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)
#826
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
It could take days. A reservation may have been created and might not cancel until the ticketing deadline passes. Thanks for removing inventory for others though!
#827
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: NH, JL, SQ
Posts: 164
Wanted to redeem a ticket and the website crashed before I manage to complete the booking. The same seat has now disappeared. I made a dummy booking for other dates without completing the payment and these seats disappeared as well. Does anyone know how long it would take for these seats to appear back in Avianca's inventory again?
#828
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
Has anyone actually flown an LH F segment booked 2 weeks+ out using LM? I'm just wary of a repeat of the Aeroplan/LX F fiasco where LX refused to honor F bookings. Seems too good to be true that LH is releasing so much F space weeks out.
#829
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Miles and Smiles Elite Plus, Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 474
I called Avianca and the seat will be released back immediately if you call Avianca to cancel that particular booking. I had to complete payment manually over the phone. Does anyone eles have problems paying for the redemption booking online? Pretty frustrating.
#830
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K MM, AS MVPG, SPG PLAT 100
Posts: 1,497
So I had a booking crash in the middle of booking me a trip (just before entering credit card, so no booking code ever appeared on screen) out of my wife's LifeMiles account and of course the space is gone now (TG flight). Can I just call and have them look up the booking code and finish payment by phone? Do they search under my wife's name (her LifeMiles) or mine (the intended traveler)?
#831
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,465
So I had a booking crash in the middle of booking me a trip (just before entering credit card, so no booking code ever appeared on screen) out of my wife's LifeMiles account and of course the space is gone now (TG flight). Can I just call and have them look up the booking code and finish payment by phone? Do they search under my wife's name (her LifeMiles) or mine (the intended traveler)?
#832
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K MM, AS MVPG, SPG PLAT 100
Posts: 1,497
That worked, great suggestion. However, only one of the two TG segments got reserved by Avianca. The second segment is still available with miles. On the fence as to whether I should cancel the partial reservation and hope the inventory shows up again, or attempt to add the second segment via the lifemiles call center.
#833
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Brisbane
Programs: QF gold, HH Diamond, VA plat, Aegean Gold
Posts: 683
That worked, great suggestion. However, only one of the two TG segments got reserved by Avianca. The second segment is still available with miles. On the fence as to whether I should cancel the partial reservation and hope the inventory shows up again, or attempt to add the second segment via the lifemiles call center.
#834
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1K MM, AS MVPG, SPG PLAT 100
Posts: 1,497
**further edit** 2nd agent must have actually cancelled when she disconnected me. Inventory immediately returned and was able to book! Great success!
You LifeMiles pros have big bronze cajones. Bought $3600 worth of miles this week and managed to squeeze 3 international F bookings out of it. Probably only suffered minor cardiac damage in the process, totally a nail biting experience.
Last edited by KosherKimchee; May 19, 2018 at 5:28 pm
#835
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 66
I have not been able to access lifemiles.com (with any browser) since last night.
Can anyone else confirm that website is down?
Can anyone else confirm that website is down?
#836
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: MDE
Programs: AA EP, CM PP, AV GM, UA Silver, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,002
#838
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 343
I booked two trips within the last week, have been checking Lifemiles website since early yesterday and it appears down. Have checked from multiple computers and browsers, all showing down.
#839
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 66
Back up now after what I'd say was about ~18 hours down, seems to be working fine now.
#840
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349