Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

I know right! I’m excited by the potential opportunities, hopefully it will fix all the issues that we now have to send screen shots for. At the same time i hope they don’t use this to get rid of the screenshot method if they don’t fix it. They have been talking about getting rid of that option for some time (but never eventuated).

 

[boomy]

I know right! I’m excited by the potential opportunities, hopefully it will fix all the issues that we now have to send screen shots for. At the same time i hope they don’t use this to get rid of the screenshot method if they don’t fix it. They have been talking about getting rid of that option for some time (but never eventuated).

Don’t get too excited.

The screenshots system is fantastic! It gives us routing options that are not available online on other sites like UA.

People don’t understand that the more complicated a booking system is it’s actually better for frequent flyers and for seats availability.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Don’t get too excited.

The screenshots system is fantastic! It gives us routing options that are not available online on other sites like UA.

People don’t understand that the more complicated a booking system is it’s actually better for frequent flyers and for seats availability.

Don’t get me wrong! My hope is that we get the creative routing without screenshots! (best of both worlds, and LM does actually have some creative routings not available on UA already)

Let’s hope it doesn’t do as you say... restrictive routings and no screenshots

 

[boomy]

Don’t get me wrong! My hope is that we get the creative routing without screenshots! (best of both worlds, and LM does actually have some creative routings not available on UA already)

Let’s hope it doesn’t do as you say... restrictive routings and no screenshots

5 days upgrade indicates some significant changes.

I’m worried they will make the website more user friendly similar to UA and get rid of screenshots. It will make bookings more simple and eliminate creative routings, lose lose. Hopefully I’m wrong.

 

[luxury-lizard]

5 days upgrade indicates some significant changes.

I’m worried they will make the website more user friendly similar to UA and get rid of screenshots. It will make bookings more simple and eliminate creative routings, lose lose. Hopefully I’m wrong.

I'd be happy if just regular bookings with connections > 4 hours worked without needing to revert to screenshots and the website did not error out during the booking process (for some reason AC bookings are very susceptible to this, even the simplest ones; e.g. A-B. While screenshots may allow some very creative routings - they often take days to get a response and (as happened to me recently) LM charged the wrong number of miles (and they have refused to accept they made an error).

Anyway - as I've posted in another thread I'm pretty much over LM and other "buy miles" FF programs (AA) - cost of miles, increased redemption rates, change/cancel fees and scarce award availability mean the party's over for me - just running my balances down and will purchase tickets going forward with no loyalty to any particular alliance.

 

[boomy]

Anyway - as I've posted in another thread I'm pretty much over LM and other "buy miles" FF programs (AA) - cost of miles, increased redemption rates, change/cancel fees and scarce award availability mean the party's over for me - just running my balances down and will purchase tickets going forward with no loyalty to any particular alliance.

While I agree with everything you say, what is the alternative? Can you get first class revenue fares from Australia to Europe/USA even close to the cost of buying miles? From what I’ve seen even the best sale fares (not including mistake fares) are more expensive in J than the cost of booking F using miles.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Yes, @boomy, you are correct re cost of paid J vs LM but it doesn't help if you can't get award seats. To Europe my fall back is to use SQ (points transferred from Am Ex) but to North America (YVR in particular) - even with multiple *A airlines flying this route award seats are hard (but not impossible) to come by - however flying via Asia (ICN or Japan or China) - long layover times mean screenshots are required and, as I mentioned above, AC almost always errors out (requiring screenshots) and while UA Is an option, I can't recall the last time I ever got UA awards seats for my dates and if I do then the connection to YVR is not available.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, @boomy, you are correct re cost of paid J vs LM but it doesn't help if you can't get award seats. To Europe my fall back is to use SQ (points transferred from Am Ex) but to North America (YVR in particular) - even with multiple *A airlines flying this route award seats are hard (but not impossible) to come by - however flying via Asia (ICN or Japan or China) - long layover times mean screenshots are required and, as I mentioned above, AC almost always errors out (requiring screenshots) and while UA Is an option, I can't recall the last time I ever got UA awards seats for my dates and if I do then the connection to YVR is not available.

Agree it’s not easy, but we just completed return bookings to China to Australia, and China to USA (two different trips). Cobbled together using QFFF, Lifemiles and China Eastern’s FF. No one program would give the availability but together they worked to give the exact dates required. Lifemiles saved the day with the USA bookings, and pretty cheap at 90k each way in F.

 

[boomy]

Yes, @boomy, you are correct re cost of paid J vs LM but it doesn't help if you can't get award seats. To Europe my fall back is to use SQ (points transferred from Am Ex) but to North America (YVR in particular) - even with multiple *A airlines flying this route award seats are hard (but not impossible) to come by - however flying via Asia (ICN or Japan or China) - long layover times mean screenshots are required and, as I mentioned above, AC almost always errors out (requiring screenshots) and while UA Is an option, I can't recall the last time I ever got UA awards seats for my dates and if I do then the connection to YVR is not available.

The key to maximising availability is to stock miles in both OW and *A programmes, as well as independent good value programmes like AS for example which is very good for flights to USA.

Flying to Europe I’m also big fan of SQ but with recent A380 refurbishments the only flights that currently consistently available are 318 and 352.

Another possibility is to mix SQ and NH/OZ to Europe using KF or TG and NH/OZ to USA using LM.

 

[Buzzard]

Avianca LifeMiles are 'upgrading their system' (shiver ) - Feb 1 to Feb 5. Redemption and bookings are unavailable during that time.

(And personally I wouldn't bank on using it for a day or so after that!)

Luckily I don't need to use it again til mid March

 

[tallboy]

Just a quick check (sorry, time is limited, couldn't see it in thread and have not made a booking for a while):

Has AUS-Europe in J one way now gone up to 95k LMs, or is it still 85k?

Thanks

tb

 

[Happy Trails]

Just a quick check (sorry, time is limited, couldn't see it in thread and have not made a booking for a while):

Has AUS-Europe in J one way now gone up to 95k LMs, or is it still 85k?

Thanks

tb

I'm seeing 92,500.
Untitled Page

 

[Mattg]

Avianca LifeMiles are 'upgrading their system' (shiver ) - Feb 1 to Feb 5. Redemption and bookings are unavailable during that time.

(And personally I wouldn't bank on using it for a day month or so after that!)

There, fixed that for you!

 

[boomy]

Just a quick check (sorry, time is limited, couldn't see it in thread and have not made a booking for a while):

Has AUS-Europe in J one way now gone up to 95k LMs, or is it still 85k?

Thanks

tb

AUS-EUR J 92,500
EUR-AUS J 85,000

 

[tallboy]

AUS-EUR J 92,500
EUR-AUS J 85,000

Thank you.

 

[boomy]

Thank you.

No worries.

If you’re planing to book Australia to Europe in J I'd suggest adding 22.5k and fly in F all the way.

 

[NZflygirl]

I hope they make premium economy bookable in the new system. Would open up more availability.

 

[jase05]

No worries.

If you’re planing to book Australia to Europe in J I'd suggest adding 22.5k and fly in F all the way.

Looking to fly into FRA or nearby in early to mid Jan and have just saw your post over on the successful booking thread and it has sparked my interest. Would be two of us but as a novice of Avianca any tips or suggestions would be great

 

[boomy]

Looking to fly into FRA or nearby in early to mid Jan and have just saw your post over on the successful booking thread and it has sparked my interest. Would be two of us but as a novice of Avianca any tips or suggestions would be great

Your best bet for two tickets is SYD-BKK-FRA all on TG F.
If no availability BKK-FRA you can fly F to CDG or LHR then connect on LH J to FRA. Both option will be the same amount of miles (115k) but adding another euro connection will be $25 USD extra in taxes.

Another interesting route that should be bookable for two:
SYD-BKK TG F / BKK-ICN TG J / ICN-FRA OZ F

 

[jase05]

Your best bet for two tickets is SYD-BKK-FRA all on TG F.
If no availability BKK-FRA you can fly F to CDG or LHR then connect on LH J to FRA. Both option will be the same amount of miles (115k) but adding another euro connection will be $25 USD extra in taxes.

Another interesting route that should be bookable for two:
SYD-BKK TG F / BKK-ICN TG J / ICN-FRA OZ F

Thanks. I take it I need to use the multi city tool to find these?