Cancelling Avianca Award Flights - Not flying is cheaper than buying miles
Oct 10, 2012, 12:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
Cancelling Avianca Award Flights - Not flying is cheaper than buying miles
Cancelling an Avianca Lifemiles award
update - Apparently "Google-talk" can be useful as it can transmit the credit-card number faultlessly.
1. This will take 20-30 minutes and costs $50
2. You have to pay the $50 up front and will need to have your credit card handy
3. You will need a PIN number for the call center. You set up the PIN online by changing your "information and preferences". Note that this has 3 pages but you only need to change the "Manage the Basics" page and hit "Save". The progress-bar at the top never seems to reach 100% but it doesn't matter. There are two places to press "Save and continue" when you give the PIN. The top button doesn't work. You have to click on the one on the bottom of the screen
4. Call the USA reservations number preferably during business hours +1 800 284 2622
5. Key 2 for English (or 1 for Spanish), 3 for Lifemiles/Corporate, then 1 for Lifemiles
6. If you have got a noisy phone line, hang up and go back to step 4. It is possible to get a good line even from overseas.
7. With luck, someone coherent will answer. If not, don't waste your time, HUACA
8. Give them the PNR to be cancelled
9. [not any more] You will get a sales pitch encouraging you to change the flight to another date which would cost $150, rather than cancel. Insist on cancelling.
10. You will be asked "do you have a PIN". say yes. You will be put on hold
11. You will be connected to an automated system to key in your PIN. Don't press # afterwards. [Sometimes they dont ask for the PIN any more]
12. You will be asked to pay the $50 via an automated system. You'll be asked for your CC number, then you must repeat it. Don't press # afterwards. Then the expiry month, then year, then the id number. Be ready to rattle through the keys as any hesitation causes the system to think you've finished. So, typically you will need 2-3 attempts. [The operator listens in on the automated process and helps you along if you don’t key in the right numbers]
13. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes while the card is checked. It may fail the first time, for no reason. Go back to step 12.
14. Once the CC is confirmed the operator will ask you for the full billing address, then your name as it appears on the card, then the name of the bank which issued the card.
15. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
16. The operator will confirm the cancellation, or rather confirm it will be put in the queue for manual cancellation.
17. After 24 hours or so, you should receive an E Mail receipt for the $50 (could be in Spanish)
18. Miles will be refunded within 2-3 days, as if you had paid using the maximum miles with no cash
19. The taxes - fairly modest - will be refunded in full since you already paid the cancellation fee up front. The refund should hit the CC within a week or so. No refund for the $25 booking fee.
20. AFAIK the cash will be refunded to the original card not the one you just gave them.
[Thanks to SMK77 for the updates]
Last edited by harryhv; Aug 14, 2013 at 5:28 pm
Oct 10, 2012, 8:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Cancelling an Avianca Lifemiles award
1. This will take 20-30 minutes and costs $50
2. You have to pay the $50 up front and will need to have your credit card handy
3. You will need a PIN number for the call center. You set up the PIN online by changing your "information and preferences". Note that this has 3 pages but you only need to change the "Manage the Basics" page and hit "Save". The progress-bar at the top never seems to reach 100% but it doesn't matter.
4. Call the USA reservations number preferably during business hours +1 800 284 2622
5. Key 2 for English (or 1 for Spanish), 3 for Lifemiles/Corporate, then 1 for Lifemiles
6. If you have got a noisy phone line, hang up and go back to step 4. It is possible to get a good line even from overseas.
7. With luck, someone coherent will answer. If not, don't waste your time, HUACA
8. Give them the PNR to be cancelled
9. You will get a sales pitch encouraging you to change the flight to another date which would cost $150, rather than cancel. Insist on cancelling.
10. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
11. You will be connected to an automated system to key in your PIN. Don't press # afterwards.
12. You will be asked to pay the $50 via an automated system. You'll be asked for your CC number, then you must repeat it. Don't press # afterwards. Then the expiry month, then year, then the id number. Be ready to rattle through the keys as any hesitation causes the system to think you've finished. So, typically you will need 2-3 attempts.
13. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes while the card is checked. It may fail the first time, for no reason. Go back to step 12.
14. Once the CC is confirmed the operator will ask you for the full billing address, then your name as it appears on the card, then the name of the bank which issued the card.
15. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
16. The operator will confirm the cancellation, or rather confirm it will be put in the queue for manual cancellation.
17. After 24 hours or so, you should receive an E Mail receipt for the $50 (could be in Spanish)
18. Miles will be refunded within 2-3 days, as if you had paid using the maximum miles with no cash. So if you had booked using cash + miles, you will effectively have bought some more miles cheaply.
19. The taxes - fairly modest - will be refunded in full since you already paid the cancellation fee up front. The refund should hit the CC within a week or so.
20. AFAIK the cash will be refunded to the original card not the one you just gave them.
1. This will take 20-30 minutes and costs $50
2. You have to pay the $50 up front and will need to have your credit card handy
3. You will need a PIN number for the call center. You set up the PIN online by changing your "information and preferences". Note that this has 3 pages but you only need to change the "Manage the Basics" page and hit "Save". The progress-bar at the top never seems to reach 100% but it doesn't matter.
4. Call the USA reservations number preferably during business hours +1 800 284 2622
5. Key 2 for English (or 1 for Spanish), 3 for Lifemiles/Corporate, then 1 for Lifemiles
6. If you have got a noisy phone line, hang up and go back to step 4. It is possible to get a good line even from overseas.
7. With luck, someone coherent will answer. If not, don't waste your time, HUACA
8. Give them the PNR to be cancelled
9. You will get a sales pitch encouraging you to change the flight to another date which would cost $150, rather than cancel. Insist on cancelling.
10. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
11. You will be connected to an automated system to key in your PIN. Don't press # afterwards.
12. You will be asked to pay the $50 via an automated system. You'll be asked for your CC number, then you must repeat it. Don't press # afterwards. Then the expiry month, then year, then the id number. Be ready to rattle through the keys as any hesitation causes the system to think you've finished. So, typically you will need 2-3 attempts.
13. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes while the card is checked. It may fail the first time, for no reason. Go back to step 12.
14. Once the CC is confirmed the operator will ask you for the full billing address, then your name as it appears on the card, then the name of the bank which issued the card.
15. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
16. The operator will confirm the cancellation, or rather confirm it will be put in the queue for manual cancellation.
17. After 24 hours or so, you should receive an E Mail receipt for the $50 (could be in Spanish)
18. Miles will be refunded within 2-3 days, as if you had paid using the maximum miles with no cash. So if you had booked using cash + miles, you will effectively have bought some more miles cheaply.
19. The taxes - fairly modest - will be refunded in full since you already paid the cancellation fee up front. The refund should hit the CC within a week or so.
20. AFAIK the cash will be refunded to the original card not the one you just gave them.
This should be a sticky.
Oct 11, 2012, 3:55 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1
Cancelling an Avianca Lifemiles award
1. This will take 20-30 minutes and costs $50
2. You have to pay the $50 up front and will need to have your credit card handy
3. You will need a PIN number for the call center. You set up the PIN online by changing your "information and preferences". Note that this has 3 pages but you only need to change the "Manage the Basics" page and hit "Save". The progress-bar at the top never seems to reach 100% but it doesn't matter.
4. Call the USA reservations number preferably during business hours +1 800 284 2622
5. Key 2 for English (or 1 for Spanish), 3 for Lifemiles/Corporate, then 1 for Lifemiles
6. If you have got a noisy phone line, hang up and go back to step 4. It is possible to get a good line even from overseas.
7. With luck, someone coherent will answer. If not, don't waste your time, HUACA
8. Give them the PNR to be cancelled
9. You will get a sales pitch encouraging you to change the flight to another date which would cost $150, rather than cancel. Insist on cancelling.
10. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
11. You will be connected to an automated system to key in your PIN. Don't press # afterwards.
12. You will be asked to pay the $50 via an automated system. You'll be asked for your CC number, then you must repeat it. Don't press # afterwards. Then the expiry month, then year, then the id number. Be ready to rattle through the keys as any hesitation causes the system to think you've finished. So, typically you will need 2-3 attempts.
13. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes while the card is checked. It may fail the first time, for no reason. Go back to step 12.
14. Once the CC is confirmed the operator will ask you for the full billing address, then your name as it appears on the card, then the name of the bank which issued the card.
15. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
16. The operator will confirm the cancellation, or rather confirm it will be put in the queue for manual cancellation.
17. After 24 hours or so, you should receive an E Mail receipt for the $50 (could be in Spanish)
18. Miles will be refunded within 2-3 days, as if you had paid using the maximum miles with no cash. So if you had booked using cash + miles, you will effectively have bought some more miles cheaply.
19. The taxes - fairly modest - will be refunded in full since you already paid the cancellation fee up front. The refund should hit the CC within a week or so.
20. AFAIK the cash will be refunded to the original card not the one you just gave them.
1. This will take 20-30 minutes and costs $50
2. You have to pay the $50 up front and will need to have your credit card handy
3. You will need a PIN number for the call center. You set up the PIN online by changing your "information and preferences". Note that this has 3 pages but you only need to change the "Manage the Basics" page and hit "Save". The progress-bar at the top never seems to reach 100% but it doesn't matter.
4. Call the USA reservations number preferably during business hours +1 800 284 2622
5. Key 2 for English (or 1 for Spanish), 3 for Lifemiles/Corporate, then 1 for Lifemiles
6. If you have got a noisy phone line, hang up and go back to step 4. It is possible to get a good line even from overseas.
7. With luck, someone coherent will answer. If not, don't waste your time, HUACA
8. Give them the PNR to be cancelled
9. You will get a sales pitch encouraging you to change the flight to another date which would cost $150, rather than cancel. Insist on cancelling.
10. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
11. You will be connected to an automated system to key in your PIN. Don't press # afterwards.
12. You will be asked to pay the $50 via an automated system. You'll be asked for your CC number, then you must repeat it. Don't press # afterwards. Then the expiry month, then year, then the id number. Be ready to rattle through the keys as any hesitation causes the system to think you've finished. So, typically you will need 2-3 attempts.
13. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes while the card is checked. It may fail the first time, for no reason. Go back to step 12.
14. Once the CC is confirmed the operator will ask you for the full billing address, then your name as it appears on the card, then the name of the bank which issued the card.
15. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
16. The operator will confirm the cancellation, or rather confirm it will be put in the queue for manual cancellation.
17. After 24 hours or so, you should receive an E Mail receipt for the $50 (could be in Spanish)
18. Miles will be refunded within 2-3 days, as if you had paid using the maximum miles with no cash. So if you had booked using cash + miles, you will effectively have bought some more miles cheaply.
19. The taxes - fairly modest - will be refunded in full since you already paid the cancellation fee up front. The refund should hit the CC within a week or so.
20. AFAIK the cash will be refunded to the original card not the one you just gave them.
Thanks for sharing your idea in detail.
Any online procedure do you recommend?
Oct 11, 2012, 4:07 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 989
Cancelling an Avianca Lifemiles award
1. This will take 20-30 minutes and costs $50
2. You have to pay the $50 up front and will need to have your credit card handy
3. You will need a PIN number for the call center. You set up the PIN online by changing your "information and preferences". Note that this has 3 pages but you only need to change the "Manage the Basics" page and hit "Save". The progress-bar at the top never seems to reach 100% but it doesn't matter.
4. Call the USA reservations number preferably during business hours +1 800 284 2622
5. Key 2 for English (or 1 for Spanish), 3 for Lifemiles/Corporate, then 1 for Lifemiles
6. If you have got a noisy phone line, hang up and go back to step 4. It is possible to get a good line even from overseas.
7. With luck, someone coherent will answer. If not, don't waste your time, HUACA
8. Give them the PNR to be cancelled
9. You will get a sales pitch encouraging you to change the flight to another date which would cost $150, rather than cancel. Insist on cancelling.
10. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
11. You will be connected to an automated system to key in your PIN. Don't press # afterwards.
12. You will be asked to pay the $50 via an automated system. You'll be asked for your CC number, then you must repeat it. Don't press # afterwards. Then the expiry month, then year, then the id number. Be ready to rattle through the keys as any hesitation causes the system to think you've finished. So, typically you will need 2-3 attempts.
13. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes while the card is checked. It may fail the first time, for no reason. Go back to step 12.
14. Once the CC is confirmed the operator will ask you for the full billing address, then your name as it appears on the card, then the name of the bank which issued the card.
15. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
16. The operator will confirm the cancellation, or rather confirm it will be put in the queue for manual cancellation.
17. After 24 hours or so, you should receive an E Mail receipt for the $50 (could be in Spanish)
18. Miles will be refunded within 2-3 days, as if you had paid using the maximum miles with no cash. So if you had booked using cash + miles, you will effectively have bought some more miles cheaply.
19. The taxes - fairly modest - will be refunded in full since you already paid the cancellation fee up front. The refund should hit the CC within a week or so.
20. AFAIK the cash will be refunded to the original card not the one you just gave them.
1. This will take 20-30 minutes and costs $50
2. You have to pay the $50 up front and will need to have your credit card handy
3. You will need a PIN number for the call center. You set up the PIN online by changing your "information and preferences". Note that this has 3 pages but you only need to change the "Manage the Basics" page and hit "Save". The progress-bar at the top never seems to reach 100% but it doesn't matter.
4. Call the USA reservations number preferably during business hours +1 800 284 2622
5. Key 2 for English (or 1 for Spanish), 3 for Lifemiles/Corporate, then 1 for Lifemiles
6. If you have got a noisy phone line, hang up and go back to step 4. It is possible to get a good line even from overseas.
7. With luck, someone coherent will answer. If not, don't waste your time, HUACA
8. Give them the PNR to be cancelled
9. You will get a sales pitch encouraging you to change the flight to another date which would cost $150, rather than cancel. Insist on cancelling.
10. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
11. You will be connected to an automated system to key in your PIN. Don't press # afterwards.
12. You will be asked to pay the $50 via an automated system. You'll be asked for your CC number, then you must repeat it. Don't press # afterwards. Then the expiry month, then year, then the id number. Be ready to rattle through the keys as any hesitation causes the system to think you've finished. So, typically you will need 2-3 attempts.
13. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes while the card is checked. It may fail the first time, for no reason. Go back to step 12.
14. Once the CC is confirmed the operator will ask you for the full billing address, then your name as it appears on the card, then the name of the bank which issued the card.
15. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
16. The operator will confirm the cancellation, or rather confirm it will be put in the queue for manual cancellation.
17. After 24 hours or so, you should receive an E Mail receipt for the $50 (could be in Spanish)
18. Miles will be refunded within 2-3 days, as if you had paid using the maximum miles with no cash. So if you had booked using cash + miles, you will effectively have bought some more miles cheaply.
19. The taxes - fairly modest - will be refunded in full since you already paid the cancellation fee up front. The refund should hit the CC within a week or so.
20. AFAIK the cash will be refunded to the original card not the one you just gave them.
Oct 11, 2012, 10:53 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Oct 11, 2012, 10:59 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Please forgive my ignorance as I dont quit get it. From what I can gather is that if I had used the miles and cash option, and cancel, i would get no cash back and all miles at the cost of the miles(I think about .01275/mile) plus $50 cancellation. Isnt that costing $50 more than I would normally pay had I simply used the miles and cash option?
Oct 12, 2012, 1:46 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
It's about $13.75 to acquire a thousand miles this way, $15.00 to buy when there's a 2-for-1, and $30.00 normally.
And there's no annual limit this way.
And unfortunately no there's no way to cancel online.
And there's no annual limit this way.
And unfortunately no there's no way to cancel online.
Oct 14, 2012, 4:18 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Darth Vader of AMEX, A ladys best friend of Hilton, Pt78 of SPG, *G ,*S, ANA VIP
Posts: 3,928
dont do it
hi,
you can do this.
i had to cancel tickets, but its a pain in the ... to get the money back (takes a couple of weeks) you dont know which part has been credited back, if you have problems you are doomed with lifemiles.
i had 4 tickets, which have been cancalled, it took me 3 days to cancel the tickets, as the PIN computer didnt get my CCV Numbers etc.
the agent didnt know how to cancel the ticket first, and i had to call back a couple of times.
i can not recommend doing this, its not worth your while trying this. wait for the next 2/1 promo and buy the miles for 15cent. still a bargain!
dp
you can do this.
i had to cancel tickets, but its a pain in the ... to get the money back (takes a couple of weeks) you dont know which part has been credited back, if you have problems you are doomed with lifemiles.
i had 4 tickets, which have been cancalled, it took me 3 days to cancel the tickets, as the PIN computer didnt get my CCV Numbers etc.
the agent didnt know how to cancel the ticket first, and i had to call back a couple of times.
i can not recommend doing this, its not worth your while trying this. wait for the next 2/1 promo and buy the miles for 15cent. still a bargain!
dp
Dec 12, 2012, 1:48 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: world
Programs: all
Posts: 1,422
Jan 14, 2013, 5:38 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 171
I just cancelled a ticket yesterday and the agent specifically told me I'd get the miles back, not the money.
Unfortunately, she also said I had to go personally to a ticketing office to request a refund, so no more automated system working.
Does anybody else have the same experience lately?
Unfortunately, she also said I had to go personally to a ticketing office to request a refund, so no more automated system working.
Does anybody else have the same experience lately?
Feb 8, 2013, 11:11 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK oop north
Programs: BMI Diamond Club RIP,BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,692
I just cancelled a ticket yesterday and the agent specifically told me I'd get the miles back, not the money.
Unfortunately, she also said I had to go personally to a ticketing office to request a refund, so no more automated system working.
Does anybody else have the same experience lately?
Unfortunately, she also said I had to go personally to a ticketing office to request a refund, so no more automated system working.
Does anybody else have the same experience lately?