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)
Jan 14, 2015, 6:16 am
#391
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 97
Thanks. I am also wondering whether anyone knows the service hours of the U.S. number. I can't find the hours on the net anywhere.
Jan 14, 2015, 8:43 am
#392
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: SPG Plat 100, A3*G
Posts: 678
The main benefit of calling the US number is calling for free.
Jan 14, 2015, 8:35 pm
#393
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 97
I got the brilliant idea to e-mail them in the hope that they could call me, and that is what they have offered to do. Let's hope the phone does not cut off if and when they call me.
Jan 15, 2015, 10:34 am
#396
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: TLV
Posts: 522
If you're not in China or some place where they block Google, you should be able to use Google Hangouts to call any number in the USA or Canada free of charge, and you don't need to have a Google Voice account or any balance.
On PC: no need to install Hangouts; access it from Google+ and ignore prompts to download and install - simply start a Hangout and enter a +1-###-###-#### telephone number in the box.
On phone: install Google Hangouts + Google Hangouts Dialer.
I don't know that Hangouts calls are of better quality than Skype calls, but it's something you could try.
On PC: no need to install Hangouts; access it from Google+ and ignore prompts to download and install - simply start a Hangout and enter a +1-###-###-#### telephone number in the box.
On phone: install Google Hangouts + Google Hangouts Dialer.
I don't know that Hangouts calls are of better quality than Skype calls, but it's something you could try.
Jan 19, 2015, 2:15 pm
#397
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 700
I'm having no trouble getting through to an agent, but can't get any help in fixing an issue with my ticket. Essentially, the award ticket was issued with an error in one of the fields that is preventing me from making a seat assignment with the operating airline.
I've tried asking for them to fix that specific field, and also tried asking for a re-issue, and both of those request were met with repeated "we cannot do that" responses.
Any tips on how to proceed from here?
I've tried asking for them to fix that specific field, and also tried asking for a re-issue, and both of those request were met with repeated "we cannot do that" responses.
Any tips on how to proceed from here?
Jan 19, 2015, 3:14 pm
#398
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,666
I'm having no trouble getting through to an agent, but can't get any help in fixing an issue with my ticket. Essentially, the award ticket was issued with an error in one of the fields that is preventing me from making a seat assignment with the operating airline.
I've tried asking for them to fix that specific field, and also tried asking for a re-issue, and both of those request were met with repeated "we cannot do that" responses.
Any tips on how to proceed from here?
I've tried asking for them to fix that specific field, and also tried asking for a re-issue, and both of those request were met with repeated "we cannot do that" responses.
Any tips on how to proceed from here?
Jan 19, 2015, 3:27 pm
#399
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 700
Jan 19, 2015, 11:36 pm
#400
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,839
Have you tried calling ANA with ticket #s?
Jan 20, 2015, 9:37 am
#402
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 700
I called ANA, but they said that something was duplicated in one of the fields of the ticket, which was blocking them from completing seat assignments. They weren't able to edit the field, so I had to go back to Avianca for help, which went nowhere.
Jan 27, 2015, 1:14 pm
#403
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA, QF, VS, AA, US, HH, SPG
Posts: 974
Ah dear - booked YVR-PEK-SYD on CA some 11 months ago for mid-March 2015 - connection in PEK was 3 hours so all was good. Just checked my booking and found that my YVR-PEK flight has been changed to a different flight at a later time (looks like original flight no longer operates) and my connection time in PEK is now 35 minutes which I presume is not only well below the MCT but not at all possible.
Not sure what to do - I've searched for alternate *A flights (all I really want is YVR-SYD with the least number of connections) but there is no availability on any airline in business. If I call LM can they do anything (other than cancel my ticket) - I guess they cannot get CA to open availability on PEK-SYD the following day.
I'm now thinking of cancelling this itinerary and just winging it - wait until a few days before my planned departure and hope UA opens C or F on LAX/SFO - SYD or just buying my return ticket (I've seen a few good deals on Expedia).
I'll be on my way home and all other arrangements are in place so changing dates completely is just not an option.
Not sure what to do - I've searched for alternate *A flights (all I really want is YVR-SYD with the least number of connections) but there is no availability on any airline in business. If I call LM can they do anything (other than cancel my ticket) - I guess they cannot get CA to open availability on PEK-SYD the following day.
I'm now thinking of cancelling this itinerary and just winging it - wait until a few days before my planned departure and hope UA opens C or F on LAX/SFO - SYD or just buying my return ticket (I've seen a few good deals on Expedia).
I'll be on my way home and all other arrangements are in place so changing dates completely is just not an option.
Jan 27, 2015, 1:39 pm
#404
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1
Welcome to Flyertalk! Sorry to hear about your problems booking with Lifemiles, but to call the whole program a scam is going overboard. Have made serveral simple bookings online without any problems. All frequent flyer programs have their bugs, so it seems you unfortunately came upon a route or ticket that wasn't possible using LM. If there are more reports of problems booking award tickets it would be good to share and hope that AV works the kinks out of the system. If there are more reports of unsuccessful redemptions than succesful ones than you might be onto something... If you want to get rid of your useful miles, I'd be more than happy to redeem them for you 
Jan 27, 2015, 2:37 pm
#405
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
Ah dear - booked YVR-PEK-SYD on CA some 11 months ago for mid-March 2015 - connection in PEK was 3 hours so all was good. Just checked my booking and found that my YVR-PEK flight has been changed to a different flight at a later time (looks like original flight no longer operates) and my connection time in PEK is now 35 minutes which I presume is not only well below the MCT but not at all possible.
Not sure what to do - I've searched for alternate *A flights (all I really want is YVR-SYD with the least number of connections) but there is no availability on any airline in business. If I call LM can they do anything (other than cancel my ticket) - I guess they cannot get CA to open availability on PEK-SYD the following day.
I'm now thinking of cancelling this itinerary and just winging it - wait until a few days before my planned departure and hope UA opens C or F on LAX/SFO - SYD or just buying my return ticket (I've seen a few good deals on Expedia).
I'll be on my way home and all other arrangements are in place so changing dates completely is just not an option.
Not sure what to do - I've searched for alternate *A flights (all I really want is YVR-SYD with the least number of connections) but there is no availability on any airline in business. If I call LM can they do anything (other than cancel my ticket) - I guess they cannot get CA to open availability on PEK-SYD the following day.
I'm now thinking of cancelling this itinerary and just winging it - wait until a few days before my planned departure and hope UA opens C or F on LAX/SFO - SYD or just buying my return ticket (I've seen a few good deals on Expedia).
I'll be on my way home and all other arrangements are in place so changing dates completely is just not an option.