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
Apr 22, 2018, 7:11 pm
#2851
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,166
I'm trying to book LH F from the USA to Asia via FRA, but even though each individual leg shows LH F availability on the Lifemiles website (USA-FRA, FRA-Asia), when I search for USA-Asia on the same date, nothing shows up.
If I select Smart Search Star Alliance as the carrier, no results show up, and if I select Lufthansa specifically as the carrier, the website gives me an error that says the origin and destination are not allowed for the carrier selected.
Is there any way to book LH F for travel from the USA to Asia?
If I select Smart Search Star Alliance as the carrier, no results show up, and if I select Lufthansa specifically as the carrier, the website gives me an error that says the origin and destination are not allowed for the carrier selected.
Is there any way to book LH F for travel from the USA to Asia?
Apr 23, 2018, 5:48 am
#2852
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
I'm trying to book LH F from the USA to Asia via FRA, but even though each individual leg shows LH F availability on the Lifemiles website (USA-FRA, FRA-Asia), when I search for USA-Asia on the same date, nothing shows up.
If I select Smart Search Star Alliance as the carrier, no results show up, and if I select Lufthansa specifically as the carrier, the website gives me an error that says the origin and destination are not allowed for the carrier selected.
Is there any way to book LH F for travel from the USA to Asia?
If I select Smart Search Star Alliance as the carrier, no results show up, and if I select Lufthansa specifically as the carrier, the website gives me an error that says the origin and destination are not allowed for the carrier selected.
Is there any way to book LH F for travel from the USA to Asia?
US-Asia via Europe doesn't work anymore (but I wouldn't say "NEVER WORKS ANYMORE". )
Apr 23, 2018, 6:52 am
#2853
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SXE
Programs: QF LTG, VA Gold, BA Gold, HH, SFSC
Posts: 502
I'm trying to book LH F from the USA to Asia via FRA, but even though each individual leg shows LH F availability on the Lifemiles website (USA-FRA, FRA-Asia), when I search for USA-Asia on the same date, nothing shows up.
If I select Smart Search Star Alliance as the carrier, no results show up, and if I select Lufthansa specifically as the carrier, the website gives me an error that says the origin and destination are not allowed for the carrier selected.
Is there any way to book LH F for travel from the USA to Asia?
If I select Smart Search Star Alliance as the carrier, no results show up, and if I select Lufthansa specifically as the carrier, the website gives me an error that says the origin and destination are not allowed for the carrier selected.
Is there any way to book LH F for travel from the USA to Asia?
Apr 23, 2018, 5:54 pm
#2854
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Seems like all the blogs are picking up on this after I posted 24 hours ago. Doesn't matter - they may close this soon, but I got the flight I wanted so smiley faces all around.
__________________
New Blog Launched! - www.bitesin5.com (Travel & Food - because who doesn't love both).
New Blog Launched! - www.bitesin5.com (Travel & Food - because who doesn't love both).
Apr 25, 2018, 5:56 am
#2855
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,269
Is this still the case?? I have some leftover miles I would like to spend on one of the old routes I used that isn’t available on the new engine. Would be worth the hassle of setting some alarms and checking.
Apr 25, 2018, 6:20 am
#2857
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,269
Thanks. Such a shame but I suppose there were many fares that were too good to be true. Without the old little gems it is just another airline with a poor earn&burn. Time to swap over to A3 for *A for their incredible earn:burn. In the meantime I may just try the email technique with lifemiles and see if they will ticket a backtracking route from EU-Asia (very low hopes).
Apr 27, 2018, 11:15 am
#2858
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,724
Thanks. Such a shame but I suppose there were many fares that were too good to be true. Without the old little gems it is just another airline with a poor earn&burn. Time to swap over to A3 for *A for their incredible earn:burn. In the meantime I may just try the email technique with lifemiles and see if they will ticket a backtracking route from EU-Asia (very low hopes).
Apr 27, 2018, 4:12 pm
#2859
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
some people are comfortable with paying the YQ if they can get their required award itineraries booked with their miles.
LM’s achiles heel is that it won’t even show some obvious flights/routes, which devalues the LM points.
Apr 27, 2018, 5:50 pm
#2860
formerly 1984SW
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,058
When I was looking for seats around the middle of March, occasionally (and randomly) the old interface would show up. Having been checking the same dates/city pairs for weeks hoping for something to open up, I was pretty familiar with what LM showed available and didn't see any difference between what the old and current booking engines offered.
May 11, 2018, 12:29 am
#2861
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: CTU,BOS,NYC,LAX,HKG,AUH,DXB
Programs: HU G, 3U G, CZ G, UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, AA EXP, DL Plat, IHG SRA, TK G, Hilton G
Posts: 107
ANYONE WISHING TO SHARE ANY TRICKS FOR LM for me ? I used to know GUMMY bear and flown it. But now I thought there is other Tricks might be working. Anyone willing to share to me? Please PM me if you could. I could offer you some IHG points for rewards
May 12, 2018, 3:54 pm
#2864
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Have seen some LH F on a normal route so no tricks but its not showing up on UA.com. Was wondering if this is normal before I buy the miles for it and turns out to be phantom.