What to do with expiring LifeMiles

[aikman]

I have 26,000 Lifemiles expiring this month. Any suggestions on what I can do with it? I am hesitant to buy more because I'll probably have to keep doing it year after year until the borders reopen. It doesn't even look like they have any AirNZ inventory for MEL-N.Z. or vice versa.

 

[RB]

I did a minimum buy yesterday to keep mine alive. I had hoped to have finished my relationship but got a refund from a planned trip. I figure the buy was a cheap bet

 

[Mattg]

I have 26,000 Lifemiles expiring this month. Any suggestions on what I can do with it? I am hesitant to buy more because I'll probably have to keep doing it year after year until the borders reopen. It doesn't even look like they have any AirNZ inventory for MEL-N.Z. or vice versa.

I would probably just buy the minimum amount this month to keep them ticking over for another year.

Air NZ does release availability sometimes (I flew AKL-PER last week using Star Alliance miles) but it is sporadic. Keep looking every now and again as availability may return.

 

[Notyourbag]

I would probably just buy the minimum amount this month to keep them ticking over for another year.

Air NZ does release availability sometimes (I flew AKL-PER last week using Star Alliance miles) but it is sporadic. Keep looking every now and again as availability may return.

Out of curiousity, Could you book and pay directly or need to call Avianca to finalise the booking with Air NZ?

 

[luxury-lizard]

Another idea to extend expiry is transfer hotel points to LM - most major hotel programs support this and if you're anything like me you'll have 'orphan' points sitting in some program or the other (mine was Marriott).

 

[luxury-lizard]

Also - while you may never get around to using these points (26,000 won't get you very far) - you can use them for another person (unlike some programs LM doesn't limit who you can use your points for) - if you buy extra points on booking you could get one-way to Asia when travel opens up again.

 

[Mattg]

Out of curiousity, Could you book and pay directly or need to call Avianca to finalise the booking with Air NZ?

I booked with KrisFlyer miles, but at the time the seats were also available on the LifeMiles website. (Didn't try booking with Avianca so can't answer your question.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought lifemiles was auto-extending all miles, on a rolling basis? Can't seem to find the email though as I'd already topped up.

26K is a fair whack of points when using their points+pay (add another AUD300 worth of points and you have a business class flight one way from Asia to Oz). If you need I'd buy the 1000 miles to top up the account and keep the miles active.

 

[Mattg]

I thought lifemiles was auto-extending all miles, on a rolling basis? Can't seem to find the email though as I'd already topped up.

They were, but only until 31 July 2021.

See here:

https://www.avianca.com/otr/en/experience/lifemiles-program/

Mileage validity​

We have extended the validity of your expiring miles until July 31st, 2021 to give you more time to take advantage of them.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks Matt!

 

[Gold Member]

I made a hotel points booking (made sure it was fully refundable) and then cancelled the reservation. Points in and out of my account within minutes and the miles expiration extended another 12 months. $0 alternative to buying 1,000 miles every time.

 

[Mattg]

I made a hotel points booking (made sure it was fully refundable) and then cancelled the reservation. Points in and out of my account within minutes and the miles expiration extended another 12 months. $0 alternative to buying 1,000 miles every time.

That's smart!

 

[aikman]

I made a hotel points booking (made sure it was fully refundable) and then cancelled the reservation. Points in and out of my account within minutes and the miles expiration extended another 12 months. $0 alternative to buying 1,000 miles every time.

Thank you! You just saved me $45.

 

[burmans]

Great idea!

 

[NDiddy]

I made a hotel points booking (made sure it was fully refundable) and then cancelled the reservation. Points in and out of my account within minutes and the miles expiration extended another 12 months. $0 alternative to buying 1,000 miles every time.

How long did it take for your miles expiration to be extended. Just tried booking a refundable hotel booking which was successful but the expiration date is still showing 31 July 2021.

 

[kpc]

How long did it take for your miles expiration to be extended. Just tried booking a refundable hotel booking which was successful but the expiration date is still showing 31 July 2021.

Ditto for me...so I made another booking past my expiring date in July

 

[NDiddy]

Ditto for me...so I made another booking past my expiring date in July

The booking I made was for Oct 18 :/

 

[kpc]

The booking I made was for Oct 18 :/

I didn't cancel the hotel booking and used up just about all my miles so the points can't expire end of July...not sure what would happen if I cancel after July. I might TF 3000 Marriott for 1000 Avianca LM if above does not work

 

[aikman]

The expiry date doesn't get extended when you spend miles.

It is only after you cancel the hotel booking and the miles get redeposited to your account that the expiry date gets extended.

 

[NDiddy]

The expiry date doesn't get extended when you spend miles.

It is only after you cancel the hotel booking and the miles get redeposited to your account that the expiry date gets extended.

Doesnt look like that worked either. Cancelled booking - Logged out - Logged back in - Miles redeposited but expiration date still showing as expiring 31 Jul 2021