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 2, 2014, 10:31 am
#346
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 989
The operating airline will most probably assist you infinding an alternative routing, but still ask you to contact AV to reissue the ticket with the new routing, since they don't have control of the coupon yet. Your only chance is to play dumb and show up at the airport, since at that point the operating airline gets control of the coupon(s) and can exchange/reissue them, if required.
Jul 2, 2014, 10:05 pm
#347
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Perth, Australia
Programs: QF, LM, USDM, AA
Posts: 209
Ok thinking of booking a chainsaw in C/J and can only really see one destination city in C1 for the dates I am looking for, but LM only offer one routing and it involves a transfer between a couple of airports in UK (sorry can't think of any code words for that 
) and a 3 hour or so connection time...
I think i read comments about this somewhere but is that sufficient time for the express bus which takes 1h15m min it seems and maybe 30 mins wait at airport to get on it for the transfer??? If i miss the 2nd flight will the operating carrier be understanding and stick me on the next flight to the original destination or another city in C1?
Also does anyone know anything useful tricks and might offer some hints for C6 to Southern C5???
) and a 3 hour or so connection time... I think i read comments about this somewhere but is that sufficient time for the express bus which takes 1h15m min it seems and maybe 30 mins wait at airport to get on it for the transfer??? If i miss the 2nd flight will the operating carrier be understanding and stick me on the next flight to the original destination or another city in C1?
Also does anyone know anything useful tricks and might offer some hints for C6 to Southern C5???
Jul 3, 2014, 1:56 am
#348
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,132
Of course AV won't/can't do any of the above that well, and you probably don't want to call them either. So go for an alternative booked afresh and cancel the old ticket, or show up at the airport. But be prepared.
Jul 3, 2014, 4:06 am
#349
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New York Metropolitan Area 45 km from JFK
Programs: UA,AA,AS,BA
Posts: 4,607
Obviously do not make un cancellable hotel reservations or other commitments for destination city. If inconveniences arise, demand vouchers for everything ( hotel / taxi to/from hotel meals etc ). When stuff like that have happened to me I always research in advance what possible connecting cities could be involved and if I see an attractive city, I ask to have a stop-over there ( at least over night) . At such point in time the agent is in control of the ticket and has almost unlimited flexibility ( including by- passing award bucket availability and book into other fare classes ) to cure the problem ( except maybe for using other carrier ). If possible check (or politely suggest) them to book you in "Y". If that good luck happens, then pick up the phone / open your computer and enter your FF#.
Last edited by WingedWorldExplorer; Jul 3, 2014 at 4:16 am
Jul 3, 2014, 4:25 am
#353
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: Flying: VA; Buying: AA, AS, AV, BA, UA!
Posts: 2,349
Just go with the flow. If the ticket has not been auto cancelled or changed I would just head to the airport ( well in advance ) and let them sort it out. I assume it is a reputable operating carrier. If they discontinue a route, their system and their personnel is responsible to re accommodate / reschedule people on those flights supposedly well in advance and in consultation with you find acceptable alternative(s). Follow Oliver2002's excellent advise above
The flight has been cancelled about 4 months out right? That carrier has probably already set the segment status to cancelled, does not operate. Now it is LifeMiles responsibility to notify and reroute...except we all know they're probably not capable of it.
The carrier at the origin airport is not the carrier who had cancelled the transatlantic segment - I fail to see how they are going to be compelled in anyway to sort out a ticket issued by Taca for which changes were never notified or never accepted. By that stage they might only see an itinerary from A to B.
Feels to me like the advice being given is best for the trick but not for the OP!
Jul 3, 2014, 9:09 am
#354
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toronto
Programs: DL, AA, AV, AC
Posts: 83
I have redeemed multiple Lifemiles tickets months ahead actual travel date and at least in 3 separate occasions, the operating airline changed/cancelled a segment, resulting in a missed connection. Avianca/Taca/Lifemiles never contacted me once about any of them. I had to be proactive and constantly looking at Check My Trip to make sure my bookings were still ok. Each time, when I noticed a change leading to a missed connection, I had to call Lifemiles and they rebooked me and subsequently (within 24 hours) re-issued my ticket. This happened most recently 2 weeks ago.
Jul 3, 2014, 5:50 pm
#355
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 989
I have redeemed multiple Lifemiles tickets months ahead actual travel date and at least in 3 separate occasions, the operating airline changed/cancelled a segment, resulting in a missed connection. Avianca/Taca/Lifemiles never contacted me once about any of them. I had to be proactive and constantly looking at Check My Trip to make sure my bookings were still ok. Each time, when I noticed a change leading to a missed connection, I had to call Lifemiles and they rebooked me and subsequently (within 24 hours) re-issued my ticket. This happened most recently 2 weeks ago.
Jul 4, 2014, 9:02 am
#359
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toronto
Programs: DL, AA, AV, AC
Posts: 83
None of my tickets involves any tricked routings. However, one of them does involve a very famous airport on this forum as the final destination. As I don't really care about the routing, it's relatively easy to take care of the changes. They re-booked me on another flight going to the same destination. Relatively painless. But for people with tricked routings, I'm not sure if it can be guaranteed to keep the (tricked) routes.