I have spent the better part of the afternoon on the phone with Taca Airlines, their frequent flyer program Distancia, and Lacsa airlines trying to determine if the fare classes for two flights that I have on hold are eligible for mileage accummulation. One is a V fare with Lacsa while the other is a B fare with Taca & Aviateca. I wanted to make sure before ticketing but after all this time on the phone (being on hold, disconnected, back on hold and on and on) I am not sure that I know any better!

For both these fares I was told yes and then no as to their eligibility - from both reservation agents and agents at Distancia. Totally confused, I called back and spoke with a Taca reservation agent who empathized with my plight. She put me on hold (!) and spoke with Distancia and very quickly came back and said the following:

All published fares (fares that show on their reservation system) are eligible for mileage accummulation. Where the confusion sets in is that in the past, W, G, L & Z fares, were used exclusively by travel agents for group or reduced fares. Now Grupo Taca has started using these codes as well for published fares. What happens when it comes to posting the mileage, the agent went on to explain, is that often the person at Distancia just assumes that the fare is a travel agent fare and therefore ineligible, rather than checking to see whether or not it is a published fare.

This also explains the conflicting answers from reservation agents some of whom automatically say that these fares are travel agent fares not realizing that they are in fact published fares.

But I am still confused because I have seen W, G & Z fares quoted on Travelocity which I assume only shows published fares. Does that mean these fares earn miles? And what about my V and B fares ... these did not appear to be used as travel agent fares so why the confusion about their eligibility. I know a fail safe way is to go with the higher class fares but part of the challenge for me is qualifying for the bonus at the lowest fare possible. Tomorrow I will take one last kick at the can and see if I get another different answer .... any thoughts? Did most people book full fare?

P.S. The other Latin Pass member airlines do not seem to have this problem ... I've called them all (except for Avianca, no answer) and they say "all published fares, no exceptions". I wished Latin Pass or the individual airlines would post definitively the fare classes that do or do not qualify.

P.P.S. Per the Distancia website, for flights within Peru (i.e. Taca Peru), only Y and C class fares are eligible for mileage.