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 18, 2019, 5:24 pm
#1111
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Was hoping the new system was better. Nope.
Just errored out on a very straightforward, nonstop booking redemption. It errored out at the last step after traveler details, and now the awards are gone.
I've been through this with them before. When I couldn't book online I would call and they said no awards avail. But I was 100% certain there were awards as they were showing on lifemiles.com, untied, etc.
Anyways, annoyed. Thought the new system might have been positive.
Just errored out on a very straightforward, nonstop booking redemption. It errored out at the last step after traveler details, and now the awards are gone.
I've been through this with them before. When I couldn't book online I would call and they said no awards avail. But I was 100% certain there were awards as they were showing on lifemiles.com, untied, etc.
Anyways, annoyed. Thought the new system might have been positive.
Feb 18, 2019, 5:40 pm
#1112
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Was hoping the new system was better. Nope.
Just errored out on a very straightforward, nonstop booking redemption. It errored out at the last step after traveler details, and now the awards are gone.
I've been through this with them before. When I couldn't book online I would call and they said no awards avail. But I was 100% certain there were awards as they were showing on lifemiles.com, untied, etc.
Anyways, annoyed. Thought the new system might have been positive.
Just errored out on a very straightforward, nonstop booking redemption. It errored out at the last step after traveler details, and now the awards are gone.
I've been through this with them before. When I couldn't book online I would call and they said no awards avail. But I was 100% certain there were awards as they were showing on lifemiles.com, untied, etc.
Anyways, annoyed. Thought the new system might have been positive.
Was very nervous during a loooong hang while payment was processing (maybe 3 minutes?), but then voila! A ticket popped out.
So it did work after a few tries. YMMV
Feb 18, 2019, 9:03 pm
#1113
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SFO/OAK
Programs: WN A-List, Alaska MVP
Posts: 47
I had used Lifemiles for domestic redemptions in the western US pretty extensively before this website change.
Since the change, I haven't been able to find any availability on United domestic flights in the western US, even when both United expert mode and Aeroplan show "X" availability. Pretty disappointed I have some miles orphaned in this program until they clean up the website to start working again.
Any tricks on finding those "X" seats domestically on United though AV with the new website?
Since the change, I haven't been able to find any availability on United domestic flights in the western US, even when both United expert mode and Aeroplan show "X" availability. Pretty disappointed I have some miles orphaned in this program until they clean up the website to start working again.
Any tricks on finding those "X" seats domestically on United though AV with the new website?
Feb 18, 2019, 10:21 pm
#1114
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
I had used Lifemiles for domestic redemptions in the western US pretty extensively before this website change.
Since the change, I haven't been able to find any availability on United domestic flights in the western US, even when both United expert mode and Aeroplan show "X" availability. Pretty disappointed I have some miles orphaned in this program until they clean up the website to start working again.
Any tricks on finding those "X" seats domestically on United though AV with the new website?
Since the change, I haven't been able to find any availability on United domestic flights in the western US, even when both United expert mode and Aeroplan show "X" availability. Pretty disappointed I have some miles orphaned in this program until they clean up the website to start working again.
Any tricks on finding those "X" seats domestically on United though AV with the new website?
Feb 19, 2019, 5:59 am
#1115
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
Check once: avail
check 10 mins later: no avail
check 20 minutes later: avail again
Feb 19, 2019, 12:29 pm
#1116
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 742
How easy is a phone booking? I can have someone fluent in Colombian spanish do it for me pretty much whenever, the website literally shows nothing when the space is for sure there (aeroplan, united, etc). I generally do last minute bookings (less than 3 days) so the screenshot method probably won't work for me. in theory the 7500 intra us bookings (seattle-lax from 5500) are great and worked fine on the old interface, now there is nothing. Also it took like 10 phone calls and 8 weeks to get my lifemiles from citi on a 12/4 transfer. Had an error after payment a week ago for a lufthansa F ticket as well, ended up losing that space from some hold, then using aeroplan miles. The new website is a joke.
Is there any way to access the old interface online?
Is there any way to access the old interface online?
Feb 19, 2019, 3:08 pm
#1117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
The general principle is that with phone bookings, the call centre can only see what we see on line. Even if we know there is availability, they can’t see it either.
The ‘specialised department’ can probably see it, but they want screenshots, which just brings us back to square one... if we can’t even screenshot something they won’t do it.
The ‘specialised department’ can probably see it, but they want screenshots, which just brings us back to square one... if we can’t even screenshot something they won’t do it.
Feb 19, 2019, 7:18 pm
#1118
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SFO/OAK
Programs: WN A-List, Alaska MVP
Posts: 47
That seems to be it. Just re-did my search from yesterday, and voila, the X space is there. Hardly confidence inspiring when doing a points transfer...I never had this issue with the old website but maybe I was just getting lucky.
Feb 20, 2019, 9:25 am
#1119
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 742
The general principle is that with phone bookings, the call centre can only see what we see on line. Even if we know there is availability, they can’t see it either.
The ‘specialised department’ can probably see it, but they want screenshots, which just brings us back to square one... if we can’t even screenshot something they won’t do it.
The ‘specialised department’ can probably see it, but they want screenshots, which just brings us back to square one... if we can’t even screenshot something they won’t do it.
Feb 20, 2019, 7:57 pm
#1120
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 637
I have pages of rants on here about a citi-->LifeMiles transfer. Took 19 phone calls, 1 complaint at the better business bureau, 4 "tickets" with citi and 2 with Avianca to have the points credit. THEN, it wasn't credited the correct amount as it was without the bonus. The second one got cleared up pretty quickly though.
Feb 21, 2019, 9:37 am
#1121
formerly known as daveland
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NY, NY, USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Delta Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 2,969
What an awful experience trying to use Lifemiles on a one stop mixed cabin TAP itinerary. It's available, including on EF, but they can't ticket it. It's been on their website as available for a week. I finally transfer points and go to book and they say it's not bookable (obviously this is an abbreviated story after multiple failed web attempts, and multiple phone calls). Are mixed cabin bookings an issue? Anyone with experience with a similar issue know if all J would be expected to work or if I've just transferred a boatload of miles for nothing? (I love their advice of filing a complaint on the Avianca website and wait for one week or more for a response).
Feb 21, 2019, 10:02 am
#1122
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,903
Since at least 12/8 UA has been unable to ticket TP awards. I know of at least one problem ticketing TP awards with AC miles too. Maybe it's the same issue and not a mixed cabin problem?
Feb 21, 2019, 11:06 am
#1123
formerly known as daveland
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NY, NY, USA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Delta Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 2,969
In the end I did a test of cash and points and it went to final payment so I called LM and had them cancel that record and I transferred another 17,000 points to do all J and it did ticket. I couldn't risk the alternative.
I'm pretty annoyed all around a) because I would have used United miles if that was working again or Aeroplan miles - and b) I just used 17,000 more Citi TY points to get the exact same flights (yay, we sit in the front of the plane in coach seats).
One last mini-rant: They do still charge a $25 pp fee but it doesn't show in the booking process. Only once you've created the record and are on final payment does the tax and fees jump. It was displaying $20 as the total and at final it was $90. (I guess it was showing the tax for one pax??).
Transferrer Beware.
I'm pretty annoyed all around a) because I would have used United miles if that was working again or Aeroplan miles - and b) I just used 17,000 more Citi TY points to get the exact same flights (yay, we sit in the front of the plane in coach seats).
One last mini-rant: They do still charge a $25 pp fee but it doesn't show in the booking process. Only once you've created the record and are on final payment does the tax and fees jump. It was displaying $20 as the total and at final it was $90. (I guess it was showing the tax for one pax??).
Transferrer Beware.
Feb 23, 2019, 5:15 am
#1124
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 742
Any trick to book LH first? When searching a direct flight, i.e. LAX-MUC 2/24 and choosing bus/first it pops up with the econ and business options 30k and 63k, but its like there should be a 3rd square at 87k for first class (shows on UA and aeroplan as available). Filtering to LH only doesn't do anything, logging in doesn't do anything.
Edit to add. 2/23 shows "3 squares" of service on same route. Award availability here vs UA and aeroplan is inconsistent. I guess just always have a backup and don't rely on lifemiles.
Edit to add. 2/23 shows "3 squares" of service on same route. Award availability here vs UA and aeroplan is inconsistent. I guess just always have a backup and don't rely on lifemiles.
Last edited by moops380; Feb 23, 2019 at 5:36 am
Feb 23, 2019, 5:53 am
#1125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,405
Any trick to book LH first? When searching a direct flight, i.e. LAX-MUC 2/24 and choosing bus/first it pops up with the econ and business options 30k and 63k, but its like there should be a 3rd square at 87k for first class (shows on UA and aeroplan as available). Filtering to LH only doesn't do anything, logging in doesn't do anything.
Edit to add. 2/23 shows "3 squares" of service on same route. Award availability here vs UA and aeroplan is inconsistent. I guess just always have a backup and don't rely on lifemiles.
Edit to add. 2/23 shows "3 squares" of service on same route. Award availability here vs UA and aeroplan is inconsistent. I guess just always have a backup and don't rely on lifemiles.