Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[boomy]

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

View attachment 145072

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

I had similar issues couple of days ago, either it errors after selecting flights or when system trys to process the payment. On two separate occasions flights disappeared when searched again (phantom availability maybe) but on third occasion flight was still there.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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

View attachment 145072

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

All sorts of things can cuase this. It might actually be as simple as waiting for a few minutes, or changing your selection from the drop down box (for example instead of 'smart choice' select the specific airline you want). It can also be more endemic... last year when Air China wasn't bookable at all it would still show some flights, but then you'd get the error screen. It was there, but just not bookable at all (even with screenshots).

 

[Mattg]

Well the Black Friday sale may be over now, but Avianca has already brought out another promo. This one is not as good as the last one though - up to 130% bonus miles, and you have to buy at least 101,000 miles to get the full bonus amount.

 

[burmans]

Well the Black Friday sale may be over now, but Avianca has already brought out another promo. This one is not as good as the last one though - up to 130% bonus miles, and you have to buy at least 101,000 miles to get the full bonus amount.

Agree, the value to me wasnt buying a huge amount, it was buying a relatively small amount and resetting my expiry date with a good bonus.

 

[hankahanka]

Hi everyone,

If I'm using the screenshot method, do I need to have the full balance of miles, or can I still also use the buy-up?

Cheers

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi everyone,

If I'm using the screenshot method, do I need to have the full balance of miles, or can I still also use the buy-up?

Cheers

You should specify the number of miles you wish to use, and the number of miles to top up. Otherwise LM will calculate using all your available miles (you can change that when they call you though.)

Using all your available miles can make the top up part very expensive if you haven’t hit the sweet spot!

 

[MaxLaughton]

I was planning on booking a trip to Japan for next November (have done so before and have already purchased the miles) but I'm keen on going to Seoul this time as well. I was figuring I'd keep it simple and just do MEL-BKK-NRT or KIX and back, while doing economy flights to ICN in the middle of the trip, but then I figured I should check whether it would be allowed to do a MEL-BKK-NRT/KIX (stay for 2 weeks)-ICN (stay for 1 week)-back to MEL itinerary. Does anyone know if that would be allowed/possible or should I not bother?

Alternatively would it be possible to do MEL-BKK-NRT/KIX (stay for 2 weeks)-ICN (stay for 1 week) and then repeat that in reverse as the return (except without the stays)?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You cannot have stopovers on LM awards. All awards will have to be restricted to a max 24 hour transit. (you can ticket a multi stop ticket using LM, but it will be priced as separate sectors)

 

[futaris]

No stopovers on Lifemiles. Try using Alaska Air miles, or United Miles.

Alternatively, just buy a seat on a LCC. Peach Air flies between KIX-ICN and HND-ICN. Jeju Air is another LCC that flies in that region.

 

[LuisT]

Wondering if anyone's had any luck issuing an infant ticket on LH for a lifemiles redemption? Tried LH 3 times and each agent said they could not do it due to the tickets being on avianca/taca stock...

 

[NZflygirl]

I saw an article about Avianca Brasil declaring bankruptcy. I'm guessing it's more of a branch of Avianca and won't have any effect on Lifemiles?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I saw an article about Avianca Brasil declaring bankruptcy. I'm guessing it's more of a branch of Avianca and won't have any effect on Lifemiles?

Seems ok. Avianca Brazil has filed for bankruptcy protection and will keep flying for now. Avianca Brazil is a subsidiary of the parent company which also owns Avainca colombia.

Problems stem, it seems, for having to pay fuel in USD, but avianca brazil is only getting revenue in local currency.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Seems ok. Avianca Brazil has filed for bankruptcy protection and will keep flying for now. Avianca Brazil is a subsidiary of the parent company which also owns Avainca colombia.

Problems stem, it seems, for having to pay fuel in USD, but avianca brazil is only getting revenue in local currency.

And not allowed to charge fuel fines?

 

[Gold Member]

145% bonus for two days (Dec 28-30) no minimum! https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/ear/tra/traneepur.aspx

Edit: Appears to be targetted.

 

[Buzzard]

145% bonus for two days (Dec 28-30) no minimum! https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/ear/tra/traneepur.aspx

Edit: Appears to be targetted.

Perhaps for those that purchased during the recent 140% promo. I didn't need any then but do now.
Such is Life(miles)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

145% bonus for two days (Dec 28-30) no minimum! https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/ear/tra/traneepur.aspx

Edit: Appears to be targetted.

Yup. I bought miles last time but no offer this time.

 

[boomy]

145% bonus for two days (Dec 28-30) no minimum! https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/ear/tra/traneepur.aspx

Edit: Appears to be targetted.

First time in a long time I’m not being targeted for LM promo. No regrets as I’ve maxed out the buy limit on all the family accounts for this year.

 

[boomy]

Anyone who deals with Lifemiles know they are bureaucratic mess but sometimes it works in our favour.

Called to cancel two tickets recently and was told it’s going to cost $200 USD per ticket, which was correct. Then I was transferred to another department to process the request and there was told cancellation fee is $50 per ticket (like in the good old days). Played cool, said yea ok whatever, let’s do this. Few minutes later got text from my CC confirms $100 USD charge.

This little win is small compensation for some frustrating dealings I had with LM over the last few weeks trying (unsuccessfully so far) to get miles back for cabin downgrade on another booking.

 

[RooFlyer]

Avianca LifeMiles are 'upgrading their system' (shiver ) - Feb 1 to Feb 5. Redemption and bookings are unavailable during that time.

(And personally I wouldn't bank on using it for a day or so after that!)

 

[I love to travel]

Heaven help us for the upgraded system