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
Oct 23, 2019, 6:44 pm
#2926
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,118
On again - booked 4x for next Spring break for 140k. Cracking deal. Seems only possible on TP208. Onward connections also possible but limited.
Nov 10, 2019, 11:35 pm
#2928
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
Nov 29, 2019, 12:54 am
#2931
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
Anyone know if there are any rules/regularities for if/when LH F becomes bookable through Lifemiles?
I'm looking at a flight on Dec 9. Miles&More has shown 6 First Class seats available for a long time, ExpertFlyer shows them, Aegean etc. shows them. Lifemiles: Nothing.
On Dec 6 however, Miles&More shows 7 First Class seats available, and those have been bookable through Lifemiles for a couple days at least.
Is there any chance Lifemiles will get access to the seats on Dec 9? Or should I better find a different solution?
Edit: Never mind, my connecting flight was the issue.
I'm looking at a flight on Dec 9. Miles&More has shown 6 First Class seats available for a long time, ExpertFlyer shows them, Aegean etc. shows them. Lifemiles: Nothing.
On Dec 6 however, Miles&More shows 7 First Class seats available, and those have been bookable through Lifemiles for a couple days at least.
Is there any chance Lifemiles will get access to the seats on Dec 9? Or should I better find a different solution?
Edit: Never mind, my connecting flight was the issue.
Nov 29, 2019, 1:22 am
#2932
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
My connecting flight (LH intra-European) is currently only available in Y to partners. But Miles&More shows 9+ seats available in business class.
Is there a way to book this in Y through Lifemiles and upgrade to J later when/if that becomes available?
Is there a way to book this in Y through Lifemiles and upgrade to J later when/if that becomes available?
Nov 29, 2019, 7:53 pm
#2933
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
There is a way, but it will cost you in LifeMiles ticket change fees, fees that will negate the upgrade for a 1-2hour intraeuropean flight in dismal intraeuropean “business class”. Not worth it imho
Dec 3, 2019, 5:58 am
#2934
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: MSP
Posts: 398
I'm looking at an F redemption that just isn't showing on Lifemiles. Calling the agent isn't useful either. It's available in expert flyer and united.com.
Anyone have any idea on how to get something like that booked on lifemiles.com?
Anyone have any idea on how to get something like that booked on lifemiles.com?
Last edited by shuom; Dec 3, 2019 at 9:28 am
Dec 3, 2019, 6:16 am
#2935
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
Lifemiles does not necessarily have access to the same award space as other airlines.
You cab try searching for a specific airline, but that is no guarantee that you’ll find what you want to book.
You cab try searching for a specific airline, but that is no guarantee that you’ll find what you want to book.
Dec 3, 2019, 7:01 am
#2936
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
jokes aside, what route n dates? there could be ways to "massage it" to show and then book!
oops!
Dec 3, 2019, 2:58 pm
#2939
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, BA Silver, A3 Gold, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 2,811
I have a theory that LH F becomes available via Lifemiles only 10 days out or so.
Try looking at other dates for the same route. I checked MEX-MUC, and that’s what it looked like at least. Aeroplan got access 14 days out, but with Lifemiles, the window was shorter.
Try looking at other dates for the same route. I checked MEX-MUC, and that’s what it looked like at least. Aeroplan got access 14 days out, but with Lifemiles, the window was shorter.
Dec 4, 2019, 3:45 am
#2940
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Yep I can see seats for MIA-FRA on UA.com but not LM. The seats will trickle through to LM eventually if they remain unsold.