Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[Buzzard]

I'm waiting too! Got a reply within an hour saying it had been forwarded. Will wait to see how long it takes. Unfortunately I just found a better routing and don't know whether to cancel my exisiting (however one does that) or just suck it up.

Is the better routing bookable on line?
If so just do it and when you get the phone call regarding the screen shot just let the agent know you don't want to proceed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is the better routing bookable on line?
If so just do it and when you get the phone call regarding the screen shot just let the agent know you don't want to proceed.

No, unfortunately not

Really am in two minds whether or not to reply to their message with new flights... don’t want to mess things up.

 

[boomy]

Regarding screenshots waiting time, I have a little trick that I use when it takes them too long for them to reply:

I call LM saying I have to process payment, they ask for reservation details and I give PNR of existing or canceled reservation saying there was problem processing the payment/refund. After being transferred I change the subject to my pending request which they can usually see on their system and if flights are still available they will book and take payment on the spot.

It’s not FailProof method but works for me so far.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Regarding screenshots waiting time, I have a little trick that I use when it takes them too long for them to reply:

I call LM saying I have to process payment, they ask for reservation details and I give PNR of existing or canceled reservation saying there was problem processing the payment/refund. After being transferred I change the subject to my pending request which they can usually see on their system and if flights are still available they will book and take payment on the spot.

It’s not FailProof method but works for me so far.

Yes well. Maybe I should have done this yesterday

Since TG has been back on UA the seats seem to have gone PDQ.

I've had a request in with LM since Wednesday their time - they haven't sent me an itinerary and now everything exBKK has gone around m dates. Possibly, hopefully, they have actually booked the seat and created a PNR just it's with the 'specialized department' for pricing *hopeful look*

 

[boomy]

Yes well. Maybe I should have done this yesterday

Since TG has been back on UA the seats seem to have gone PDQ.

I've had a request in with LM since Wednesday their time - they haven't sent me an itinerary and now everything exBKK has gone around m dates. Possibly, hopefully, they have actually booked the seat and created a PNR just it's with the 'specialized department' for pricing *hopeful look*

Not sure how it works ex-BKK but I had couple of requests last year that included TG flights from Australia and when seats became unavailable (sometimes it happens a day or two after sending screenshots) LM sent me itineraries with SQ J instead.
Once it was ex-SYD via CBR and SIN to BKK instead of direct flight on TG F so obviously didn’t go for it but the other time it was ex-BNE via SIN to BKK instead of direct flight on TG J which was fair exchange.
On both occasions SQ flights didn’t show on LM.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure how it works ex-BKK but I had couple of requests last year that included TG flights from Australia and when seats became unavailable (sometimes it happens a day or two after sending screenshots) LM sent me itineraries with SQ J instead.
Once it was ex-SYD via CBR and SIN to BKK instead of direct flight on TG F so obviously didn’t go for it but the other time it was ex-BNE via SIN to BKK instead of direct flight on TG J which was fair exchange.
On both occasions SQ flights didn’t show on LM.

Hopefully. Out of Europe in September/October seems to be fairly tight, although OSL/CPH/ARN/VIE have good availability (this is for TG). VIE has the awful 787 seats though, so best avoided if possible. OPut of BKK is blocked out for days at a time now.

 

[boomy]

VIE has the awful 787 seats though, so best avoided if possible.

Not a big fan of TG 787 J myself but was happy to see them swapping 772 recliners to BNE with 787 later this year.

 

[I love to travel]

TG posted huge loss last year re OMAAT post if interested. I wonder what impact this will have on TG redemptions via LM

 

[MEL_Traveller]

TG posted huge loss last year re OMAAT post if interested. I wonder what impact this will have on TG redemptions via LM

Probably none. Award seats are seats the airline doesn't believe it can sell (based on historical loadings). At least through LM - or any other program - they get some revenue for the seat.

 

[boomy]

TG posted huge loss last year re OMAAT post if interested. I wonder what impact this will have on TG redemptions via LM

The airline is run badly for years, doesn’t look like the king cares too much about profit. hopefully he will order to keep the money losing A380s and B747s with first class.

 

[burmans]

The airline is run badly for years, doesn’t look like the king cares too much about profit. hopefully he will order to keep the money losing A380s and B747s with first class.

Long may it continue!

 

[Buzzard]

Does anybody have a link for the latest award chart please?
The link I have no longer works with the new website and I can't find it on the new site either.
TIA

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It’s not there anymore. You can google... a couple of the bloggers have it cached within articles on their site (there are a couple of versions, pick the one that suits you better).

 

[boomy]

And here it is, like clockwork:

Special LifeMiles Promo For OMAAT Readers - Buy Miles For 1.375 Cents Each! - One Mile at a Time

140% is not amazing but definitely in the buy zone.

 

[diningdecadence]

any guesses what F would price for the following route SYD-BKK-NRT-IAH?

UA is pricing it as 2 awards, wondering if I'd get away with it as 1 with Lifemiles?

 

[boomy]

any guesses what F would price for the following route SYD-BKK-NRT-IAH?

UA is pricing it as 2 awards, wondering if I'd get away with it as 1 with Lifemiles?

Should not be a problem. I booked SYD-BKK-ICN-LAX all in F before in one PNR using screenshots.

It’s a classic example why the screenshots method is to our benefit as other sites like UA won’t offer this routing and good luck convincing them to book something that doesn’t show online...

 

[diningdecadence]

Should not be a problem. I booked SYD-BKK-ICN-LAX all in F before in one PNR using screenshots.

It’s a classic example why the screenshots method is to our benefit as other sites like UA won’t offer this routing and good luck convincing them to book something that doesn’t show online...

do you remember what the base miles cost was? (NRT-IAH is showing 90k)

also assume that going via Europe would def. be 2 awards?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

do you remember what the base miles cost was? (NRT-IAH is showing 90k)

also assume that going via Europe would def. be 2 awards?

The mileage is the AU-USA award level.

You could try and route via Europe, and that would be the same award level too. It doesn't hurt to try, but they could reject it for a couple of reasons (indirect routing, number of connections etc). East coast would be more likely to be approved than west coast for example.

 

[boomy]

do you remember what the base miles cost was? (NRT-IAH is showing 90k)

also assume that going via Europe would def. be 2 awards?

111k miles per person according to my post from 2017.

Avianca Life Miles - post your SUCCESSFUL award bookings here

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure how it works ex-BKK but I had couple of requests last year that included TG flights from Australia and when seats became unavailable (sometimes it happens a day or two after sending screenshots) LM sent me itineraries with SQ J instead.
Once it was ex-SYD via CBR and SIN to BKK instead of direct flight on TG F so obviously didn’t go for it but the other time it was ex-BNE via SIN to BKK instead of direct flight on TG J which was fair exchange.
On both occasions SQ flights didn’t show on LM.

10 days to create a booking from the time of sending in a screenshot. But exBKK the solution was as you suggested.