Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[jarradbrown]

Vietnam airlines is around 4000 to 4500 aud from what I can see.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Vietnam airlines is around 4000 to 4500 aud from what I can see.

Yeah. LM will set you back around $3600... if you buy at the highest discount and can get 1.345c per mile. At the more standard 1.5c per mile it works out to about $4000. And without the benefit of Thai it can be problematic.

Hainan has an excellent product and was offering business return for $3500 recently.

 

[jarradbrown]

Got 250k lifemiles that I need to use up but buying when there are deals seem like a good option.

 

[JessicaTam]

Sorry - I can't edit it now, my post two above should say with the USD these days (not the 'USA')

Fixed that for you.

 

[mushypeas]

how difficult is it to make a redemption to include an infant, can i just redeem 2x adult J or do I need to jerk about calling LM and then the issuing carrier?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

how difficult is it to make a redemption to include an infant, can i just redeem 2x adult J or do I need to jerk about calling LM and then the issuing carrier?

You will need to add the infant after you have booked. You will do this directly with the operating carrier. IIRC an infant is 10% of the adult fare, but the base-rate on which this is calculated can vary widely between airlines.

 

[mushypeas]

thank you

 

[trooper]

For your NH YVR-HND-SYD, did you find each segment separately in LM and screenshot to book?

Not me....... ORD-HND (F) then HND-SYD (J) came up just fine during a search on the LM site about 10/11 months ago.... Flew it a few days ago.... worth every cent..except for the strange feeling on sitting down in the J seat for HND-SYD and thinking.."Hmmm.... bit ordinary!" LOL

 

[goldenhorn]

Not me....... ORD-HND (F) then HND-SYD (J) came up just fine during a search on the LM site about 10/11 months ago.... Flew it a few days ago.... worth every cent..except for the strange feeling on sitting down in the J seat for HND-SYD and thinking.."Hmmm.... bit ordinary!" LOL

So bummed I couldn't find a J connection from HND-SYD (I did have the F connection ORD-HND). Would love to try NH F!!

 

[LittleFokker]

Just received an offer from Lifemiles - 145% bonus for 41K and up. Interesting, normally I think minimum purchase is 101K and up?
I wonder if OMAT will add another 10%?
I haven't bought in a couple of years but I'm tempted....

EDIT: Actually the email says "We miss you Littlefokker" so I guess it's targeted. Have until 2nd October to buy.

 

[goldenhorn]

Just received an offer from Lifemiles - 145% bonus for 41K and up. Interesting, normally I think minimum purchase is 101K and up?
I wonder if OMAT will add another 10%?
I haven't bought in a couple of years but I'm tempted....

EDIT: Actually the email says "We miss you Littlefokker" so I guess it's targeted. Have until 2nd October to buy.

Yes targeted. I got a combination of 135% and 130% on my different LM accounts.

 

[ivancho795]

Hello, Has somebody bought LifeMiles to get ticket to fly from Sydney to South America via San Francisco or Santiago in Chile?

 

[grego99]

How far in advance does award space show on the Avianca website for Syd Europe and Syd Asia?
with the promo on at the moment (sept 19)?
We are flying to Europe in June 2020 but there appears to be bugger all available in Business for southern Europe. No point buying the miles if I can't book a flight.

Please give me some help. I Have read quite a bit about Avianca and booking with them and have tried using their search engine extensively. I am also aware of their background and how bad phone bookings are.
I Have read something about the screenshot method of booking, but do I need the miles in my account before I would expect a reply from customer service? Or can I just make an enquiry?

Any advice on finding and booking for June 2020 would be appreciated. Thank you

 

[I love to travel]

Very difficult to book to Europe now that Thai have reduced availability. Some of us no longer use LM for this reason.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How far in advance does award space show on the Avianca website for Syd Europe and Syd Asia?
with the promo on at the moment (sept 19)?
We are flying to Europe in June 2020 but there appears to be bugger all available in Business for southern Europe. No point buying the miles if I can't book a flight.

Please give me some help. I Have read quite a bit about Avianca and booking with them and have tried using their search engine extensively. I am also aware of their background and how bad phone bookings are.
I Have read something about the screenshot method of booking, but do I need the miles in my account before I would expect a reply from customer service? Or can I just make an enquiry?

Any advice on finding and booking for June 2020 would be appreciated. Thank you

It would be open now. The problem is that Thai Airways is not releasing award seats to partners (including lifemiles) until 14 days prior to departure. This means it's going to be hard to find seats out of Australia all the way to Europe. Air China might be your best bet.

Use the united Ailrines search engine to see what options they give you, then look for the matching award space on Lifemiles. You may be able to build your own itinerary.

You may be able to construct some flights. Using EVA Air out of BNE to TPE, then search from TPE Europe. Maybe United has some seats via USA.

you cannot book these things by phone. The ONLY time you can book by phone is if you can see the flights on line but you get an error when going to the passenger details or payment screens. Constructed routings are not available by phone, only by email

You may well find it's almost as cheap to buy a revenue ticket these days on the likes of Hainan Airlines ($3500 return BNE-BRU), or Vietnam Airlines (for around $4000) than bother with Lifemiles.

 

[grego99]

It would be open now. The problem is that Thai Airways is not releasing award seats to partners (including lifemiles) until 14 days prior to departure. This means it's going to be hard to find seats out of Australia all the way to Europe. Air China might be your best bet.

Use the united Ailrines search engine to see what options they give you, then look for the matching award space on Lifemiles. You may be able to build your own itinerary.

You may be able to construct some flights. Using EVA Air out of BNE to TPE, then search from TPE Europe. Maybe United has some seats via USA.

you cannot book these things by phone. The ONLY time you can book by phone is if you can see the flights on line but you get an error when going to the passenger details or payment screens. Constructed routings are not available by phone, only by email

You may well find it's almost as cheap to buy a revenue ticket these days on the likes of Hainan Airlines ($3500 return BNE-BRU), or Vietnam Airlines (for around $4000) than bother with Lifemiles.

Thank you for the quick reply. You mention Thai Airways and one or two others. Not keen on Air China and don't know anything about Eva? I was kinda of under the impression that I would get a hit with more airlines considering the big Star Alliance network incl EQ , KLM, Malaysia Lufthansa, Asiana ANA and even possibly Air NZ. and Swiss??

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you for the quick reply. You mention Thai Airways and one or two others. Not keen on Air China and don't know anything about Eva? I was kinda of under the impression that I would get a hit with more airlines considering the big Star Alliance network incl EQ , KLM, Malaysia Lufthansa, Asiana ANA and even possibly Air NZ. and Swiss??

EVA is one of the best business classes in the air. EK = Emirates - not star alliance. KLM = not star alliance. Malaysia = not star alliance. Lufthansa = doesn't fly to Australia. Asiana and ANA may be options. Air NZ - almost impossible to get seats.

Getting availability on ANY of those airlines is going to be tough. Getting two seats, harder still.

I cannot stress enough... Lifemiles is not a good program for those new to the points buying game. There are just too many potential traps to make it worthwhile. And as I said, for the same price or less you can fly Hainian airlines fully paid, when you want.

 

[bwhouse]

Fingers crossed Thai opens up partner availability in October once the devaulation goes through.

 

[Happy Trails]

Getting availability on ANY of those airlines is going to be tough. Getting two seats, harder still.

I cannot stress enough... Lifemiles is not a good program for those new to the points buying game. There are just too many potential traps to make it worthwhile. And as I said, for the same price or less you can fly Hainian airlines fully paid, when you want.

LOL, not according to the experts.

"Avianca is another one we like because that's a member of Star Alliance and once again you can purchase miles and redeem them very cheaply on any Star Alliance flight."

How Chris Park earned 3 million frequent flyer points in three years

And enjoy experiences straight from the Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous playbook.

www.traveller.com.au

 

[goldenhorn]

EVA is one of the best business classes in the air. EK = Emirates - not star alliance. KLM = not star alliance. Malaysia = not star alliance. Lufthansa = doesn't fly to Australia. Asiana and ANA may be options. Air NZ - almost impossible to get seats.

Getting availability on ANY of those airlines is going to be tough. Getting two seats, harder still.

I cannot stress enough... Lifemiles is not a good program for those new to the points buying game. There are just too many potential traps to make it worthwhile. And as I said, for the same price or less you can fly Hainian airlines fully paid, when you want.

This is great advice. If you're a newbie, it's definitely worth booking a fully paid airfare on those airlines. I would totally do that.

I love LM when it works for you, but you need SO much time and it's very stressful if you don't know what you're doing. The booking process is kinda heart attack material at times!

Very difficult to book to Europe now that Thai have reduced availability. Some of us no longer use LM for this reason.

So bummed I missed the Thai F class experience before they shut down availability.