Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[boomy]

BTW guys...The only way to select my seat on SQ is to do it 48 hours before the flight right?

You can call SQ Australian customer service 131011 and they should be able to reserve a seat.

 

[bcworld]

BTW guys...The only way to select my seat on SQ is to do it 48 hours before the flight right?

I'm fairly sure you can just use your LifeMiles PNR to manage your own booking on the SQ website.

 

[bcworld]

Just wondering if anyone else signed up to one of the Club LifeMiles monthly miles buying plans?

I did in April, must've been a moment of madness!

The first batch posted on sign up...my card was then charged 3 weeks ago for the next lot...still no miles. The T&Cs say this should be 'immediate'. I have emailed support a week ago but still no sign of the elusive miles.

Well I have given up on Club Lifemiles now.

Not getting anywhere with support emails. As they would be about to charge my card again I have terminated the plan and initiated a credit card charge back for the May payment.

Useless!

 

[Guvner]

Seems JNB>PER on SAA is back in action, including Biz class. (85k)
And there's a little trick to save yourself nearly 30% of the miles required.


And, if you can line the dates up with SA 235 (new cabin) you can do LHR>JNB>PER in Biz for just under 90,000 using the same trick.

 

[Lemon_Party]

I'm sure this will have been discussed somewhere in this thread already, but I haven't found it with a quick search, what are the options available when one has been "TG'd" on a LifeMiles booking?

Booked AU-EU-AU J return flights for family at Christmas, BNE-BKK-FRA-HAM vv with BNE-FRA on thai and FRA-HAM on lufty. Thai have rescheduled flights to leave me with impossible connections - landing after the next flight takes off etc. As it stands I have a -9hr connection and a -5 hour connection within my booking. I've emailed LifeMiles to find out what they are going to do about it, but from searching availability there are zero options to change too. Is this their problem or mine?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm sure this will have been discussed somewhere in this thread already, but I haven't found it with a quick search, what are the options available when one has been "TG'd" on a LifeMiles booking?

Booked AU-EU-AU J return flights for family at Christmas, BNE-BKK-FRA-HAM vv with BNE-FRA on thai and FRA-HAM on lufty. Thai have rescheduled flights to leave me with impossible connections - landing after the next flight takes off etc. As it stands I have a -9hr connection and a -5 hour connection within my booking. I've emailed LifeMiles to find out what they are going to do about it, but from searching availability there are zero options to change too. Is this their problem or mine?

Well. Most of it isn't your problem, but being proactive can work to your advantage.

LM are the only ones who can handle the booking at the moment. As TG has instituted the schedule changes, and all of the long haul is TG->TG, they can release revenue seats own their own aircraft and convert them to award seats. These will then need to be re-ticketed by Lifemiles. The connection FRA-HAM I wouldn't be too worried about at the moment.

You have several options - TG could re-route you via MUC, CDG, LHR. In fact anywhere they fly to. Once you have the long haul to europe, getting he connecting flight to HAM will not be too hard.

If I were you I would email LM support - with your booking reference etc and ask them to look at the booking and see what they can do. If nothing, I would call TG and ask them if they can contact revenue control to release seats on an alternative flight to Europe. It is important to tell TG (I'd email them) that you are not looking for TG to re-ticket, but you want them to release seats, put them in the booking as alternative flights, and you'll email LM to re-ticket. (TG adds another set of flights into the booking and the issuing agent (LM) will then action those).

You have time on your side which is the good thing. And another bonus is that TG is very generous with award seats. So I'd be fairly confident that you'll get something.

 

[drron]

I agree.But I found that TG Sydney office were excellent in fixing things when something similiar happened to us.released 2 F seats BKK-SYD for us with no problem.That was ~ 2 weeks before flying and the F cabin was full when we flew.

 

[Lemon_Party]

OK - that's really helpful, thanks.
I've emailed LM already with screenshots and asked if they can do anything, but I'll chase up Thai as well.
The long haul actually still works, its the domestic hops FRA-HAM that are an issue. The longhaul has ended up with 17 hr connections in BKK both directions, previously this was short and sensible. I'd booked this for grandma in law who's 91 and is mostly wheelchair bound for mobility so minimal connections and comfortable journey was the aim. If it was me I'd cancel the FRA-HAM flights, accept the longer connections and take a train perhaps, but not an option for grandma...
I'll have a search for other Thai flights with better connections and see where we end up.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

OK - that's really helpful, thanks.
I've emailed LM already with screenshots and asked if they can do anything, but I'll chase up Thai as well.
The long haul actually still works, its the domestic hops FRA-HAM that are an issue. The longhaul has ended up with 17 hr connections in BKK both directions, previously this was short and sensible. I'd booked this for grandma in law who's 91 and is mostly wheelchair bound for mobility so minimal connections and comfortable journey was the aim. If it was me I'd cancel the FRA-HAM flights, accept the longer connections and take a train perhaps, but not an option for grandma...
I'll have a search for other Thai flights with better connections and see where we end up.

These issues aren't insurmountable. As drron says, TG in SYD is pretty good. But giving LM the opportunity to fix it first can save you an extra set of emails and fluffing around. 17 hours in BKK is no fun, and the Novotel is expensive. I'd be asking TG for an hotel, but make sure it's the Novotel (or the Miracle transit hotel airside).

 

[Finale]

Got TGed (again) on BKK-KIX . Aircraft changed to 777 with no F for the end of Oct. Weird that I didn't hear any news from routesonline nor did I get any notification from checkmytrip. Will LM refund the points by just sending email or I need to call? Looks like they might need to reissue the ticket as well. I had to call for a reissue a couple of years ago. Not sure if that's changed now. Thanks a lot.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Got TGed (again) on BKK-KIX . Aircraft changed to 777 with no F for the end of Oct. Weird that I didn't hear any news from routesonline nor did I get any notification from checkmytrip. Will LM refund the points by just sending email or I need to call? Looks like they might need to reissue the ticket as well. I had to call for a reissue a couple of years ago. Not sure if that's changed now. Thanks a lot.

That sucks

I'd send them an email at first instance and see if they can do it that way. Saves angst.

 

[Finale]

That sucks

I'd send them an email at first instance and see if they can do it that way. Saves angst.

Thanks. Sending now. Will report back. Asiana aircraft on the same ticket has been changed as well from 777 to A380 but in J on this flight.

Wish I got TGed for Xmas from 747 to A350 (booked J using cash )

 

[Finale]

LM said I need to call for a reissue.

My itinerary is multi city

SYD-BKK (F 75,000 miles) stopover in BKK
BKK-KIX (F 50,000 miles) downgraded to J
KIX-SYD (J 40,0000 miles)

They said the first flight TG476 will still operate in First Class and the current itinerary remains in Mixed Cabins, as it was originally redeemed; therefore, no mileage difference will be reinstated; we remind you that our Terms and Conditions establish the following:

"The mileage needed for the whole award ticket corresponds to the mileage for the highest cabin"

I believe I should get a refund for BKK-KIX. Did I misunderstand something or just got a stupid agent?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

LM said I need to call for a reissue.

My itinerary is multi city

SYD-BKK (F 75,000 miles) stopover in BKK
BKK-KIX (F 50,000 miles) downgraded to J
KIX-SYD (J 40,0000 miles)

They said the first flight TG476 will still operate in First Class and the current itinerary remains in Mixed Cabins, as it was originally redeemed; therefore, no mileage difference will be reinstated; we remind you that our Terms and Conditions establish the following:

"The mileage needed for the whole award ticket corresponds to the mileage for the highest cabin"

I believe I should get a refund for BKK-KIX. Did I misunderstand something or just got a stupid agent?

Their calculations would be correct if they had issued it at the through fare, but because of stopovers it has been constructed sector by sector... that is, a series of one ways.

You should be entitled to a refund of the difference on the BKK-KIX sector. Although i wonder if they are being sneaky and considering it as a single ticket, even though constructed as three one ways.

When speaking to them i’d point out there is an actual stopover in BKK and that the flight to KIX has been paid separately. They may not have realised this. Then see what their answer is.

 

[Mattg]

There's now another promo on buying LifeMiles. This one is "only" a 125% bonus though.

Four Days Only: Avianca LifeMiles Promotion With Up To 125% Bonus For Buying Miles Until July 14, 2018

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just a quick note for anyone arriving here from Matt’s excellent summary...

When using points plus pay note that there is a ‘sweet spot’ for the co-pay to maximise the value of your top up points.

You should pay no more than 1.5c per mile when topping up, so use the slider to find out where this price begins and ends. At the very beginning and end of the slider range prices will be in excess of 1.5c. Somewhere in the middle the price to top up actually goes into the negative, before reaching the average 1.5c.

The the last 1-2% top up (buying 60% total) will cost you a lot more.

 

[dansyd]

there's a little trick to save yourself nearly 30% of the miles required

Hi Guvner, I'd love to know the little trick. I am planning a trip to SA in Sep/Oct.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Hi Guvner, I'd love to know the little trick. I am planning a trip to SA in Sep/Oct.

Me top - I thought all the LM tricks were long gone. (I just wish ordinary stuff worked).

 

[r01x]

Been out of the loop recently, what's the status on screenshot bookings? Are they completely dead?

 

[henleybeach]

Been out of the loop recently, what's the status on screenshot bookings? Are they completely dead?

Did one about 3 weeks ago . Vancouver to Seoul to Sydney .
Screenshot the flights and emailed them through with passport pics and got a reply the next day with confirmation and to ring to pay. It was easier then I was expecting