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
Jul 18, 2017, 3:13 pm
#2688
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: Shamelessly Gold at Flying Burrito and AirTrain A+ Elite. Turkish Star Gold, 100k at Flying Eskimo
Posts: 740
Jul 27, 2017, 5:37 pm
#2689
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: MAD
Programs: UA, US, AA, Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt
Posts: 374
Good first experience with LifeMiles
I thought I'd share my positive experience with LM today. I bought some of their miles a month ago in one of the promotions. Never used them before, never fly Avianca.
I was looking for an LH C MAD>FRA>IAD around end of August. I found MAD>FRA in C on one day, but no FRA>IAD in C on any day. I decided to check MAD>MUC>IAD, and it came up showing LH C available on a routing MUC>FRA>IAD. Strange.
I sent screenshots to them last night, and today they emailed me the booking and phoned confirming they could do LH C MAD>FRA>IAD on the flights I originally wanted. We didn't discuss why FRA>IAD showed no availability on its own, but showed availability as part of a trip MUC>FRA>IAD.
The whole booking was over within 15 minutes. Nice experience overall. The availability issue is what I wanted to highlight here because I actually expected them to tell me LH C FRA>IAD was not available, so I guess if you see availability through some other peculiar routing and one of your flights is in that routing, it's worth asking them about it.
If this is already known, apologies in advance!
I was looking for an LH C MAD>FRA>IAD around end of August. I found MAD>FRA in C on one day, but no FRA>IAD in C on any day. I decided to check MAD>MUC>IAD, and it came up showing LH C available on a routing MUC>FRA>IAD. Strange.
I sent screenshots to them last night, and today they emailed me the booking and phoned confirming they could do LH C MAD>FRA>IAD on the flights I originally wanted. We didn't discuss why FRA>IAD showed no availability on its own, but showed availability as part of a trip MUC>FRA>IAD.
The whole booking was over within 15 minutes. Nice experience overall. The availability issue is what I wanted to highlight here because I actually expected them to tell me LH C FRA>IAD was not available, so I guess if you see availability through some other peculiar routing and one of your flights is in that routing, it's worth asking them about it.
If this is already known, apologies in advance!
Jul 27, 2017, 5:44 pm
#2690
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 162
I can't find any LH F to/from IAD and they've become super stingy with LH C within Europe. They're actively trying to block C1 --> C2 or C2 --> C1 on LH F in my opinion. So they figure, if they cut off the intra-EU flights in C (particularly on LH) then they'll have to give out a fraction of the hub to hub LH F tickets.
I thought I'd share my positive experience with LM today. I bought some of their miles a month ago in one of the promotions. Never used them before, never fly Avianca.
I was looking for an LH C MAD>FRA>IAD around end of August. I found MAD>FRA in C on one day, but no FRA>IAD in C on any day. I decided to check MAD>MUC>IAD, and it came up showing LH C available on a routing MUC>FRA>IAD. Strange.
I sent screenshots to them last night, and today they emailed me the booking and phoned confirming they could do LH C MAD>FRA>IAD on the flights I originally wanted. We didn't discuss why FRA>IAD showed no availability on its own, but showed availability as part of a trip MUC>FRA>IAD.
The whole booking was over within 15 minutes. Nice experience overall. The availability issue is what I wanted to highlight here because I actually expected them to tell me LH C FRA>IAD was not available, so I guess if you see availability through some other peculiar routing and one of your flights is in that routing, it's worth asking them about it.
If this is already known, apologies in advance!
I was looking for an LH C MAD>FRA>IAD around end of August. I found MAD>FRA in C on one day, but no FRA>IAD in C on any day. I decided to check MAD>MUC>IAD, and it came up showing LH C available on a routing MUC>FRA>IAD. Strange.
I sent screenshots to them last night, and today they emailed me the booking and phoned confirming they could do LH C MAD>FRA>IAD on the flights I originally wanted. We didn't discuss why FRA>IAD showed no availability on its own, but showed availability as part of a trip MUC>FRA>IAD.
The whole booking was over within 15 minutes. Nice experience overall. The availability issue is what I wanted to highlight here because I actually expected them to tell me LH C FRA>IAD was not available, so I guess if you see availability through some other peculiar routing and one of your flights is in that routing, it's worth asking them about it.
If this is already known, apologies in advance!
Jul 27, 2017, 6:30 pm
#2691
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
Hi,
I used the screenshot method before for myself, now trying to use it to ticket a flight C1-> C5 for my wife. I have sent her information and DOB, my account number and her passport screenshot. Anything else?
Thanks
I used the screenshot method before for myself, now trying to use it to ticket a flight C1-> C5 for my wife. I have sent her information and DOB, my account number and her passport screenshot. Anything else?
Thanks
Jul 28, 2017, 6:47 am
#2692
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Can add business class blocking to the list for Lufthansa now... trying to get FRA or MUC to PVG next week and nothing at all on LM... wide open on UA tool.
Jul 28, 2017, 7:08 am
#2693
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,611
Jul 28, 2017, 7:10 am
#2694
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Aug 5, 2017, 3:50 am
#2695
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sydney
Programs: VA Platinum, SG Solitaire PPS, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 403
I have found FRA-BOS 2 x F awards in LH via Award Nexus in the next 7 days but I cannot book via the LM site. Should I use the email method? Any ideas please?
Aug 5, 2017, 5:24 am
#2696
Join Date: May 2013
Location: GVA, BSL, ZRH
Programs: A3*, HH, club carlson: all gold and bonvoy plat
Posts: 466
Aug 5, 2017, 6:28 am
#2697
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sydney
Programs: VA Platinum, SG Solitaire PPS, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 403