Aug 17, 2013, 12:43 am
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)
Mar 5, 2014, 4:27 pm
#121
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA, QF, VS, AA, US, HH, SPG
Posts: 974
RTW1 and wheresmybagba - thanks for that info - I won't bother to follow up with LM. My 2 AC bookings look OK on the AC website but AFAIK there is no way to look up a booking on the LM site itself - thank goodness for checkmytrip.com which provides all the salient info.
Mar 5, 2014, 5:37 pm
#122
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
RTW1 and wheresmybagba - thanks for that info - I won't bother to follow up with LM. My 2 AC bookings look OK on the AC website but AFAIK there is no way to look up a booking on the LM site itself - thank goodness for checkmytrip.com which provides all the salient info.
http://www.avianca.com/en-otr/electr...et-status.aspx
('First last name' = last name!)
Mar 5, 2014, 7:39 pm
#123
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA, QF, VS, AA, US, HH, SPG
Posts: 974
Ah thanks, I'm finally getting the hang of this program.
Mar 6, 2014, 12:30 am
#124
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
And there's always the airlines webpage to check the status of your PNR. Sometimes that's even better than checkmytrip.
For instance when I was waiting for a SQ trip to ticket, checkmytrip showed everything as confirmed while the SQ website clearly showed that it was still waiting to be ticketed.
For instance when I was waiting for a SQ trip to ticket, checkmytrip showed everything as confirmed while the SQ website clearly showed that it was still waiting to be ticketed.
Mar 6, 2014, 1:04 am
#125
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YVR, KUL
Programs: AC, MH, BA, AF-KL
Posts: 2,904
The booking engine seems to be down. I haven't been able to search for anything for hours now.
Edit: It works if I search for one ways. Strange...
Edit: It works if I search for one ways. Strange...
Last edited by SilverChris; Mar 6, 2014 at 1:13 am
Mar 6, 2014, 1:09 am
#126
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Melbourne/Bangkok
Programs: A3*G, QF PLATINUM, BA GOLD, VA GOLD, HH DIAMOND
Posts: 2,245
And there's always the airlines webpage to check the status of your PNR. Sometimes that's even better than checkmytrip.
For instance when I was waiting for a SQ trip to ticket, checkmytrip showed everything as confirmed while the SQ website clearly showed that it was still waiting to be ticketed.
For instance when I was waiting for a SQ trip to ticket, checkmytrip showed everything as confirmed while the SQ website clearly showed that it was still waiting to be ticketed.
Mar 6, 2014, 3:56 am
#127
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YVR, KUL
Programs: AC, MH, BA, AF-KL
Posts: 2,904
I find the SQ website to be the inaccurate one. I've had a few bookings that didn't seem to pick up the ticket number, which meant I had to call to select seats and BTC.
Mar 18, 2014, 11:23 am
#128
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 35
After submitting my payment for my ticket, the page spent a couple of minutes loading (and showed me a PNR number), and then finally timed out with some error (I think, I cant recall the exact words).
The miles have been debited from my LM account and the charges are temp. authorized on my CC. Does this mean the award ticket is ok? I have checked and there is no ticket number on check my trip and united's site says that the reservation is not ticketed. I still have no ticket number.
Does anyone know if I should do anything? Or just wait...? I'm afraid the tickets will get dropped by the airline.
The miles have been debited from my LM account and the charges are temp. authorized on my CC. Does this mean the award ticket is ok? I have checked and there is no ticket number on check my trip and united's site says that the reservation is not ticketed. I still have no ticket number.
Does anyone know if I should do anything? Or just wait...? I'm afraid the tickets will get dropped by the airline.
Mar 18, 2014, 11:26 am
#130
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 35
Actually just read this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avian...rd-ticket.html
seems like a common problem...I'll wait a couple ofdays :\
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avian...rd-ticket.html
seems like a common problem...I'll wait a couple ofdays :\
Mar 18, 2014, 1:46 pm
#131
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: BZG
Programs: LH FTL, PC Plat,Hilton Gold
Posts: 128
Actually just read this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avian...rd-ticket.html
seems like a common problem...I'll wait a couple ofdays :\
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avian...rd-ticket.html
seems like a common problem...I'll wait a couple ofdays :\
Mar 18, 2014, 4:37 pm
#132
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 35
Thankfully yes. I'll give it a couple of days and cross my fingers (only been about 6 hours). I'm just afraid though, cause I have united flight in the reservation and when I check the flight it says the reservation will be held till midnight tonight unless ticketed.
ninja edit: 45 hours later they have been ticketed.
ninja edit: 45 hours later they have been ticketed.
Last edited by sajidg; Mar 20, 2014 at 10:03 am Reason: update
Apr 6, 2014, 7:53 am
#133
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 2,317
Only partially a Lifemiles problem (so far) - tried to log on to my booking on SingaporeAir.com. Booking was unavailable for viewing. Checked on CheckMyTrip.com and it seems the flight was cancelled and I was rebooked (but not ticketed) on the earlier flight. No contact from either SQ or Lifemiles to let me know.
After consulting an unhelpful SQ I have sent an email to Lifemiles advising them that I want a different flight than what SQ has (allegedly automatically) chosen. There is availability so hopefully it's a simple thing for them. I also told them to not charge change fees given it was SQ that cancelled the flight and rebooked without asking if it was a convenient flight to be on.
After consulting an unhelpful SQ I have sent an email to Lifemiles advising them that I want a different flight than what SQ has (allegedly automatically) chosen. There is availability so hopefully it's a simple thing for them. I also told them to not charge change fees given it was SQ that cancelled the flight and rebooked without asking if it was a convenient flight to be on.
Last edited by Singapore_Air; Apr 6, 2014 at 7:59 am
Apr 7, 2014, 7:55 am
#134
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YVR, KUL
Programs: AC, MH, BA, AF-KL
Posts: 2,904
Only partially a Lifemiles problem (so far) - tried to log on to my booking on SingaporeAir.com. Booking was unavailable for viewing. Checked on CheckMyTrip.com and it seems the flight was cancelled and I was rebooked (but not ticketed) on the earlier flight. No contact from either SQ or Lifemiles to let me know.
After consulting an unhelpful SQ I have sent an email to Lifemiles advising them that I want a different flight than what SQ has (allegedly automatically) chosen. There is availability so hopefully it's a simple thing for them. I also told them to not charge change fees given it was SQ that cancelled the flight and rebooked without asking if it was a convenient flight to be on.
After consulting an unhelpful SQ I have sent an email to Lifemiles advising them that I want a different flight than what SQ has (allegedly automatically) chosen. There is availability so hopefully it's a simple thing for them. I also told them to not charge change fees given it was SQ that cancelled the flight and rebooked without asking if it was a convenient flight to be on.
