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)
Jun 1, 2019, 1:18 pm
#1321
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: SJC/BUR
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 1,087
Why is LifeMiles blocking all UA award space?
Jun 1, 2019, 3:57 pm
#1323
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
United and Air Canada both having trouble right now.
Jun 1, 2019, 10:25 pm
#1324
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: HSV
Programs: Hy Glob,Choice Dia, MR TIT,IHG SPR,HH Dia, Wyn Dia, UA Sil, WN Alis, Hert 5*, National EE
Posts: 1,188
I have a flight tomorrow that I tried booking. Called the number bc I was eroding out at passenger info.
Call center was able to make booking but not take payment for flight. They said I’ll recieve a call 24-48 hours. Flight is in 24 hours asked if I could call back she said call between 7am and 4pm.
Anyone know if they are open sundays. She didn’t say but now I’m worried.
Call center was able to make booking but not take payment for flight. They said I’ll recieve a call 24-48 hours. Flight is in 24 hours asked if I could call back she said call between 7am and 4pm.
Anyone know if they are open sundays. She didn’t say but now I’m worried.
Jun 1, 2019, 11:53 pm
#1325
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
I have a flight tomorrow that I tried booking. Called the number bc I was eroding out at passenger info.
Call center was able to make booking but not take payment for flight. They said I’ll recieve a call 24-48 hours. Flight is in 24 hours asked if I could call back she said call between 7am and 4pm.
Anyone know if they are open sundays. She didn’t say but now I’m worried.
Call center was able to make booking but not take payment for flight. They said I’ll recieve a call 24-48 hours. Flight is in 24 hours asked if I could call back she said call between 7am and 4pm.
Anyone know if they are open sundays. She didn’t say but now I’m worried.
Jun 2, 2019, 2:39 am
#1326
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,403
I have a flight tomorrow that I tried booking. Called the number bc I was eroding out at passenger info.
Call center was able to make booking but not take payment for flight. They said I’ll recieve a call 24-48 hours. Flight is in 24 hours asked if I could call back she said call between 7am and 4pm.
Anyone know if they are open sundays. She didn’t say but now I’m worried.
Call center was able to make booking but not take payment for flight. They said I’ll recieve a call 24-48 hours. Flight is in 24 hours asked if I could call back she said call between 7am and 4pm.
Anyone know if they are open sundays. She didn’t say but now I’m worried.
This is different from the 'specialised' booking department within LM that does screenshots. They don't work weekends AFAIK.
Jun 2, 2019, 3:35 pm
#1327
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 94
EDIT: can confirm that it works.
Last edited by forthecookies; Jun 2, 2019 at 6:16 pm Reason: More info
Jun 3, 2019, 5:33 am
#1329
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,403
Jun 3, 2019, 12:24 pm
#1330
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Bergen County NJ
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic 1, Amtrak Select, Marriott Plat , AMEX Plat (noted for club access reference)
Posts: 781
Is there a way to use EF to check if there is award space on AV for UA operated flights before calling in ?
Jun 4, 2019, 3:26 pm
#1332
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 94
It's been 48 hours since my phone booking and the billing department hasn't called me yet. I tried proactively calling in and I was told that I just had to wait for the billing department to call me. Any suggestions? I read that the hold disappears at the 72 hour mark, so I'd rather not try my luck.
Jun 4, 2019, 4:09 pm
#1333
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 4
That's the case with me as well. I had a domestic UA booking through Lifemiles that expired because I did not get a call from the payments department. The CSR created a new booking yesterday and said there is only one bilingual person in the payments department, smh. Hopefully I can get it ticketed this time.
Jun 4, 2019, 4:25 pm
#1334
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 94
That's the case with me as well. I had a domestic UA booking through Lifemiles that expired because I did not get a call from the payments department. The CSR created a new booking yesterday and said there is only one bilingual person in the payments department, smh. Hopefully I can get it ticketed this time.
Jun 4, 2019, 4:46 pm
#1335
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 4
All this in a span of 4-5 days I iirc. I made the original booking on 5/30. Did not get any calls from payment department until 6/1. I called them check on that on 5/31and 6/1. Every time I called them, they said someone will call back. Nobody did. So I called again on 6/2 and they said the booking has expired. I called them again on 6/3 to have them create a new booking and also had a spanish speaking friend sit alongside to possibly talk to the spanish speaking payment person but they wouldn't let us do that. Kind of getting frustrated and nervous because I need to make other bookings (hotels/rental cars/etc).