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 15, 2018, 12:56 am
#2869
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
By the way, what route are you looking for?
May 15, 2018, 2:26 am
#2870
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
How long this opportunity will last is anyone's guess (ie when LH will restrict F again).
May 15, 2018, 7:35 am
#2871
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
I have just tried a handful of routes and it looks like F more than 14 days out has now been corrected 
Not only that, but on my particular flight all inventory has gone - J and F (previously showing 4 and 4, now the flight isn't even showing up in coach).
I've just looked at PEK, PVG, ICN, HKG and DEL. All F gone. (Still widely available within 14 days)
Not only that, but on my particular flight all inventory has gone - J and F
(previously showing 4 and 4, now the flight isn't even showing up in coach). I've just looked at PEK, PVG, ICN, HKG and DEL. All F gone. (Still widely available within 14 days)
May 15, 2018, 7:44 am
#2872
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SXE
Programs: QF LTG, VA Gold, BA Gold, HH, SFSC
Posts: 502
I have just tried a handful of routes and it looks like F more than 14 days out has now been corrected
Not only that, but on my particular flight all inventory has gone - J and F (previously showing 4 and 4, now the flight isn't even showing up in coach).
I've just looked at PEK, PVG, ICN, HKG and DEL. All F gone. (Still widely available within 14 days)
Not only that, but on my particular flight all inventory has gone - J and F
(previously showing 4 and 4, now the flight isn't even showing up in coach).I've just looked at PEK, PVG, ICN, HKG and DEL. All F gone. (Still widely available within 14 days)
I can still see Y FRA-BLR for some dates.
May 15, 2018, 4:01 pm
#2873
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,724
I have just tried a handful of routes and it looks like F more than 14 days out has now been corrected
Not only that, but on my particular flight all inventory has gone - J and F (previously showing 4 and 4, now the flight isn't even showing up in coach).
I've just looked at PEK, PVG, ICN, HKG and DEL. All F gone. (Still widely available within 14 days)
Not only that, but on my particular flight all inventory has gone - J and F
(previously showing 4 and 4, now the flight isn't even showing up in coach).I've just looked at PEK, PVG, ICN, HKG and DEL. All F gone. (Still widely available within 14 days)
May 15, 2018, 8:31 pm
#2874
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
Within 14 days still ok.
May 30, 2018, 5:34 am
#2877
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
Jun 6, 2018, 8:41 pm
#2878
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
Does anyone have information on any Lifemiles discount award promos currently going on?
I see that LAX-TPE on Eva prices at 60K miles in business, instead of the published 75K. No tricks, just a straight up search.
LAX-TPE-HKG goes for 64K, but anywhere else reprices to the standard 75K- 78K miles range.
I see that LAX-TPE on Eva prices at 60K miles in business, instead of the published 75K. No tricks, just a straight up search.
LAX-TPE-HKG goes for 64K, but anywhere else reprices to the standard 75K- 78K miles range.
Jun 7, 2018, 10:48 am
#2879
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: Avis Chm, LM Boomielatinum
Posts: 131
Whatever LH availability you see on LM is avail through UA as well, its just a matter of knowing what to tell the rep and/or knowing what to add or subtract to force the availability out of its hiding place.
Jun 7, 2018, 3:45 pm
#2880
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
Does anyone have information on any Lifemiles discount award promos currently going on?
I see that LAX-TPE on Eva prices at 60K miles in business, instead of the published 75K. No tricks, just a straight up search.
LAX-TPE-HKG goes for 64K, but anywhere else reprices to the standard 75K- 78K miles range.
I see that LAX-TPE on Eva prices at 60K miles in business, instead of the published 75K. No tricks, just a straight up search.
LAX-TPE-HKG goes for 64K, but anywhere else reprices to the standard 75K- 78K miles range.