Last edit by: JDiver
NOTE: This thread has been superseded by the thread entitled LM F and J routes (and the occasional trick-it) Rebooted v2.0. Please follow the discussion there.
Region definitions
C1 North America
C1.5 Caribbean, Bermuda
C2 Europe
C2.5 Middle East
C3 Asia
C4 South America
C5 Africa
C6 Oceania
2X, 3X: in the context of this LifeMiles thread, 2X and 3X refer to any 2nd and 3rd legs of a one-way award ticket.
LifeMiles' Star Alliance Award Chart
Cash & Miles redemptions: buying the max (60%) isn't always the best deal (unless you're purchasing all miles right there). Check here for the best CPM.
Beware of Cabotage: LifeMiles has been known to issue tickets that constitute Cabotage, and at least one instance of denied boarding has been reported, stranding the passenger. An easily-seen example is travel on Copa from LAX to SJU (via PTY).
Region definitions
C1 North America
C1.5 Caribbean, Bermuda
C2 Europe
C2.5 Middle East
C3 Asia
C4 South America
C5 Africa
C6 Oceania
2X, 3X: in the context of this LifeMiles thread, 2X and 3X refer to any 2nd and 3rd legs of a one-way award ticket.
LifeMiles' Star Alliance Award Chart
Cash & Miles redemptions: buying the max (60%) isn't always the best deal (unless you're purchasing all miles right there). Check here for the best CPM.
Beware of Cabotage: LifeMiles has been known to issue tickets that constitute Cabotage, and at least one instance of denied boarding has been reported, stranding the passenger. An easily-seen example is travel on Copa from LAX to SJU (via PTY).
LM F and J routes (and the occasional trick-it)
#766
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,461
Can anyone kindly confirm if you need a visa to countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan etc. if your itinerary ends there?
#767
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Germany
Programs: AV,ST,OW Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 209
Yes you do.
#768
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: BZG
Programs: LH FTL, PC Plat,Hilton Gold
Posts: 128
there is one country with visa on arrival
#769
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Just what lenghts some people will go through to save a couple of miles. Tch tch tch....
#771
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,026
i can confirm that they do check russian visa at check-in.
#772
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,026
i have two passports, with name A and B (B is slightly different than A)
my ticket was booked in name A, and passport that allow my entry is with name B. they had to get a supervisor involved to check me in because the passport with name A dont have a visa.
my ticket was booked in name A, and passport that allow my entry is with name B. they had to get a supervisor involved to check me in because the passport with name A dont have a visa.
#773
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Milan
Posts: 32
What if one has yet another cancelable ticket from that throw-away place to second throw-away place?
#774
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
#775
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SYDNEY
Programs: *A Gold, HH dia,Hyatt plat,Sixt PLAT,QF , EY Gold
Posts: 1,890
He means buying a refundable ticket from the Russian airport code to a place that doesn't need a visa and then cancelling the ticket once you go thru check in
#776
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BTS
Posts: 611
#777
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: UK oop north
Programs: BMI Diamond Club RIP,BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,689
Well, only four Russian airports have airside transit capabilities so be careful there ...
#778
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
But it doesn't matter, at initial check-in, the airline will make sure you are able to enter Russia, as this is the ticket purchased. If you cannot enter Russia, they will deny you boarding at the initial check-in point. If you tell them you are missing the flight that arrives in Russia, you are, "most likely", breaking the contract of carriage, which will also likely get your ticket canceled at the initial check-in point.
#779
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,794
But it doesn't matter, at initial check-in, the airline will make sure you are able to enter Russia, as this is the ticket purchased. If you cannot enter Russia, they will deny you boarding at the initial check-in point. If you tell them you are missing the flight that arrives in Russia, you are, "most likely", breaking the contract of carriage, which will also likely get your ticket canceled at the initial check-in point.
But it is not difficult to get a Russian visa now for US passport holders, it was always much easier for most EU country passport holders.
#780
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 100
Why all of this in travelling to parts of the former Soviet republic?