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)
#406
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA, QF, VS, AA, US, HH, SPG
Posts: 974
I have had great success dealing with the local Air China office here in Melbourne (by email - [email protected]) in getting them to fix issues like this...this was on US Airways issued tickets post Star Alliance exit...and I didn't even have serious MCT issues like yours. Based on my dealings with them I think they'll happily fix this for you, then get LM to reissue the ticket as 'there was a schedule change'.
(Both CA and LM were very helpful).
#407
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: zurich
Programs: Miles&Smiles Gold
Posts: 509
In the wiki is written no flights on AIR INDIA, its not true, I found a lot of routings including Air India (not that I would want to book an AIR INDIA flight)
#409
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: CX DM, A3 Gold
Posts: 96
Does anyone have problem using lifemiles booking with ANA award these days? It kept direct me to "problem while processing your transaction" after I selected my flight and payment. I have sent an email to support but haven't received their feedback yet. Does any one have similar problem?
#410
Join Date: May 2003
Location: australia
Posts: 438
no more
Need to spend 150k miles, and then I am out, the website is so very poor to complete a booking I wonder how much their revenue has crashed from selling miles?
#411
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: AY Platinum, UA Premier Platinum, OneWorld Emerald, VA Platinum
Posts: 558
If anyone wants to write to Avianca's I.T Director regarding the "glitch"....
Claudia Arenas Bianchi
International Director
Tel: (502) 2279-5700 - (502) 2279-5600
E-Mail: [email protected]
or Lifemiles President
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-vincett/18/a33/36a
Claudia Arenas Bianchi
International Director
Tel: (502) 2279-5700 - (502) 2279-5600
E-Mail: [email protected]
or Lifemiles President
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-vincett/18/a33/36a
#412
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
Turkish Airlines not working?
IAH-IST is available in C for eg 13 Mar but immediately you select the flight the website falls over with "a problem processing your transaction".
IAH-IST is available in C for eg 13 Mar but immediately you select the flight the website falls over with "a problem processing your transaction".
#413
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
If anyone wants to write to Avianca's I.T Director regarding the "glitch"....
Claudia Arenas Bianchi
International Director
Tel: (502) 2279-5700 - (502) 2279-5600
E-Mail: [email protected]
or Lifemiles President
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-vincett/18/a33/36a
Claudia Arenas Bianchi
International Director
Tel: (502) 2279-5700 - (502) 2279-5600
E-Mail: [email protected]
or Lifemiles President
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-vincett/18/a33/36a
#414
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: 7,738
If anyone wants to write to Avianca's I.T Director regarding the "glitch"....
or Lifemiles President
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-vincett/18/a33/36a
or Lifemiles President
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matt-vincett/18/a33/36a
Okay, fair enough, while the value was reasonable that worked, but now with all the tinkering with LM (and I don't mean closing certain loopholes here) I would think the numbers will be less stellar.
#415
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: AY Platinum, UA Premier Platinum, OneWorld Emerald, VA Platinum
Posts: 558
#417
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: SVG
Posts: 1,172
Air China
Has anyone been able to book Air China lately?
Every itinerary I have tried clicking through on which involves CA gives my the "There has been an error processing your request" or similar
Every itinerary I have tried clicking through on which involves CA gives my the "There has been an error processing your request" or similar
#418
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Since they had like 4-5 different flights for the day, one gave me an error. But the one I needed didn't, lucky me.
Email them a screenshot and ask that you want to book this particular flight.
#419
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
#420
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Okay, maybe they share the same office space with the CS agents.