Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[dk4]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Given that it's merely proportions, I take it that your observations are nominally applicable for any LM redemption?

My example supports the observation that others have posted in their (different) examples - a sweet spot a few thousand miles before you max out the copay.

The question comes down to the value you place on minimising miles spent in any single transaction (thus maximising copay, so you can retain maximum miles in your account, e.g. for future burning opportunities) versus maximising the cost of any single transaction (and not proceeding with the copay beyond the sweet spot). In pure dollar terms, in my example you are ~US$50 worse off by maximising the copay, rather than stopping at the sweet spot, but, you retain 7,000 more miles in your account after the transaction, for future use. YMMV

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

it seems the most value for miles is only at the beginning of the co-pay... when they can be worth more than what you bought them for ($30 reduction in price vs e $15 you paid)

once the miles and co-pay are both $15 it seems to make sense to stop using more miles and keep them for later?

 

[ozmille]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I was hoping for another double miles promo in June but nothing yet

 

[markis10]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I was hoping for another double miles promo in June but nothing yet

Me too, I suspect the local transfer 100% bonus took its place , hopefully they might do one in July.

 

[ozmille]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Me too, I suspect the local transfer 100% bonus took its place , hopefully they might do one in July.

That would actually have been a nice extra if I had bought the Avianca miles at 100% bonus and transferred to SWMBO at another 100% bonus.... Next time, next time

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I'm thinking of redeeming for SQ's A345 SIN/EWR flight before they shut down the service. Ideally, I'd like to have BNE-SIN-EWR all in J (as it costs the same as a "Others" to "North America" award, which is only marginally more than a "South Asia" to "North America" award). However, when I search BNE-EWR one-way on the online engine, I get nothing.

If I choose BNE-SIN, plenty of options. SIN-EWR, not plenty but definitely options (and cross-matching the two sets of results, BNE-SIN-EWR without a huge stopover is possible). If I do a multi-city then I have to pay BNE-SIN and SIN-EWR separately. I've tried ex-SYD, MEL, ADL, PER, AKL and CHC (in fact, also tried ex-KUL and MNL) with no luck at all.

Is it worth calling LM to try and redeem BNE-SIN-EWR, or am I just an unfortunate victim of the awards loading game (so I should just settle for SIN-EWR and then work out the rest separately)?

 

[vitagen]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I thought SQ removed *A access to the SIN-EWR flight??

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I thought SQ removed *A access to the SIN-EWR flight??

LM is special!

From reading FT... It seems there can be some success in getting a cherry picked itin by calling Avianca in, I think, El Salvador??

 

[smit0847]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I'm thinking of redeeming for SQ's A345 SIN/EWR flight before they shut down the service. Ideally, I'd like to have BNE-SIN-EWR all in J (as it costs the same as a "Others" to "North America" award, which is only marginally more than a "South Asia" to "North America" award). However, when I search BNE-EWR one-way on the online engine, I get nothing.

If I choose BNE-SIN, plenty of options. SIN-EWR, not plenty but definitely options (and cross-matching the two sets of results, BNE-SIN-EWR without a huge stopover is possible). If I do a multi-city then I have to pay BNE-SIN and SIN-EWR separately. I've tried ex-SYD, MEL, ADL, PER, AKL and CHC (in fact, also tried ex-KUL and MNL) with no luck at all.

Is it worth calling LM to try and redeem BNE-SIN-EWR, or am I just an unfortunate victim of the awards loading game (so I should just settle for SIN-EWR and then work out the rest separately)?

The LM call centre can only see and book exactly the same as you can.

SIN-EWR is not supposed to be available for redemptions - if it is you are in luck and I would book it without hesitation.

Given how cheap it is to get to SIN on QF via brazil I would just buy the BNE-SIN rev leg separately.

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

From reading FT... It seems there can be some success in getting a cherry picked itin by calling Avianca in, I think, El Salvador??

Hmmm... hablas Espanol?

The LM call centre can only see and book exactly the same as you can.

SIN-EWR is not supposed to be available for redemptions - if it is you are in luck and I would book it without hesitation.

Given how cheap it is to get to SIN on QF via brazil I would just buy the BNE-SIN rev leg separately.

A shame but that is certainly the safest option. And yes I realise the Real way to SIN is an easy and cheap option (but adding about another 1,000 points and a handful of cash to fly SQ J would be cool).

 

[penegal]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

anat0l, does ANA show it as a routing in their booking engine?


I can see it on SQ, but that's a pointless data point.

 

[travelislife]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Don't even bother look at ANA for SQ380, 77W or A340-500 Business Class, it won't show it, even if it is available. The only way to see if it will work is to go through and book it.

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

anat0l, does ANA show it as a routing in their booking engine?


I can see it on SQ, but that's a pointless data point.

As said, it will not show up on ANA.

Use LM's website, then specify flexible with dates and carrier as SQ. You can then see where there is availability via LM a week at a time.

 

[penegal]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Ahhh, right.... whoops

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Not sure if anyone else has done it, but I did some interrogation and I've found the formula used by LifeMiles to determine the cost of points when you make a cash+miles redemption (i.e. the cost of what used to be a simple USD 12.75 per 1000 miles).

Question is, would it be appropriate to post it here, as would it be inviting trouble if I posted it "out in the open". The method did take some time to get (read: probing through code), but it didn't require any espionage or killing anyone, so to speak, if that's what you may be thinking (it's not *that* super secret hidden).

Opinions?

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Not sure if anyone else has done it, but I did some interrogation and I've found the formula used by LifeMiles to determine the cost of points when you make a cash+miles redemption (i.e. the cost of what used to be a simple USD 12.75 per 1000 miles).

Question is, would it be appropriate to post it here, as would it be inviting trouble if I posted it "out in the open". The method did take some time to get (read: probing through code), but it didn't require any espionage or killing anyone, so to speak, if that's what you may be thinking (it's not *that* super secret hidden).

Opinions?

I'm pretty sure I've seen it posted already...not sure if it was in this thread or elsewhere though.

 

[FrankC]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Not sure if anyone else has done it, but I did some interrogation and I've found the formula used by LifeMiles to determine the cost of points when you make a cash+miles redemption (i.e. the cost of what used to be a simple USD 12.75 per 1000 miles).

Question is, would it be appropriate to post it here, as would it be inviting trouble if I posted it "out in the open". The method did take some time to get (read: probing through code), but it didn't require any espionage or killing anyone, so to speak, if that's what you may be thinking (it's not *that* super secret hidden).

Opinions?

I'm definitely interested
Maybe we can do something like the infamous spreadsheet so it is not readily available from a simple Google search?

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I'm pretty sure I've seen it posted already...not sure if it was in this thread or elsewhere though.

I've only seen a couple of graphs / tables with examples, but not the straight out formula. Of course, it may not have been web-crawled yet, which is why I can't find it.


Should probably make it clear that the only benefits to having the formula are:

• Ability to calculate the cash amount in advance (instead of trial and error)
• Know that there's no silly randomness behind how much you're being charged

The formula will reveal the "sweet spot" in terms of minimised total cash cost or minimised miles per cash rate, which others have uncovered via trial and error anyway.

 

[ketsuzei]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

The sweet spot is easy to find even manually, so I don't see any real advantage or disadvantage either way.

 

[quokka77]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Can't see a problem with posting it publicly. I doubt they'll change it as a result.