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 5, 2018, 8:04 am
#1066
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Dec 5, 2018, 11:24 am
#1067
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,437
feb and march 2019 wednesday C2 to C1. Pick any one, all * airlines are wide open
Dec 5, 2018, 11:35 am
#1069
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,437
Is it just me getting the message below or is the website down?
Situation:
I just bought Avianca miles and am now trying to book an Avianca award (2 days in advance). I've tried the Ecuador/US site, as well as Vivaldi, Chrome, Chome in incognito, IE, and Edge. Nothing seems to work.
What could be the problem?
Situation:
I just bought Avianca miles and am now trying to book an Avianca award (2 days in advance). I've tried the Ecuador/US site, as well as Vivaldi, Chrome, Chome in incognito, IE, and Edge. Nothing seems to work.
What could be the problem?
Dec 5, 2018, 4:55 pm
#1070
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Dec 5, 2018, 7:03 pm
#1071
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,459
I just wanted to note in this thread that, although I've had some booking issues, the two telephone agents I've dealt with have been really great. One helped me purchase miles when the website wouldn't take my AMEX, and the other helped me salvage a booking that errored out without showing me a PNR. He found the two attempted bookings, deleted the second attempted one, and helped me pay the fees and get it ticketed. Most of my bookings have worked without issue too, although I find there's no rhyme or reason behind when it screws up.
I had an Air Canada booking screw up (which actually was a blessing because a better flight opened up so I just left it alone) and another Air Canada booking that worked fine. Similarly, I booked EVA from SIN-TPE with no issues, but today I got an error booking TPE-SFO.
I had an Air Canada booking screw up (which actually was a blessing because a better flight opened up so I just left it alone) and another Air Canada booking that worked fine. Similarly, I booked EVA from SIN-TPE with no issues, but today I got an error booking TPE-SFO.
Dec 10, 2018, 4:10 pm
#1072
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 119
*UPDATE* After 2 weeks of dealing with the various nuances of booking with LifeMiles and their call centers (very helpful), I can officially call myself a loyal subject.
After reading a few blogs, I took advantage of the 145% bonus and discounted routes. Realizing my better half will not understand the work that went into this, I thought I would share the final product to my friends on FT. Note that I shared the method used to confirm the seats and how many miles were necessary to book.
Route: SYD-ICN-JFK,ORD-NRT-BKK-MEL
After reading a few blogs, I took advantage of the 145% bonus and discounted routes. Realizing my better half will not understand the work that went into this, I thought I would share the final product to my friends on FT.
Note that I shared the method used to confirm the seats and how many miles were necessary to book.Route: SYD-ICN-JFK,ORD-NRT-BKK-MEL
- SYD-ICN: J class on OZ (50k miles) - dealt with the call center after an error during the booking process (availability disappeared after trying to book). Did not use screenshot method - call center booked it then I was directed to payment team for processing taxes.
- ICN-JFK: F class on OZ (72k miles) - booked directly online
- ORD-NRT: F class on NH (90k miles) - decided to take the 18k hit to avoid CA - booked directly online
- NRT-BKK: F class; BKK-MEL: J class on TG (50k miles) - this seemed like the deal of the century. reminds me of the old UA redemption rates. I had to use the screenshot method to book and called payment team to process taxes.
Last edited by IAH2MEL; Dec 10, 2018 at 6:58 pm Reason: spelling
Dec 11, 2018, 9:35 am
#1073
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
So, some people report that the call center has helped them book tickets after website errors, and other say they had to send an email and wait 8 days. Is there any discernable rhyme or reason to this? Under what situations will the call center help, and what situations require an email to be sent?
Dec 11, 2018, 1:28 pm
#1074
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 60
So, some people report that the call center has helped them book tickets after website errors, and other say they had to send an email and wait 8 days. Is there any discernable rhyme or reason to this? Under what situations will the call center help, and what situations require an email to be sent?
My error was when i got to the end it told me "session expired" after i hit process payment (no confirmation). Now it shows the space as removed. Called customer service, they don't see my res but also don't see any space available anymore. So i just sent support an email.
Dec 11, 2018, 1:50 pm
#1075
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
So, some people report that the call center has helped them book tickets after website errors, and other say they had to send an email and wait 8 days. Is there any discernable rhyme or reason to this? Under what situations will the call center help, and what situations require an email to be sent?
If we can see something and book it, but there is an error or something else, the call centre might be able to help. Sometimes after entering payment you'll get a screen which shows a PNR, but the booking ultimately fails. Taking a note of that PNR (it's only on the screen for maybe 20 seconds to a minute) might be able to get you help frmo the call centre to find the booking and take payment.
Where the call centre can't help is where we find availability sector by sector, but no availability as a single booking. As the call centre won't be able to see anything different, you'll have to send the screenshots to the 'support' email address and the special department will create the booking.
Dec 11, 2018, 2:36 pm
#1076
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 119
I agree with above post.
When the error screen came on during booking - thus making the space gone when searching again - the *helpful* call center employees were able to locate the reservation using my LM number. Once they located it, they were then able to confirm it before transferring me to the payments desk.
When the error screen came on during booking - thus making the space gone when searching again - the *helpful* call center employees were able to locate the reservation using my LM number. Once they located it, they were then able to confirm it before transferring me to the payments desk.
Dec 11, 2018, 9:12 pm
#1077
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
Ah, I see. I got excited for a minute there, thinking maybe the call center had become more useful since the last time I booked. Sadly, that's not the case.
Dec 12, 2018, 3:37 am
#1078
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 366
I agree with above post.
When the error screen came on during booking - thus making the space gone when searching again - the *helpful* call center employees were able to locate the reservation using my LM number. Once they located it, they were then able to confirm it before transferring me to the payments desk.
When the error screen came on during booking - thus making the space gone when searching again - the *helpful* call center employees were able to locate the reservation using my LM number. Once they located it, they were then able to confirm it before transferring me to the payments desk.
On another note, if F space opens up, can I upgrade this booking? And how can I go about doing that.
Thanks
Dec 12, 2018, 8:37 am
#1079
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
You can only change travel dates of a ticketed award. No changes to route/origin/destination/cabin.
you will need a separate booking altogether.
you will need a separate booking altogether.
Dec 12, 2018, 9:07 am
#1080
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 4
Does it really take 8 days to get a response these days? My seats are running short 