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)
Jun 16, 2019, 6:19 pm
#1381
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
Jun 19, 2019, 7:24 am
#1383
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 89
Quick question. I had to manually call in to book a UA flight on LM several weeks ago. I was charged the award booking fee and have received my United PnR and even selected seats but the LM miles have yet to been deducted from my account...is that normal? I saw nothing on the Wiki...
Jun 19, 2019, 3:19 pm
#1384
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: EK Gold, A3 *G, AB Gold, Jetblue Mosaic
Posts: 1,386
Jun 19, 2019, 3:21 pm
#1385
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Try booking something else See if it is a display issue and the miles are indeed in the account.
See if it is a display issue and the miles are indeed in the account.
Jun 19, 2019, 6:11 pm
#1386
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Used LifeMiles to book United flights and even got AV ticket numbers for the United flights. And then less than 36 hours later — and within less than 24 hours to departure — the booking shows as cancelled with UA when trying to check-in. And the Avianca record locator also no longer works. What happened?
Jun 19, 2019, 6:24 pm
#1387
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Used LifeMiles to book United flights and even got AV ticket numbers for the United flights. And then less than 36 hours later — and within less than 24 hours to departure — the booking shows as cancelled with UA when trying to check-in. And the Avianca record locator also no longer works. What happened?
Jun 19, 2019, 8:54 pm
#1388
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: EK Gold, A3 *G, AB Gold, Jetblue Mosaic
Posts: 1,386
Used LifeMiles to book United flights and even got AV ticket numbers for the United flights. And then less than 36 hours later — and within less than 24 hours to departure — the booking shows as cancelled with UA when trying to check-in. And the Avianca record locator also no longer works. What happened?
Jun 19, 2019, 9:24 pm
#1389
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Is there a site where we can enter eticket numbers to see the eticket status for the entered ticket numbers?
Yes, I had the eticket numbers. I did mention earlier that even the Avianca/LifeMiles eticket numbers did show up. I could see the eticket numbers on united.com when managing the booking online after booking payment accepted and ticketed. I have found the ticket numbers again but the reservation look up on Avianca/LifeMiles site and on United.com show the booking as having been cancelled.
The timing of this cancellation makes it difficult for me to call yet and the flight time is nearing soon. I had a situation like this a few years back involving united operated flights on LifeMiles ticket and AV/LifeMiles and United both denied responsibility with LifeMiles saying they can’t do anything more than refund the payment and book any remaining mileage space flights despite no UA award availability for days on end if wanting to not use UA miles.
The timing of this cancellation makes it difficult for me to call yet and the flight time is nearing soon. I had a situation like this a few years back involving united operated flights on LifeMiles ticket and AV/LifeMiles and United both denied responsibility with LifeMiles saying they can’t do anything more than refund the payment and book any remaining mileage space flights despite no UA award availability for days on end if wanting to not use UA miles.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jun 19, 2019 at 9:31 pm
Jun 19, 2019, 11:56 pm
#1390
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
I'd be calling Avianca asap instead of wasting time here.
Jun 20, 2019, 3:57 am
#1391
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Is there a site to enter the Lifemiles eticket numbers in and find out what the status of each of the eticket numbers are for a given booking?
LAN Chile used to have such a useful feature even for tickets that were not their own.
Beside not always being in a position to have a phone conversation after a who knows how long wait time to get a supplier agent willing and able to try to fix a situation, there is also the issue of “knowing before going” when dealing with a problem — especially one that has been repeated in ways and wasn’t resolved satisfactorily for the passengers by either Avianca/LifeMiles nor the operating carrier. That is a good reason for “wasting time here”. Perhaps some aren’t familiar with the reality of how data for being “here” can work better at times than trying to be on the phone repeatedly for who knows how long under conditions that are less than ideal for anything but the shortest of phone calls.
Trying to go in better informed when dealing with airline reps is a major part of why being on FT hasn’t historically been a waste of time.
LAN Chile used to have such a useful feature even for tickets that were not their own.
Beside not always being in a position to have a phone conversation after a who knows how long wait time to get a supplier agent willing and able to try to fix a situation, there is also the issue of “knowing before going” when dealing with a problem — especially one that has been repeated in ways and wasn’t resolved satisfactorily for the passengers by either Avianca/LifeMiles nor the operating carrier. That is a good reason for “wasting time here”. Perhaps some aren’t familiar with the reality of how data for being “here” can work better at times than trying to be on the phone repeatedly for who knows how long under conditions that are less than ideal for anything but the shortest of phone calls.
Trying to go in better informed when dealing with airline reps is a major part of why being on FT hasn’t historically been a waste of time.
Jun 20, 2019, 6:55 am
#1392
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Is there a site to enter the Lifemiles eticket numbers in and find out what the status of each of the eticket numbers are for a given booking?
LAN Chile used to have such a useful feature even for tickets that were not their own.
Beside not always being in a position to have a phone conversation after a who knows how long wait time to get a supplier agent willing and able to try to fix a situation, there is also the issue of “knowing before going” when dealing with a problem — especially one that has been repeated in ways and wasn’t resolved satisfactorily for the passengers by either Avianca/LifeMiles nor the operating carrier. That is a good reason for “wasting time here”. Perhaps some aren’t familiar with the reality of how data for being “here” can work better at times than trying to be on the phone repeatedly for who knows how long under conditions that are less than ideal for anything but the shortest of phone calls.
Trying to go in better informed when dealing with airline reps is a major part of why being on FT hasn’t historically been a waste of time.
LAN Chile used to have such a useful feature even for tickets that were not their own.
Beside not always being in a position to have a phone conversation after a who knows how long wait time to get a supplier agent willing and able to try to fix a situation, there is also the issue of “knowing before going” when dealing with a problem — especially one that has been repeated in ways and wasn’t resolved satisfactorily for the passengers by either Avianca/LifeMiles nor the operating carrier. That is a good reason for “wasting time here”. Perhaps some aren’t familiar with the reality of how data for being “here” can work better at times than trying to be on the phone repeatedly for who knows how long under conditions that are less than ideal for anything but the shortest of phone calls.
Trying to go in better informed when dealing with airline reps is a major part of why being on FT hasn’t historically been a waste of time.
I was definitely better off having this fixed at the airport than trying to have this fixed on the phone with either LifeMiles or United.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jun 20, 2019 at 8:04 am
Jun 20, 2019, 8:07 am
#1393
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: EK Gold, A3 *G, AB Gold, Jetblue Mosaic
Posts: 1,386
United rep at airport fixed the issue, and the problem was me. I booked the flight for the day prior to attempted flight date. First time for this kind of wrong date of travel issue for me.
I was definitely better off having this fixed at the airport than trying to have this fixed on the phone with either LifeMiles or United.
Jun 20, 2019, 3:34 pm
#1394
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Glad it was sorted out. Based on reading a large part of this thread, I think booking lifemiles rewards on short notice is probably not the best idea. I've had not issues with other airlines, but the lag between reserving, paying and ticket issuance seems common enough that 72 hours seems like a good minimum for lifemiles awards
The minimum anticipation time for redemptions with Star Alliance Airlines is forty eight (48) hours prior to the flight.
And in the case above, the problem was behind the keyboard, not Lifemiles.
Jun 20, 2019, 5:16 pm
#1395
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
And in my prior situation where there had appeared to be a similar problem to the one I reported this week, such language also wasn’t the issue; and at least that time the problem’s source was most certainly not “behind the keyboard” of the customer.