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)
Nov 12, 2018, 10:28 am
#1006
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
Now that Amex MR are transferable to LM, I was told by Amex that the transfer can take up to 48 hours. Is it at all possible for Avianca to hold an itinerary while the transfer is in process? Or do you have to hope availability won't disappear in the next 2 days after the transfer is begun?
then, wait 2 days, get your miles, and then call LM with the PNR, explain there was an error, and then chose to pay with 100% miles you should now have in your account.
(this is similar to the now-dead United Mileageplus paypal hack....where you purposely postponed payment via paypal to indirectly put a hold to your award ticket!)
or, use screenshot and hope by the time they get back to you, you will have the miles in your account.
Nov 13, 2018, 2:26 pm
#1007
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 215
I recently converted Thank You points to Lifemiles and miles posted same day. Today I logged in and noticed that miles are no longer in my account. Under Lifemiles account activity I no longer see applicable Citi transaction. There are also no transactions explaining disappearance of miles. Has this every happened to anyone? Should I contact Avianca or is this possibly some technical glitch that will resolve on its own? Thanks in advance.
Nov 13, 2018, 4:01 pm
#1008
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CGK/LAX
Programs: KF,JMB, OZ, SPG,AA,UA,AS
Posts: 1,163
I recently converted Thank You points to Lifemiles and miles posted same day. Today I logged in and noticed that miles are no longer in my account. Under Lifemiles account activity I no longer see applicable Citi transaction. There are also no transactions explaining disappearance of miles. Has this every happened to anyone? Should I contact Avianca or is this possibly some technical glitch that will resolve on its own? Thanks in advance.
Nov 13, 2018, 6:58 pm
#1009
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,738
Yup, I had mikes disappear and reappear multiple times last month. Award Wallet tracker went crazy. Give it a day, if nothing I would reach out.
Nov 13, 2018, 7:03 pm
#1010
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,738
Yup, got it. I admit, I was too lazy to install Firefox and get this working. May have to pay the price now as the availability in LM for my desired itinerary seems to have vanished while LM support team just got in touch to say they forwarded my offline booking request to the appropriate team. YMMV.
Nov 13, 2018, 9:02 pm
#1011
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Well it took LM 3 days to pick up my booking request and create the PNR. Of course, my desired flights had vanished and they constructed some similar itinerary using other carriers and partially in Eco vs. Biz which I'll not call in for to confirm as I could have booked that largely myself and has undesirable cartiers and seat products.
Nov 14, 2018, 1:50 pm
#1012
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: GA USA
Programs: AA, Delta Million Miler, SW, Hilton (Diamond), Bonvoy (Gold), Hyatt
Posts: 25
I received an email from LM giving a link that gives 4x LMs by using booking.com. This would be a good way to bump expiration date for miles in the account.
Nov 14, 2018, 9:19 pm
#1013
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,738
To be fair, the one thing they did that I wasn't able to do online was adding a domestic feeder flight in a lower cabin that doesn't even get pulled up when doing the online search. So I can definitely see how this can go both ways.
Nov 15, 2018, 1:43 pm
#1014
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
I had the same thing with Award Wallet showing zero balance on every second refresh...when I logged in to LM though my balance was always correct.
Nov 17, 2018, 3:30 am
#1015
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
I have an itinerary that is showing up when searched separately so I sent in screenshots via email 10 days ago, and an agent said she has forwarded it to the support team.
After four days later and no contact from support team, I sent a follow up email which the initial agent forwarded again to the support team.
Six more days have passed and still no PNR created, no email from support team, nor any calls.
I tried phoning the LM call centre but they are not able to book it and told me to email the support team.
Do you guys have any other suggestions or is there a way to call the support team directly?
Thanks in advance!
After four days later and no contact from support team, I sent a follow up email which the initial agent forwarded again to the support team.
Six more days have passed and still no PNR created, no email from support team, nor any calls.
I tried phoning the LM call centre but they are not able to book it and told me to email the support team.
Do you guys have any other suggestions or is there a way to call the support team directly?
Thanks in advance!
Nov 17, 2018, 3:53 am
#1016
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
I have an itinerary that is showing up when searched separately so I sent in screenshots via email 10 days ago, and an agent said she has forwarded it to the support team.
After four days later and no contact from support team, I sent a follow up email which the initial agent forwarded again to the support team.
Six more days have passed and still no PNR created, no email from support team, nor any calls.
I tried phoning the LM call centre but they are not able to book it and told me to email the support team.
Do you guys have any other suggestions or is there a way to call the support team directly?
Thanks in advance!
After four days later and no contact from support team, I sent a follow up email which the initial agent forwarded again to the support team.
Six more days have passed and still no PNR created, no email from support team, nor any calls.
I tried phoning the LM call centre but they are not able to book it and told me to email the support team.
Do you guys have any other suggestions or is there a way to call the support team directly?
Thanks in advance!
Did you try both email addresses? 'support' always seems to work rather than the Spanish language version ('supporte' or similar).
10 days is too long for them to get back to you.
Nov 19, 2018, 11:15 am
#1017
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
Yeah I emailed both addresses,
"support" replies quickly that they have pushed my request to the 'specalized department' but until now still nothing - no PNR, no calls
I have sent them a third reminder. In the meantime I'm really wondering if I should ever purchase more miles from them.
"support" replies quickly that they have pushed my request to the 'specalized department' but until now still nothing - no PNR, no calls
I have sent them a third reminder. In the meantime I'm really wondering if I should ever purchase more miles from them.
Nov 19, 2018, 6:36 pm
#1018
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 185
Is this just a Problem or The Way It Is?
I can see quite a few award flights availability to Asia from the US by such partner airlines as ANA, Asiana, UA and EVA (less with Singapore). Especially out of SFO & SFO, even in the dead of hot summer months on Biz and First classes.
But I just can't see almost any (just extremely small options...) awards flights available on any class to Europe, even on a low season.. Am I having a problem with the booking system? Or is this the way it is???
It the latter, using Avianca miles for European (especially biz class) flights is almost unimaginable. Can anyone shed a light on this?
michaelmorio
But I just can't see almost any (just extremely small options...) awards flights available on any class to Europe, even on a low season.. Am I having a problem with the booking system? Or is this the way it is???
It the latter, using Avianca miles for European (especially biz class) flights is almost unimaginable. Can anyone shed a light on this?
michaelmorio
Nov 19, 2018, 7:51 pm
#1019
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MIA beach
Posts: 162
I can see quite a few award flights availability to Asia from the US by such partner airlines as ANA, Asiana, UA and EVA (less with Singapore). Especially out of SFO & SFO, even in the dead of hot summer months on Biz and First classes.
But I just can't see almost any (just extremely small options...) awards flights available on any class to Europe, even on a low season.. Am I having a problem with the booking system? Or is this the way it is???
It the latter, using Avianca miles for European (especially biz class) flights is almost unimaginable. Can anyone shed a light on this?
michaelmorio
But I just can't see almost any (just extremely small options...) awards flights available on any class to Europe, even on a low season.. Am I having a problem with the booking system? Or is this the way it is???
It the latter, using Avianca miles for European (especially biz class) flights is almost unimaginable. Can anyone shed a light on this?
michaelmorio
Nov 19, 2018, 8:03 pm
#1020
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,738
Especially with LH & LX I have found availability better closer in to travel, e.g. within next 4 weeks max as other also shared. Further out it becomes very sparse and pretty hit and miss though there are occasional finds on the odd weekday departure (e.g. unloved Tuesdays). Not comforting to rely on that without a backup in place of course. YMMV