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
Aug 29, 2016, 9:50 am
#2372
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: southUSA
Posts: 398
Any evidence to multi-segment bookings in a certain classes and changing the booking?
I have booked a 3 segment tricked route and want to change the routing (no origin or destination change).
1 flight is F, the other two are in Y. The agent is saying only 1 flight (also more restrictive (the first flight)) can be in F and the other 2 have to be in Y.
I have booked a 3 segment tricked route and want to change the routing (no origin or destination change).
1 flight is F, the other two are in Y. The agent is saying only 1 flight (also more restrictive (the first flight)) can be in F and the other 2 have to be in Y.
Aug 29, 2016, 10:56 am
#2373
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
cancel and rebook online!
Aug 29, 2016, 11:28 am
#2374
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,839
Aug 29, 2016, 1:14 pm
#2375
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
How long does the screenshot method usually take? There are four of us travelling and I only have enough lifemiles to book for 2 of us, and I'm going to book the other two using United miles transferred from Chase. But I want to get the timing right. I just sent the e-mail to lifemiles. I can cancel a United booking within 24 hours, but I don't want to transfer Chase points to United until I know the lifemiles booking is secure.
The lifemiles booking is uncertain because I'm trying to get a stopover of more than 8 hours so it's not a sure thing at all. So, trying to get a sense of when I might hear back.
The lifemiles booking is uncertain because I'm trying to get a stopover of more than 8 hours so it's not a sure thing at all. So, trying to get a sense of when I might hear back.
Aug 30, 2016, 3:54 am
#2376
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BTS
Posts: 611
Any evidence to multi-segment bookings in a certain classes and changing the booking?
I have booked a 3 segment tricked route and want to change the routing (no origin or destination change).
1 flight is F, the other two are in Y. The agent is saying only 1 flight (also more restrictive (the first flight)) can be in F and the other 2 have to be in Y.
I have booked a 3 segment tricked route and want to change the routing (no origin or destination change).
1 flight is F, the other two are in Y. The agent is saying only 1 flight (also more restrictive (the first flight)) can be in F and the other 2 have to be in Y.
p.s. why would you even attempt to change it? the change fee is more than cancellation
Aug 30, 2016, 3:56 am
#2377
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BTS
Posts: 611
How long does the screenshot method usually take? There are four of us travelling and I only have enough lifemiles to book for 2 of us, and I'm going to book the other two using United miles transferred from Chase. But I want to get the timing right. I just sent the e-mail to lifemiles. I can cancel a United booking within 24 hours, but I don't want to transfer Chase points to United until I know the lifemiles booking is secure.
The lifemiles booking is uncertain because I'm trying to get a stopover of more than 8 hours so it's not a sure thing at all. So, trying to get a sense of when I might hear back.
The lifemiles booking is uncertain because I'm trying to get a stopover of more than 8 hours so it's not a sure thing at all. So, trying to get a sense of when I might hear back.
Seriously, I don't get it why some people just can't be happy with the system as it is ... but always have to push it one step further. Officially, the screenshot method doesn't work with *layovers* (at least learn the difference between a stopover and a layover) of more than 8 hours
Aug 30, 2016, 9:14 am
#2379
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
YMMW
Seriously, I don't get it why some people just can't be happy with the system as it is ... but always have to push it one step further. Officially, the screenshot method doesn't work with *layovers* (at least learn the difference between a stopover and a layover) of more than 8 hours
Seriously, I don't get it why some people just can't be happy with the system as it is ... but always have to push it one step further. Officially, the screenshot method doesn't work with *layovers* (at least learn the difference between a stopover and a layover) of more than 8 hours
As far as pushing the envelope, I guess I take your point but given some of the stuff that people do with lifemiles, this really doesn't seem to be pushing it too much. Plus, they are free to tell me no. It's not like my asking is going to end some hidden deal. I'm merely asking that the last flight in and the first flight out, even though it's 10 hours, be treated as a layover not a stopover by submitting via screenshot. I'm booking HAM-VIE-ORD, and the VIE flight leaves too early to make a connection from HAM, so I submitted it with the last flight into VIE the night before. If people really think that violates some tenet of flyertalk, I'm prepared to listen, but it seems pretty innocuous.
Anyway, to answer my own question, the answer is about 24 hours and they have indeed allowed me to do it.
Sep 1, 2016, 6:41 pm
#2382
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
I am trying to search YYZ-SIN for Dec and it takes forever and then comes back with an error. I thought it was only on my work pc. But same error at home
Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
Sep 2, 2016, 1:35 am
#2383
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: BTS
Posts: 611
I am trying to search YYZ-SIN for Dec and it takes forever and then comes back with an error. I thought it was only on my work pc. But same error at home
Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
It happens especially when there's no availability and the system times out searching too many routes. Check availability elsewhere ...
Sep 2, 2016, 8:18 am
#2384
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Sep 4, 2016, 9:38 am
#2385
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Annapolis, MD
Posts: 483
I am trying to search YYZ-SIN for Dec and it takes forever and then comes back with an error. I thought it was only on my work pc. But same error at home
Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.
Sorry, There was problem while processing your transaction.
Please try again.If the problem persists or you need additional information please contact LifeMiles Support.