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 27, 2021, 1:53 am
#2011
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
I charged back for purchased miles after they didn’t update their booking system since 1999, and now my name and DOB gets flagged when I try to book an award ticket they cancel it. However, if I book it and travel within 12 hours they don’t have enough time to do so .
Jun 28, 2021, 3:30 pm
#2012
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: IND/FRA
Programs: UA PS, OZ, AS MVP
Posts: 23
Called the US call center this morning, no wait, she found the flight I wanted to book, but “due to the limited seats available on the flight I’ll have to refer you to the manual booking department” . first time I heard that, but even after pushing back she was not willing to book the 2 seats for me.
Jun 30, 2021, 10:29 am
#2013
Join Date: May 2020
Programs: Lifemiles, Marriott Titanium,
Posts: 54
I thought I would give update on my manual booking nightmare. I sent about 4 follow up emails regarding the manual booking. After 12 days I finally received my booking with payment details. I called the Avianca call center, 35 minutes in total and finished the booking. No idea how my first manual booking took 24 hours and the second one took 12 days.... but at the end I achieved what I wanted....
Jun 30, 2021, 3:51 pm
#2014
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
I thought I would give update on my manual booking nightmare. I sent about 4 follow up emails regarding the manual booking. After 12 days I finally received my booking with payment details. I called the Avianca call center, 35 minutes in total and finished the booking. No idea how my first manual booking took 24 hours and the second one took 12 days.... but at the end I achieved what I wanted....
Per your post above the award availability actually disappeared quite early? I think this indicates that at least in some cases the original booking is made and seats held, followed by referral to the special department (who probably don't see any urgency if they seats are already held).
Jun 30, 2021, 4:47 pm
#2015
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Alaska, Bonvoy, HH
Posts: 482
Well, I had redeemed LM for 2 legs AC (one way) in October and the itinerary changed on me by a day (which I had to discover myself on the AC site of course).
Can anyone clarify for me what the options are if that day of difference doesn't work for me? Thx in advance.
Can anyone clarify for me what the options are if that day of difference doesn't work for me? Thx in advance.
Jun 30, 2021, 6:14 pm
#2016
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
Well, I had redeemed LM for 2 legs AC (one way) in October and the itinerary changed on me by a day (which I had to discover myself on the AC site of course).
Can anyone clarify for me what the options are if that day of difference doesn't work for me? Thx in advance.
Can anyone clarify for me what the options are if that day of difference doesn't work for me? Thx in advance.
Jul 1, 2021, 5:51 pm
#2017
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 5,856
Pretty amazing that I'm never able to find a United flight available for redemption when I need it.
I've been trying for over a year to dump my remaining LM and I can never find a way to use them.
I've been trying for over a year to dump my remaining LM and I can never find a way to use them.
Jul 1, 2021, 6:07 pm
#2018
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Alaska, Bonvoy, HH
Posts: 482
Either try and move to a day that is suitable for you, look for award availability via another route that is acceptable, or request a full refund. The middle option may have some complications regarding how LM process the change... IIRC it would need to be a full cancellation and rebook anyway (but should be fee free).
Jul 1, 2021, 6:09 pm
#2019
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Alaska, Bonvoy, HH
Posts: 482
No idea how UA makes their inventory available to LM but it can be done. I have TATL Polaris in early Fall.
Jul 2, 2021, 7:44 am
#2020
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
Does anyone think at some day LM will move their computer system out of the 90’s and allow people to book on the website, logged into their account, using their miles? Quite a concept I know
Jul 2, 2021, 8:04 am
#2021
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
LM is a great program if you can make it work for you. It's not for everyone. The website 'problems' have been around for what... five or so years? Not holding my breath for any improvements!
Jul 3, 2021, 4:08 pm
#2022
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Alaska, Bonvoy, HH
Posts: 482
I've now used LM 3 times and the only time I booked over the phone was out of fear of missing out on "last" seats that were stuck in limbo due to my pause in the middle of online booking. The site, while being a PITA to search for flights on, handled the actual bookings just fine previously.
Jul 8, 2021, 9:22 pm
#2023
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 876
Unable to find any seat today, all searches showed no available.
System maintenance?
System maintenance?
Jul 11, 2021, 9:07 am
#2024
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: IND/FRA
Programs: UA PS, OZ, AS MVP
Posts: 23
I recently booked a flight via lifemiles - It was a bit of a struggle but I achieved what I wanted.
I also had to do a manual booking because I was getting an error every time I wanted to confirm my seats. After receiving a confirmation email I was called by the payment department. Then the payment processing portal failed - and the call dropped. I then proceeded to call back many, many times over the next 24h and payment portal was still down - no payment could be made. Then after 48h the same agent called back to finish the payment. The award availability online was gone (and I thought my 2 J seats as well), but they seem to hold them for quite a while. I just finished the payment and had the confirmation email 30min later.
I also had to do a manual booking because I was getting an error every time I wanted to confirm my seats. After receiving a confirmation email I was called by the payment department. Then the payment processing portal failed - and the call dropped. I then proceeded to call back many, many times over the next 24h and payment portal was still down - no payment could be made. Then after 48h the same agent called back to finish the payment. The award availability online was gone (and I thought my 2 J seats as well), but they seem to hold them for quite a while. I just finished the payment and had the confirmation email 30min later.
Jul 12, 2021, 9:21 pm
#2025
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 130
Successfully booked UA Y
A data point - booked a domestic UA flight in Y for September but I ended up having to do it over the phone - got the usual error at the confirmation point on the website, so I emailed the booking details and sent in screenshots. Based on my results, I'm not actually sure if I needed the screenshots or if I already had a partially complete booking in my account - about 3 days after the email I got a response with the reservation information noting that it was ready for me to call and pay, and right after that email they actually called me and walked me through the process, which was fairly painless (except having to say my credit card info out loud in the gift shop of a museum).
I actually booked a different UA domestic flight in Y for January and was able to do it all via the website (this was about a month ago). Not sure why it worked one time and didn't the next.
I actually booked a different UA domestic flight in Y for January and was able to do it all via the website (this was about a month ago). Not sure why it worked one time and didn't the next.