Cancelling Avianca Award Flights - Not flying is cheaper than buying miles
May 29, 2013, 4:25 pm
#62
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
May 30, 2013, 8:50 am
#63
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
Hope I did not confuse you with all this!!!
May 30, 2013, 10:04 am
#64
Join Date: May 2006
Location: YYZ
Posts: 731
Spelling things out too clearly is a doing a disservice to potential purchasers imo. Some of this stuff should be left to the purchaser to figure out, ie. calculating cpm. If one is unable to figure it out, then they shouldn't be taking part in the promotion.
Every time a "good" deal comes up, people don't do enough research, resulting in an explosion of complaints about how restrictive the program is, how CS is useless, or rants about how the long-known quirks of the program are ridiculous.
Every time a "good" deal comes up, people don't do enough research, resulting in an explosion of complaints about how restrictive the program is, how CS is useless, or rants about how the long-known quirks of the program are ridiculous.
May 30, 2013, 10:35 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 411
As you know, buying miles with cash and miles options starts of at 3 cents per mile but gradually reduces as you decrease the miles required and increase the money part. However, there is a sweet spot, just before you reach the final 40% miles, 60% cash point, where the average cost of miles purchased comes out t 1.5 cents. The cost per miles then gradually increases as you get to 40 miles, 60% cash point, and if you go for this maximum option, your average cost per mile purchased is about 1.57 points
Hope I did not confuse you with all this!!!
Hope I did not confuse you with all this!!!
Jun 1, 2013, 11:06 pm
#66
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MEL, land of Oz
Programs: QF Plat & LTG; A3*A Gold; Avianca LM; Velocity; IHG Platinum, Accor All
Posts: 421
As you know, buying miles with cash and miles options starts of at 3 cents per mile but gradually reduces as you decrease the miles required and increase the money part. However, there is a sweet spot, just before you reach the final 40% miles, 60% cash point, where the average cost of miles purchased comes out t 1.5 cents. The cost per miles then gradually increases as you get to 40 miles, 60% cash point, and if you go for this maximum option, your average cost per mile purchased is about 1.57 points
Hope I did not confuse you with all this!!!
Hope I did not confuse you with all this!!!
Jun 6, 2013, 8:05 am
#67
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: GOT, LAX, CDG, NRT, ICN
Programs: M&M, FB, DL, BA, UA...
Posts: 790
Thanks to the OP for the step by step instructions. Was actually much better than expected calling from abroad using Skype. Operator spoke fluent English and no problems with the pin code or credit card entry using the keypad. Took just over 11 minutes to cancel one pair of tickets. A breeze compared to trying to get a phone issue sorted through AT&T the other day which took over an hour and a half...
Jun 7, 2013, 12:06 am
#69
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
Thanks to the OP for the step by step instructions. Was actually much better than expected calling from abroad using Skype. Operator spoke fluent English and no problems with the pin code or credit card entry using the keypad. Took just over 11 minutes to cancel one pair of tickets. A breeze compared to trying to get a phone issue sorted through AT&T the other day which took over an hour and a half...
Jun 7, 2013, 2:16 am
#70
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: GOT, LAX, CDG, NRT, ICN
Programs: M&M, FB, DL, BA, UA...
Posts: 790
Count me lucky then 
Would have been faster if I didn't have to repeat my reservation code and address letter by letter. The operator didn't even confirm the actual flights to be cancelled, just the reservation code and my FF number. Received the cancellation e-mails a few hours later and my miles back today. Only need to wait for the taxes.
Would have been faster if I didn't have to repeat my reservation code and address letter by letter. The operator didn't even confirm the actual flights to be cancelled, just the reservation code and my FF number. Received the cancellation e-mails a few hours later and my miles back today. Only need to wait for the taxes.
Aug 14, 2013, 5:15 pm
#72
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
Have updated the first post with useful info from SMK77
If you make a cash+miles booking with the intention of cancelling to get the extra miles back, watch the last few clicks on "More Money" as they increase the price by more than $15 per click. Best to stop while the clicks are just adding $15
If you stop after the first few few clicks, they are less than $15 each. But of course there's the $25 booking fee and $50 cancellation fee to add. Not to mention and the time taken for this charade.
If you make a cash+miles booking with the intention of cancelling to get the extra miles back, watch the last few clicks on "More Money" as they increase the price by more than $15 per click. Best to stop while the clicks are just adding $15
If you stop after the first few few clicks, they are less than $15 each. But of course there's the $25 booking fee and $50 cancellation fee to add. Not to mention and the time taken for this charade.
Aug 14, 2013, 7:47 pm
#73
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: BCN-BUE-PSA-GRU
Programs: BA Gold - A3 Gold - FB Gold - IHG Plat - SPG Gold -Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 1,581
Thanks to the OP for the step by step instructions. Was actually much better than expected calling from abroad using Skype. Operator spoke fluent English and no problems with the pin code or credit card entry using the keypad. Took just over 11 minutes to cancel one pair of tickets. A breeze compared to trying to get a phone issue sorted through AT&T the other day which took over an hour and a half...
Aug 15, 2013, 12:05 am
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
What I find funny is sometimes they charge you for two pax at once ($100) and sometimes they insist on charging you twice. You get the miles before you even get off the phone and sometimes it takes 3 days.
Aug 15, 2013, 6:12 am
#75
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,837
I think it depends whether you call Avianca or Taca number. In first case miles posted back immediately and taxes 3-4 (!) days later. With Taca CS, miles posted back a few days later and it is second month I am waiting for the taxes. Granted, the Taca CS was much, much more competent.
For the record, in both cases I used the same CC and bank.
For the record, in both cases I used the same CC and bank.