Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[GalaxyNexus]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I have certainly seen the booking system spit out itineraries that requires transferring ICN to GMP. E.g. this happens if you search HND-SYD.

 

[cqx1223]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

first of all you'd need to work out if it actually is a cabotage issue. The ticket as a whole is not a domestic ticket... do the rules apply if just two segments are concerned (I don't actually no).

secondly. an agent simply looking at at the reservation, even putting in seat requests or special meals, is no guarantee. You'd need to actually ask them specifically if the ticket breaches cabotage, which they'd likely have to refer, and have them look at it. Even if head office says it's ok, there's no guarantee checkin will allow it.

If it does breach cabotage, there are potentially several points where you could be refused boarding, including Australia, Tokyo or Seoul. Entry into China could be difficult as you wouldn't technically have a valid onward ticket (if you had a visa... no problem, but TWOV requires an onward ticket)

Will do that. thanks for the advice

 

[cqx1223]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I have certainly seen the booking system spit out itineraries that requires transferring ICN to GMP. E.g. this happens if you search HND-SYD.

I found the itinerary you referred to, however LM agents could not manually put together a reservation involving co-terminals, seems like their manual reservation system does not allow such routing.

 

[NDiddy]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Just tried my first screen shot method booking. Be interesting to see how it goes. Just a simple SYD - CDG in F. Just out of curiosity how long does it normally take for them to respond?

Pretty impressed with my experience with Lifemiles using the screen shot method. Sent email on the 13th Oct at 3:00pm AEDST and received a call from them today, 14th at 1:00pm.

They confirmed the request and asked to check pax details were correct and then made the booking over the phone. Will update the costs in the successful bookings thread

 

[ermen]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I don't know when you are looking for flights but I did a search for you and found flights MUC - BKK - PER. (around 6 July 15) I also looked at the lifemiles site and it is showing 0 flights direct to Perth. I think you are coming up with the IT glitch here where it won't show the connecting flights. If you do a search seperatly you will find flights. Do MUC - BKK - then BKK to Perth on lifemiles and it comes up. To get these flights you will need to email the Lifemiles and they will book it for you.

View attachment 57456

thanks for this. understand what is happening now. still exploring other programs to see if its the best value to redeem europe to per...

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Pretty impressed with my experience with Lifemiles using the screen shot method. Sent email on the 13th Oct at 3:00pm AEDST and received a call from them today, 14th at 1:00pm.

They confirmed the request and asked to check pax details were correct and then made the booking over the phone. Will update the costs in the successful bookings thread

I think LM agents are getting used to screenshot technic so more a smooth process. It looks like they'd rather stick to it than fix their online booking system.

 

[ermen]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

regarding the screenshot method - is it possible to top up miles at the preferential rate (~1.5c) like how you can do so online?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

regarding the screenshot method - is it possible to top up miles at the preferential rate (~1.5c) like how you can do so online?

It usually is. Just specify in the email that you wish to use 'x' miles and top up the rest. And then mention it again when they call for payment. I say 'usually' because I think I recall one person reporting they weren't allowed to use top up for a manual redemption.

 

[ermen]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

great thanks!

It usually is. Just specify in the email that you wish to use 'x' miles and top up the rest. And then mention it again when they call for payment. I say 'usually' because I think I recall one person reporting they weren't allowed to use top up for a manual redemption.

 

[noviceFF]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Looking at a SYD-HND trip next year. Pretty little available due to school holidays and snow season. Can one do an open jaw booking via LM? I thought I do a stopover in Seoul since I can't find the return flights I want. Thinking of itinery SYD-ICN then HND-SYD, will it be 80K LM for J?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Looking at a SYD-HND trip next year. Pretty little available due to school holidays and snow season. Can one do an open jaw booking via LM? I thought I do a stopover in Seoul since I can't find the return flights I want. Thinking of itinery SYD-ICN then HND-SYD, will it be 80K LM for J?

Into ICN and out of HND will be an open jaw. No problems with that (it's basically just two x one way tickets).

You can't do stopovers... so GMP/ICN-HND/NRT will be at your own expense.

 

[cleaver]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Earlier in the year I booked 2 pax - PER-BKK on TG in J as one redemption, then BKK-FRA on TG in F as a second. The same thing on the way back - but leaving from LHR. Probably not the most efficient use of points, but there was no F SYD-BKK available.

Between the PER-BKK in J and and BKK-FRA in F there is about a 8hr+ layover. Ditto returning from LHR

My question is, has anyone ever tried to 'link' two lifemiles bookings? So the pax can be checked in from PER all the way to FRA and then LHR to PER on the way back. And get the associated buggy pickup etc.

Is it a matter of calling TG and asking that the PNRs be linked - or I am barking up the wrong tree?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Earlier in the year I booked 2 pax - PER-BKK on TG in J as one redemption, then BKK-FRA on TG in F as a second. The same thing on the way back - but leaving from LHR. Probably not the most efficient use of points, but there was no F SYD-BKK available.

Between the PER-BKK in J and and BKK-FRA in F there is about a 8hr+ layover. Ditto returning from LHR

My question is, has anyone ever tried to 'link' two lifemiles bookings? So the pax can be checked in from PER all the way to FRA and then LHR to PER on the way back. And get the associated buggy pickup etc.

Is it a matter of calling TG and asking that the PNRs be linked - or I am barking up the wrong tree?

There is no need to call, and no need to 'link' the bookings.

The through checking of baggage (and issuing of boarding passes) can be done at check-in by simply presenting both tickets, and advising the agent your final destination that day will be FRA (or SYD for the return).

Good question about the buggy pick up. I'd also get them to sort that out at the airport. When they give you your F boarding pass for the connection just ask them if they will send a note advising ground staff at BKK that you are a connecting F passenger.

 

[VAG newbie]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

Earlier in the year I booked 2 pax - PER-BKK on TG in J as one redemption, then BKK-FRA on TG in F as a second. The same thing on the way back - but leaving from LHR. Probably not the most efficient use of points, but there was no F SYD-BKK available.

Between the PER-BKK in J and and BKK-FRA in F there is about a 8hr+ layover. Ditto returning from LHR

My question is, has anyone ever tried to 'link' two lifemiles bookings? So the pax can be checked in from PER all the way to FRA and then LHR to PER on the way back. And get the associated buggy pickup etc.

Is it a matter of calling TG and asking that the PNRs be linked - or I am barking up the wrong tree?

You'll need to contact LM to ask them to link the 2 PNR as they are the one that issued the ticket. But if all you want is just for the baggage to through check to FRA, you don't need to link the 2 PNR. Just present both tickets at check-in at PER and request it be checked all the way to FRA, should have no problem.

 

[cleaver]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

You'll need to contact LM to ask them to link the 2 PNR as they are the one that issued the ticket. But if all you want is just for the baggage to through check to FRA, you don't need to link the 2 PNR. Just present both tickets at check-in at PER and request it be checked all the way to FRA, should have no problem.

There is no need to call, and no need to 'link' the bookings.

The through checking of baggage (and issuing of boarding passes) can be done at check-in by simply presenting both tickets, and advising the agent your final destination that day will be FRA (or SYD for the return).

Good question about the buggy pick up. I'd also get them to sort that out at the airport. When they give you your F boarding pass for the connection just ask them if they will send a note advising ground staff at BKK that you are a connecting F passenger.

It really makes no difference. All the 'linking' does is provide a note, which if searched for, will turn up the reference to another booking. But they're not going to read through the whole booking looking for the link unless you tell them to.

The important thing is that you present both bookings/tickets at check-in.

When you approach check-in in Australia and they ask where you are flying to, you say 'Bangkok and Koh Samui', and present your passports and the second ticket, and ask your bags to be tagged accordingly. You should also be able to be issued with a boarding pass for the USM flight (ie be checked in).

As I mentioned above, MCT for TGi->TGusm is 55 minutes (which is slightly less than other TGi->TGd connections). So you'd have almost an hour's worth of delay before it started to get tight. If you are delayed while in the air, you can ask the cabin crew to send a message to the ground in BKK to make sure they know you're coming.

Cheers to you both for saving me a fruitless phone call!

I also note MEL_Traveller's previous advice - that linking two PNR's doesn't really assist you in the event of your first flight being delayed - it is the checking-in for both flights at the same time that helps. I had always thought that it was the 'linking' of two flights that would lead to you being re-accommodated if your first flight was delayed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

I had always thought that it was the 'linking' of two flights that would lead to you being re-accommodated if your first flight was delayed.

Nope! 'Linking' itineraries will not generally create any benefits you would otherwise not have been entitled to because of separate tickets.

In fact I believe (happy to be corrected) that 'linking' itineraries is somewhat 'passive' in operation. There's no special 'warning' message created by linking... just if an agent reads far enough into the booking (like into the notes), they'll see a line there giving the PNR to the other booking. So essentially if they don't look, or don't look far enough, they won't see it.

Once you have checked in for both flights (linking or not linking), and the airline has accepted you for both flights, that may create some rights for reaccommodation in the event of a missconnect.

 

[Flashback]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

As we predicted.... some changes to the award chart: Avianca LifeMiles Star Alliance Award Chart Changes Effective October 21, 2015 | LoyaltyLobby

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

As we predicted.... some changes to the award chart: Avianca LifeMiles Star Alliance Award Chart Changes Effective October 21, 2015 | LoyaltyLobby

Points costs lowered going to/from Brazil for a couple of regions. Not big changes, and not particularly bad ones.

 

[cleaver]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

As we predicted.... some changes to the award chart: Avianca LifeMiles Star Alliance Award Chart Changes Effective October 21, 2015 | LoyaltyLobby

My heart did skip a beat for a moment as I imagined TG F skyrocketing in points required.

Phew!

 

[smit0847]

re: Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

My heart did skip a beat for a moment as I imagined TG F skyrocketing in points required.

Phew!

That was my thought too!