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)
#316
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
This isn't in the slightest bit unusual. I've checked LM bookings on checkmytrip immediately after booking (SQ, TG) and the ticket numbers are there. And on other occasions it takes some time. There is no apparent pattern to it, at least I haven't noticed one anyway.
#317
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
So everything I'm searching is showing NA.
Even Economy flights like FRA - MUC are NA
I wondering if they are tweaking something
Even Economy flights like FRA - MUC are NA
I wondering if they are tweaking something
#319
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,611
Looks like availability is back! Kind of sad come to think of how addicted we are to Lifemiles lol
#320
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Melbourne/Bangkok
Programs: A3*G, QF PLATINUM, BA GOLD, VA GOLD, HH DIAMOND
Posts: 2,245
Crisis averted. Again
#321
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,611
I must have gotten really lucky, this year so far I have booked
- 2 tickets with TG
- 4 tickets with SQ
- 2 tickets with TK
All tickets in J and confirmed within 24hrs
- 2 tickets with TG
- 4 tickets with SQ
- 2 tickets with TK
All tickets in J and confirmed within 24hrs
#322
It still can be a decent program..... for me availability from Europe to the US has been scarce at times (nothing really to do with LM) and the lack of LH F is a bit of a pain as well....
But looking at a somewhat last minute booking I was able to snag a FRA-ICN-LAX OZ F award. A bit of a long flight to get to LAX, and the old F on FRA-ICN isn't great. But even when it's not a tricked route for the miles to be paid, I'm still happy to get it before the devaluation sets in.
But looking at a somewhat last minute booking I was able to snag a FRA-ICN-LAX OZ F award. A bit of a long flight to get to LAX, and the old F on FRA-ICN isn't great. But even when it's not a tricked route for the miles to be paid, I'm still happy to get it before the devaluation sets in.
#323
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, A3 Gold
Posts: 601
Based on united.com and aeroplan.com, the following routing is available in TG F:
FRA-BKK TG921 on 9/20/2014
However, it is not showing on lifemiles.com. Why?
FRA-BKK TG921 on 9/20/2014
However, it is not showing on lifemiles.com. Why?
#325
Join Date: Jun 2002
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Celebrity Cruises Elite Plus
Posts: 1,259
Would like to use LM to book LIS-IST-SFO on TK. Flight schedules require overnight in IST (however less than 24 hours), which suits me fine. However LM website won't display itinerary. It's been nearly 18 months since I bought award tickets on LM, so is it safe to assume if the website doesn't display it, you can't book it over the phone either?
#326
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Would like to use LM to book LIS-IST-SFO on TK. Flight schedules require overnight in IST (however less than 24 hours), which suits me fine. However LM website won't display itinerary. It's been nearly 18 months since I bought award tickets on LM, so is it safe to assume if the website doesn't display it, you can't book it over the phone either?
LF - usually - does not show connections with layovers over 7h59m...
#327
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Alabama
Programs: Not care as much as before...
Posts: 329
Looks like all booking errors out once selected the flight and click "next"
#328
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,467
#329
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,739
This isn't in the slightest bit unusual. I've checked LM bookings on checkmytrip immediately after booking (SQ, TG) and the ticket numbers are there. And on other occasions it takes some time. There is no apparent pattern to it, at least I haven't noticed one anyway.
#330
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 973
A quick question: Can I use my LM account to book flights for third parties, eg relatives? Or, do they need to have their own LM accounts and book their flights from there? Thanks in advance.