Last edit by: Tokyoite
Please do your homework before buying Lifemiles. It is what it is... for some that's useful, for others it's not.
Biggest complaints are about
- mixed class bookings are available but now many of the suitable connections dont show
- not being able to book anything that isn't available online (there are work-arounds, see screenshot method below)
- the quality of the call center (English speaking agents are scarce, you might get thrown in a loop with call transfers within their call center)
- no stopovers (>24H) or open jaws, but you can book one way awards
- no reservations on Certain subsidiaries of Star Alliance carriers (Lufthansa Cityline, Germanwings)
Problems with ticketing / lack of confirmation screen or email
- write down the confirmation number shown on the screen after confirming your purchase.
check here: http://serviciosenlinea.avianca.com/...doReserva.aspx
Sometimes, even if you cannot see the PNR, the record may have been created, so better to call them and give them flight details you were trying to book. They can find the PNR from those details.
- ticketing usually takes place within 10-15 min of booking
- but it may also take up to 2 days
- if miles have been deducted from your account and a temporary authorization has been placed on your CC, you're probably fine even if you did not see a confirmation screen
- if no e-ticket number is visible on checkmytrip.com after two days, you should contact LifeMiles. You can expedite the ticketing by emailing with your booking reference to: [email protected] after you have booked, especially if you have booked last minute flights, and need ticketing straight away
Screenshot method.
So, on a date you are looking for in the future, there is availability for LAX-NRT and NRT-BKK. But not LAX-NRT-BKK.
It may be a case of the LM system not offering the through connection.
Take three screen shots - two 'available' screen shots for LAX-NRT and NRT-BKK and the 'not available' screen for LAX-BKK.
Send them all off with a scan of your passport page (PDF) and LM will make the booking manually for you.
Send to these two email addresses, and CC yourself (just for your records)
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sample email:
====
Email topic: Urgent request for booking Lifemiles Award
====
Dear Sirs,
I have tried several times, over several days, but the following itinerary does not show on the website.
Please see the three attached screenshots I took just now.
Please do the manual booking First Class/Business class for xx,000 miles. (*Know how many miles the whole award should cost-here, to avoid surprises once ticketed)
The availability is only 1 seat for this date, so please process this request urgently before it is gone.
Los Angeles (LAX) - Bangkok (BKK)
Saturday August 11th 2018
NH 175 connecting to NH 807
(*Provide the specific flight numbers you want, to avoid surprises once ticketed)
My passport copy (Number xxxx, expiry 20xx/xx/xx, Nationality xxx) is attached in this email.
LifeMiles Number: xxx
First Name: xxx
Last name: xxx
Date of Birth: Month, date, year
Gender: Male/Female
Email: xxxx
Phone Number: +1-xxxx
Regards,
XXX
=========
Biggest complaints are about
- mixed class bookings are available but now many of the suitable connections dont show
- not being able to book anything that isn't available online (there are work-arounds, see screenshot method below)
- the quality of the call center (English speaking agents are scarce, you might get thrown in a loop with call transfers within their call center)
- no stopovers (>24H) or open jaws, but you can book one way awards
- no reservations on Certain subsidiaries of Star Alliance carriers (Lufthansa Cityline, Germanwings)
Problems with ticketing / lack of confirmation screen or email
- write down the confirmation number shown on the screen after confirming your purchase.
check here: http://serviciosenlinea.avianca.com/...doReserva.aspx
Sometimes, even if you cannot see the PNR, the record may have been created, so better to call them and give them flight details you were trying to book. They can find the PNR from those details.
- ticketing usually takes place within 10-15 min of booking
- but it may also take up to 2 days
- if miles have been deducted from your account and a temporary authorization has been placed on your CC, you're probably fine even if you did not see a confirmation screen
- if no e-ticket number is visible on checkmytrip.com after two days, you should contact LifeMiles. You can expedite the ticketing by emailing with your booking reference to: [email protected] after you have booked, especially if you have booked last minute flights, and need ticketing straight away
Screenshot method.
So, on a date you are looking for in the future, there is availability for LAX-NRT and NRT-BKK. But not LAX-NRT-BKK.
It may be a case of the LM system not offering the through connection.
Take three screen shots - two 'available' screen shots for LAX-NRT and NRT-BKK and the 'not available' screen for LAX-BKK.
Send them all off with a scan of your passport page (PDF) and LM will make the booking manually for you.
Send to these two email addresses, and CC yourself (just for your records)
[email protected]
[email protected]
Sample email:
====
Email topic: Urgent request for booking Lifemiles Award
====
Dear Sirs,
I have tried several times, over several days, but the following itinerary does not show on the website.
Please see the three attached screenshots I took just now.
Please do the manual booking First Class/Business class for xx,000 miles. (*Know how many miles the whole award should cost-here, to avoid surprises once ticketed)
The availability is only 1 seat for this date, so please process this request urgently before it is gone.
Los Angeles (LAX) - Bangkok (BKK)
Saturday August 11th 2018
NH 175 connecting to NH 807
(*Provide the specific flight numbers you want, to avoid surprises once ticketed)
My passport copy (Number xxxx, expiry 20xx/xx/xx, Nationality xxx) is attached in this email.
LifeMiles Number: xxx
First Name: xxx
Last name: xxx
Date of Birth: Month, date, year
Gender: Male/Female
Email: xxxx
Phone Number: +1-xxxx
Regards,
XXX
=========
Lifemiles serious booking problems - Beware (old legacy thread)
#333
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,607
You can book flights for every tom dick and harry you want, does not need to be you who travels.
#334
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 973
Many Thanks for confirming this! Just want to make 2 cousins happy - as they have never travelled in J before. They would not know how to buy miles or search for flights etc
#338
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: MDE
Programs: AA EP, CM PP, AV GM, UA Silver, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,002
Personally, I think it's very nice that you are willing to pay for your family to visit you in style. I often do that for family, as I live in Latin America, and I love sharing my new "home" with people who... How can I say this nicely?.... Don't get out much! I have even done so for some close friends who could never afford to make the trip.
#339
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 973
I'm 56 years old (I think that makes me "older?" - I'm sure as heck not "young!"), and I know many people my age who can't figure out how to click a link even though they use a computer every day. I am truly grateful that my work is web based, and I think that keeps my mind sharper than average. One must stay on top of this stuff constantly, or it will change and leave you in the dust before you know what hit you.
Personally, I think it's very nice that you are willing to pay for your family to visit you in style. I often do that for family, as I live in Latin America, and I love sharing my new "home" with people who... How can I say this nicely?.... Don't get out much! I have even done so for some close friends who could never afford to make the trip.
Personally, I think it's very nice that you are willing to pay for your family to visit you in style. I often do that for family, as I live in Latin America, and I love sharing my new "home" with people who... How can I say this nicely?.... Don't get out much! I have even done so for some close friends who could never afford to make the trip.
#340
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,461
Availability on SA seems to have disappeared
on the PER-JNB sector at least (haven't checked any other segments)
I've been monitoring availability on this segment for some time - and prior to about a week ago there was always decent J availability far out and also close in. But now nothing - ever it seems
Does anyone know if this is caused by SA removing award inventory, or is it another LM glitch? Or maybe the availability will come back when the higher redemptions come in mid-October?
on the PER-JNB sector at least (haven't checked any other segments)
I've been monitoring availability on this segment for some time - and prior to about a week ago there was always decent J availability far out and also close in. But now nothing - ever it seems
Does anyone know if this is caused by SA removing award inventory, or is it another LM glitch? Or maybe the availability will come back when the higher redemptions come in mid-October?
#341
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,607
Does anyone know if you can buy miles using a diners card?
#342
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: SPG Plat 100, A3*G
Posts: 678
Availability on SA seems to have disappeared
on the PER-JNB sector at least (haven't checked any other segments)
I've been monitoring availability on this segment for some time - and prior to about a week ago there was always decent J availability far out and also close in. But now nothing - ever it seems
Does anyone know if this is caused by SA removing award inventory, or is it another LM glitch? Or maybe the availability will come back when the higher redemptions come in mid-October?
on the PER-JNB sector at least (haven't checked any other segments)
I've been monitoring availability on this segment for some time - and prior to about a week ago there was always decent J availability far out and also close in. But now nothing - ever it seems
Does anyone know if this is caused by SA removing award inventory, or is it another LM glitch? Or maybe the availability will come back when the higher redemptions come in mid-October?
Maybe just a temporary glitch...
#343
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,461
That got me thinking - and I went and checked in the "Other Middle Eastern African" forum
and there's a thread there discussing it
Seems that at the moment SA awards seats can only be seen by SA itself, and no other *A airlines can see them
Hopefully this is a glitch that will soon be fixed
#344
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,461
SA availability is back
See the thread in the the other forum
See the thread in the the other forum
#345
I booked a fairly simple one way with the some life miles I had bought way back. I've never booked with them but I did get a confirmation number and email. If I pull up checkmytrip no ticket number is present. IF I go to UA.com and check it all says is:
Now I would like to book my return with Aeroplan, but given that it's within 22 days of return as of today I would be unable to cancel the return if for some reason the outbound didn't work. Should I worry? I've read somewhere that LM can take 24-48 hours to ticket... Or is it relatively safe to go ahead and book the return? FWIW I also see a pending charge on my CC.
Thanks!
FDW
This reservation is not ticketed.
We will hold this reservation until midnight Tue., Oct. 7, 2014 in Washington, DC
We will hold this reservation until midnight Tue., Oct. 7, 2014 in Washington, DC
Thanks!
FDW