Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[NDiddy]

Hi guys - Has anyone recently booked a redemption but then had to ring the operating airline to add an infant? Have found some flights and have read the process on pointhacks but seeing if the AFF community can add their experience?

The one thing I can't work out is how do they work out the "base fare" to calculate the 10% charge for the infant?

 

[bcworld]

The one thing I can't work out is how do they work out the "base fare" to calculate the 10% charge for the infant?

I think that the answer is, it varies! But, it can be 10% of the full published fare for the most expensive fare class...so that 10% can sometimes be quite a high number!

 

[NDiddy]

I think that the answer is, it varies! But, it can be 10% of the full published fare for the most expensive fare class...so that 10% can sometimes be quite a high number!

Wow the price could be right up there depending on the destination. Cheers for the info. Have you ever had to redeem or know anyone who has?

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

I don't get any errors. But I don't get any results either. Of the 5 days of results it shows...the first 4 quickly go to 'Not available'...the 5th (middle one) never finishes loading. The red dot 'progress' indicator just keeps going forever.

Works ok for me on chrome.
Try going to LifeMiles

Thanks for the info. I didn't think to try another search engine, Chrome actually still gives me an error message. I used your link and tried it via Safari and it worked.
Although I am not getting the issues bcworld is having but there are no biz class seats only econ in my search. (edit - actually i am getting the similar issues to bcworld)
Thanks for your help

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

I had this too. When looking at return flights (out and in) I could get the outbound to show, but the return would be as you describe. If looking at one ways only, no results.

So what is the best way to search these days???? I did read that there are less seats these days but this is insane! we can't even search for them? And i now can't find any Biz seats... what is the deal with that? what about first??? omg - is the love affair over?
(edit - ok i just found a couple of Biz seats but not to the destination that i want, tried anything to see if there was still any biz seats)

 

[drron]

It really seems to vary.There are periods when there are very few premium awards available.But in the last couple of weeks NH F awards have reappeared.Hope it lasts another few weeks.
I often get the errors described.I usually log out then log back in and it seems to fix the problem.

 

[bcworld]

Wow the price could be right up there depending on the destination. Cheers for the info. Have you ever had to redeem or know anyone who has?

I haven't done it, or remember seeing any recent examples...but I do recall someone being quoted in the region of $2k for an infant return AUS-EU. Parents in business. This was back in the US Airways days though and given they allowed very convoluted routings, it could probably lead to very high published fares...maybe less likely with LifeMiles.

 

[Lizzi]

After many more emails, they've stated outright that there is no actual reason for the random extra cost of the points for my flights. They tell me that the points plus pay cost is "sometimes different from the website" for no apparent reason that they can tell me, and keep going back to the fact that I agreed to it on the phone when I couldn't find the information on the booking engine, so I have no reason to complain now.

Buyer beware I guess - double check the stated amount on the slider on the website if you possibly can.

Thanks for the response from others. They finally got back to me on email and said "you agreed to the number so we won't change it". No reason for why it was different to the stated amount on the website, so I'm continuing to investigate. Sigh!

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

I don't get any errors. But I don't get any results either. Of the 5 days of results it shows...the first 4 quickly go to 'Not available'...the 5th (middle one) never finishes loading. The red dot 'progress' indicator just keeps going forever.

I still can't get anything for Lifemiles. This error is still happening. Anyone else having these issues? I can't search for any flights

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I still can't get anything for Lifemiles. This error is still happening. Anyone else having these issues? I can't search for any flights

I just entered FRA-BKK on 29 October and business class on TG came up - allowed me to select the date, use the points plus pay, and continue to travellers.

A search for January and I get the issues mentioned above - doesn't display the date requested, but other dates show. So maybe this is an issue with close-in vs long-term booking?

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

I just entered FRA-BKK on 29 October and business class on TG came up - allowed me to select the date, use the points plus pay, and continue to travellers.

A search for January and I get the issues mentioned above - doesn't display the date requested, but other dates show. So maybe this is an issue with close-in vs long-term booking?

I'm looking for flights next year and can't get a single thing. Tried a few different options, one way, return, different dates (all next year) and i can't get it to load at all.
(edit - now i am getting a couple of flights but only econ)

How reliable is the United website to search for flights (to then use your Lifemiles points)?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm looking for flights next year and can't get a single thing. Tried a few different options, one way, return, different dates (all next year) and i can't get it to load at all.

How reliable is the United website to search for flights (to then use your Lifemiles points)?

The UA tool can be quite useful to search for an end-to-end route. Then you'd need to search for the same route on LM, either end-to-end or individual sectors (or groups of sectors). If the latter two (sectors), you'd need to use the screenshot method.

In terms of availability - LM doesn't match UA. How far the mismatch extends really depends on the class and route. UA may, for example, show daily LH F TATL, but LM will only show it on a handful of dates, or not at all. You need to search LM. (Sometimes LM will show availability not on UA or other star booking engines.)

But without finding anything on LM, they won't help you to book (can't say 'I found it on UA, please match').

 

[bcworld]

A search for January and I get the issues mentioned above - doesn't display the date requested, but other dates show. So maybe this is an issue with close-in vs long-term booking?

It's an issue of availability. If there is availability on the search date it can show results. If not, it gets stuck as described. This is what I see using the mobile version anyway.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

It's an issue of availability. If there is availability on the search date it can show results. If not, it gets stuck as described. This is what I see using the mobile version anyway.

hmmmm - well there mustn't be much availability as it keeps getting stuck

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

The UA tool can be quite useful to search for an end-to-end route. Then you'd need to search for the same route on LM, either end-to-end or individual sectors (or groups of sectors). If the latter two (sectors), you'd need to use the screenshot method.

In terms of availability - LM doesn't match UA. How far the mismatch extends really depends on the class and route. UA may, for example, show daily LH F TATL, but LM will only show it on a handful of dates, or not at all. You need to search LM. (Sometimes LM will show availability not on UA or other star booking engines.)

But without finding anything on LM, they won't help you to book (can't say 'I found it on UA, please match').

Thanks. This is really frustrating me. Barely getting a single result for next year so trying UA just to even get an idea of what is possible ----aghhhhhh

 

[luxury-lizard]

Thanks. This is really frustrating me. Barely getting a single result for next year so trying UA just to even get an idea of what is possible ----aghhhhhh

I've also had serious issues today (worse than ever) - with availability not populating - for the selected date - I've sent an e-mail to LM support asking 'what he h**l is going on' - i'm totally "over' LM - just want to burn the miles I have and move on to other programs or paid tickets.

 

[whole-lotta-moxie]

I've also had serious issues today (worse than ever) - with availability not populating - for the selected date - I've sent an e-mail to LM support asking 'what he h**l is going on' - i'm totally "over' LM - just want to burn the miles I have and move on to other programs or paid tickets.

I also sent an email to Lifemiles support a few days ago and i have not heard back..... aghhhh... for all the issues i have always preferred Lifemiles and I don't want to give up on them, but I am at the edge of my patience.

I am unsure who would then be the next best program to go to??? hmmm. What is your preference or what would be considered the next best program?

You must be really unhappy if you are talking about getting paid tickets.

 

[luxury-lizard]

I also sent an email to Lifemiles support a few days ago and i have not heard back..... aghhhh... for all the issues i have always preferred Lifemiles and I don't want to give up on them, but I am at the edge of my patience.

I am unsure who would then be the next best program to go to??? hmmm. What is your preference or what would be considered the next best program?

You must be really unhappy if you are talking about getting paid tickets.

Well if you calculate the cost of buying miles vs cost of the various discounted J tickets (particularly to Europe) it's not really desperation - just value. Paid tickets to North America aren't so heavily discounted but then the availability of award seats is also even more sparse - even more so when you add in all the glitches of LM's website. really - the party is over.

 

[NDiddy]

I haven't done it, or remember seeing any recent examples...but I do recall someone being quoted in the region of $2k for an infant return AUS-EU. Parents in business. This was back in the US Airways days though and given they allowed very convoluted routings, it could probably lead to very high published fares...maybe less likely with LifeMiles.

Thanks bcworld - Looking at the o/w price flights Im hoping its in low hundreds but I guess there is no easy way to know. Need to burn the miles so will bite the bullet and see what happens. Will try and post my experience back in here when all is done.

Cheers for the insight and assistance.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Well I sent an e-mail to LM support with a screen shot of their website just hanging and not populating the availability dates (with either minimum number of miles or "not available") and received 2 responses as follows:-

It's a pleasure to greet you.​

​

We recommend you to try again through another website, please try to avoid Safari, and attemp with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.​

​

Besides, we apologize the delay in our response and the encountered experience while trying to redeem your ticket. We've escalated your manual booking request to our specialized department, reason why, we recommend you to be aware of your contact number as if the request is approved, they'll get in contact with you to proceed with the reservation.​

​

We remain at your disposal.​

​

Regards,​

AND

It's a pleasure to greet you.​

​

We apologize for the previous reply, please ignore it.​

​

Regarding your request, we recommend you to try again through another website, please try to avoid Safari, and attempt with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.​

​

On the other hand, we'd like to inform you that we may only assist you with manual bookings when you encounter any error message during the process; the lack of availability is not considered an error since the redemption agreements between each airline and each loyalty program are different.​

​

We remain at your disposal.​

​

Regards,​

Well - the same issue happens on Google Chrome as well so the tip is not at all helpful - the comment about manual bookings only working when the website shows availability - again how can it if it just hangs ........

On the issue of LM (when it doesn't hang) not showing award seats that other *A airlines do - I personally believe LM's explanation that not all *A airlines have the same award inventory is a load of rubbish - while I do agree that some (in particular SQ, NH, LH) have some inventory for their members only - AC and UA do NOT for international routes so in all likelihood it's just another LM website/search engine bug.

I have another "off the wall" theory on the hanging issue - the route I was searching was MEL-YVR but LM won't let you enter MEL if you select AC as the airline in the drop down list (this is a fairly new route route for AC - about 2 years old !!) so you must use Smart Search - perhaps the hanging is caused by this - the date with availability (as shown on Aeroplan and UA) was the only date not populating.