May 21, 2014, 7:31 pm
Last edit by: Tokyoite
Coronawiki (March 2020)
Does anyone know if Lifemiles will waive cancellation fees for an award ticket due to COVID-19 concerns?
Unfortunately, barring an outright flight cancellation, Lifemiles will not waive cancel fees.
Just pay the $200 as a "self caution fee". (nobody is actually preventing you the passenger from flying as you booked).
In the future, it would be wise to invest in travel insurance.
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Transferring Amex MR points will extend expiration of LM. Post #906 confirms this. Expiration date updates overnight, so wait 24 hours after the transferred miles have posted to LM.
LifeMiles' Star Alliance Award Chart
Cash & Miles redemptions: the price per mile purchased during award booking varies significantly depending on how many miles are purchased. The "sweet spots" are between 38% and 58% of the total mileage required, where miles are purchased for 1.5 cents. See here for some examples.
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 example is travel on Avianca from LAX to SJU (via SAL/BOG). For additional information see the WIKI of this thread.
https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/abo/wnb/wnbtercond.aspx
Does anyone know if Lifemiles will waive cancellation fees for an award ticket due to COVID-19 concerns?
Unfortunately, barring an outright flight cancellation, Lifemiles will not waive cancel fees.
Just pay the $200 as a "self caution fee". (nobody is actually preventing you the passenger from flying as you booked).
In the future, it would be wise to invest in travel insurance.
=====
Transferring Amex MR points will extend expiration of LM. Post #906 confirms this. Expiration date updates overnight, so wait 24 hours after the transferred miles have posted to LM.
LifeMiles' Star Alliance Award Chart
Cash & Miles redemptions: the price per mile purchased during award booking varies significantly depending on how many miles are purchased. The "sweet spots" are between 38% and 58% of the total mileage required, where miles are purchased for 1.5 cents. See here for some examples.
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 example is travel on Avianca from LAX to SJU (via SAL/BOG). For additional information see the WIKI of this thread.
https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/abo/wnb/wnbtercond.aspx
Miles Expiration Policy valid from April 15th , 2018.
- Any miles accrual transaction in a member´s account in the Program extends the validity of the miles in the account of such member for a term of twelve (12) months from the date of such accrual of miles. Other transactions that may affect the balance of miles in a member’s account, including redemption transactions, will have no effect on them and will not extend the validity of the miles in such account. This general rule will have the following exceptions that extend the validity of such miles in the account of such member for twenty-four (24) months from the date of such accrual: (i) any accrual of miles in a member´s account with an Elite Status at the time of the accrual; (ii) any accrual of miles derived from a cobranded credit or debit cards under the LifeMiles brand.
- ......the following accrual activities do not extend the validity of the miles in the member´s account: 1) the birthday bonus or any other miles bonus that may be given by the LifeMiles Program and LifeMiles LTD so establishes.; 2) the migration of points or miles from other loyalty programs to the LifeMiles Program made as a consequence of the union of both loyalty programs or the migration of one member from another loyalty program to the LifeMiles Program; and 3) the merger of accounts of the LifeMiles Program, including those derived from a member´s duplicate accounts.
LM Newbie Lounge: Ask your Questions Here (Flame Free)
May 16, 2018, 4:29 pm
#737
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 71
You call the Avianca 800 line and ask for the United record locator. Then you can operate as normal.
May 16, 2018, 7:45 pm
#738
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
Taxes + LifeMiles booking fee. I'm sure LM provides a breakdown, albeit not particularly detailed.
May 18, 2018, 6:15 pm
#739
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DUB, CPH
Programs: SK, LH
Posts: 404
i am planning to book 3 J tickets (2 adults and 1 child)
i need 270k total miles for the return J trip.
i will buy miles in the current 2x1 sale and use it for my booking.
i have checked the availability and LH J are available.
does anyone consider any problem in the whole process?
i dont want to buy miles and unable to book J flights.
i am flexible with dates.
i need 270k total miles for the return J trip.
i will buy miles in the current 2x1 sale and use it for my booking.
i have checked the availability and LH J are available.
does anyone consider any problem in the whole process?
i dont want to buy miles and unable to book J flights.
i am flexible with dates.
May 30, 2018, 12:05 pm
#740
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: A bit of this and a bit of that
Posts: 777
Hello everyone, I just searched this thread and could not find the answer to my question.
I redeemed tickets on LH F for a friday in July since there was no availability to fly on a Saturday or Sunday. Now LM blocked once again LH F awards (over 14 days) so I can't see if there's anyting available for Sat or Sunday.
My question is, if 14 days before my flight I see LH F space open up on the date I want.. Can I change my flight for free? or how much would I get charged?
thanks!
I redeemed tickets on LH F for a friday in July since there was no availability to fly on a Saturday or Sunday. Now LM blocked once again LH F awards (over 14 days) so I can't see if there's anyting available for Sat or Sunday.
My question is, if 14 days before my flight I see LH F space open up on the date I want.. Can I change my flight for free? or how much would I get charged?
thanks!
Jun 8, 2018, 12:41 am
#742
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
tl;dr version: Is there a way to review reservations made via LM on the lifemiles.com web site?
Long version: Last night I made a LM reservation on OZ. All was fine until after the screen for submitting credit card info. The process stuck for a couple minutes at the credit-card-being-processed screen and then an error screen ("error" was in the URL) saying that LM had all my information and that they would get back to me with a confirmation. Uncharacteristically, I didn't screen shot either screen. However, minutes after I encountered that message, I went to the OZ web site and found my reservation with the RLOC that LM provided, and OZ shows an e-ticket number. Does that mean the entire booking process, including credit card verification, succeeded? If not, how will I know when the reservation is definitely confirmed and will remain so?
PS: I booked a LM reservation with the same credit card about a week ago and got the normal confirmation message during booking.
Long version: Last night I made a LM reservation on OZ. All was fine until after the screen for submitting credit card info. The process stuck for a couple minutes at the credit-card-being-processed screen and then an error screen ("error" was in the URL) saying that LM had all my information and that they would get back to me with a confirmation. Uncharacteristically, I didn't screen shot either screen. However, minutes after I encountered that message, I went to the OZ web site and found my reservation with the RLOC that LM provided, and OZ shows an e-ticket number. Does that mean the entire booking process, including credit card verification, succeeded? If not, how will I know when the reservation is definitely confirmed and will remain so?
PS: I booked a LM reservation with the same credit card about a week ago and got the normal confirmation message during booking.
Jun 14, 2018, 2:26 am
#743
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
Well, the silence on the request in my previous post was deafening, so I just had the bright idea to check Avianca's web site and -- voila! -- you can display the reservation using the LM record locator number.
AND...
Lo and behold, you can confirm seat assignments! I now have two LM bookings involving TG, NH and OZ, and for all segments I was able to view the seat charts and confirm seats. Impressive.
AND...
Lo and behold, you can confirm seat assignments! I now have two LM bookings involving TG, NH and OZ, and for all segments I was able to view the seat charts and confirm seats. Impressive.
Jun 26, 2018, 6:42 am
#744
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 261
Rather than re-ask a question I am sure has been asked may times - but is there a link to a concise summary of routing rules?
I have a flight from SYD to LHR which will have 4 or 5 legs. It is all roughly in the same direction
SYD - CBR - SIN - BKK - LHR
or it may need to be pending availability
SYD - CBR - SIN - BKK - ??? - LHR. WIth the mystery city being something like CPH or ARN or FRA.
Would this qualify as a legal routing. I appreciate I may need to do the screenshot method which I have successfully done before.
I have a flight from SYD to LHR which will have 4 or 5 legs. It is all roughly in the same direction
SYD - CBR - SIN - BKK - LHR
or it may need to be pending availability
SYD - CBR - SIN - BKK - ??? - LHR. WIth the mystery city being something like CPH or ARN or FRA.
Would this qualify as a legal routing. I appreciate I may need to do the screenshot method which I have successfully done before.
Jul 18, 2018, 8:27 am
#745
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DUB, CPH
Programs: SK, LH
Posts: 404
hey..
i booked a LH flight using my LM.
it was 2 adults and 1 child. all went fine.
on LH site when i checked my booking, it says 3 adults.
should i get it fixed? would it cause any issue during boarding or checkin?
i booked a LH flight using my LM.
it was 2 adults and 1 child. all went fine.
on LH site when i checked my booking, it says 3 adults.
should i get it fixed? would it cause any issue during boarding or checkin?
Jul 18, 2018, 10:36 am
#746
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 56
Don't worry. It is because you bought a full fare seat using lm. They don't issue child tickets. Even if the birth date of your child is wrong it is not a problem as long as the name is correct. My infant daughter also gets adult tickets all the time.
Jul 20, 2018, 10:25 am
#747
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
Functionality Improvements in LifeMile booking process?
I've seen one or two recent references in frequent flyer blogs (dubious sources, I know) to recent improvements in the functionality of the LifeMiles booking process? Is this at all true? And if so, what do the improvements consist of?
Thanks for any information.
Thanks for any information.
Jul 21, 2018, 5:33 am
#748
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
One thing that's different is that if you have a mixed-class booking, they pro-rate the segments. e.g. SE Asia - USA in Business Class is 78,000 miles, but if you book a trip and a segment only available in Y, the total will be (sometimes slightly) less than 78,000 miles:
I remember in the past a JFK-NRT-ICN itinerary with JFK-NRT in Y, and NRT-ICN in J, and they charged 78,000 miles.
You can even pick and choose which cabins you want and have the price adjusted. e.g. If you only want J on the long-haul:
I'm sure there are other changes that other folks find significant and either beneficial or detrimental, but I like this new flexibility.
I remember in the past a JFK-NRT-ICN itinerary with JFK-NRT in Y, and NRT-ICN in J, and they charged 78,000 miles.
You can even pick and choose which cabins you want and have the price adjusted. e.g. If you only want J on the long-haul:
I'm sure there are other changes that other folks find significant and either beneficial or detrimental, but I like this new flexibility.
Jul 27, 2018, 11:33 am
#749
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 96
Is there some website/tool out there that makes it easier to search for awards bookable via LM? I'm sure everyone would agree that LM's own website is horrible, searching 2 days at a time and then showing "From (Y mileage)", requiring the user to click on a tiny radio button for each day to see if there is a J or F award available.
Jul 27, 2018, 10:07 pm
#750
Join Date: May 2009
Location: TPA Bay area
Posts: 485
I booked my husband and I in J class on LH from MEX>FRA using LifeMiles. Last week daughter learned she was accepted into grad school in Germany, so I put her on the same flight as us but waaay back in coach. Just now I saw that I have acquired bunch more LifeMiles. I would like to upgrade daughter to be in J with us (I guess I can't put her in PE?). Would it be easier to cancel her coach award ticket ($200 cancel fee) or can I do a change for the $150 fee? Or LH like UA, where I can upgrade her at the gate, hopefully into PE, with cash and points? Thanks.