothing on TG available. Maybe they took the 747/A380 for peak European services?

Routesonline can be found here: Top Stories :: Routesonline I've given the link for the top stories page, but searching airline specific in the box will narrow schedule changes to the airline in question

thanks for the link - i'll keep an eye out.

our flights are 7/1 and back 13/1. nothing available for those dates.

 

[coolkid101]

care to elaborate?
i'm presuming you mean to call TG, ask them to free a pair of revenue seats on another flight that day and put us onto those, then we'll have to call LM to re-ticket?
have read the threads about this before but can't remember the outcomes

They can't, but TG can, and then liaise with Lifemiles.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

i'm presuming you mean to call TG, ask them to free a pair of revenue seats on another flight that day and put us onto those, then we'll have to call LM to re-ticket?

Basically, yes. I've done this with, for example, a switch from NRT to HND, several times. Japan has been involved each time, though, and I've done it by dealing with TG's Tokyo office:

TG640/19SEP/Bangkok-Narita in first class was confirmed in your reservation/Qxx_X8.
Please kindly ask to your Avianca to reissue the ticket accordingly. Avianca must reissue the ticket by 04MAR. Otherwise it will be cancelled .

 

[MEL_Traveller]

care to elaborate?
i'm presuming you mean to call TG, ask them to free a pair of revenue seats on another flight that day and put us onto those, then we'll have to call LM to re-ticket?
have read the threads about this before but can't remember the outcomes

In theory that's how it can work.

You'll likely meet resistance from TG who will say they can't touch the booking as it was made by LM. LM will say it's a TG change and they can't do anything.

What you want to try and do is convince TG that all you want them to do is convert an existing revenue seat into an award seat, and add it to the booking, which you'll then contact LM to reissue.

Gonna happen? Possibly. Likely? Who knows. It's hard to get even proficient airlines and call centres to handle it. And LM isn't always the easiest to deal with given poor phone connections.

baccusMarsh has provided a good data point. The Tokyo office for TG might be a good avenue - better than trying to do it through Bangkok.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

thanks for the link - i'll keep an eye out.

our flights are 7/1 and back 13/1. nothing available for those dates.

Coming back 13 Jan is still there for the A380 - 1 F award. Shouldn't be too much of a stretch to request a second. Out on the 7th isn't showing much at all. Before requesting a seat to be released just find out if either the 747 or A380 are operating.

 

[coolkid101]

thanks for having a look
problem with the a380 flight is the timing, it arrives too late to connect onto the current bkk-syd flight departing 1750. i might try to ask them to move it to the 12th and overnight in bkk, i suppose that would be another option.

Coming back 13 Jan is still there for the A380 - 1 F award. Shouldn't be too much of a stretch to request a second. Out on the 7th isn't showing much at all. Before requesting a seat to be released just find out if either the 747 or A380 are operating.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

thanks for having a look
problem with the a380 flight is the timing, it arrives too late to connect onto the current bkk-syd flight departing 1750. i might try to ask them to move it to the 12th and overnight in bkk, i suppose that would be another option.

Good luck! This is one of the major problems with LM (and TG)... if this was through UA it is much easier... agents understand what you want, the phone lines are clear, and you can pretty much call at any time.

 

[Eric Barasa]

Don't expect TG to revert to an A380 on the route just to open up F.
Changing the ticket is only allowed if you keep the destination the same (to KIX), and so far only TG does International F to KIX. (and SQ,, but that doesn't really count)
So your way out is to hunt for NRT/HND in F and connect domestically on NH to KIX on a 2stop itinerary.

You could be creative and go through ICN/PVG/PEK/HKG on TG connecting to NH/AI on a 2 stop or even 3 stop itinerary.

SYD-BKK-PEK-ICN-KIX in F/F/J/J ??
Keep exploring!

 

[PatMcrotch]

Guys are all the TG J flights MEL-BKK angled seating?? Is there any lay flat seating in J on the MEL-BKK route?
I remember from a while back there was supposed to be an A350 flying this route by now but it hasn't happened yet.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Guys are all the TG J flights MEL-BKK angled seating?? Is there any lay flat seating in J on the MEL-BKK route?
I remember from a while back there was supposed to be an A350 flying this route by now but it hasn't happened yet.

It varies. At the moment both services are scheduled with full flat beds. But this changes every couple of months, with one of the services (usually the TG461/2) going to angled, and the 465/6 staying full flat. The A350 hasn't quite made it yet. Scheduled for 1 Nov at this stage, but already my booking is showing a 77W on United.

Airlineroute publishes TG fleet plans.

 

[boomy]

Can never tell TG equipment ex-MEL too long in advance. Same goes for BNE, my flight next month changed recently from B787 to B777 old product

 

[PatMcrotch]

It varies. At the moment both services are scheduled with full flat beds. But this changes every couple of months, with one of the services (usually the TG461/2) going to angled, and the 465/6 staying full flat. The A350 hasn't quite made it yet. Scheduled for 1 Nov at this stage, but already my booking is showing a 77W on United.

Airlineroute publishes TG fleet plans.

Great info..Thx.

So B77w=lay flat and B773=angled?

 

[bcworld]

Great info..Thx.

So B77w=lay flat and B773=angled?

Yes. And 772 and 772ER angled.

But you have to be careful with this...Thai never uses the convention 77W or 777-300ER on their website. Typically on the TG website a 77W flight is denoted by 777-300, where a flight actually operated by 777-300 is shown as something like 777-200/300. Meanwhile other airlines interpreting TG's codes can get confused to. The best way to check a specific date is a dummy booking and looking at the seatmap in J.

 

[PatMcrotch]

Thanks..very helpful!

 

[annielee]

hello experts,

trying to redeem miles for next year travel (KUL-SYD/MEL), usually i will use 25k miles with cash for the 'sweet spot', but i dont think the sweet spot exists anymore ?

thanks

 

[BacchusMarsh]

hello experts,

trying to redeem miles for next year travel (KUL-SYD/MEL), usually i will use 25k miles with cash for the 'sweet spot', but i dont think the sweet spot exists anymore ?

thanks

For a 40k trip you want to be using between 18k and 22k + cash.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

And here we go again. bonus points for sale..

I have been checking daily coz I need to make a couple of bookings..

Looks like 125% bonus at the moment

 

[Guvner]

Bonus period is Sept 5 - Sept 28

Terms and Conditions:
· The bonus percentage applies as follows: for purchases from 1,000 – 50,000 LifeMiles receive 2x1 + 5%, for purchases from 51,000 – 100,000 LifeMiles receive 2x1 + 20% additional miles, for purchases from 101,000 – 200,000 receive 2x1 + 30% additional miles.
· The bonuses are calculated based on the miles purchased per individual transaction without taking into account the 2x1 bonus.
· The miles must be purchased in multiples of 1,000.
· The minimum miles to purchase per transaction is 1,000 LifeMiles.
· The maximum miles to purchase per transaction during this promotion to receive the bonus showed above is 200,000 LifeMiles if the Member has not purchased miles in 2017 or 200,000 LifeMiles minus the miles previously purchased by the Member in 2017.
· The Member may purchase miles outside of the limits showed above but in such case the transactions will be processed but no bonuses will be granted.
· The maximum amount of miles to receive by a member per calendar year outside of this promotion is 200,000 LifeMiles (including miles purchased and bonuses received). If the member surpasses the limit, through purchases made during this promotion and other purchases in 2017, taking into account the bonuses received for those purchases, he or she will not be able to purchase any more miles until the next calendar year.