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
Sep 8, 2023, 12:37 pm
#1396
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Southern Cali
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,025
Just want to provide a data point on a recent cancellation.
Called Avianca Wednesday to cancel a pair of award tickets IAH-PTY-IST on UA and TK
Rep said they would email payment link, but never recieved it. Called again yesterday and was sent the link to pay the $200 fee per ticket.
Woke up this morning with a cancellation email from United and my miles back in my lifemiles account less than 24hrs later. Pleasantly surprised the miles came back so quickly.
Called Avianca Wednesday to cancel a pair of award tickets IAH-PTY-IST on UA and TK
Rep said they would email payment link, but never recieved it. Called again yesterday and was sent the link to pay the $200 fee per ticket.
Woke up this morning with a cancellation email from United and my miles back in my lifemiles account less than 24hrs later. Pleasantly surprised the miles came back so quickly.
Sep 13, 2023, 7:13 am
#1398
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 204
Are they able to upgrade a flight once a better class gets available?
There is a flight from MUC - WAW - ORD with LOT in business class available for 63.000 miles. If Lufthansa releases a F award on that route on the same day, will they be able to rebook my ticket and charge me the difference in miles? I am aware that I would need to pay the 150 USD change fee. If they are unable to change the ticket, I guess I would need to cancel and book again, but the F award will be gone at the time I get my miles back :/
There is a flight from MUC - WAW - ORD with LOT in business class available for 63.000 miles. If Lufthansa releases a F award on that route on the same day, will they be able to rebook my ticket and charge me the difference in miles? I am aware that I would need to pay the 150 USD change fee. If they are unable to change the ticket, I guess I would need to cancel and book again, but the F award will be gone at the time I get my miles back :/
Sep 13, 2023, 9:39 am
#1399
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Southern Cali
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,025
Are they able to upgrade a flight once a better class gets available?
There is a flight from MUC - WAW - ORD with LOT in business class available for 63.000 miles. If Lufthansa releases a F award on that route on the same day, will they be able to rebook my ticket and charge me the difference in miles? I am aware that I would need to pay the 150 USD change fee. If they are unable to change the ticket, I guess I would need to cancel and book again, but the F award will be gone at the time I get my miles back :/
There is a flight from MUC - WAW - ORD with LOT in business class available for 63.000 miles. If Lufthansa releases a F award on that route on the same day, will they be able to rebook my ticket and charge me the difference in miles? I am aware that I would need to pay the 150 USD change fee. If they are unable to change the ticket, I guess I would need to cancel and book again, but the F award will be gone at the time I get my miles back :/
Nov 8, 2023, 5:08 pm
#1400
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 20
Hello I booked a Lifemiles award on May 23rd, for flight on September 23rd. I did not take the flight. Today I called to re-deposit the award and was told to call the operating carrier (Brussels Airline) to refund. I've done this twice before, and I questioned the agent who was adamant. Is this a HUCA situation?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Nov 8, 2023, 11:15 pm
#1401
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,741
It is HUACA, if the ticket was issued by LM on AV ticket stock then there is nothing SN (Brussels) can do about it.
Nov 9, 2023, 1:10 am
#1402
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,839
Hello I booked a Lifemiles award on May 23rd, for flight on September 23rd. I did not take the flight. Today I called to re-deposit the award and was told to call the operating carrier (Brussels Airline) to refund. I've done this twice before, and I questioned the agent who was adamant. Is this a HUCA situation?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Dec 5, 2023, 9:21 am
#1403
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Sydney
Programs: QFF, Krisflyer, US Air DM, VelocityRewards, Hertz Gold, Hilton Gold, Accor Plat
Posts: 446
Is there still an email? I called to cancel, paid the fees and thought that was that, but its now two days to flight and ticket still showing, whats best way to contact them to confirm cancellation (would rather log something than ring again!).
Dec 7, 2023, 5:16 pm
#1404
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SEA/HND/BOS/SFO/YYZ/HKG
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 3
Hello! I had an SFO-HND in UA that didn't get ticketed on the UA side, and today I called LM today to cancel the booking. They said they'll refund the miles within 7 business days without penalty and gave me a case number. I'll follow up again with them in a week, but does anyone know what else I need to watch out for? Thanks!
Dec 18, 2023, 1:41 am
#1406
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,839
Feb 28, 2024, 4:35 pm
#1407
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,623
I booked a partner award ticket to Asia for my wife, son, and I departing in June.
Now my wife and son want to fly in April and I keep the June date and probably change the ticket.
Any idea on whether staff can/would split the reservation so I only pay $150 X2 for their changes nw, and then probably $150 for my date change later?
Or will I have to bite the bullet now and pay $600 to cancel all three tickets?
Now my wife and son want to fly in April and I keep the June date and probably change the ticket.
Any idea on whether staff can/would split the reservation so I only pay $150 X2 for their changes nw, and then probably $150 for my date change later?
Or will I have to bite the bullet now and pay $600 to cancel all three tickets?
Feb 28, 2024, 8:58 pm
#1408
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,741
A competent agent should have no issue to split the PNRs and keeping your booking as is and changing (after the split) the travel dates for your wife and son who will remain on one (new) PNR. This should be doable for 2 x 150$ change fee, assuming there is availability. Good luck.
Feb 29, 2024, 11:17 am
#1409
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 829
Anyone having issued with this number +1 800 284 2622 . I tried calling for the past 2 days and got some spanish response which I dont understand then it automatically disconnected. Called at 9 am eastern, 12 pm eastern, 2 pm eastern.
Mar 8, 2024, 2:50 am
#1410
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,839
It is telling you there's a new number +1 866-919-0081