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)
Oct 16, 2021, 4:07 pm
#2071
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Hello old friends - it has been about 2 years since I have been on the thread. Based in Australia certainly has mad traveling next to impossible.
With the borders slowly being opened, I remembered that I have quite a few LifeMiles points that I am trying to burn. Last week, I found a good J seat on OZ SYD-ICN on May 12, 2022 (50k direct versusing using 110k for QF via HKG). I clicked the box and was going through the payment - long story short I decided to do it later.
The problem is now that J seat is not showing up in the search anymore! Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations for how to get OZ (or AV) to release that seat again?
Hope all is well and look forward to being more active again!
-IAH2MEL
With the borders slowly being opened, I remembered that I have quite a few LifeMiles points that I am trying to burn. Last week, I found a good J seat on OZ SYD-ICN on May 12, 2022 (50k direct versusing using 110k for QF via HKG). I clicked the box and was going through the payment - long story short I decided to do it later.
The problem is now that J seat is not showing up in the search anymore! Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations for how to get OZ (or AV) to release that seat again?
Hope all is well and look forward to being more active again!
-IAH2MEL
Oct 16, 2021, 4:58 pm
#2072
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: UA MP 1K
Posts: 119
Thank you! Tried to book Friday (15 Oct), so I will see if comes back online this week.
Last edited by IAH2MEL; Oct 16, 2021 at 4:59 pm Reason: incorrectly put that I booked it
Oct 29, 2021, 9:22 am
#2073
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AA CK, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Platinum, Avis Presidents
Posts: 236
Is it normal that following a LifeMiles partner reward redemption to only receive one email with the PNR - no ticket confirmation, no pdf of the flights, no ticket numbers?
Getting a little concerned that I made a LifeMiles redemption on Turkish Airlines but have only received one email and can't see the reservation on the Turkish Airlines system.
Getting a little concerned that I made a LifeMiles redemption on Turkish Airlines but have only received one email and can't see the reservation on the Turkish Airlines system.
Oct 29, 2021, 10:36 am
#2074
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Alaska, Bonvoy, HH
Posts: 482
Is it normal that following a LifeMiles partner reward redemption to only receive one email with the PNR - no ticket confirmation, no pdf of the flights, no ticket numbers?
Getting a little concerned that I made a LifeMiles redemption on Turkish Airlines but have only received one email and can't see the reservation on the Turkish Airlines system.
Getting a little concerned that I made a LifeMiles redemption on Turkish Airlines but have only received one email and can't see the reservation on the Turkish Airlines system.
Oct 29, 2021, 1:51 pm
#2075
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
This. You can normally pull up the reservation direct on the operating carrier's website, or via a partner airline (if their systems are compatible). Or ring Turkish and ask 'do you have a ticket number against this booking?'. While concrete confirmation can be lacking, it is unusual for LM not to have ticketed something correctly.
Oct 29, 2021, 6:00 pm
#2076
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 576
ugh, im stuck in a bind trying to book a flight for my father. It doesnt seem like i can book it for him using my account, i googled around to see and see people say its possible. It errors out when i select his account in my profile. I select mine and it goes through just fine.
Calling LM didnt help much, they cant see the flight, but i see it online. only thing they said i can do is to email support about it. :\
Calling LM didnt help much, they cant see the flight, but i see it online. only thing they said i can do is to email support about it. :\
Oct 29, 2021, 11:46 pm
#2077
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: RDU
Programs: HH Diamond, AA Gold, Marriot Plat
Posts: 209
ugh, im stuck in a bind trying to book a flight for my father. It doesnt seem like i can book it for him using my account, i googled around to see and see people say its possible. It errors out when i select his account in my profile. I select mine and it goes through just fine.
Calling LM didnt help much, they cant see the flight, but i see it online. only thing they said i can do is to email support about it. :\
Calling LM didnt help much, they cant see the flight, but i see it online. only thing they said i can do is to email support about it. :\
Oct 30, 2021, 12:18 pm
#2078
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 576
have done that. even created his own lifemile account to add there. no dice.
Oct 30, 2021, 2:04 pm
#2079
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: RDU
Programs: HH Diamond, AA Gold, Marriot Plat
Posts: 209
Oct 30, 2021, 3:11 pm
#2080
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Velocity
Posts: 70
[QUOTE=IAH2MEL;33650522]Hello old friends - it has been about 2 years since I have been on the thread. Based in Australia certainly has mad traveling next to impossible.
With the borders slowly being opened, I remembered that I have quite a few LifeMiles points that I am trying to burn. Last week, I found a good J seat on OZ SYD-ICN on May 12, 2022 (50k direct versusing using 110k for QF via HKG). I clicked the box and was going through the payment - long story short I decided to do it later.
The problem is now that J seat is not showing up in the search anymore! Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations for how to get OZ (or AV) to release that seat again?
Hope all is well and look forward to being more active again!
-IAH2MEL[/QUOTE<]
Were you able to book?
With the borders slowly being opened, I remembered that I have quite a few LifeMiles points that I am trying to burn. Last week, I found a good J seat on OZ SYD-ICN on May 12, 2022 (50k direct versusing using 110k for QF via HKG). I clicked the box and was going through the payment - long story short I decided to do it later.
The problem is now that J seat is not showing up in the search anymore! Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations for how to get OZ (or AV) to release that seat again?
Hope all is well and look forward to being more active again!
-IAH2MEL[/QUOTE<]
Were you able to book?
Oct 31, 2021, 9:31 am
#2081
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
[QUOTE=Notyourbag;33688467]
That seat is gone. Just keep checking. There is no other way.
Hello old friends - it has been about 2 years since I have been on the thread. Based in Australia certainly has mad traveling next to impossible.
With the borders slowly being opened, I remembered that I have quite a few LifeMiles points that I am trying to burn. Last week, I found a good J seat on OZ SYD-ICN on May 12, 2022 (50k direct versusing using 110k for QF via HKG). I clicked the box and was going through the payment - long story short I decided to do it later.
The problem is now that J seat is not showing up in the search anymore! Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations for how to get OZ (or AV) to release that seat again?
Hope all is well and look forward to being more active again!
-IAH2MEL[/QUOTE<]
Were you able to book?
With the borders slowly being opened, I remembered that I have quite a few LifeMiles points that I am trying to burn. Last week, I found a good J seat on OZ SYD-ICN on May 12, 2022 (50k direct versusing using 110k for QF via HKG). I clicked the box and was going through the payment - long story short I decided to do it later.
The problem is now that J seat is not showing up in the search anymore! Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations for how to get OZ (or AV) to release that seat again?
Hope all is well and look forward to being more active again!
-IAH2MEL[/QUOTE<]
Were you able to book?
Oct 31, 2021, 1:27 pm
#2082
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Alaska, Bonvoy, HH
Posts: 482
I wouldn't be so sure. I'd definitely try to get confirmation over the phone...
Nov 1, 2021, 11:52 am
#2083
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Southern Cal
Programs: UA, AA, Delta, Marriott
Posts: 113
My Lifemiles problem is this: I cannot get any Business Class travel, no matter the route or destination. That's why I accumulated so many Lifemiles. I don't want to fly coach, and I want to fly with my husband.
I did get one offer- all 305,000 points PLUS $3300!
I canceled my Banco Popular card since I wasn't continuing to earn Lifemiles that I can't use. They insist I must pay the annual fee even though I closed it within 30 days of the bill being sent.
It's not been a good experience.
Any advice is welcome.
I did get one offer- all 305,000 points PLUS $3300!
I canceled my Banco Popular card since I wasn't continuing to earn Lifemiles that I can't use. They insist I must pay the annual fee even though I closed it within 30 days of the bill being sent.
It's not been a good experience.
Any advice is welcome.
Nov 1, 2021, 1:55 pm
#2084
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
My Lifemiles problem is this: I cannot get any Business Class travel, no matter the route or destination. That's why I accumulated so many Lifemiles. I don't want to fly coach, and I want to fly with my husband.
I did get one offer- all 305,000 points PLUS $3300!
I canceled my Banco Popular card since I wasn't continuing to earn Lifemiles that I can't use. They insist I must pay the annual fee even though I closed it within 30 days of the bill being sent.
It's not been a good experience.
Any advice is welcome.
I did get one offer- all 305,000 points PLUS $3300!
I canceled my Banco Popular card since I wasn't continuing to earn Lifemiles that I can't use. They insist I must pay the annual fee even though I closed it within 30 days of the bill being sent.
It's not been a good experience.
Any advice is welcome.
Nov 1, 2021, 4:18 pm
#2085
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK
Programs: OZ Diamond (*G), KQ Asante Gold (ST+), Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,511
My Lifemiles problem is this: I cannot get any Business Class travel, no matter the route or destination. That's why I accumulated so many Lifemiles. I don't want to fly coach, and I want to fly with my husband.
I did get one offer- all 305,000 points PLUS $3300!
I canceled my Banco Popular card since I wasn't continuing to earn Lifemiles that I can't use. They insist I must pay the annual fee even though I closed it within 30 days of the bill being sent.
It's not been a good experience.
Any advice is welcome.
I did get one offer- all 305,000 points PLUS $3300!
I canceled my Banco Popular card since I wasn't continuing to earn Lifemiles that I can't use. They insist I must pay the annual fee even though I closed it within 30 days of the bill being sent.
It's not been a good experience.
Any advice is welcome.
Where are you looking to go from/to? You can use the United or Aeroplan booking engines - 'book with miles' options - to see what award seats are available for the routes you want to fly. Then cross reference that with Lifemiles. Lifemiles does have some quirks, but you might be able to send screenshots for the flights you have found via the other booking engines and they will be able to book them manually for you. Not ideal, but will get you the flights you want.
One other thing I'll say is if you find specific flights that are all on one airline, you might need to search on Lifemiles for that specific airline, instead of doing the Star Alliance Partners search. It's a weird bug I've noticed with Lifemiles quite a bit the past year.