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)
Oct 8, 2014, 1:20 am
#346
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: BW Diamond, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Priority Club Plat Ambassador, Club Carlson Gold, M&C Gold
Posts: 313
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
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
Oct 9, 2014, 7:15 pm
#349
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
If anyone wants to book Austrian Airlines; look for a flight that isn't operated by Tyrollean Air or Austrian Arrows... I just found IAD-VIE on Oct 20th... every other day in October, at least according to UA, the flight is being operated by one of the "subsidiaries". They must still have one plane that flies as Austrian airlines....
FDW
FDW
Oct 10, 2014, 12:33 am
#350
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 12
On the Diners issue, I can use it when I purchase an award but not when I only buy miles.
Oct 10, 2014, 2:25 am
#351
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 286
Maybe in some system there is an error. But till march 2015 ALL Austrian flights are operated by Tyrolean. (Just look at your ticket or on the sign in the airplane) There is no single flying personal in Austrian - they were all switched to Tyrolean. But next march Tyrolean will vanish and the complete personal will be again Austrian.
Oct 10, 2014, 2:48 am
#352
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Melbourne/Bangkok
Programs: A3*G, QF PLATINUM, BA GOLD, VA GOLD, HH DIAMOND
Posts: 2,245
Maybe in some system there is an error. But till march 2015 ALL Austrian flights are operated by Tyrolean. (Just look at your ticket or on the sign in the airplane) There is no single flying personal in Austrian - they were all switched to Tyrolean. But next march Tyrolean will vanish and the complete personal will be again Austrian.
Oct 10, 2014, 5:20 am
#353
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 286
The planes are "owned" (leased) by Austrian.
It's only the personal which was transfered to Tyrolean -> operated by Tyrolean.
But in a few months this will be a relict from the past.
It's only the personal which was transfered to Tyrolean -> operated by Tyrolean.
But in a few months this will be a relict from the past.
Oct 10, 2014, 8:31 pm
#354
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Melbourne/Bangkok
Programs: A3*G, QF PLATINUM, BA GOLD, VA GOLD, HH DIAMOND
Posts: 2,245
Per the Tyrolean wiki page:
All Austrian Airlines Group flight's - except for a single Boeing 777-200ER (OE-LPB) due to international traffic laws - are now being operated by Tyrolean, but have maintained their Austrian flight numbers.
Oct 12, 2014, 8:10 am
#355
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 347
So I recently booked my first Lifemiles ticket... I got the initial confirmation email, but then nothing afterwards. Checkmytrip.com indicates that it is ticketed and gives a ticket number. Does Lifemiles not send out any email that would indicate the ticket number as well?
Oct 13, 2014, 8:24 am
#357
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
Oct 13, 2014, 7:36 pm
#358
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA, QF, VS, AA, US, HH, SPG
Posts: 974
Booked 2 tickets today (intra-Europe to get in before the rise in redemption rates). One ticketed immediately - I can see the e-ticket number on both CMT and on LH. The second did not seem to ticket immediately (i.e. no e-ticket number on CMT) but when I check on the LH web site - there is an e-ticket number (202-nnnnn...).
Does this make any sense - perhaps LH has ticketed but not sent the e-ticket number back to LM?
Does this make any sense - perhaps LH has ticketed but not sent the e-ticket number back to LM?
Oct 13, 2014, 8:00 pm
#359
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13
Booked 2 tickets today (intra-Europe to get in before the rise in redemption rates). One ticketed immediately - I can see the e-ticket number on both CMT and on LH. The second did not seem to ticket immediately (i.e. no e-ticket number on CMT) but when I check on the LH web site - there is an e-ticket number (202-nnnnn...).
Does this make any sense - perhaps LH has ticketed but not sent the e-ticket number back to LM?
Does this make any sense - perhaps LH has ticketed but not sent the e-ticket number back to LM?
i notice many time CMT show old data from cache until next day. try other pc or other browser or tomorow.
Oct 13, 2014, 8:14 pm
#360
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA, QF, VS, AA, US, HH, SPG
Posts: 974