Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[Penny]

It looks like points + pay redemptions also extend the validity of miles

Really?
That sounds almost too good to be true. Are you speaking from experience?
Points and pay for flights is my preferred way of using Lifemiles.
Thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Really?
That sounds almost too good to be true. Are you speaking from experience?
Points and pay for flights is my preferred way of using Lifemiles.
Thanks

I guess in theory that makes sense... the mileage account summary shows top-up miles as 'earned'.

Given the above discussion I also looked at my miles expiry date - it shows March 2020. Not shure how that's even possible as I've well and truly used any miles purchased before April 2018. So it should only have 12 months. Wonder if there is still a single old mile left? Or if it's a potential glitch.

 

[futaris]

https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/pdf/ODs-Discounts-Star-Alliance-Nov18.pdf

Crazy Opportunity: Fly First Class Suites To Asia Under $1000 By Buying Miles...

 

[boomy]

https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/pdf/ODs-Discounts-Star-Alliance-Nov18.pdf

Crazy Opportunity: Fly First Class Suites To Asia Under $1000 By Buying Miles...

Another blogger making clickbait headlines.
USA-Asia 72k in F is nice but not really a “crazy opportunity”. Even better value is USA-Asia-AUS 115k with 3xF and that is available all year round!

 

[drron]

And which airline that has first class "suites" on those routes can you book with Life Miles.
SQ-Cant get them now using KF miles.
ANA-Availability has really dried up recently.Was trying for LM awards on ANA for next sept/oct and not one on any day from any US airport.Previously could always get 2 F awards out of IAH.
The other Star airlines I really wouldn't consider suites.

 

[boomy]

And which airline that has first class "suites" on those routes can you book with Life Miles.
SQ-Cant get them now using KF miles.
ANA-Availability has really dried up recently.Was trying for LM awards on ANA for next sept/oct and not one on any day from any US airport.Previously could always get 2 F awards out of IAH.
The other Star airlines I really wouldn't consider suites.

ANA doesn’t have suites AFAIK. The only *A carriers with real F suites are Singapore and Asiana. The latter you can book using LM.

 

[boomy]

This is not good! When did F go up from 115k to 120k?

 

[I love to travel]

This is not good! When did F go up from 115k to 120k?

View attachment 144972

Well that is interesting. Lots of sales too recently from LM for seat redemptions eg ICN to JFK reduced by about 20k points. Hopefully a glitch. I have to say you did well to get the seat. I am out of LM game until availability consistently improves

 

[boomy]

I am out of LM game until availability consistently improves

You mean availability on *A in general or specifically with LM?

Surprisingly availability on TG F remains solid despite the 50% reduction in seats to SYD. I’ve just sent screenshots for 2xF SYD-LHR. Looking forward to see how many miles they are going to quote me...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This is not good! When did F go up from 115k to 120k?

View attachment 144972

That's interesting. Departures ex AU have been attracting a 10K surcharge for quite a while now. Given EU->AU is 115K, I always thought the reverse was going to be 125K. Obviously the chart says differently at 115K! (although that does seem inconsistent)

 

[I love to travel]

You mean availability on *A in general or specifically with LM?

With LM specifically. Availability shows on United and Lufthansa nada on LM

 

[boomy]

@I love to travel If availability shows on UA it should also show on LM BUT you must search each sector individually. For example SYD-LHR search on UA will come up with multiple results via BKK, ICN etc. Searching the same route and same date on LM will come up with nothing or just SQ Y but it doesn’t mean there are no other options, it just means the LM system will only show up to 8h connections despite the fact they allow up to 24h. In this case screenshots will have to be used.

I’m happy to be corrected because I haven’t searched every possible route but from what I’ve seen so far availability on LM should match what you’ll see on UA.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’m happy to be corrected because I haven’t searched every possible route but from what I’ve seen so far availability on LM should match what you’ll see on UA.

TG yes, but one major exception if LH F. Even if LH F is available daily on UA's tool, LM may only have patchy availability (like for example 3 days out of the week instead of 7).

LM is also not showing all SQ availability - for example out of CBR in April it is showing on UA but nothing on LM.

 

[boomy]

TG yes, but one major exception if LH F. Even if LH F is available daily on UA's tool, LM may only have patchy availability (like for example 3 days out of the week instead of 7).

LM is also not showing all SQ availability - for example out of CBR in April it is showing on UA but nothing on LM.

If so must be relatively recent change/glitch?
Last time I’ve searched and booked LH F in August availability was 1:1 on LM and I remember SQ288 was wide open not so long ago.

I do agree LM system is terrible and glitchy, however the screenshots method allows more “creative” routings that would not be possible on UA.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If so must be relatively recent change/glitch?
Last time I’ve searched and booked LH F in August availability was 1:1 on LM and I remember SQ288 was wide open not so long ago.

I do agree LM system is terrible and glitchy, however the screenshots method allows more “creative” routings that would not be possible on UA.

At least the last two+ years LH F ex USA hasn’t matched United’s availability. Unfortunately UA charges through the roof so LM is still my go to, but can be hard to find. In July this year LH to Asia wasn’t matching.

 

[boomy]

At least the last two+ years LH F ex USA hasn’t matched United’s availability. Unfortunately UA charges through the roof so LM is still my go to, but can be hard to find. In July this year LH to Asia wasn’t matching.

Ok make sense now. All my bookings were ex-Germany and availability was fine. What do you mean by high UA charge, isn’t it just 5k over LM for J (90k) and same in F (115k)?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ok make sense now. All my bookings were ex-Germany and availability was fine. What do you mean by high UA charge, isn’t it just 5k over LM for J (90k) and same in F (115k)?

ex USA UA charges 110k to europe... very expensive compared to LM’s 87k. Plus LM miles much cheaper than UA!

Just doing the math on that UA = USD2068 one way cf LM @ USD1170 one way. Huge difference (i buy IA miles at the 100% bonus which i think worked out at around 0.0188 cents each)

 

[boomy]

ex USA UA charges 110k to europe... very expensive compared to LM’s 87k. Plus LM miles much cheaper than UA!

Just doing the math on that UA = USD2068 one way cf LM @ USD1170 one way. Huge difference (i buy IA miles at the 100% bonus which i think worked out at around 0.0188 cents each)

UA miles are expensive! I stopped buying when they started the promo with Hertz and now use them as backup. If you travel frequently to the US maybe AS miles can be an alternative when LM doesn’t show results.

 

[Marsonline]

Well that is interesting. Lots of sales too recently from LM for seat redemptions eg ICN to JFK reduced by about 20k points. Hopefully a glitch. I have to say you did well to get the seat. I am out of LM game until availability consistently improves

It's just part of their Black Friday Sale.

 

[RooFlyer]

Anyone else having problems making on-line bookings? This morning I'm getting



... when i progress from selecting flights. Is this a case of just wait a while? its a straightforward booking, 2 sectors, selectable on-line.