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)
Dec 6, 2019, 10:06 am
#1711
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 9
There is no award availability out of LAX on NH even though united.com and ANA both show availability. Because of the LAX-NRT sale?
Dec 6, 2019, 8:00 pm
#1712
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,470
I found space on LAX-NRT and LAX-HND on Lifemiles with my first search for each, but I've only seen X space for LAX-NRT. Do you mean no premium cabin space?
Dec 6, 2019, 8:58 pm
#1713
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,739
LifeMiles is strange these days. I can find flights, but booking is the issue. Yesterday I booked a flight but it never came to the page where I pay. So I received booking reference, but it said error and to contact support. This never happened before and I’ve used it for years.
Three months ago I also booked through phone app. An error came when I paid, but booking went through. One has to be very cautious with using it, and cannot trust the page process for booking.
Three months ago I also booked through phone app. An error came when I paid, but booking went through. One has to be very cautious with using it, and cannot trust the page process for booking.
Dec 7, 2019, 12:26 am
#1714
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,032
Does Lifemiles not show any Air India (AI) flights at all? I tried Smart Search, Star Alliance, and choosing Air India individually. No award seats on DEL-MAD or DEL-FRA in June 2020 which are widely available in C through United.
I'm guessing if I can't see it online, calling won't help and obviously I can't screenshot it either. So are we .... out of luck? Seems like some link is broken between AV LM and AI.
I'm guessing if I can't see it online, calling won't help and obviously I can't screenshot it either. So are we .... out of luck? Seems like some link is broken between AV LM and AI.
Dec 7, 2019, 11:16 am
#1716
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM - IC RA - HHonors Gold - Hertz Gold - AA - US - CO - Choice Privileges
Posts: 1,663
In the case of a direct flight the better option is to search Lifemiles search engine without referencing the other search engines. As noted, United and ANA do show availability but Lifemiles does not show availability. Flogging a dead horse. Availability is a moving target, regardless.
But if you care to fly to SFO, the noted LAX - NRT flight is available. Welcome to the wonderful world of Lifemiles.
But if you care to fly to SFO, the noted LAX - NRT flight is available. Welcome to the wonderful world of Lifemiles.
Dec 7, 2019, 12:08 pm
#1717
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 9
In the case of a direct flight the better option is to search Lifemiles search engine without referencing the other search engines. As noted, United and ANA do show availability but Lifemiles does not show availability. Flogging a dead horse. Availability is a moving target, regardless.
But if you care to fly to SFO, the noted LAX - NRT flight is available. Welcome to the wonderful world of Lifemiles.
But if you care to fly to SFO, the noted LAX - NRT flight is available. Welcome to the wonderful world of Lifemiles.
Dec 7, 2019, 3:24 pm
#1718
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Does Lifemiles not show any Air India (AI) flights at all? I tried Smart Search, Star Alliance, and choosing Air India individually. No award seats on DEL-MAD or DEL-FRA in June 2020 which are widely available in C through United.
I'm guessing if I can't see it online, calling won't help and obviously I can't screenshot it either. So are we .... out of luck? Seems like some link is broken between AV LM and AI.
I'm guessing if I can't see it online, calling won't help and obviously I can't screenshot it either. So are we .... out of luck? Seems like some link is broken between AV LM and AI.
FWIW (not much), there was plenty of availability on AI through lifemiles earlier this year for FRA-DEL-MEL, although it would error out at the booking stage (due to the LH connection into FRA). But it was bookable via phone because it was visible on the website. So maybe it availability comes and goes.
Dec 8, 2019, 8:55 pm
#1719
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Does Lifemiles not show any Air India (AI) flights at all? I tried Smart Search, Star Alliance, and choosing Air India individually. No award seats on DEL-MAD or DEL-FRA in June 2020 which are widely available in C through United.
I'm guessing if I can't see it online, calling won't help and obviously I can't screenshot it either. So are we .... out of luck? Seems like some link is broken between AV LM and AI.
I'm guessing if I can't see it online, calling won't help and obviously I can't screenshot it either. So are we .... out of luck? Seems like some link is broken between AV LM and AI.
Same question. I have never seen an AI awards for domestic flights. Are they bookable over the phone?
Dec 10, 2019, 12:45 pm
#1720
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: Landry's President's Club, Marriott Silver, Awesomeness EXPLT
Posts: 20,420
I was able to recently book ROR-ICN-NRT in J for 22.5k miles. The same ticket would have been 50k on United. Had to call into pay which was odd but they got me sorted surprisingly quickly.
Dec 13, 2019, 3:50 am
#1721
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,470
Looks like ANA's former SJC-NRT flight is no longer showing up in results after changing to SJC-HND. A real shame as it has always been a good route for J award space.
Dec 19, 2019, 6:17 am
#1724
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Southern Cal
Programs: UA, AA, Delta, Marriott
Posts: 113
In January I scored two Lifemiles Business Class tickets on EVA to fly to Bangkok and return from Hong Kong. This time I want to repeat, but there is just nothing available in Business Class. I have tried multiple times, using multiple itineraries. My earlier experience misled me to think that I could have that success again. It seems that they have also raised the number of miles required.
I guess that I was foolish to invest in Lifemiles, but it seemed so easy last time. What does on do with all of the miles accumulated when you cannot use them for the purpose for which you obtained them?
(I did once get an option to fly via Shanghai, but it was only one way.)
I guess that I was foolish to invest in Lifemiles, but it seemed so easy last time. What does on do with all of the miles accumulated when you cannot use them for the purpose for which you obtained them?
(I did once get an option to fly via Shanghai, but it was only one way.)
Dec 19, 2019, 6:37 am
#1725
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
There hasn't been a recent devaluation of the award charts. Sometimes they have specials. perhaps you got one of those last time?
Are the award seats showing on other airline booking engines (for example United's?). If so, maybe closer to the date LM will also show them.
Are the award seats showing on other airline booking engines (for example United's?). If so, maybe closer to the date LM will also show them.