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Lifemiles serious booking problems - Beware (old legacy thread)

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Old Aug 17, 2013, 12:43 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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
=========
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Lifemiles serious booking problems - Beware (old legacy thread)

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Old Jun 27, 2019, 1:07 am
  #1411  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Originally Posted by lingua101
so what should I do? I can see the booking on SQ but it says it has not been ticketed.

I did submit a query via web form from their website and nothing come out.
I wouldn't worry before coming close to the 48hrs mark.
mlqsko is offline  
Old Jun 27, 2019, 1:47 am
  #1412  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: TK-G | Accor P | SQ-G | Marriott T
Posts: 3,831
Originally Posted by mlqsko
I wouldn't worry before coming close to the 48hrs mark.
ok... thanks..... hope it should be ok
lingua101 is offline  
Old Jun 27, 2019, 11:50 pm
  #1413  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: TK-G | Accor P | SQ-G | Marriott T
Posts: 3,831
Originally Posted by lingua101
ok... thanks..... hope it should be ok
OK I got the ticket last night... It is like 24 hours after I ticketed..... not sure if this is because I chase for it or standard.....

The difference from my TK redemption is that AV seems use the same reference number with SQ.....
lingua101 is offline  
Old Jun 28, 2019, 5:03 pm
  #1414  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
24 hrs is fairly standard for SQ
mlqsko is offline  
Old Jul 2, 2019, 6:53 am
  #1415  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
tried to book a round trip ticket to Beijing and ran into this error when selecting passenger:

Sorry, we could not process your request, please try again.
If the problem persists contact our Call center Option 3 or send us an email to [email protected]
LifeMiles Team.
E3 38170516005 02/07/2019 06:51:14}

what is the best method to get this booked? thanks
coolguy100 is offline  
Old Jul 2, 2019, 8:22 am
  #1416  
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Originally Posted by coolguy100
tried to book a round trip ticket to Beijing and ran into this error when selecting passenger:

Sorry, we could not process your request, please try again.
If the problem persists contact our Call center Option 3 or send us an email to [email protected]
LifeMiles Team.
E3 38170516005 02/07/2019 06:51:14}

what is the best method to get this booked? thanks
Either (a) try selecting the specific airline from the drop down menu (for example 'Air China' or 'Air Canadia' instead of 'smart search' or 'star alliance'). Sometime this works. Or (b), call them (you can skype to the toll free USA number).
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is offline  
Old Jul 2, 2019, 3:58 pm
  #1417  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 877
UA and AC allow the following routing:

BCN-IST-IAH

Lifemiles does not display the itinerary. I will email them this evening with the screen shot method, but I am wondering if the routing is even valid in their system since Spain and Turkey are in different regions
coltonatx is offline  
Old Jul 2, 2019, 4:14 pm
  #1418  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Originally Posted by coltonatx
UA and AC allow the following routing:

BCN-IST-IAH

Lifemiles does not display the itinerary. I will email them this evening with the screen shot method, but I am wondering if the routing is even valid in their system since Spain and Turkey are in different regions
Transit via different regions is not a barrier in itself.
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is offline  
Old Jul 2, 2019, 5:42 pm
  #1419  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 496
Originally Posted by LHR/MEL/Europe FF
Either (a) try selecting the specific airline from the drop down menu (for example 'Air China' or 'Air Canadia' instead of 'smart search' or 'star alliance'). Sometime this works. Or (b), call them (you can skype to the toll free USA number).
(a) worked...got the flight booked successfully. thank you so much, bro!
coolguy100 is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 7:57 am
  #1420  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 57
I'm trying to book ORD --> VIE --> CPT Austrian Airlines.

United/Aeroplan both show x class availability. However, when i search Lifemiles I:

1) don't see any results using Smart Search
2) don't see any results using Star Alliance
3) if i search using specifically Austrian Airlines, there's no options to type in CPT as my destination

Lifemiles does show the ORD --> VIE segment... it just shows no results for VIE --> CPT.

Can anyone offer advice on how to book or am I pretty much out of luck?

Thanks!
rihc55 is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 8:42 am
  #1421  
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Unfortunately if you cannot get the VIE-CPT to show, you won’t be able to book it either through the call centre or via the screenshot method.

Nothing you can do even if you know the seats are there (for example because they show on UA or AC).
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 9:21 am
  #1422  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 57
Originally Posted by LHR/MEL/Europe FF
Unfortunately if you cannot get the VIE-CPT to show, you won’t be able to book it either through the call centre or via the screenshot method.

Nothing you can do even if you know the seats are there (for example because they show on UA or AC).
Appreciate the quick response!
rihc55 is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 2:07 pm
  #1423  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Originally Posted by rihc55
Appreciate the quick response!
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is with the Lifemiles customer support department
coolguy100 and IAH2MEL like this.
mlqsko is offline  
Old Jul 3, 2019, 3:48 pm
  #1424  
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Originally Posted by mlqsko
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is with the Lifemiles customer support department
lol. This forum functions as the LM customer support deaprtment
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is offline  
Old Jul 4, 2019, 5:45 am
  #1425  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 115
This is scary. Was about buying Lifetime miles using their current promo to possibly book Turkish and Air India (trip to Maldives) flights.

Does anyone know which airlines are reliable on their website? Don't want to buy and have it be a waste.

Thanks
yoyotogblo is offline  


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