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
Feb 8, 2022, 5:54 am
#3046
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,208
Feb 8, 2022, 5:27 pm
#3048
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: QF, PR, SQ
Posts: 26
Good point - when it's bookable, the 'Continue' button should go blue like this:
But e.g. for SQ economy 19th June LHR - SYD, the 'Continue' button is greyed out and the taxes look oddly low (even for Y)
So yeah - likely a glitch.
Short haul SQ (E.g. KUL - SIN) including J seems to be functioning normally (bookable) on the Lifemiles site.
Feb 8, 2022, 10:53 pm
#3049
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,724
I think KUL and maybe CGK and BKK are some of the few SQ routes that one can secure in Biz though even then not consistently.
At least SQ integrated MI (Silkair) fully so those routes within Asia previously operated by MI may be available too at times.
I was looking for SQ SIN-Japan and vv. though and no dice in Biz, only Eco. Had to use SQ KF miles instead for late part of 2022.
At least SQ integrated MI (Silkair) fully so those routes within Asia previously operated by MI may be available too at times.
I was looking for SQ SIN-Japan and vv. though and no dice in Biz, only Eco. Had to use SQ KF miles instead for late part of 2022.
Aug 3, 2023, 3:40 am
#3053
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 157
Hello fellow fuel dumpers and tricksters! I've started using LM *A from the very beginning, but have been away now for a quite some time. Last purchase was using the 200% bonus during Covid to fly LH F C2-C3 at regular price, but in the past made use of C3-C2-C3 F and SAW-adventures, changed HTML-code to include airports not listed for new routes (looking at you, HND). Unfortunately due to time constraints I never did a Limerick 
I have a stack of miles and recently got back into the game and already found C2-C3 for slightly under 40k in C using two routes. I'd appreciate if someone can point me in the right direction for more info. Much appreciated and let's go find some more treasures!
I have a stack of miles and recently got back into the game and already found C2-C3 for slightly under 40k in C using two routes. I'd appreciate if someone can point me in the right direction for more info. Much appreciated and let's go find some more treasures!
Mar 23, 2024, 2:59 pm
#3054
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London / Los Angeles
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, BA Silver
Posts: 1,631
osted about this in another thread but I managed to book GRU-SAN for 43k business class (economy from IAD to SAN). Lifemiles site was mostly quoting 62k miles but then occasionally it would price at 43k miles. Guessing some bug in their IT?
I booked the 43k miles price and it ticketed correctly with the GRU-IAD leg in biz and IAD-SAN in economy and I have since flown the booking.
I booked the 43k miles price and it ticketed correctly with the GRU-IAD leg in biz and IAD-SAN in economy and I have since flown the booking.
Last edited by Enigma368; Mar 23, 2024 at 3:04 pm
Mar 23, 2024, 3:28 pm
#3055
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SXE
Programs: QF LTG, VA Gold, BA Gold, HH, SFSC
Posts: 502
osted about this in another thread but I managed to book GRU-SAN for 43k business class (economy from IAD to SAN). Lifemiles site was mostly quoting 62k miles but then occasionally it would price at 43k miles. Guessing some bug in their IT?
I booked the 43k miles price and it ticketed correctly with the GRU-IAD leg in biz and IAD-SAN in economy and I have since flown the booking.
I booked the 43k miles price and it ticketed correctly with the GRU-IAD leg in biz and IAD-SAN in economy and I have since flown the booking.
Mar 23, 2024, 3:36 pm
#3056
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London / Los Angeles
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, BA Silver
Posts: 1,631
