Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[MEL_Traveller]

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

Do you guys know when the airlines usually send out tickets? I've booked with Thai and received the Lifemiles confirmation. Also called to confirm seats so everything went through. Will be departing soon, but haven't received an e-mail from Thai with any ticket information. Perhaps the Lifemiles e-mail is sufficient?

calling Thai for seat requests or asking if a booking is confirmed does not mean LM has issued tickets. if by 'confirmation' you mean they confirmed they had a ticket number that's good

 

[HWilliams]

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

Do you guys also happen to know of any other way to search flights as opposed to Lifemiles' system? It's very tedious - I don't mind paying for a program/website that searches award flights, but I'm assuming LM pick certain ones so I may be getting flights that aren't available.

and any idea when first-class flights start coming up? I must have done 1000 searches and have never seen an F flight.

You won't receive anything from Thai. All you need is your passports.

Great

calling Thai for seat requests or asking if a booking is confirmed does not mean LM has issued tickets. if by 'confirmation' you mean they confirmed they had a ticket number that's good

Well when choosing seats they requested the reservation code. Perhaps I will give them a call and confirm just in-case.

 

[bcworld]

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

Do you guys also happen to know of any other way to search flights as opposed to Lifemiles' system? It's very tedious - I don't mind paying for a program/website that searches award flights, but I'm assuming LM pick certain ones so I may be getting flights that aren't available.

and any idea when first-class flights start coming up? I must have done 1000 searches and have never seen an F flight.



Great




Well when choosing seats they requested the reservation code. Perhaps I will give them a call and confirm just in-case.

Look up your reservation on the TACA website. You should see ticket numbers there. Check it regularly and if the status of any of your flights changes from 'Confirmed'...for example to 'Confirming, timechange'...call Avianca (not Thai) and get it fixed.

 

[HWilliams]

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

Look up your reservation on the TACA website. You should see ticket numbers there. Check it regularly and if the status of any of your flights changes from 'Confirmed'...for example to 'Confirming, timechange'...call Avianca (not Thai) and get it fixed.

Just checked and this has come up:

Your itinerary includes portions with other airlines, please call us or visit us to complete your changes.

edit: i looked at the official thai site, entered details and it came up with all the flight information with 'confirmed' so looks like everything is okay

 

[Nizar]

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

and any idea when first-class flights start coming up? I must have done 1000 searches and have never seen an F flight.

Make sure the route/aircraft/airline that you are searching for offers F. For example on TG there will never be F availability from Melbourne.

 

[Bofter]

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

I think with LifeMiles you need to see availability in the same class for every leg for it to show - so need F offered and available on every leg.

 

[anat0l]

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

I think with LifeMiles you need to see availability in the same class for every leg for it to show - so need F offered and available on every leg.

Correct - LifeMiles can't do different classes within the same itinerary.

 

[j0eshmo85]

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

What are the risk of Cabotage rule? Lifemiles will ticket a USA-USA route flown solely by foreign carrier. Will I be denied boarding at origin or during transit?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

What are the risk of Cabotage rule? Lifemiles will ticket a USA-USA route flown solely by foreign carrier. Will I be denied boarding at origin or during transit?

airline and sector and which airline carrying you to the USA? some airlines have limited rights to carry.

depending on the above, you may be denied at check-in or during transit for the domestic sector.

 

[j0eshmo85]

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

airline and sector and which airline carrying you to the USA? some airlines have limited rights to carry.

depending on the above, you may be denied at check-in or during transit for the domestic sector.

Single asian carrier. Origin and destination are in the USA. Transit point is at that asian carrier's hub.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

Single asian carrier. Origin and destination are in the USA. Transit point is at that asian carrier's hub.

then you have a mistake award/coding, not a cabotage issue. you're good to go

 

[j0eshmo85]

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

then you have a mistake award level, not a cabotage issue. you're good to go

Yes mistake award indeed. Just wondering if there is a risk of denied boarding on the first flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

Yes mistake award indeed. Just wondering if there is a risk of denied boarding on the first flight.

nope.

check-in will see a flight ex USA followed by a return flight to the USA. they will see a ticket number as payment, but won't enquire into the sufficiency of that payment.

cabotage generally concerns a domestic sector wholly operated by a foreign airline... for example qantas tag-ons LAX-JFK, or UA SYD-MEL (and vv).

it is rumoured people were booking tickets PER-Asia-MEL for the football grand final. those itineraries didn't run into cabotage issues simply because the origin/destination was AU-AU.

the only thing you may need to check are visa requirements (if applicable) for the transit country. if you were flying via china for example you would not be permitted transit without visa on a USA-USA itinerary (and would be correctly denied boarding in the USA even if in transit)

 

[Rallo]

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

I have managed to book 2xF and 2x J Syd-BKK-CDG next June , any thoughts on the best seats in both classes , I believe that I have to call Thai to select the seats.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

I have managed to book 2xF and 2x J Syd-BKK-CDG next June , any thoughts on the best seats in both classes , I believe that I have to call Thai to select the seats.

for the 747 its subjective... personally I'd take 1A/2A (or similar such as 1K/2K etc). Others would prefer sitting next to their trabelling companion, but I think windows are better.

For the A380 - centre block of two seats is good for a couple (whether in F or J)

If you are in business class on the 747 - again subjective - but i would go for the main deck... small cabin, large overhead bins, extraordinarily wide aisles. Minimal cabin traffic. Except for BA and Lufthansa (both on the 744) can see much appeal for the upper deck.

 

[Rallo]

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

for the 747 its subjective... personally I'd take 1A/2A (or similar such as 1K/2K etc). Others would prefer sitting next to their trabelling companion, but I think windows are better.

For the A380 - centre block of two seats is good for a couple (whether in F or J)

Thanks, I am in F with eldest son so no need to sit together windows are preferred , wife and youngest son probably will enjoy the centre block as he is a nervous traveller.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

Thanks, I am in F with eldest son so no need to sit together windows are preferred , wife and youngest son probably will enjoy the centre block as he is a nervous traveller.

I updated my post regarding business class on the 747. If you are travelling as a family then you may well want the other half of the family to sit in the mini cabin behind F. this would assist in boarding/disembarkation (can all go on and leave together). If you can find a TG seat map the best seats look to the on the inside, with the wall next to them, front row. I think there are just three rows on that side. The pick of the seats against the window would be the exit. But you may be precluded from sitting there depending on the age of the children.

Just in case it is of interest - you could mix/match between people in F/J for different sectors. Just advise the cabin crew on boarding that you want to swap with your wife for that flight etc.

 

[Rallo]

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

I updated my post regarding business class on the 747. If you are travelling as a family then you may well want the other half of the family to sit in the mini cabin behind F. this would assist in boarding/disembarkation (can all go on and leave together). If you can find a TG seat map the best seats look to the on the inside, with the wall next to them, front row. I think there are just three rows on that side. The pick of the seats against the window would be the exit. But you may be precluded from sitting there depending on the age of the children.

Just in case it is of interest - you could mix/match between people in F/J for different sectors. Just advise the cabin crew on boarding that you want to swap with your wife for that flight etc.

Thankyou I wasn't aware of the ability to swap and the mini cabin availability I was intending to upgrade those in J to F but that may be reduntant with swapping sectors.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

Thankyou I wasn't aware of the ability to swap and the mini cabin availability I was intending to upgrade those in J to F but that may be reduntant with swapping sectors.

sure - swapping should generally not be an issue - just arrange it once you step on board (and very easy if half the family is sitting just one row behind the F cabin). The crew won't mind if they are serving Mr or Mrs.

F class pax can each invite one guest into the F lounge - so that's sorted for BKK, but there can be complications with the buggy transfer. Obviously if you CAN get all pax into F that is ideal. I was on a flight recently where mom/dad were in F and (grown-up) children were in J. Lounge didn't want to provide a buggy for the family (two pax not entitled) so we ALL (even pax not related to the family) had to walk to the aircraft (not a major deal but we ended up being late for departure).

 

[Rallo]

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

I will bear that in mind with the lounge and buggy , although I don't mind stretching the legs if we are unable to use the buggy.
I have had a look at the seats in J you recommended they will be an issue as the youngest is 11yo so maybe row 23 with a window will suit , this is our first time as a family travelling in business and first cannot wait