Lifemiles screenshot method

[juddles]

Hello all,

I am an avid LM miles collector, and now want to burn some. I understand there is a "screenshot method" that helps to get around the %%$#&?!! difficulties of using the LifeMiles booking system. Although I believe in members researching the knowledge that is included in the main Q&A thread on this topic, it has now grown to almost 7000 posts and I am lost. Is it possible anyone could give a shortened run-down of this technique?

I think this would immensely assist members, and would appreciate if someone could help here....

 

[drivatruk]

This has stopped me purchasing Lifemiles. It got too complicated to redeem them so i just buy United points now. More expensive but so easy to redeem online. I don't however do very complicated routes.

 

[Cynicor]

In short- if you have a route that you believe is legal and has availability:

Screenshot the full route with no availability.
Screenshot the individual sectors with availability.
Email the generic LM email with these and an explanation of what you want, when, miles to be used etc.
Get an email back that may or may not be what you wanted.
Call the number given to book.

 

[juddles]

Cynicor, forgive me for being thick (have been called that before!), but what I understand then is the following:

If I want to travel A - B - C, but a search on A - C shows no availability, but I can search A - B with availability, and also B - C with availability, then they may be able to help me do the full A - B - C booking? Is that the basics?

 

[Guvner]

Yes. Spot On

 

[jgm]

You also need to include in the email: the lifemiles number of the purchaser, names and D.O.B of all passengers, and coloured photos of the passports of all travellers.

 

[travelislife]

I provided a screen shot of my email and the process in the other thread. Was quite recent so should only be back a couple of pages.

 

[Cynicor]

Never done photos at all, and have done a few bookings.

 

[david1]

Here's the exact post: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....estions-discussion-40866-655.html#post1456761
And the picture:

@travelislife: Let me know if you're not happy with me copying your picture in here.

 

[travelislife]

David1 that's all good! I was on my iPhone so couldn't link it, thanks for that!

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Seems to be taking longer now too. I made a booking for May 2017 SYD - BKK - HND - LHR.

Emailed and it took 2 days to get a response and another 2 days to get email with ticket then another day to pay for it which was a 40 minute painful process.

I'm moving to LM for simple direct flights to asia and probally united more often for other trips.

 

[baggyred]

Anyone had success with a screenshot booking - simply to get a better itinerary when an existing option is already showing.

1 One example where the existing booking is a mixed cabin booking - and you can make an all business booking
2 other example where you want to extend a layover to longer than 12 hours
3 third option where you can do it in a much simpler fashion that a convoluted 4 stop booking that the LM engine comes up with (just with one layover > 8 hours)

 

[Abdul_A350]

Anyone had success with a screenshot booking - simply to get a better itinerary when an existing option is already showing.

1 One example where the existing booking is a mixed cabin booking - and you can make an all business booking
2 other example where you want to extend a layover to longer than 12 hours
3 third option where you can do it in a much simpler fashion that a convoluted 4 stop booking that the LM engine comes up with (just with one layover > 8 hours)

Part of the screenshot process requires you to show that nothing is available. That screen is easy to manufacture by (say) changing the time or specifying an airline that does not fly the route in question.

 

[baggyred]

Part of the screenshot process requires you to show that nothing is available. That screen is easy to manufacture by (say) changing the time or specifying an airline that does not fly the route in question.

Fair enough - it does seem odd that a mixed cabin booking would be considered sufficient.

But the work around you propose is easy enough.

Just trying to manufacture a 12 hour stopover in bangkok to go into town for a good thai feed!

 

[baggyred]

Part of the screenshot process requires you to show that nothing is available. That screen is easy to manufacture by (say) changing the time or specifying an airline that does not fly the route in question.

Hi Abdul - just to clarify - If I am looking for a flight say JFK -> Per and an economy award booking shows (40k points) and a First Award (111,000), but no business award - am I able to use screenshot for a business award ? Or does there have to be no availability at all in any class?

 

[Abdul_A350]

I think that is fine. For example, I just booked a TG SYD-BKK-HND F trip when other options were showing.

But can you not just find a way to make it look as if nothing is showing?

 

[Buzzard]

I put in a screenshot request on Monday. Haven't heard back yet.

 

[baggyred]

Ok - so one more q on the screenshot method.

The flight I need is three legs A-B-C-D

I can see A-B-C on one search and C-D on another.

When I screen shot - do I do A-B and B-C and C-D as 3 screenshots. or do I show

A-B-C on the one screenshot and then C-D on a second screenshot.

 

[Guvner]

I would do A-B-C and C-D do 2 screenshots as long as the routing was "legal".

 

[baggyred]

I would do A-B-C and C-D do 2 screenshots as long as the routing was "legal".

When you say legal - do you mean 8 hours transit? MPM? or something else?

I will be exceeding 8 hours - but hoping that should be ok as some have posted transits as long as 18 hours.

The routing I am looking at is likely JFK-TPE-BKK-PER