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)
#541
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 291
I have never used Lifemiles and I am curious as there is a promotion going on. I searched up tickets from Toronto to HK with Eva Air on August 6/7? It's available - will I have troubles booking? Reason I am asking is I don't want to buy and be left with miles I cannot use..
#542
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: AY Platinum, UA Premier Platinum, OneWorld Emerald, VA Platinum
Posts: 558
Can you obtain search results without an account?
#543
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Valencia, Spain
Programs: Pascal and Python, no C++
Posts: 738
Used to be the case until 2015, but AFAIK not any longer. So good point, the OP must have had access to an account, so he would most likely also have access to the promotion in one way or another.
And @anythursday, yes, Eva Air is one of the "friendliest" airlines via LM.
And @anythursday, yes, Eva Air is one of the "friendliest" airlines via LM.
#544
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,724
Is OS from C1-C2 or C2-C1 being blocked now? Availability was wide open on major routes as of earlier today. Then tonight, nada. Not even seeing it on intra-Europe.
Wondering if it's something wrong on Austrian's end? Not seeing availability when using United MP engine either.
Wondering if it's something wrong on Austrian's end? Not seeing availability when using United MP engine either.
Last edited by iluvdoco; May 20, 2017 at 12:47 am
#545
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,724
Is OS from C1-C2 or C2-C1 being blocked now? Availability was wide open on major routes as of earlier today. Then tonight, nada. Not even seeing it on intra-Europe.
Wondering if it's something wrong on Austrian's end? Not seeing availability when using United MP engine either.
Wondering if it's something wrong on Austrian's end? Not seeing availability when using United MP engine either.
Last edited by iluvdoco; May 20, 2017 at 6:22 am
#546
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 30
how 'easy' is it to redeem an award ticket ex-SIN on SQ to SFO/LAX?
i tried to search around July 2017 period.. dang. nothing on J or Y. then i thought maybe i was too 'late' since SQ (or other star alliance partners prob just leave too little seats for LM/partner award redemption).
so i chose July 2018 period.. dang. J or Y nothing. ok.. maybe i am too far ahead, more than 365 days from now.
so i searched May 2018 period or even April.. dang. J or Y nothing.
did anyone manage to find any flights on SQ ex-SIN?
ps: i am new to LM. but does your IP address (country of access) affect availability on its search engine?
i tried to search around July 2017 period.. dang. nothing on J or Y. then i thought maybe i was too 'late' since SQ (or other star alliance partners prob just leave too little seats for LM/partner award redemption).
so i chose July 2018 period.. dang. J or Y nothing. ok.. maybe i am too far ahead, more than 365 days from now.
so i searched May 2018 period or even April.. dang. J or Y nothing.
did anyone manage to find any flights on SQ ex-SIN?
ps: i am new to LM. but does your IP address (country of access) affect availability on its search engine?
#547
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
Impossible. SQ does not release these seats to partners. At one time LM seemed to enjoy special access to premium SQ redemptions, now, not really. Try searching for the SQ seats using another *A search engine (not UA, who doesn't show SQ online)...you won't find any.
#548
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 30
Impossible. SQ does not release these seats to partners. At one time LM seemed to enjoy special access to premium SQ redemptions, now, not really. Try searching for the SQ seats using another *A search engine (not UA, who doesn't show SQ online)...you won't find any.
for those periods i mention, class F J or Y are not available.
#549
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,407
it is possible to book SQ via LM. Regional flights are ok. And even some longer regional flights. But long hauls using premium product are virtually non-existent.
#550
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 55
Unable to complete award booking
I tried with 2 different browsers to book award from Europe to US. After i select the amount of miles and dollars and click continue i get this
Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
What does it mean?
Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
What does it mean?
#551
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto (YYZ)
Posts: 6,279
I tried with 2 different browsers to book award from Europe to US. After i select the amount of miles and dollars and click continue i get this
Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
What does it mean?
Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
What does it mean?
If you want you can take screen shots of the itinerary/flights and email customer support to book.
#553
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
1. Take screenshot of itinerary
2. Email support with itinerary, account number, miles wanted to use (wanna do cash+points), and cc number
Anything else?
#554
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,839
I want to book a NCE-VIE-ORD flight on OS in July. Lifemiles shows availability but then the usual error appears. What should I do to get this ticketed/booked? Would this work:
1. Take screenshot of itinerary
2. Email support with itinerary, account number, miles wanted to use (wanna do cash+points), and cc number
Anything else?
1. Take screenshot of itinerary
2. Email support with itinerary, account number, miles wanted to use (wanna do cash+points), and cc number
Anything else?
#555
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
I want to book a NCE-VIE-ORD flight on OS in July. Lifemiles shows availability but then the usual error appears. What should I do to get this ticketed/booked? Would this work:
1. Take screenshot of itinerary
2. Email support with itinerary, account number, miles wanted to use (wanna do cash+points), and cc number
Anything else?
1. Take screenshot of itinerary
2. Email support with itinerary, account number, miles wanted to use (wanna do cash+points), and cc number
Anything else?
Somtimes LM shows phantom availability, what would lead you to an error page in the booking process...