Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[kpc]

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

thanks for sharing mate - out of interest, how far out from departure?

11 months...

 

[Happy Trails]

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

A 3rd award F seat Syd-Bkk-Fra in TG F opened up today to my surprise....booked it, so now to cancel the J seat booked - hope it is painless!

I'll be interested to hear how you go, I'm likely to have to cancel a BKK-SYD TG F soon.

 

[kpc]

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

I'll be interested to hear how you go, I'm likely to have to cancel a BKK-SYD TG F soon.

Took 11 mins and 8 seconds on Skype (free call) including dialling time and hold time:mrgreen:.

Follow the advice in the FT thread below to the letter! Need to ring from 2300 AEDST. I was informed that miles (and if you part paid in cash, you will get it back as the total miles amount, and no cash) will be deposited back within 72 hrs, and taxes (not much really, and you won't get the $25 redemption fee refunded) within 30-60 business days:shock:
Quite painless actually...

Edit: less than an hour, the miles are already back in my account

The call centre is open 24 hours but apparently to cancel / make changes, you need to call +1 800 284 2622 (US number and free on Skype which ?diverts to Columbia I think) from 6am Columbian time which is 10pm AEST....so you can call from 8pm in Perth onwards

This thread on FT is very helpful:
FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Cancelling Avianca Award Flights - Not flying is cheaper than buying miles

 

[gizzard]

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

I cancelled one about a year ago. As you say, pretty painless. I also had the miles back within 24 hours and even the cash was back within about 7-10 days from memory and didn't take anything like as long as they suggested......(and it's a nice way to garner some cheap miles too!!)

 

[justarrived]

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

I cancelled one about a year ago. As you say, pretty painless. I also had the miles back within 24 hours and even the cash was back within about 7-10 days from memory and didn't take anything like as long as they suggested......(and it's a nice way to garner some cheap miles too!!)

Still fast (22minutes today), but your refund is miles only(including cash part). It's a good way to generate some extra miles, if there is a need.

 

[HWilliams]

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

Hi guys,

I booked some flights with Thai Airlines (business) to Europe and am wondering what the difference is between these award flights and the traditional business class. Do you get access to the lounges, priority check-in, 30kg luggage etc?

 

[hummel]

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

Hi guys,

I booked some flights with Thai Airlines (business) to Europe and am wondering what the difference is between these award flights and the traditional business class. Do you get access to the lounges, priority check-in, 30kg luggage etc?

Yes no difference between the two. Make sure you get your 30min massage if going through BKK.

 

[bcworld]

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

I booked some flights with Thai Airlines (business) to Europe and am wondering what the difference is between these award flights and the traditional business class.

There is no difference.

 

[HWilliams]

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

There is no difference.

fantastic! One last thing: is it possible to choose seats? I booked 2 seats right after each other using separate accounts so hoping they are together.

Yes no difference between the two. Make sure you get your 30min massage if going through BKK.

 

[bcworld]

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

fantastic! One last thing: is it possible to choose seats? I booked 2 seats right after each other using separate accounts so hoping they are together.

Call Thai Airways to assign seats. I wouldn't expect seats on separate bookings to be assigned together.

 

[kpc]

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

Back of the envelope calculations of the costs of my Russia trip in early September next year, and noting the Avianca miles were obtained at USD 0.015 per mile:

For 3x pax;

Syd-Bkk-Fra: F class on TG
Fra- Led: J class on LH
Dme-Bkk-Syd: J class on TG

Total cost: USD 10466.31 for 3x pax
or USD 3488.77 per person for above itinerary.

Not too bad....wonder what a paid economy airfare would have cost

I know using US Dividend miles would have been a bit cheaper but I was worried about booking flights nearly 1 year ahead with US airways likely to merge with AA and becoming part of Oneworld, and then having to deal with potential sirline schedule changes....

 

[sergeyvzn]

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

Total cost: USD 10466.31 for 3x pax
or USD 3488.77 per person for above itinerary.

Not too bad....wonder what a paid economy airfare would have cost

Would've been around $1700-1800 mark off peak season, I looked at the same flight combination last year

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

Back of the envelope calculations of the costs of my Russia trip in early September next year, and noting the Avianca miles were obtained at USD 0.015 per mile:

For 3x pax;

Syd-Bkk-Fra: F class on TG
Fra- Led: J class on LH
Dme-Bkk-Syd: J class on TG

Total cost: USD 10466.31 for 3x pax
or USD 3488.77 per person for above itinerary.

Not too bad....wonder what a paid economy airfare would have cost

I know using US Dividend miles would have been a bit cheaper but I was worried about booking flights nearly 1 year ahead with US airways likely to merge with AA and becoming part of Oneworld, and then having to deal with potential sirline schedule changes....

so about $1000 more than flying economy it's a great deal!!

however... noting your concerns I would have done it slightly differently.

sticking with a single carrier will greatly minimise the impact of schedule changes if USDM becomes part of one world. I would have confidently booked SYD-BKK-FRA return on TG in F. this would have worked out to around $2700 if utilising the recent share promo where the last 50,000 points could have been bought for USD576.

i would have left a one day buffer in FRA to allow for any last minute flight disruptions.

then bought a separate ticket to LED/DME on LH with some peace of mind with frequent schedules and having protection by EU261. (either on LM or via USDM)

main advantage of the above being first class for the return instead of business.

I know there is uncertainty regarding the AA/US merger, but sticking to popular routes (like SYD/BKK/FRA/LHR on TG) should pretty much see you being ok with first class cabins and frequency of service. I would probably avoid so where like BRU where they can offer F one day and withdraw it the next!

but still... you got a great deal!!

 

[hummel]

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

Is anyone finding not a lot of availability MEL-Other pacific destinations?

I'm trying to get to BKK/SIN (I've know I've left it late but struggling to find anything 1st/2nd Nov departure.

 

[bcworld]

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

I'm trying to get to BKK/SIN (I've know I've left it late but struggling to find anything 1st/2nd Nov departure.

Sorry! I'm taking up 2 seats in J on SQ218 1st Nov!

 

[bcworld]

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

Is anyone finding not a lot of availability MEL-Other pacific destinations?

I'm trying to get to BKK/SIN (I've know I've left it late but struggling to find anything 1st/2nd Nov departure.

How many seats are you looking for? TG seems OK, for 1 at least.

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.0/Diamond - Awards/StarAlliance-7D]

MEL  Melbourne Metro / Tullamarine VI AU = MEL AVV [YMML]
BKK  Bangkok Metro / Suvarnabhumi Intl TH = BKK DMK [VTBS]
THU  31 Oct 2013 (31 Oct 2013 - 02 Nov 2013) | 1 Seat


Carrier    Flight  From  Depart    To    Arrive    A/C  St  Availability
---------  ------  ----  --------  ----  --------  ---  --  -------------
TG         462     MEL   00:30     BKK   05:40     777  0   FS/  CS+  YS-
TG         466     MEL   15:25     BKK   20:35     777  0   FS/  CS-  YS+
TG         462     MEL   00:30 +1  BKK   05:40 +1  ***  0   FS/  CS+  YS-
TG         466     MEL   15:25 +1  BKK   20:35 +1  ***  0   FS/  CS+  YS+
TG         462     MEL   00:30 +2  BKK   05:40 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS+  YS-
TG         466     MEL   15:25 +2  BKK   20:35 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS-  YS+

...and SQ not too bad (this doesn't show availability on either SQ218 or SQ228 due to the method)

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.0/Diamond - Awards/StarAlliance-7D]

MEL  Melbourne Metro / Tullamarine VI AU = MEL AVV [YMML]
SIN  Singapore Changi SG [WSSS]
THU  31 Oct 2013 (31 Oct 2013 - 02 Nov 2013) | 1 Seat


Carrier    Flight  From  Depart    To    Arrive    A/C  St  Availability
---------  ------  ----  --------  ----  --------  ---  --  -------------
SQ         218     MEL   01:05     SIN   05:45     77W  0   FS~  CS~  YS+
SQ         238     MEL   11:30     SIN   16:10     773  0   FS-  CS+  YS+
SQ         228     MEL   16:45     SIN   21:30     388  0   FS~  CS~  YS+
SQ         208     MEL   19:30     SIN   00:15 +1  333  0   FS/  CS+  YS+
SQ         218     MEL   01:05 +1  SIN   05:45 +1  ***  0   FS~  CS~  YS+
SQ         238     MEL   11:30 +1  SIN   16:10 +1  ***  0   FS-  CS+  YS-
SQ         228     MEL   16:45 +1  SIN   21:30 +1  ***  0   FS~  CS~  YS-
SQ         208     MEL   19:30 +1  SIN   00:15 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS+  YS-
SQ         218     MEL   01:05 +2  SIN   05:45 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS-
SQ         238     MEL   11:30 +2  SIN   16:10 +2  ***  0   FS-  CS+  YS-
SQ         228     MEL   16:45 +2  SIN   21:30 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS-
SQ         208     MEL   19:30 +2  SIN   00:15 +3  ***  0   FS/  CS+  YS+

Is your issue more related to LM search engine?

 

[hummel]

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

How many seats are you looking for? TG seems OK, for 1 at least.

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.0/Diamond - Awards/StarAlliance-7D]

MEL  Melbourne Metro / Tullamarine VI AU = MEL AVV [YMML]
BKK  Bangkok Metro / Suvarnabhumi Intl TH = BKK DMK [VTBS]
THU  31 Oct 2013 (31 Oct 2013 - 02 Nov 2013) | 1 Seat


Carrier    Flight  From  Depart    To    Arrive    A/C  St  Availability
---------  ------  ----  --------  ----  --------  ---  --  -------------
TG         462     MEL   00:30     BKK   05:40     777  0   FS/  CS+  YS-
TG         466     MEL   15:25     BKK   20:35     777  0   FS/  CS-  YS+
TG         462     MEL   00:30 +1  BKK   05:40 +1  ***  0   FS/  CS+  YS-
TG         466     MEL   15:25 +1  BKK   20:35 +1  ***  0   FS/  CS+  YS+
TG         462     MEL   00:30 +2  BKK   05:40 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS+  YS-
TG         466     MEL   15:25 +2  BKK   20:35 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS-  YS+

...and SQ not too bad (this doesn't show availability on either SQ218 or SQ228 due to the method)

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.0/Diamond - Awards/StarAlliance-7D]

MEL  Melbourne Metro / Tullamarine VI AU = MEL AVV [YMML]
SIN  Singapore Changi SG [WSSS]
THU  31 Oct 2013 (31 Oct 2013 - 02 Nov 2013) | 1 Seat


Carrier    Flight  From  Depart    To    Arrive    A/C  St  Availability
---------  ------  ----  --------  ----  --------  ---  --  -------------
SQ         218     MEL   01:05     SIN   05:45     77W  0   FS~  CS~  YS+
SQ         238     MEL   11:30     SIN   16:10     773  0   FS-  CS+  YS+
SQ         228     MEL   16:45     SIN   21:30     388  0   FS~  CS~  YS+
SQ         208     MEL   19:30     SIN   00:15 +1  333  0   FS/  CS+  YS+
SQ         218     MEL   01:05 +1  SIN   05:45 +1  ***  0   FS~  CS~  YS+
SQ         238     MEL   11:30 +1  SIN   16:10 +1  ***  0   FS-  CS+  YS-
SQ         228     MEL   16:45 +1  SIN   21:30 +1  ***  0   FS~  CS~  YS-
SQ         208     MEL   19:30 +1  SIN   00:15 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS+  YS-
SQ         218     MEL   01:05 +2  SIN   05:45 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS-
SQ         238     MEL   11:30 +2  SIN   16:10 +2  ***  0   FS-  CS+  YS-
SQ         228     MEL   16:45 +2  SIN   21:30 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS-
SQ         208     MEL   19:30 +2  SIN   00:15 +3  ***  0   FS/  CS+  YS+

Is your issue more related to LM search engine?

Oh I know I can do it the easy eays MEL-BKK/SIN etc but I am trying to fly to Japan.. without going there if you know what I mean. I'm happy to fly Y but looks like I might have to book a J trip perhaps MEL-SIN-BKK. Just wanted to keep the $$ down.

 

[wafliron]

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

A friend of mine has just discovered that sometime over the past few months TG have cancelled the KIX-BKK flight he had as part of a LM itinerary, and the replacement flight they've put him on has him misconnecting in BKK (BKK-MEL departs 5 hours before the revised KIX-BKK).

He's spoken to two separate agents and a supervisor at Thai, all of whom are insisting they can't change the booking and he needs to call LM to fix it. I'm 99% sure this is wrong, TG are in fact the ones who need to fix it, and LM won't be able to do anything about it at all (doubly so because there's no award seats left on the flight he needs to be moved to), but could someone please confirm this is correct? And if so, any tips for getting TG to fix their stuff-up? I believe he's been talking to the SYD TG booking office - should he be calling them in BKK instead?

 

[markis10]

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

He's spoken to two separate agents and a supervisor at Thai, all of whom are insisting they can't change the booking and he needs to call LM to fix it. I'm 99% sure this is wrong, TG are in fact the ones who need to fix it, and LM won't be able to do anything about it at all (doubly so because there's no award seats left on the flight he needs to be moved to), but could someone please confirm this is correct? And if so, any tips for getting TG to fix their stuff-up? I believe he's been talking to the SYD TG booking office - should he be calling them in BKK instead?

If its on Avianca stock then they need to fix and reissue, TH cannot re ticket.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

If its on Avianca stock then they need to fix and reissue, TH cannot re ticket.

but TG can create award inventory on the connecting flights which LM can then ticket. at least that's the theory... whether LM agents could understand what they had to do is another issue.

sure while LM must ultimately reissue the ticket... if TG has caused the miss connect they can fix it initially in their system.