Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

So is this ticket status page new?

Nope, been there for as long as I can remember.

 

[hummel]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

So just saw on the news Air China is now doing MEL-PEK direct... first class? I haven't looked at what aircraft it is on.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

So just saw on the news Air China is now doing MEL-PEK direct... first class? I haven't looked at what aircraft it is on.

The flight is currently being operated by an A332. Business and economy class only. (Indeed an excellent business class hard product.)

 

[hummel]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

The flight is currently being operated by an A332. Business and economy class only. (Indeed an excellent business class hard product.)

Flown it much? Haven't flown Air China before but always looking for options to get to CAN. Problem being it's a long diverison to goto PEK!

Done the usual TG/SQ/MH route but always looking for options.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Flown it much? Haven't flown Air China before but always looking for options to get to CAN. Problem being it's a long diverison to goto PEK!

Done the usual TG/SQ/MH route but always looking for options.

CA also does MEL-PVG non-stop, but I can't imagine either PEK or PVG would be convenient to get to CAN. Domestic business class is only offered on a few flights (regardless of carrier), so that would rule out a ticket through Lifemiles as the connection would usually be in economy or First.

it's also a lengthy diversion out of the way. MEL-PEK is in the 11-12 hour range, PVG in the 10-11 hour range. Then the flight back to CAN (with associated delays).

In terms of comfort, Air China's business class outranks TG/MH, and is superior to the business class square or angled beds on SQ.

 

[ozmouse]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

that was the other option i had out of japan.... ANA to shainghai, china air to MEL..... did not consider out of hand... maybe i should ....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

that was the other option i had out of japan.... ANA to shainghai, china air to MEL..... did not consider out of hand... maybe i should ....

Air China is different to China Airlines. The former has an excellent hard product (although not private). I'd rank cabin crew service at least on par with QF.

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Air China is different to China Airlines. The former has an excellent hard product (although not private). I'd rank cabin crew service at least on par with QF.

So you mean it's also absolutely inconsistent?
I'd expect more from Asian airline cabin crew.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

So you mean it's also absolutely inconsistent?
I'd expect more from Asian airline cabin crew.

Haha - no. Comparing QF crews when they're having a 'reasonable' to 'good' day

I think the main issues westerners might have with Air China is language, and recognising it is a pure Chinese carrier. But if you are used to both of those things you'll have a great flight. Service on my flights has never been anything but warm and genuine.

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Haha - no. Comparing QF crews when they're having a 'reasonable' to 'good' day

I think the main issues westerners might have with Air China is language, and recognising it is a pure Chinese carrier. But if you are used to both of those things you'll have a great flight. Service on my flights has never been anything but warm and genuine.

I don't see the connection between speaking fluent English and providing good service. I had exceptional service onboard airlines like OZ and JL by FAs who can barley speak any English and absolutely lousy service on airlines like UA and BA.

I don't have much experience with CA but looking at their hard product I'll love to fly them again. They also recently introduced chauffeur service in China for their F customers if I'm not mistaken.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I don't see the connection between speaking fluent English and providing good service. I had exceptional service onboard airlines like OZ and JL by FAs who can barley speak any English and absolutely lousy service on airlines like UA and BA.

I don't have much experience with CA but looking at their hard product I'll love to fly them again. They also recently introduced chauffeur service in China for their F customers if I'm not mistaken.

I hope I did not link the speaking of English with good service. Some westerners get frustrated that they are not understood (a friend of mine sat next to a passenger who complained the whole flight from Shanghai to Melbourne for exactly this reason). The level of English on Air China is not as good as it is on Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific.

Air China has offered a car for their First class/Business class for some time, but only on revenue fares (and I'm not sure if it applies to all fare types or just the higher ones).

 

[boomy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I hope I did not link the speaking of English with good service. Some westerners get frustrated that they are not understood (a friend of mine sat next to a passenger who complained the whole flight from Shanghai to Melbourne for exactly this reason). The level of English on Air China is not as good as it is on Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific.

Air China has offered a car for their First class/Business class for some time, but only on revenue fares (and I'm not sure if it applies to all fare types or just the higher ones).

Ah ok so it's more culture, not language gaps then. Can happen on other non-western airlines. I see it as part of the experience of flying different carriers.

Thanks for clarifying the chauffeur for CA. Just saw an add recently and thought it was relatively new service. How's the F availability on LM and do you know if they are going to fly F to SYD this summer? (I'm keen to try their product)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Ah ok so it's more culture, not language gaps then. Can happen on other non-western airlines. I see it as part of the experience of flying different carriers.

Thanks for clarifying the chauffeur for CA. Just saw an add recently and thought it was relatively new service. How's the F availability on LM and do you know if they are going to fly F to SYD this summer? (I'm keen to try their product)

No no... it's a language issue (I suppose partially linked to culture). You can ask ten times for a Bloody Mary, repeating yourself increasingly loudly and slowly, and get very frustrated. Or you can ask for a vodka and tomato juice from the beginning and save yourself a lot of stress.

Some people will persist with the 'bloody Mary' because they think 'this is business class, they should know'. Well, that sort of DYKWIA behaviour, from a westerner, is unlikely to get you far on air China. (Different story if you are a DYKWIA Chinese )

I've heard the rumour about F to sydney, airlineroute will have details if that comes about. CA F is available via LM, but no idea whether that will translate to SYD.

Dont get overexcited by air China... their hard product is good for business class on their a332/333. Their service can be good -excellent in fact. But the food and IFE will likely disappoint.

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Ah ok so it's more culture, not language gaps then. Can happen on other non-western airlines. I see it as part of the experience of flying different carriers.

definitely culture. They don't quite understand westerners

an example - they serve you breakfast in J, you get cereal (dry) in a bowl but no milk comes with it. They don't know what westerners do with cereal and don't think about serving milk with it. You have to ask repeatedly. I once did and got a milk jug with just enough to put into my coffee cup - the female FA thought I wanted it for my coffee. She could not think I needed for the cereal

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Maybe China's National Day holiday? October 1 - 7.
Avoid if possible.
Travel during that time and each side it is hideous: half a billion people on the move.

actually the reverse it seems . The QF fares for this weekend were in the $6300+ range, but for the week encompassing National Holiday it falls back to sub $5000. Plus it doesn't explain why CA is sold out this coming weekend.

Some of the major cities are pretty ok during Golden week. Shanghai empties out nicely (Although I agree, I wouldn't want to be catching trains or domestic flights during the peak travel days).

Seems there may be a possible answer to this? The Victoria Premier is currently in Beijing on a trade mission, started Monday or Tuesday by the looks of it. That might explain why Air China business class was sold out last weekend (with flow on effect to other carriers)?

 

[mmikeemike]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

definitely culture. They don't quite understand westerners

an example - they serve you breakfast in J, you get cereal (dry) in a bowl but no milk comes with it. They don't know what westerners do with cereal and don't think about serving milk with it. You have to ask repeatedly. I once did and got a milk jug with just enough to put into my coffee cup - the female FA thought I wanted it for my coffee. She could not think I needed for the cereal

Always go the asian food option on asian airlines. I'm sure the breakfast would have been a delicious congee, no need for milk!

 

[tm.smile]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

On airlines like TG and CX, I always ask for the noodles for breakfast. No dairy and less heavy in my opinion.

 

[sergeyvzn]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Sorry but I just can't eat congee at all. Noodles for breakfast also send me in a state of shock. I WANT MY CEREAL!

 

[hummel]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Sorry but I just can't eat congee at all. Noodles for breakfast also send me in a state of shock. I WANT MY CEREAL!

Give me my oats and yoghurt please!!

 

[Gold Member]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I might have missed an earlier post, but it seems LM are offering discounted redemptions for some zones (up to 50%), and they also seem to have redefined the zones with more granularity. South pac doesn't appear to be included in the discount.

https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/tra/p...utm_source=LifeMiles_ENG&utm_content=textlink

BTW, the miles quoted are return.