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)
Feb 15, 2018, 8:40 pm
#766
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Air New Zealand Elite
Posts: 445
Is anyone else having trouble trying to search award bookings on the Lifemiles site? I keep getting it hanging up. I don’t find it that intuitive either. Especially if you want to try a new search, you still get the old search appearing in the boxes above the three day calendar. The mile lion bonus offer is good but I’m beginning to get skeptical about giving over any of my money.
Feb 15, 2018, 9:11 pm
#767
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM - IC RA - HHonors Gold - Hertz Gold - AA - US - CO - Choice Privileges
Posts: 1,648
Is anyone else having trouble trying to search award bookings on the Lifemiles site? I keep getting it hanging up. I don’t find it that intuitive either. Especially if you want to try a new search, you still get the old search appearing in the boxes above the three day calendar. The mile lion bonus offer is good but I’m beginning to get skeptical about giving over any of my money.
The definition of LifeMiles award booking search is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.
I search the exact same route over and over again and the results vary each and every search. I have booked two 1st class international bookings previously and am pleased with LifeMiles. More often than not I book one half of the trip with LifeMiles and the other half of the trip with a more reliable resource such as United or AA.
Feb 16, 2018, 7:43 am
#768
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Plat/6MM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,240
Feb 24, 2018, 2:50 pm
#769
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG 75K, BA Silver, AC, AF/KL, AV, VS | Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 457
I usually* have no troubles booking an award so I guess I was due.
I just found a seat in F (NRT-LAX) and proceeded booking as normal. I got to the end, the screen went blank for about a minute (but there was still some sort of activity), and then came back with an error message - something about "try again later". I then logged out, back in, and tried again. Before I could even select the same flight again I received an email from LM with my itinerary but the miles hadn't been deducted. I logged out and then back in and that seemed to refresh my account and the trip was there and the miles deducted. So strange. But not really when it comes to their website.
* only when I use a virtual number on my credit card, otherwise the charge will be declined.
I just found a seat in F (NRT-LAX) and proceeded booking as normal. I got to the end, the screen went blank for about a minute (but there was still some sort of activity), and then came back with an error message - something about "try again later". I then logged out, back in, and tried again. Before I could even select the same flight again I received an email from LM with my itinerary but the miles hadn't been deducted. I logged out and then back in and that seemed to refresh my account and the trip was there and the miles deducted. So strange. But not really when it comes to their website.
* only when I use a virtual number on my credit card, otherwise the charge will be declined.
Last edited by TEDisgone; May 26, 2018 at 2:43 pm
Feb 24, 2018, 3:21 pm
#770
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
With Chase, the charges went through, but every single time (3 times in a row), they called afterwards to verify it. I'm glad they do that, but since the card is in my wife's name, it makes it kind of hard to surprise her with a trip
.
Feb 24, 2018, 6:02 pm
#771
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG 75K, BA Silver, AC, AF/KL, AV, VS | Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 457
I use my Citi card for virtual numbers - I'm never cancelling as long as they offer this service! My Chase and Amex cards would get declined with LM so I wondered if using a VN would work and it did. I won't even try another card now.
Feb 24, 2018, 6:20 pm
#772
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Brisbane
Programs: QF gold, HH Diamond, VA plat, Aegean Gold
Posts: 681
Feb 25, 2018, 1:48 am
#773
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: AY Platinum, UA Premier Platinum, OneWorld Emerald, VA Platinum
Posts: 558
A one time use credit card number.
https://www.cardbenefits.citi.com/Pr...ccount-Numbers
I've used a few in the past, linked to my Paypal account. They are handy if you need a US or UK credit card but you are not a citizen/resident.
https://www.cardbenefits.citi.com/Pr...ccount-Numbers
I've used a few in the past, linked to my Paypal account. They are handy if you need a US or UK credit card but you are not a citizen/resident.
Mar 1, 2018, 3:09 pm
#774
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, various hotel
Posts: 2,227
Is anyone else having trouble with UA Y transatlantic? Trying to book IAD-LHR or EDI-IAD, and I'm not showing any availability over multiple days where Aeroplan/ANA show availability.
Mar 7, 2018, 1:08 pm
#775
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 272
Not sure if this is a right place to ask, but I just booked a ticket for my parent with Eva using Lifemile. Do your guys know where can i get the record locator from LifeMile to select seat with Eva? thank you!
Mar 7, 2018, 6:44 pm
#776
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
(Oh, in case you're wondering where to find the LM record locator, it's on the "Lifemiles award ticket redemption" e-mail you should have received shortly after booking.)
Mar 8, 2018, 3:02 am
#778
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
if you don’t have the booking code and didn’t get the email from LifeMiles, then you’ll have to call in and request for it.
Mar 14, 2018, 9:04 am
#779
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,459
To my astonishment, I successfully booked two different *A itineraries just now, with no errors and no need to involve LifeMiles support. A few things about the process:
1. Surprisingly, United didn't show the flights I was interested in, but LifeMiles did. I was convinced this was a LM glitch, but I was wrong.
2. Using Chrome, the page hung when I clicked on the link to buy the tickets. (Edge just hung all the time.) When I switched to Chrome incognito mode, it worked fine. So it's probably some nonsense with a cookie previously placed by lifemiles.com.
3. After entering credit card info and clicking "purchase", a screen comes up with the confirmation code, but this screen appears to hang. It took a long time (4 or 5 minutes?) but eventually I got a message saying the booking was successful.
4. I used the same Chase credit card I'd used previously. Before, I got text messages from Chase asking if this purchase was legitimate. This time, there were no messages.
1. Surprisingly, United didn't show the flights I was interested in, but LifeMiles did. I was convinced this was a LM glitch, but I was wrong.
2. Using Chrome, the page hung when I clicked on the link to buy the tickets. (Edge just hung all the time.) When I switched to Chrome incognito mode, it worked fine. So it's probably some nonsense with a cookie previously placed by lifemiles.com.
3. After entering credit card info and clicking "purchase", a screen comes up with the confirmation code, but this screen appears to hang. It took a long time (4 or 5 minutes?) but eventually I got a message saying the booking was successful.
4. I used the same Chase credit card I'd used previously. Before, I got text messages from Chase asking if this purchase was legitimate. This time, there were no messages.
Last edited by snic; Mar 14, 2018 at 12:45 pm Reason: fix typo