Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Avianca | LifeMiles and Amigo
Reload this Page >

Lifemiles serious booking problems - Beware (old legacy thread)

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
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
=========
Print Wikipost

Lifemiles serious booking problems - Beware (old legacy thread)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 22, 2015, 5:00 am
  #481  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Originally Posted by michaelpowell44
I called in and was successful at changing the routing (could not change Origin/destination) but.... I have called the operating carriers 18 hours after receiving the updated email with all the flights.

2 of the 3 operating carriers are saying the flights are not re issued.

what exactly does this mean?

I am slated to leave on 9/27 should I call now or wait a few days.

I have a weird routing and don't want to risk it being declined.
The most important thing is that the operating carriers have a ticket number against your booking(s) in their respective systems.

If they can't see a ticket number, it means they don't have payment. If they don't have payment, they can cancel the reservation. Individual airlines might cancel their portions of your booking at different times.

If you are travelling on the 27th of this month, I'd be contacting LM to get the ticket reissued asap. The closer to flight departure you are, the more likely an airline will cancel the reservation if they don't have a ticket number.
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is offline  
Old Sep 23, 2015, 6:42 pm
  #482  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Their system is down, cannot book any flights online.

Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
djjaguar64 is offline  
Old Sep 23, 2015, 7:22 pm
  #483  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Originally Posted by djjaguar64
Their system is down, cannot book any flights online.

Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
Once again we live in hope that is this might be IT down-time while they fix the booking issues that started last year.

Once again I suspect we may be disappointed.
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is offline  
Old Sep 23, 2015, 7:36 pm
  #484  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
It seems to have started at 5pm EST, no search is possible.
djjaguar64 is offline  
Old Sep 24, 2015, 12:29 am
  #485  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: AY Platinum, UA Premier Platinum, OneWorld Emerald, VA Platinum
Posts: 558
I just did a dummy search (FRA>LHR) and had no issues.
Guvner067 is offline  
Old Sep 24, 2015, 8:31 am
  #486  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Originally Posted by Guvner067
I just did a dummy search (FRA>LHR) and had no issues.
I am trying at work and at home unable to get anything at all, it times out.

Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.

Last edited by djjaguar64; Sep 24, 2015 at 8:37 am
djjaguar64 is offline  
Old Sep 24, 2015, 8:47 am
  #487  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Originally Posted by Guvner067
I just did a dummy search (FRA>LHR) and had no issues.
You are right. I tried FRA-LHR and I was getting flights. How odd. can you please try, YYZ-SIN Dec 17-Jan 2?
djjaguar64 is offline  
Old Sep 24, 2015, 9:22 am
  #488  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
It seems to work for certain routings only. Odd
djjaguar64 is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2015, 5:52 pm
  #489  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: CO Platinum/1K, SPG Platinum/Ambassador
Posts: 1,705
I was just told by call center agent I needed to book a flight 48 hours before departure if I wanted to redeem lifemiles. True?
dparkinson is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2015, 6:07 pm
  #490  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Originally Posted by dparkinson
I was just told by call center agent I needed to book a flight 48 hours before departure if I wanted to redeem lifemiles. True?
For star alliance? yes.

it's in the terms and conditions.
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2015, 6:12 pm
  #491  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: CO Platinum/1K, SPG Platinum/Ambassador
Posts: 1,705
Originally Posted by LHR/MEL/Europe FF
For star alliance? yes.

it's in the terms and conditions.
Interesting b/c it still shows flight departing at 1010 tomorrow as available, just not the 440 online.
dparkinson is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2015, 10:01 pm
  #492  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: TLV
Posts: 522
Just a month ago I booked a trip (UA+LH) at just 24 hours and a few minutes before departure. A week later I booked the return flight (LH) also at just a few minutes over 24 hours before departure. While looking for the best routing I did notice that flights disappeared from the LM site the moment they came inside 24 hours. So in my experience, unless there has been a very recent change, LM *A online bookings can be made up to 24 hours before departure.

Here's where on 29-AUG at 2:15 PM MDT (the confirmation email followed a few minutes later at 2:22 PM MDT) I booked a flight leaving the next day at 1:18 PM PDT ( = 2:18 PM MDT):

Maayan is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2015, 6:58 am
  #493  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,125
I have made several bookings within the 24 hr window - though it is well over a year ago. Too bad as some airlines release additional seats at the 24 hr mark.
erik123 is offline  
Old Oct 2, 2015, 2:50 pm
  #494  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Originally Posted by LHR/MEL/Europe FF
For star alliance? yes.

it's in the terms and conditions.
On Lifemiles.com, most of my award travel bookings have been made around 24-36 hours before scheduled departure of the flights booked.
GUWonder is offline  
Old Dec 26, 2015, 10:32 am
  #495  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
Does anyone have recent experience with Aussie credit cards being rejected while ticketing, and Lifemiles cancelling the reservation after two rejections by the credit card company?
SingaporeDon is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.