Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[robcuk]

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

Hi

Just brought 70k miles and have booked online 2 single reward flights from MAD to SYD departing on the 28.12

Its with Thai but other than Air China the Lifemiles online tool wasn't showing any J availability.

Only issue was using the card for so many transactions resulted in the card being stopped.

 

[juddles]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Hmmmmm - this is an interesting promotion!

It would entirely depend on how many times you could transfer back and forth..... (I assume all of us have none)..

Smit, I actually had a few points as travel Avianca quite a lot. But what I have discovered is:

I transferred 50,000 to a family member - transaction took less than two miinutes before they received a full 100,000! Then they gave me 50,000 back, and again within minutes I was up 100,000. So between us giving each other 50,000, we ended up each forking out the $750 and having 50,000 more points. But also, when I tried gifting some more to another family member, it wouldn´t work. So I can confirm that there is a limit of a total 50,000 transfer per giver (not per recipient). Hope this helps.

 

[mjroberts]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Hi Guys,
I am (also) starting with 0 miles. Say I was to transfer it to a family member, would I need to
- Buy the miles at 1,000 for $30
- Transfer fee of $15 per 1,000
So the recipient receives 2,000 miles and it's cost me $45? Seems expensive, have I calculated this wrong?

 

[smit0847]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Hi Guys,
I am (also) starting with 0 miles. Say I was to transfer it to a family member, would I need to
- Buy the miles at 1,000 for $30
- Transfer fee of $15 per 1,000
So the recipient receives 2,000 miles and it's cost me $45? Seems expensive, have I calculated this wrong?

Ugh - this is going to need to be explained again and again and again!!

Read post #122 above for the process and calculations. Only the first purchase is $30 for 1000, each transfer is $15 for 1000

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Ok, just looking at flying my mum J class back from the US (Virginia), on the front page of this thread it stated NYC-MEL was 27,500 pnts plus $513 + tax, so imagine it would be the same for Norfolk-Perth... So the calculations are...

16,000 pnts = $15+$30+$60+$120+$30 (original 1000 pnt purchase) = $255
Last 12,000 to get to 28,000 = 12*$15=$180

So all up $435 + $513 + whatever tax = $948 all up + tax?

Is that right?

 

[smit0847]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Ok, just looking at flying my mum J class back from the US (Virginia), on the front page of this thread it stated NYC-MEL was 27,500 pnts plus $513 + tax, so imagine it would be the same for Norfolk-Perth... So the calculations are...

16,000 pnts = $15+$30+$60+$120+$30 (original 1000 pnt purchase) = $255
Last 12,000 to get to 28,000 = 12*$15=$180

So all up $435 + $513 + whatever tax = $948 all up + tax?

Is that right?

Yep that sounds about right but you'll need to be very careful with how many points you transfer on the last few transfers so you don't end up with them in the wrong account. That's one-way with max pay min points selected when booking. You will almost certainly be put on United on that route unless you select OZ and go NYC/SFO/LAX - SYD via ICN - I don't think there is any other realistic availability across the Pacific (NZ seems non-existent).

 

[casanovawa]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Yeah your right the partial transfer could be a bugger so would need some rejigging....

And I was sort of hoping for Thai via LAX, maybe get her a bit of a massage in the spa if she had a bit of a stopover...

Specially as neither United or Asiana fly into Perth and no *A airline flies within Australia unless they went from the east coast back to NZ and then direct to Perth...

 

[burmans]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Yeah your right the partial transfer could be a bugger so would need some rejigging....

And I was sort of hoping for Thai via LAX, maybe get her a bit of a massage in the spa if she had a bit of a stopover...

Specially as neither United or Asiana fly into Perth and no *A airline flies within Australia unless they went from the east coast back to NZ and then direct to Perth...

Thai may be an option, there doesn't seem to be a max miles applied so I may be available. I've seen some amazing routines on my searches.

 

[fatlady]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

my friend tried calling lifemiles earlier and i thought i'd share her (not very pleasant) experience. she wanted to fly from oka - sin with a stopover in icn, which meant that she couldn't complete her redemption online and had to do so via the call centre.

when she called, she said that the call quality was quite bad (perhaps of an overseas connection?) - phone announcements were muffled and hard to catch. she was also passed from agent to agent until the last one she spoke to said she needed a pin number before she could proceed any further. i think she spent about 45 minutes on that call.

anyway, she is trying to retrieve her pin number now. i'll update if she manages to get through. yikes!

 

[fatlady]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

here's an update! my friend finally got her PIN and called the lifemiles call centre back (she called the US toll-free number). the automated telephone menu she reached had 3 options - press 1 for changing or making bookings, press 2 for flight schedules and press 3 for lifemiles members.


so my friend pressed '3'.


but that was when her nightmare started again. she was routed from agent to agent, each one claiming that my friend reached the wrong department. finally she reached an agent who decided to help her. but in order for the agent to gain access into my friend's account, my friend had to first be transferred to another automated system to key in her PIN. apparently the call centre agents can't do anything or even see her account's mileage balance until the PIN was keyed.


so my friend keyed in her PIN and the agent said she could finally see all of my friend's information. and my friend thought that that was the end of her trouble, but unfortunately, she thought wrong.


when my friend told the agent that she wanted to redeem a flight. the agent promptly informed my friend that all agents in charge of redemptions spoke only spanish. my friend, shocked, told the agent that it was not true because in her last phone call, she had reached two redemption agents who spoke english.


so the current agent said "okay, let's see what we can do for you." my friend said she wanted a oka - sin redemption. and the agent told her that avianca did not fly any asian routes. trying to clarify things, my friend said it was a *A redemption she wanted. then the agent said that my friend had to go to the *A official website to do a *A redemption :shock:


my friend, even more shocked, told the agent that it was not true and the agent says she'll check it out with her colleague. my friend was put on hold for about 10 minutes before she decided to hang up.


my friend's verdict? dealing with the BMI ICC was a joy compared to the lifemiles call centre. and that avianca lifemiles is best redeemed online.


sorry for the long post! thought i'd share this since there isn't much info around about the call centre. anyway if anyone had a good experience, i'd love to hear it!

 

[robcuk]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

I booked 2 MAD to SYD single flights on Weds online with Lifemiles. The flights were showing as available on United, Aeroplan, Lifemiles etc... So I booked 2 of them and thought great nice and easy - no dramas.

However, checking the booking on Thai only my BKK to SYD has been confirmed, the MAD leg is wait listed!? I rang Thai they said ring Lifemiles so I rang them, they said ring back at 21:00 so they can liase with the centre in Colombia which I did - the guy basically said it all looks ok, this is normal and it will be confirmed in due course. Not sure what to do other than to keep checking but I don't want to be in a position on Dec 29th being told you have no seats! When I have used Us DM the flights have always been immediately confirmed.

I did a dummy booking on the TG website and there are plenty of seats available! Any thoughts? Should I just relax and wait for this to sort itself out? Not sure the call centre will be that helpful?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

I booked 2 MAD to SYD single flights on Weds online with Lifemiles. The flights were showing as available on United, Aeroplan, Lifemiles etc... So I booked 2 of them and thought great nice and easy - no dramas.

However, checking the booking on Thai only my BKK to SYD has been confirmed, the MAD leg is wait listed!? I rang Thai they said ring Lifemiles so I rang them, they said ring back at 21:00 so they can liase with the centre in Colombia which I did - the guy basically said it all looks ok, this is normal and it will be confirmed in due course. Not sure what to do other than to keep checking but I don't want to be in a position on Dec 29th being told you have no seats! When I have used Us DM the flights have always been immediately confirmed.

I did a dummy booking on the TG website and there are plenty of seats available! Any thoughts? Should I just relax and wait for this to sort itself out? Not sure the call centre will be that helpful?

It all depends on what system and how Lifemiles processes their tickets. If they work on some 'request' basis then indeed the flights might take some time to come through. Or maybe they are waiting while the ticket is in queue.

The important thing, like with US Dividend Miles, is the ticket number. A booking without a ticket number is pretty much nothing.

You need to get the ticket number from Lifemiles, then call TG and ask 'do you hve ticket numbers against this booking?'. Until it is ticketed, you could lose the booking - especially if say TG holds the seats for 72 hours, but Lifemiles doesn't ticket in time.

Doing a dummy booking means nothing. The availability of regular paid seat is no indication on the availability of award seats. A flight could shouw F9A9J9D9C9Y9 etc and still be O0/I0/X0 for the purposes of awards.

Give it 24 or 48 hours, then go back to see if it's been ticketed. I wouldn't leave it any more than 48 hours as most airlines only hold award bookings for 3 days for ticketing.

 

[robcuk]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

It all depends on what system and how Lifemiles processes their tickets. If they work on some 'request' basis then indeed the flights might take some time to come through. Or maybe they are waiting while the ticket is in queue.

The important thing, like with US Dividend Miles, is the ticket number. A booking without a ticket number is pretty much nothing.

You need to get the ticket number from Lifemiles, then call TG and ask 'do you hve ticket numbers against this booking?'. Until it is ticketed, you could lose the booking - especially if say TG holds the seats for 72 hours, but Lifemiles doesn't ticket in time.

Doing a dummy booking means nothing. The availability of regular paid seat is no indication on the availability of award seats. A flight could shouw F9A9J9D9C9Y9 etc and still be O0/I0/X0 for the purposes of awards.

Give it 24 or 48 hours, then go back to see if it's been ticketed. I wouldn't leave it any more than 48 hours as most airlines only hold award bookings for 3 days for ticketing.

Hi thanks for that advice.

I just had a live chat with both Avianca and Taca - Firstly Avianca advised me to talk to Taca as they ticketed it so I had a brief online chat with one of there advisors who looked at the booknig. She has now forwarded the reservation to the appropriate department and i should get a reply within 24 hours. So touch wood it will sort itself out.

Regarding a ticket number other than the reservation code i received from LifeMiles which i can use to look up my reservation on Thai's site I recevied nothing from Life. However, on Thai's site once i enter my reservation information I have the following:

Document 202-24607xx_X1 Presume this is the ticket no.?

 

[robcuk]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

Hi thanks for that advice.

I just had a live chat with both Avianca and Taca - Firstly Avianca advised me to talk to Taca as they ticketed it so I had a brief online chat with one of there advisors who looked at the booknig. She has now forwarded the reservation to the appropriate department and i should get a reply within 24 hours. So touch wood it will sort itself out.

Regarding a ticket number other than the reservation code i received from LifeMiles which i can use to look up my reservation on Thai's site I recevied nothing from Life. However, on Thai's site once i enter my reservation information I have the following:

Document 202-24607xx_X1 Presume this is the ticket no.?

Just reading it again that is listed as my E ticket number although that is for Mad - Syd. Would that cover both legs or just the confirmed leg?

 

[smit0847]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

here's an update! my friend finally got her PIN and called the lifemiles call centre back (she called the US toll-free number). the automated telephone menu she reached had 3 options - press 1 for changing or making bookings, press 2 for flight schedules and press 3 for lifemiles members.


so my friend pressed '3'.


but that was when her nightmare started again. she was routed from agent to agent, each one claiming that my friend reached the wrong department. finally she reached an agent who decided to help her. but in order for the agent to gain access into my friend's account, my friend had to first be transferred to another automated system to key in her PIN. apparently the call centre agents can't do anything or even see her account's mileage balance until the PIN was keyed.


so my friend keyed in her PIN and the agent said she could finally see all of my friend's information. and my friend thought that that was the end of her trouble, but unfortunately, she thought wrong.


when my friend told the agent that she wanted to redeem a flight. the agent promptly informed my friend that all agents in charge of redemptions spoke only spanish. my friend, shocked, told the agent that it was not true because in her last phone call, she had reached two redemption agents who spoke english.


so the current agent said "okay, let's see what we can do for you." my friend said she wanted a oka - sin redemption. and the agent told her that avianca did not fly any asian routes. trying to clarify things, my friend said it was a *A redemption she wanted. then the agent said that my friend had to go to the *A official website to do a *A redemption :shock:


my friend, even more shocked, told the agent that it was not true and the agent says she'll check it out with her colleague. my friend was put on hold for about 10 minutes before she decided to hang up.


my friend's verdict? dealing with the BMI ICC was a joy compared to the lifemiles call centre. and that avianca lifemiles is best redeemed online.


sorry for the long post! thought i'd share this since there isn't much info around about the call centre. anyway if anyone had a good experience, i'd love to hear it!

Oh goodness! That is not good news! I did fear there would be significant language issues with a Latin American airline.

From all my intel the only time you would need to call the LM CC is where you want to add a stopover to your journey. This is 'free' except that you pay the call centre booking fee. Otherwise book the whole thing online - their website is pretty good.

Hopefully the more people that call up trying to book *A redemptions the more LM will realise how global their customers are and improve the language and knowledge of their CC staff.

If your friend does manage to make a booking through the CC can you please let us know what the booking fee is?

Thanks

 

[timmitch]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

was wondering how many people had over 50k in points?

 

[juddles]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

was wondering how many people had over 50k in points?

. why??

 

[timmitch]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

well i have been reading the forum and was wondering if there was a difference in transferring small amounts lots of times (if you get to keep them all or only the first transfer) with a bulk transfer thats all. and only way to see is if someone had 50k or more and had transfered to a friend and back

i find it hard to believe that they will let you go back and forward with little amount the make big amount. BUT hey they might

 

[auriga]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

One thing I did notice when I did a transfer was that my partner's name and email address came up automatically as soon as I put in the account number! Isn't this a huge security risk?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: Avianca Transfer Miles promo (of course you need some miles to start with)

well i have been reading the forum and was wondering if there was a difference in transferring small amounts lots of times (if you get to keep them all or only the first transfer) with a bulk transfer thats all. and only way to see is if someone had 50k or more and had transfered to a friend and back

i find it hard to believe that they will let you go back and forward with little amount the make big amount. BUT hey they might

i thought it had already been mentioned (by me) that it is allowed and I have done it. As have others.