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)
Aug 21, 2015, 2:14 pm
#466
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Cheers SingaporeDon I am relieved to hear this.
One other question, do we earn miles and status by booking through Lifemiles? I am UA Gold (to be Platinum after one more flight). If I take trip to BKK via ANA and Thai Airways, can I get this travel credited to my UA account (since they are Star Alliance partners)?
And can Lifemiles be used on mileage runs? May do a JFK/LAX in first class to nail down my platinum status, as long as I can get the proper mileage and PQMs credited to my UA account
One other question, do we earn miles and status by booking through Lifemiles? I am UA Gold (to be Platinum after one more flight). If I take trip to BKK via ANA and Thai Airways, can I get this travel credited to my UA account (since they are Star Alliance partners)?
And can Lifemiles be used on mileage runs? May do a JFK/LAX in first class to nail down my platinum status, as long as I can get the proper mileage and PQMs credited to my UA account
Aug 22, 2015, 8:16 am
#468
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New York Metropolitan Area 45 km from JFK
Programs: UA,AA,AS,BA
Posts: 4,607
In 36 days i have YYZ-LHR-FRA-SAW.
I want to go to SAW. There as been a schedule change and I now arrive FRA 14:25 and depart to SAW same day 14:25.
I booked this last October.
Should I call up lifemiles or just fly and figure it out on the way.
I don't want to be rebooked and charged a different rate.
Any suggestions
I want to go to SAW. There as been a schedule change and I now arrive FRA 14:25 and depart to SAW same day 14:25.
I booked this last October.
Should I call up lifemiles or just fly and figure it out on the way.
I don't want to be rebooked and charged a different rate.
Any suggestions
Aug 23, 2015, 3:16 am
#469
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: southUSA
Posts: 398
Big problem is that if the next FRA SAW flight is not available for award class booking, they will tell you to cancel everything or rebook for some totally different dates - and guess what ? at double the miles you were initially charged. Schedule changes was and has always been a risk. A risk greater the longer in advance you book. Have you checked LHR/LGW availabilies on your dates. I personally would " wing it" and let them figure it out. Tell TK to sort it out directly with AV. Avoid getting in the middle. You have done nothing wrong. Pegasus Airline has cheap flights FRA-SAW I believe - in case you needed it.
I called yesterday and I'm sure its YMMV but I was told (i think this is due to the cancellation of JFK-YYZ flight and rebooked onto an even earlier flight) I can change date, time and connection cities if flights are available on LM. If I want to change origin/destination or flights aren't available I have to redeposit miles.
I didn't specifically ask if I change date, time or connecting flights; will I be charged more miles or taxes.
If I do "wing it" and get to FRA is it possible they would make me purchase a new ticket? Isn't it illegal for them "LM" not to get me to my destination if I have a few days to wait it out (in FRA)? Or am I being naive
How strict is LM about airports serving the same city. Ala JFK/EWR or SAW/IST?
BTW whats up with no TK longhaul availability? I search UA.com for a bit and see nothing.
Aug 23, 2015, 7:48 am
#470
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,118
I would wait. In most cases the booking system will recognize the misconnect and put you on the next available flight automatically. If not you'd have to call again.
Aug 27, 2015, 5:35 am
#471
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Scandinavia
Programs: Eurobonus EBD, BW Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, IHG Plat Amb, HH Diamond
Posts: 352
Booking missing segment due to equipment change (TG)
Hmm,
Just checked on of my LM bookings and I see that I've been TG'ed (Thai Equipment changed) and downgraded on one segment, the booking now shows an error and I seem to have been placed in Business on that segment instead of first
The e-ticket doesn't show the last segment (BKK-TYO) so I'm afraid it's not valid so I'll have to act.
Before calling in though I would like to ask, I see availability in a re-routing where the most of the trip BKK-KIX would be in first but the last KIX-HND would be in Economy (no first released/available).
Has anyone had any luck in getting this kind of re-routing due to downgrade / schedule change?
Just checked on of my LM bookings and I see that I've been TG'ed (Thai Equipment changed) and downgraded on one segment, the booking now shows an error and I seem to have been placed in Business on that segment instead of first
The e-ticket doesn't show the last segment (BKK-TYO) so I'm afraid it's not valid so I'll have to act.
Before calling in though I would like to ask, I see availability in a re-routing where the most of the trip BKK-KIX would be in first but the last KIX-HND would be in Economy (no first released/available).
Has anyone had any luck in getting this kind of re-routing due to downgrade / schedule change?
Aug 28, 2015, 1:25 pm
#472
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
LM will be happy to re-issue you the ticket with the aircraft/class of service change as the operating carrier changed it. As I know LM, they will also be happy to cancel your booking free of charge and refund you the miles. Don't think they rebook the ticket with mixed classes...
Aug 29, 2015, 5:45 am
#473
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,465
I did not call, and surprisingly was able to check in on line on AC website and print boarding passes for all segments, including those with a misconnect. Travelled with no issues to LHR as I don't need to go any further now.
Aug 31, 2015, 2:49 pm
#474
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Scandinavia
Programs: Eurobonus EBD, BW Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, IHG Plat Amb, HH Diamond
Posts: 352
I called TG and they put me on another F flight and the called LM for re-issue and now I await new e-ticket
Aug 31, 2015, 7:22 pm
#475
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
What I fin incredible is that they want the same number of miles, flying YYZ-BKK or ZRH-BKK. Wow, 156K in J either from YYZ or from ZRH.
Sep 4, 2015, 8:22 pm
#476
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAF, VIE
Programs: A3 *G; AA EXP
Posts: 509
Btw just wanted to report another great experience when contacting [email protected]. I sent an email on Sunday with screenshots and the flights I wanted to book - they got back to me on the same day with a record locator. I got a call on Monday to issue the ticket, which took about 5 minutes. Another 10 minutes later I had the e-ticket in my inbox.
Sep 4, 2015, 8:44 pm
#477
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Brisbane
Programs: QF gold, HH Diamond, VA plat, Aegean Gold
Posts: 683
Btw just wanted to report another great experience when contacting [email protected]. I sent an email on Sunday with screenshots and the flights I wanted to book - they got back to me on the same day with a record locator. I got a call on Monday to issue the ticket, which took about 5 minutes. Another 10 minutes later I had the e-ticket in my inbox.
Sep 5, 2015, 4:43 am
#478
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 93
Btw just wanted to report another great experience when contacting [email protected]. I sent an email on Sunday with screenshots and the flights I wanted to book - they got back to me on the same day with a record locator. I got a call on Monday to issue the ticket, which took about 5 minutes. Another 10 minutes later I had the e-ticket in my inbox.
Sep 22, 2015, 3:29 am
#480
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: southUSA
Posts: 398
Ticket Changes
I called in and was successful at changing the routing (could not change Origin/destination) but.... I have called the operating carriers 18 hours after receiving the updated email with all the flights.
2 of the 3 operating carriers are saying the flights are not re issued.
what exactly does this mean?
I am slated to leave on 9/27 should I call now or wait a few days.
I have a weird routing
and don't want to risk it being declined.
2 of the 3 operating carriers are saying the flights are not re issued.
what exactly does this mean?
I am slated to leave on 9/27 should I call now or wait a few days.
I have a weird routing
and don't want to risk it being declined.