Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[anat0l]

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

But the beauty of LM is the small amount of miles needed to make a booking like this...coupled with the $50 canx fee. I could be sitting on an alternative booking and swap it out for this at t-14.

As long as the miles you used originally are returned to you fairly quickly / immediately. Which is admittedly usually the case, but still. Alternatively, if you had a cache of LM miles handy to book the alternative itinerary (some people who latch onto this promo don't stockpile - they buy for promo and on demand only).

Again, as hard as it may be to believe (perhaps patronising only because most of us are seasoned travellers / FFers), there are many others who can't fly like this (and doing what you're doing still requires a little bit of strategy).

 

[Keith009]

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

As long as the miles you used originally are returned to you fairly quickly / immediately. Which is admittedly usually the case, but still. Alternatively, if you had a cache of LM miles handy to book the alternative itinerary (some people who latch onto this promo don't stockpile - they buy for promo and on demand only).

In the land of LM, could you simply change your reservation to a higher class or reroute etc rather than cancel and rebook in such circumstances ? I know it's USD100 more but it's well worth it from my perspective for peace of mind, speaking as someone who needs everything confirmed / locked in stone a million years out to satisfy my OCDness. We've got ZRH-BKK-SYD booked but would like to change this to ex-CDG at the earliest opportunity - I assume they will simply allow me to pay the USD150 to change even though this is a reroute rather than a 'simple' date/time change? Would rather not risk the 0.01% chance of miles not returning to the account in time.

I was trying to find T&Cs that define what's a 'change' over circumstances where a cancel/rebook is necessary but have not had much luck. But inferring from the fee differential, it seems they'd prefer people to make changes rather than cancel/rebook so I'd be surprised if they push back too much on change requests (system limitations notwithstanding).

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

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

Think about the main courses. To me, at least it seems as if SQ made some attempt to plate them up. CX and TG both look very much like they just reheated the contents of the porcelain dish. Exhibit A from CX163 last month...Pork Neck in miso sauce...revolting it was too!

I flew Asian back from ICN to SYD last month and found the food to be quite ordinary.

Breakfast was lasagne with sausage and the smell was making me queasy, but when I saw it on the tray I quickly ate my fruit and other stuff and just couldn't bring myself to eat the hot meal.

Quite enjoyed my roast duck on TG from BKK to TPE the week before.

 

[markis10]

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

I flew Asian back from ICN to SYD last month and found the food to be quite ordinary.

Breakfast was lasagne with sausage and the smell was making me queasy, but when I saw it on the tray I quickly ate my fruit and other stuff and just couldn't bring myself to eat the hot meal.

Quite enjoyed my roast duck on TG from BKK to TPE the week before.

Sad to say it but what you described does sound better than our own carriers offering.

 

[bcworld]

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

Breakfast was lasagne with sausage and the smell was making me queasy, but when I saw it on the tray I quickly ate my fruit and other stuff and just couldn't bring myself to eat the hot meal.

LOL...I got that too on ICN-HNL...bizarre. The lasagne was actually quite nice but those oily sausages for breakfast were grim!

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

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

Sad to say it but what you described does sound better than our own carriers offering.

i flew QF J SYD LAX last year and have to say it's prob the best plane food I've had ever. Just disappointed the pax before me got the last of the 100 day aged steak, but the steamed blue eyed cod was a very tasty replacement.

Service was excellent as well. Attentive but not "fawning" like on the Asian carriers which can sometimes be a bit much for my liking.

 

[bcworld]

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

i flew QF J SYD LAX last year and have to say it's prob the best plane food I've had ever. Just disappointed the pax before me got the last of the 100 day aged steak, but the steamed blue eyed cod was a very tasty replacement.

Service was excellent as well. Attentive but not "fawning" like on the Asian carriers which can sometimes be a bit much for my liking.

I think QF does a good job. On LHR-SIN last year they served black pudding with breakfast which earned them major brownie points from me! I guess it's gone now on DXB routes though.

I found the 'fawning' on OZ excessive...it's my major gripe with them...that and the sausages!

 

[BOZZ]

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

Is the spreadsheet still available? I'm trying to get access to it, have msg Lobo76 couple of days ago but no reply as yet. Anyone else can help?

 

[bcworld]

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

Is the spreadsheet still available? I'm trying to get access to it, have msg Lobo76 couple of days ago but no reply as yet. Anyone else can help?

It still exists...I'm not sure who has permission to grant access though.

 

[bcworld]

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

Have you seen this strange announcement?

Heads Up: SQ Awards Booked Through Reservations Starting 13DEC - FlyerTalk Forums

UA, it seems at the request of SQ, will no longer show SQ award space online...but will still allow it to be booked over the phone.

Seriously hoping that this is not something that is repeated with LM...phone booking...argghhhh!

I have to say though it's not looking good...all my SQ searches on KVS, using ANA method now come back with zero C space (except intra Asia)...I think this could be something more general!

*off to check the LM website!*

 

[travelislife]

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

Interesting, as often on LM you can get a business seat on any one of the 5 daily MEL-SIN flights so they obviously have the seats available.

 

[bcworld]

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

Interesting, as often on LM you can get a business seat on any one of the 5 daily MEL-SIN flights so they obviously have the seats available.

I can still see them for e.g. next week, but random future dates...nothing! Very sad!

PS...there's only 4 daily.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

I can still see them for e.g. next week, but random future dates...nothing! Very sad!

PS...there's only 4 daily.

supposed to be effective 13th USA time.

if it maps across to LM then we're in trouble as they can only book what they see!

Maybe this was a move primarily aimed at LM???

 

[bcworld]

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

supposed to be effective 13th USA time.

if it maps across to LM then we're in trouble as they can only book what they see!

Maybe this was a move primarily aimed at LM???

It seems to affect all because ANA no longer shows A330 and 773...just every flight C- which would be unheard of on say, MEL-SIN.

But perhaps this is the only way they have to prevent booking onto the 77W and A380 by LM...the thought had crossed my mind!

e.g. in 300 days time!

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.2/Diamond - Awards/StarAlliance-7D]

MEL  Melbourne Metro / Tullamarine VI AU = MEL AVV [YMML]
SIN  Singapore Changi SG [WSSS]
MON  06 Oct 2014 (06 Oct 2014 - 12 Oct 2014) | 1 Seat


Carrier    Flight  From  Depart    To    Arrive    A/C  St  Availability
---------  ------  ----  --------  ----  --------  ---  --  -------------
SQ         218     MEL   01:05     SIN   06:00     77W  0   FS~  CS~  YS-
SQ         238     MEL   11:25     SIN   16:20     773  0   FS-  CS-  YS+
SQ         228     MEL   16:45     SIN   21:45     388  0   FS~  CS~  YS+
SQ         208     MEL   19:20     SIN   00:20 +1  333  0   FS/  CS-  YS+
SQ         218     MEL   01:05 +1  SIN   06:00 +1  ***  0   FS~  CS~  YS+
SQ         238     MEL   11:25 +1  SIN   16:20 +1  ***  0   FS-  CS-  YS+
SQ         228     MEL   16:45 +1  SIN   21:45 +1  ***  0   FS~  CS~  YS+
SQ         208     MEL   19:20 +1  SIN   00:20 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS-  YS+
SQ         218     MEL   01:05 +2  SIN   06:00 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS-
SQ         238     MEL   11:25 +2  SIN   16:20 +2  ***  0   FS-  CS-  YS+
SQ         228     MEL   16:45 +2  SIN   21:45 +2  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS+
SQ         208     MEL   19:20 +2  SIN   00:20 +3  ***  0   FS/  CS-  YS+
SQ         218     MEL   01:05 +3  SIN   06:00 +3  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS+
SQ         238     MEL   11:25 +3  SIN   16:20 +3  ***  0   FS-  CS-  YS+
SQ         228     MEL   16:45 +3  SIN   21:45 +3  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS+
SQ         208     MEL   19:20 +3  SIN   00:20 +4  ***  0   FS/  CS-  YS+
SQ         218     MEL   01:05 +4  SIN   06:00 +4  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS-
SQ         238     MEL   11:25 +4  SIN   16:20 +4  ***  0   FS-  CS-  YS+
SQ         228     MEL   16:45 +4  SIN   21:45 +4  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS+
SQ         208     MEL   19:20 +4  SIN   00:20 +5  ***  0   FS/  CS-  YS-
SQ         218     MEL   01:05 +5  SIN   06:00 +5  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS-
SQ         238     MEL   11:25 +5  SIN   16:20 +5  ***  0   FS-  CS-  YS-
SQ         228     MEL   16:45 +5  SIN   21:45 +5  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS+
SQ         208     MEL   19:20 +5  SIN   00:20 +6  ***  0   FS/  CS-  YS-
SQ         218     MEL   01:05 +6  SIN   06:00 +6  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS+
SQ         238     MEL   11:25 +6  SIN   16:20 +6  ***  0   FS-  CS-  YS+
SQ         228     MEL   16:45 +6  SIN   21:45 +6  ***  0   FS/  CS/  YS+
SQ         208     MEL   19:20 +6  SIN   00:20 +7  ***  0   FS/  CS-  YS+

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

It seems to affect all because ANA no longer shows A330 and 773...just every flight C- which would be unheard of on say, MEL-SIN.

But perhaps this is the only way they have to prevent booking onto the 77W and A380 by LM...the thought had crossed my mind!

e.g. in 300 days time!

I was thinking not so much the ability for LM to book 77W/A380 - but the fact they are selling miles so cheaply as well.

We have been lucky so far - there was talk a couple years back that airlines could possibly begin restricting F awards to their own members. So far that hasn't happened - although the main exception has been the likes of TG/UA and to a smaller extent NH.

 

[anat0l]

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

I can still see them for e.g. next week, but random future dates...nothing! Very sad!

PS...there's only 4 daily.

Using ANA I'm the same as you. Checked MEL-SIN for J availability during Jan, Feb and Mar - nothing!

Oddly enough, change the class from J to Y, and it's like the heavens just opened up.


Of course, using the KrisFlyer website for random dates, a decent handful of Business Saver availability all over the place.


This is interesting indeed.

 

[bcworld]

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

I was thinking not so much the ability for LM to book 77W/A380 -

But the question has never been answered...why (or how) does LM allow booking this inventory? UA doesn't generally show it, but when SQ accidentally opened the floodgates, they were happy enough to let their FFs book it en masse (and therefore pay SQ for the seats)...which implies to me the block is generally at the SQ end. So what's special about LM?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

But the question has never been answered...why (or how) does LM allow booking this inventory? UA doesn't generally show it, but when SQ accidentally opened the floodgates, they were happy enough to let their FFs book it en masse (and therefore pay SQ for the seats)...which implies to me the block is generally at the SQ end. So what's special about LM?

too small? very few SQ flights redeemed from Columbia? maybe that has all changed with people all over the world now buying cheap miles and flying SQ?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

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

Just wait and see before jumping to conclusions.

 

[anat0l]

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

But the question has never been answered...why (or how) does LM allow booking this inventory? UA doesn't generally show it, but when SQ accidentally opened the floodgates, they were happy enough to let their FFs book it en masse (and therefore pay SQ for the seats)...which implies to me the block is generally at the SQ end. So what's special about LM?

When SQ "accidentally opened the floodgates" and those seats were booked, I think they had to weigh up the possibilities of having to cancel or reaccommodate all of those who had already booked. Don't forget that any time there is a "mistake" or what not being threatened to cancel which touches the US, 100 FTers will be ready to hound them via the DoT. (Plus any other relevant consumer body / aviation body for other jurisdictions).

Unless the "loss" by SQ was material, those seats were staying in place. So SQ lost quite a bit of posture but in some respects they at least didn't lose any revenue.


Maybe SQ has to manually block all such programmes (and since LM was new on the market then, they hadn't quite caught up to that yet, or the bureaucracy required to get that in place was slow).


What I don't quite understand is that this "change" (or whatever it is) has sapped out all J availability on MEL/SIN that I can at least see. It's not just 77Ws or A380s, 333s have also been caught in. I checked BNE/SIN random next year, non-peak, all 3 services per day are A333s. ANA shows absolutely zilch in J; of course plentiful in Y.

Just did an Awardtravelr search then for the first week of March on MEL/SIN in J (in all segments). No non-stop options. All options given are at least 1 stop; ironically, some of the second short segments are in SQ J.