May 26, 2014, 8:47 am
Last edit by: SingaporeDon
Every forum on Flyertalk has a personality. A forum gains a personality through user input over time, and Lifemiles is a very definitive example of how users have developed a unique community.
While Flyertalk boards actively encourage sharing of info, the Lifemiles community has developed and thrived via obscuring of certain data elements. It may not be easy for new participants to break through the codes and gain knowledge of the program's quirks, but the overall board community has adopted this unique approach. And frankly, that is not going to change overnight.
If a FT member wants to participate on this board, then they will need to respect other users. Hence, posts that run counter to this community's standards, will be removed.
While Flyertalk boards actively encourage sharing of info, the Lifemiles community has developed and thrived via obscuring of certain data elements. It may not be easy for new participants to break through the codes and gain knowledge of the program's quirks, but the overall board community has adopted this unique approach. And frankly, that is not going to change overnight.
If a FT member wants to participate on this board, then they will need to respect other users. Hence, posts that run counter to this community's standards, will be removed.
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
LifeMiles' old Star Alliance Award Chart (before Oct 15 2014) // Table of changes
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 easily-seen example is travel on Copa from LAX to SJU (via PTY).
Understand Cabotage: Departing country 1, transiting country 2, returning to country 1 (no stopping) *is* cabotage (example: depart JFK, connect in YYZ to return to ORD, or depart Miami, connect in Bogota, return to San Francisco). On the other hand, departing country 1, going to completely unrelated country 2, and ending up in country 3, is not cabotage. So if you fly JFK-JNB-ZRH, for instance, this is completely not cabotage.
Availability: Seeing availability for *A award seats elsewhere is no guarantee they are accessible on Lifemiles. For instance award space shown on ANA often is not accessible on Lifemiles. Similarly, finding award space on single legs doesn't mean you'll get award space on the combined itinerary. And no, there is no way to overcome that.
Screenshot Method
Send email to [email protected] with attached screenshots on Lifemiles website of each individual leg showing availability. Also, screenshot showing no availability as one booking. Include passenger names, gender and DOB and copy of passenger passport. They will either call you for payment or email the itinerary and give you 3 days to call up and make payment by CC.
NOTE: This previous thread has been closed; it can be read here LM F and J routes (and the occasional trick-it)
LM F and J routes (and the occasional trick-it) Rebooted v2.0
May 29, 2014, 7:53 pm
#136
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
I agree, and think it'd be nice if we at least stopped posting "dead" routings directly online... although I sound like a total hypocrite.
May 29, 2014, 8:46 pm
#138
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
I read on airlineroute that the non cabbage airline plans to start flights between China and everyone's favourite confection. However, I assume they'll be looking out for people making a break for the Maglev into the city!
Haven't checked if the connections are 'good'.
Haven't checked if the connections are 'good'.
May 29, 2014, 9:17 pm
#139
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 989
I read on airlineroute that the non cabbage airline plans to start flights between China and everyone's favourite confection. However, I assume they'll be looking out for people making a break for the Maglev into the city!
Haven't checked if the connections are 'good'.
Haven't checked if the connections are 'good'.
May 29, 2014, 10:04 pm
#140
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Of course not. Everything must be killed! 
I tried, efforts were rejected, so apparently even rather than ...... coding, the preference is for none. 100% bonus ends in 2 days, at which point a quick unsubscribe will certainly be in order. I'll have so much time back
.
I tried, efforts were rejected, so apparently even rather than ...... coding, the preference is for none. 100% bonus ends in 2 days, at which point a quick unsubscribe will certainly be in order. I'll have so much time back
.
May 30, 2014, 12:40 am
#142
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 286
May 30, 2014, 12:41 am
#143
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 286
May 30, 2014, 1:55 am
#146
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
There's no magic, you just have to know what to look for.
Only bookable OS route is VIE < > JFK at the moment. All other routes are operated by Tyrolean, hence not visible on LM. NRT and BKK used to be operated by OS as well, but not anymore.
Availability is nightmare though.
Only bookable OS route is VIE < > JFK at the moment. All other routes are operated by Tyrolean, hence not visible on LM. NRT and BKK used to be operated by OS as well, but not anymore.
Availability is nightmare though.
May 30, 2014, 2:20 am
#148
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,611
May 30, 2014, 2:35 am
#149
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Germany / Thailand
Programs: M&M/S SPG livetime gold, but not running behind status & points anymore! Now only book value for $
Posts: 3,090
May 30, 2014, 2:37 am
#150
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Germany / Thailand
Programs: M&M/S SPG livetime gold, but not running behind status & points anymore! Now only book value for $
Posts: 3,090