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)
Jul 6, 2018, 1:58 am
#916
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
Oh, I would be more than happy if they just charge me the full F miles for my trip :-)
By the way, did you also send LM a screenshot of your route where no availability was shown, or did you just send them screenshots of the legs which you wanted to fly?
Furthermore did you wrote in the E-Mail how many miles should be charged for your routing (for example in my case Europe - Central Asia, 60.000 miles in F)
Jul 6, 2018, 5:11 am
#917
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NYC/PHL/HKG
Posts: 210
Anyone else here experiencing much longer than usual response time with the screenshot method recently?
In the past I've received the itinerary within a day or two, but with the latest request I waited for > 1 week after the initial "we will escalate this" response. They didn't get back to me before the award space disappeared, and I had to request an alternative, which I have yet to hear back after another week of waiting...
In the past I've received the itinerary within a day or two, but with the latest request I waited for > 1 week after the initial "we will escalate this" response. They didn't get back to me before the award space disappeared, and I had to request an alternative, which I have yet to hear back after another week of waiting...
Jul 6, 2018, 5:42 am
#918
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 183
Anyone else here experiencing much longer than usual response time with the screenshot method recently?
In the past I've received the itinerary within a day or two, but with the latest request I waited for > 1 week after the initial "we will escalate this" response. They didn't get back to me before the award space disappeared, and I had to request an alternative, which I have yet to hear back after another week of waiting...
In the past I've received the itinerary within a day or two, but with the latest request I waited for > 1 week after the initial "we will escalate this" response. They didn't get back to me before the award space disappeared, and I had to request an alternative, which I have yet to hear back after another week of waiting...
Jul 6, 2018, 5:45 am
#919
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
Jul 8, 2018, 12:22 pm
#920
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Is it possible to write in the wiki what is currently bookable? Like LH first, etc. And datapoints?
Jul 8, 2018, 3:26 pm
#921
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
I'll leave the wiki to the experts on this thread, but the list is fairly basic... LX F not possible. LH F available within 14 days of departure. There may be some other outliers, but the rest is pretty much bookable. If it doesn't show on line, but you can find availability via other star booking engines (for example UA), send in a screenshot.
Jul 10, 2018, 4:49 am
#923
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NYC/PHL/HKG
Posts: 210
We apologize for the delay in our response. We advise you that our specialized department does not have an estimated time frame to reach you; therefore, we recommend you to keep waiting for their call at the phone number you provided.We appreciate your comprehension with this matter.
Jul 10, 2018, 5:41 am
#924
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
Two weeks is a bit long!
Jul 10, 2018, 7:19 pm
#925
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 66
Have you heard back yet? I've waited for 4 days now without a response from the "internal department". I just want to know how long I should expect to wait around this time. Would also appreciate other recent data points out there.
Jul 10, 2018, 8:33 pm
#926
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
Did you try again, just seeing if you can book it now?
Jul 11, 2018, 3:05 am
#927
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 66
Already sent them my passport copy. They told me I have to wait for their internal department to review my request.
Jul 11, 2018, 3:45 am
#928
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
do you have a support case number? if you do, then call in during Colombia business hours and request to be patched through to that ticketing department for ticketing. waiting wont solve your case!
Jul 11, 2018, 9:50 am
#930
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 66
Sorry if I wasn't clear earlier - I'm doing the screenshot method because I'm not getting the flight combination I want online. Waiting for them to get back to me after I sent in my screenshots.