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
Sep 4, 2016, 9:57 am
#2386
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
This often happens using "Smart Search" and as others have indicated it's a timeout function. To keep it from timing out, select the specific airline you want and the closest time before the departure you want, i.e. if you're looking for a United flight that leaves at 1:00 PM choose United and 11:00 AM for the departure time. The United choice somewhat restricts the flights and the time keeps it for searching for earlier flights.
Sep 24, 2016, 7:39 pm
#2388
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
Generally speaking yes it should go all the way through, but it depends on the route, airline(s) and airport(s).
Sep 25, 2016, 3:39 am
#2389
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 101
Sep 25, 2016, 3:57 am
#2390
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
Specific questions about luggage through checking will need more information than you're willing to provide in this thread, but you might ask via one of the specific airline or alliance forums.
Sep 25, 2016, 10:55 am
#2391
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Sep 26, 2016, 5:28 am
#2392
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: BA Gold, LH, SEN, RJ Platinum, ALL Diamond, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 643
Is there a way to get around the issue where First Class is shown as available for Business Class miles? Send screenshots to the team quoting flight by flight?
Sep 26, 2016, 10:49 am
#2394
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: BA Gold, LH, SEN, RJ Platinum, ALL Diamond, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 643
I'm not asking them to book me the award in F for C Miles
What I require is an F award that is available if I search it separately, however once I look it up directly via search engine in one fo it's showing Business and First for same amount but not bookable in First. So I wonder what is the workaround, or I'm the only one facing this issue?
What I require is an F award that is available if I search it separately, however once I look it up directly via search engine in one fo it's showing Business and First for same amount but not bookable in First. So I wonder what is the workaround, or I'm the only one facing this issue?
Sep 26, 2016, 10:54 pm
#2395
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Germany
Programs: Hyatt Dia, MM, DGAEZ
Posts: 607
Did anyone book for the reduced mileage amount a first ticket? I dont get the engine to show me the real first pricing, so what happens if you book the first award with the reduced pricing? at the end it shows "biz cabin" but first class...
Sep 27, 2016, 1:24 am
#2396
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: BA Gold, LH, SEN, RJ Platinum, ALL Diamond, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 643
If you select First Class, then it's showing Business Class as Cabin Class of travel, isn't?
Sep 27, 2016, 2:20 am
#2400
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: BA Gold, LH, SEN, RJ Platinum, ALL Diamond, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 643
Exactly guys this is the point, I want to book a proper First Class award and also pay the First Class price, however it's always showing only Business Class price and also cabin though First Class section is selected. This is only the case if First Class has a connection. If done segment by segment it's priced correctly. So my question is if in that case screenshots should be sent to the dedicated team so that they can book it manually? But looks like no experience so far. I will check by myself and post here.