Jan 1, 2014, 5:17 pm
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NOTE: This thread has been superseded by the thread entitled LM F and J routes (and the occasional trick-it) Rebooted v2.0.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)
Dec 13, 2013, 5:58 pm
#796
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: EWR, SLC, SGN
Posts: 1,113
Not exactly an encouraging answer 
So I've found various destinations in Europe to Australia for 70.000 miles + 1100€ one way on Dec 17th and 18th but the way back is a challenge.
Nothing direct seems to be available around 7th (and I have to be back before the weekend for my mother's birthday
). Any suggestions on in-direct routes?
So I've found various destinations in Europe to Australia for 70.000 miles + 1100€ one way on Dec 17th and 18th but the way back is a challenge.
Nothing direct seems to be available around 7th (and I have to be back before the weekend for my mother's birthday
). Any suggestions on in-direct routes?from my casual reading of the forum from time to time, i gather that Thai has the most seats available and is a common choice for those in OZ. and SQ if you can find it is popular too. but this close to the holidays, i wouldn't know if there are any good options. Thai flies direct to lots of European cities, so I would start my search with them or with LH's flights to SE Asia.
Dec 13, 2013, 10:24 pm
#797
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
The problem is the long connections in BKK, SIN etc - Lifemiles won't show them. The PER and BNE flights to BKK all land too early.
Just booked a January flight to Europe for myself today:
1) Scoot PER-SIN in "business" for $279
2) a LM C award from SIN to Europe.
There's a 12 hour overnight layover in SIN, too bad, but loads of lunchtime flights to Europe with C availability.
Scoot flies from OOL too.
Actually there's a reasonable one-way fare for that biz sector to Europe, Finnair out of SIN for $1,600 or Bangkok about $1,400.
Just booked a January flight to Europe for myself today:
1) Scoot PER-SIN in "business" for $279
2) a LM C award from SIN to Europe.
There's a 12 hour overnight layover in SIN, too bad, but loads of lunchtime flights to Europe with C availability.
Scoot flies from OOL too.
Actually there's a reasonable one-way fare for that biz sector to Europe, Finnair out of SIN for $1,600 or Bangkok about $1,400.
Dec 14, 2013, 12:04 am
#798
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: SPG Plat 100, A3*G
Posts: 678
The problem is the long connections in BKK, SIN etc - Lifemiles won't show them. The PER and BNE flights to BKK all land too early.
Just booked a January flight to Europe for myself today:
1) Scoot PER-SIN in "business" for $279
2) a LM C award from SIN to Europe.
There's a 12 hour overnight layover in SIN, too bad, but loads of lunchtime flights to Europe with C availability.
Scoot flies from OOL too.
Actually there's a reasonable one-way fare for that biz sector to Europe, Finnair out of SIN for $1,600 or Bangkok about $1,400.
Just booked a January flight to Europe for myself today:
1) Scoot PER-SIN in "business" for $279
2) a LM C award from SIN to Europe.
There's a 12 hour overnight layover in SIN, too bad, but loads of lunchtime flights to Europe with C availability.
Scoot flies from OOL too.
Actually there's a reasonable one-way fare for that biz sector to Europe, Finnair out of SIN for $1,600 or Bangkok about $1,400.
Dec 14, 2013, 12:56 am
#799
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OOL
Programs: VA Plat, QF LTS, UA MM, Hilton Diamond, Rydges Black, ,Le-Club Gold
Posts: 3,659
Well I'm going to London and the 1pm flight is available in C most days including Jan 8. Lands 7pm, might be tight for connecting to Italy.
But there's lots of other lunchtime flights from SIN & BKK with spotty C award availability: AMS, FRA, MUC, ZRH.
LM is offering SIN-AMS-FRA-MXP in C on 7 Jan, dep 11pm.
But there's lots of other lunchtime flights from SIN & BKK with spotty C award availability: AMS, FRA, MUC, ZRH.
LM is offering SIN-AMS-FRA-MXP in C on 7 Jan, dep 11pm.
Dec 14, 2013, 6:55 am
#800
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Moscow
Programs: BAEC (Silver)
Posts: 248
Well, only four Russian airports have airside transit capabilities so be careful there ...
Direct airside transit
Passengers travelling through international airports do not need a visa for a transit of less than 24 hours, provided a confirmed onward ticket is held and the traveller remains in the international transit area (without clearing passport control).
That said, most Russian airports do not have an international transit area. The most important exceptions are:
Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) which has an international transit area common for terminals D, E and F;
Moscow's Domodedovo International Airport (DME) which has an international transit area in its only terminal;
Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport (VKO) which has an international transit area in terminal A;
Yekaterinburg's Koltsovo International Airport (SVX) which has an international transit area in its international terminal.
Passengers travelling through international airports do not need a visa for a transit of less than 24 hours, provided a confirmed onward ticket is held and the traveller remains in the international transit area (without clearing passport control).
That said, most Russian airports do not have an international transit area. The most important exceptions are:
Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) which has an international transit area common for terminals D, E and F;
Moscow's Domodedovo International Airport (DME) which has an international transit area in its only terminal;
Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport (VKO) which has an international transit area in terminal A;
Yekaterinburg's Koltsovo International Airport (SVX) which has an international transit area in its international terminal.
Dec 14, 2013, 8:05 am
#801
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SYDNEY
Programs: *A Gold, HH dia,Hyatt plat,Sixt PLAT,QF , EY Gold
Posts: 1,890
Not exactly an encouraging answer
So I've found various destinations in Europe to Australia for 70.000 miles + 1100€ one way on Dec 17th and 18th but the way back is a challenge.
Nothing direct seems to be available around 7th (and I have to be back before the weekend for my mother's birthday). Any suggestions on in-direct routes?
So I've found various destinations in Europe to Australia for 70.000 miles + 1100€ one way on Dec 17th and 18th but the way back is a challenge.
Nothing direct seems to be available around 7th (and I have to be back before the weekend for my mother's birthday
). Any suggestions on in-direct routes?
Dec 14, 2013, 9:23 pm
#802
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SFO/ATL/MEL/BKK
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Globalist UA 1K MM, Delta Diamond
Posts: 2,678
Could someone pm me Russian information? I got great use out of "cutting" redemption.. Anything else may help on my return and I have a visa
Dec 15, 2013, 1:23 am
#803
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: Hyatt Glob; AA ExPlat; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 317
SQ12 J phantom? Anyone tried and successfully booked this flight? I see quite a bit of availability.
Dec 15, 2013, 6:13 am
#804
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Dec 15, 2013, 3:06 pm
#805
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
Dec 15, 2013, 5:00 pm
#806
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
The problem is the long connections in BKK, SIN etc - Lifemiles won't show them. The PER and BNE flights to BKK all land too early.
Just booked a January flight to Europe for myself today:
1) Scoot PER-SIN in "business" for $279
2) a LM C award from SIN to Europe.
There's a 12 hour overnight layover in SIN, too bad, but loads of lunchtime flights to Europe with C availability.
Scoot flies from OOL too.
Actually there's a reasonable one-way fare for that biz sector to Europe, Finnair out of SIN for $1,600 or Bangkok about $1,400.
Just booked a January flight to Europe for myself today:
1) Scoot PER-SIN in "business" for $279
2) a LM C award from SIN to Europe.
There's a 12 hour overnight layover in SIN, too bad, but loads of lunchtime flights to Europe with C availability.
Scoot flies from OOL too.
Actually there's a reasonable one-way fare for that biz sector to Europe, Finnair out of SIN for $1,600 or Bangkok about $1,400.
Dec 18, 2013, 8:00 pm
#807
Moderator, All Nippon Airways and Japan
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: NH SFC (*G), JL JGP (OWE), AS MVP, WOH E, IHG SE
Posts: 3,908
FYI, availability on a certain European carrier's newest route is wide open through EOS.
Dec 18, 2013, 10:13 pm
#808
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: EWR, SLC, SGN
Posts: 1,113
So a friend was buying two chainsaws. She got the error message. I don't know if she hit the refresh button or what, but somehow two became three, as in miles, taxes etc. but not ticket.
So of course the first thought is to call, but then because it is a special route, what to do?
Any thoughts? TIA
So of course the first thought is to call, but then because it is a special route, what to do?
Any thoughts? TIA
Dec 19, 2013, 2:11 am
#809
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,389
How can one convince the engine to offer connections > 4 hours?
I was randomly offered an unconventional routing with a connection in HKG arr 16.15/dep 23.50 between two longhaul flights.
I was randomly offered an unconventional routing with a connection in HKG arr 16.15/dep 23.50 between two longhaul flights.
Dec 19, 2013, 4:09 am
#810
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
I was offered a 13 hour connection the other day...that was a surprise!