Jan 11, 2014, 10:36 am
Last edit by: TEDisgone
WARNING - The cancellation fee has been increased up to $200 for long haul premium awards as of Feb 2017 .
T&Cs here:
How to cancel a Lifemiles ticket:
Some agents have stated that the ticket can be cancelled even AFTER the flight dates, as long as the ticket is "open". Confirmed by FTers @ #334, 336, 371 and 445.
T&Cs here:
How to cancel a Lifemiles ticket:
- Lifemiles tickets cannot be canceled or changed online, you need to call the Avianca/TACA call center
(+1 800 284 2622)(number updated to +1 866 919 0081 as of February 2024). #2 for English, then enter your Lifemiles number, enter #3 for Lifemiles then #3 again for transactions. - The cancellation fee is variable, $50-200. The change-fee is $150. This is per passenger/ticket. If you cancel, you will not get back the $25 booking fee paid when the ticket was issued.
- The cancellation fee for Awards booked after 20th/2/2017: Award Tickets are reimbursable by paying a fee that varies depending on the redeemed route, the redemption channel and other circumstances, Accurate information of the reimbursement cost shall be informed at the time of redeeming the Award Ticket. If you cancel, you will not get back the $25 booking fee paid when the ticket was issued.
- You need to set-up a phone PIN to do any changes to tickets on lifemiles.com before or during the call. Do this before you call as doing this while calling can add a couple of minutes to the call
- Make sure your address and phone number are up to date in your lifemiles account. This will help immensely as spelling out everything letter-by-letter to the phone agent.
- Your credit card information is collected via an automated system on the phone and not by the agent. The system first asks you for your card number (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express), followed by the expiration month/year in MMYY format, then followed by the Security Code. Press * to correct mistakes in entering numbers.
- You need to enter/confirm credit card information for every ticket seperately. The process is simpler for remaining tickets as you only need to: first confirm the last 4 digits of the card (1 - Yes; 2 - No); followed by the expiration Month; followed by the expiration Year; followed by the Security code. For AMEX,(and sometimes for visa too ) the whole cared number has to be entered again
- Similarly if you have used credit cards before, the system keeps information about your credit cards, so even for the first ticket, the process is simpler as you only need to confirm the last four digits of credit card, then expiration month, then expiration year last two digits only followed by the security code
- Be prepared to spend between 20 minutes and 3 hours on the phone to get your changes / cancellation done, depending on the agent you get, or if you're really unlucky, you may spend days getting it sorted out.
- Avianca transactions may trigger fraud alerts on your credit card, you may need to contact your bank about this.
- Miles should be back in your account instantaneously, tax refund can take longer (2-3 weeks)
- Money paid for miles purchased as part of "more money/less miles" choice will NOT be refunded in cash but as miles.
- As soon as your flight is ticketed, the refund for a cash & miles booking will be only in miles
- BE PATIENT: some agents are very knowledgeable and fast, others take hours to get a simple cancellation done
- TAXES ARE REFUNDABLE: if an agent claims that taxes are non-refundable you may need to write an email to [email protected] to follow-up
- You should be able to see your cancellation receipts under "Your Lifemiles" - "Print receipts" (Only works with Internet Explorer!)
- NEW RULE - Ticket cannot be cancelled in the T-48 to T+24 window. Ticket can be cancelled after T+24 as long as ticket is valid, which is up to 365 days after issuance date (not travel date!)
Some agents have stated that the ticket can be cancelled even AFTER the flight dates, as long as the ticket is "open". Confirmed by FTers @ #334, 336, 371 and 445.
Cancellation of Lifemiles ticket
Feb 24, 2020, 10:26 pm
#751
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,839
I emailed support to inquire about the possibility of cancelling my HKG-PVG flights around two weeks ago and they said they'll look into it. Haven't heard back from them but I see the miles back in my account and I can't pull up the itinerary on EVA Air's website anymore. I'll take that as a good sign, but how would I go about getting the taxes back since I never received any sort of notice that they were going to cancel my reservation.
Feb 26, 2020, 8:33 pm
#752
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 12
I am in the same boat, and Avianca also wants 200 fee per ticket! and we have 5 people going...
that's a big chunk of money to cancel through Avianca, wondering if Asiana worked out for you?
Feb 27, 2020, 2:04 pm
#753
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
I guess this is where your travel insurance might come in to cover the losses - but check with them first.
The other scenario is if Asiana cancels the flight entirely, then you'd get a full refund from LM.
Feb 28, 2020, 5:06 am
#754
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM - IC RA - HHonors Gold - Hertz Gold - AA - US - CO - Choice Privileges
Posts: 1,668
It does seem a little inflexible from LM's point of view. Asian is willing to cancel free of charge, and they can do so for tickets directly purchased from them or through a travel agency, LM isn't following suit.
I guess this is where your travel insurance might come in to cover the losses - but check with them first.
The other scenario is if Asiana cancels the flight entirely, then you'd get a full refund from LM.
I guess this is where your travel insurance might come in to cover the losses - but check with them first.
The other scenario is if Asiana cancels the flight entirely, then you'd get a full refund from LM.
Last edited by view-with-a-room; Feb 28, 2020 at 7:03 am
Feb 28, 2020, 5:04 pm
#755
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Lifetime *G (MP), Lifetime PE (Bonvoy)
Posts: 1,465
Feb 28, 2020, 5:15 pm
#756
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
There are some policies which allow you to ‘cancel for any reason’, also policies which will cover you for a ‘do not travel’ government warning. So if those are circumstances which apply to the OP, they may have the ability to claim for points not refunded by the airline.
Feb 29, 2020, 6:02 am
#757
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 130
I emailed support to inquire about the possibility of cancelling my HKG-PVG flights around two weeks ago and they said they'll look into it. Haven't heard back from them but I see the miles back in my account and I can't pull up the itinerary on EVA Air's website anymore. I'll take that as a good sign, but how would I go about getting the taxes back since I never received any sort of notice that they were going to cancel my reservation.
Mar 1, 2020, 7:46 am
#758
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM - IC RA - HHonors Gold - Hertz Gold - AA - US - CO - Choice Privileges
Posts: 1,668
For reference, I completed the online form on Avianca dot com to request a refund for award travel. The policy is to process award travel cancellations with a phone call but customer service may conclude simply cancelling the ticket and refunding the miles would be easier than a 3 hour phone call. The process requests the ticket # and does appear to validate the ticket #. The trip is mid March and to Bali. Work informed me I was welcome to travel internationally but a two week quarantine wouldn't be out of the question after returning from international travel. Not a good time to travel to Bali regardless. Expect an update one way or another. I do with LifeMiles would reduce the cancellation fees for the interim as I don't think there is much speculative bookings at the moment.
Update. Five days and counting the online attempt to cancel proved to be fruitless. Called to cancel. The Wiki is helpful. The itinerary ceased to exist end of call. The miles were not immediately refunded and the credit card was not immediately charged. The flight is in five days so waiting a few days more wouldn't be a good idea. The phone was answered immediately and the customer service representative was friendly. Work told me I was welcome to travel internationally but I would not be permitted to return to work without a two week quarantine so pointless to travel.
Update. The phone cancellation process was a 15-20 minute process. The itinerary was cancelled end. The credit card was charged $200 and the miles were returned a few hours later. No clue as to the status of the taxes and fees.
Update. Five days and counting the online attempt to cancel proved to be fruitless. Called to cancel. The Wiki is helpful. The itinerary ceased to exist end of call. The miles were not immediately refunded and the credit card was not immediately charged. The flight is in five days so waiting a few days more wouldn't be a good idea. The phone was answered immediately and the customer service representative was friendly. Work told me I was welcome to travel internationally but I would not be permitted to return to work without a two week quarantine so pointless to travel.
Update. The phone cancellation process was a 15-20 minute process. The itinerary was cancelled end. The credit card was charged $200 and the miles were returned a few hours later. No clue as to the status of the taxes and fees.
Last edited by view-with-a-room; Mar 7, 2020 at 5:24 am
Mar 1, 2020, 6:30 pm
#759
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 12
For reference, I completed the online form on Avianca dot com to request a refund for award travel. The policy is to process award travel cancellations with a phone call but customer service may conclude simply cancelling the ticket and refunding the miles would be easier than a 3 hour phone call. The process requests the ticket # and does appear to validate the ticket #. The trip is mid March and to Bali. Work informed me I was welcome to travel internationally but a two week quarantine wouldn't be out of the question after returning from international travel. Not a good time to travel to Bali regardless. Expect an update one way or another. I do with LifeMiles would reduce the cancellation fees for the interim as I don't think there is much speculative bookings at the moment.
Mar 2, 2020, 4:18 pm
#760
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 31
LifeMiles = BadMiles
for these reason I don't buy LifeMiles anymore
Unpopular Destinations
Too Expensive
Lengthy journeys
Terrible website
No support at all
choosing One-Way for half the price used to be a benefit
many airlines offer this now too
I used to buy LifeMiles when ever there was a good promotion
and shared with friends and family
I guess they got to greedy
Unpopular Destinations
Too Expensive
Lengthy journeys
Terrible website
No support at all
choosing One-Way for half the price used to be a benefit
many airlines offer this now too
I used to buy LifeMiles when ever there was a good promotion
and shared with friends and family
I guess they got to greedy
Mar 3, 2020, 4:49 am
#761
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
for these reason I don't buy LifeMiles anymore
Unpopular Destinations
Too Expensive
Lengthy journeys
Terrible website
No support at all
choosing One-Way for half the price used to be a benefit
many airlines offer this now too
I used to buy LifeMiles when ever there was a good promotion
and shared with friends and family
I guess they got to greedy
Unpopular Destinations
Too Expensive
Lengthy journeys
Terrible website
No support at all
choosing One-Way for half the price used to be a benefit
many airlines offer this now too
I used to buy LifeMiles when ever there was a good promotion
and shared with friends and family
I guess they got to greedy
Mar 7, 2020, 8:43 am
#762
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 18
Any policy changes to Lifemile changes due to Coronavirus?
We want to change our Lifemiles booking to Cartagena as we don't want to wait unit our flight on the 20th due to Coronavirus situation. Any changes to the change policy? We canceled tickets on Amtrack and there was a fee involved to get an evoucher but when I mentioned concerns about Corona virus the agent gave us a full refund.
Mar 7, 2020, 10:32 am
#763
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
We want to change our Lifemiles booking to Cartagena as we don't want to wait unit our flight on the 20th due to Coronavirus situation. Any changes to the change policy? We canceled tickets on Amtrack and there was a fee involved to get an evoucher but when I mentioned concerns about Corona virus the agent gave us a full refund.
this is lifemiles. Different species.
there is no such waiver unless the carrier airline cancels your specific flight.
i doubt that’s happening in South America.
where are you flying from to go to Cartagena?
Mar 7, 2020, 10:17 pm
#764
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 12
JFK to ICN on ASIANA, fly by Mar 9, and booked on Feb 1, and Travel waiver only apply to Jan 31, FML..
HUCA and emailed Lifemile support, 1 day past is 1 day past, gotta pay 200 per ticket.
Just decided not to show up and do nothing, may eventually have to pay 150 later to just change the travel date.
HUCA and emailed Lifemile support, 1 day past is 1 day past, gotta pay 200 per ticket.
Just decided not to show up and do nothing, may eventually have to pay 150 later to just change the travel date.
Mar 9, 2020, 10:11 am
#765
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 21
Booked an F ticket for Lufthansa via Lifemiles. Lufthansa schedule change resulted in an equipment swap that does not have an F cabin. So I called to cancel and was told that it would take up to 7 business days for the miles to be redeposited. The flight is scheduled for Saturday. I'm really hoping that they redeposit sooner, ideally by Thursday, so I can book a new award ticket for Saturday, but given the wave of cornavirus cancellations they have received, I am pessimistic. Now I'll likely have 175K Lifemiles sitting in an account with no planned use.