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
Nov 14, 2014, 11:39 am
#1306
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
Nov 15, 2014, 4:41 am
#1307
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Welcome to the new FT. Unfortunately this is the way it is now. Each to their own and only a few that still help. To be honest I don't blame most due to these damn bloggers who ruin it for everyone for their own selfish reasons.
Nov 16, 2014, 6:38 pm
#1309
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PVG
Programs: TK*G, BA Silver, LH FTL
Posts: 36
Also, the new zone pricing structure allows for a lot of cheap detours & boomerangs that were not possible or worth the hassle before.
Nov 16, 2014, 11:03 pm
#1310
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SYDNEY
Programs: *A Gold, HH dia,Hyatt plat,Sixt PLAT,QF , EY Gold
Posts: 1,890
Nov 17, 2014, 5:00 am
#1312
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New York Metropolitan Area 45 km from JFK
Programs: UA,AA,AS,BA
Posts: 4,607
I was asking WHO has noticed - I was not asking who has not noticed. Of course you would like people to PM you with tricks. There are about 500.000 other people who would like the same. Imagine if all the other 499,999 who also do not have the imagination or invested the effort in finding out also post that they have not discovered anything. So if anyone has a tricked route, and want the trick to die quickly due to publicity on Australian Frequent Flyer "AFF" and possibly others blogs, please, by all means, send anything you know to Shanye.
Last edited by WingedWorldExplorer; Nov 17, 2014 at 5:08 am
Nov 17, 2014, 8:26 am
#1313
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: SYDNEY
Programs: *A Gold, HH dia,Hyatt plat,Sixt PLAT,QF , EY Gold
Posts: 1,890
I was asking WHO has noticed - I was not asking who has not noticed. Of course you would like people to PM you with tricks. There are about 500.000 other people who would like the same. Imagine if all the other 499,999 who also do not have the imagination or invested the effort in finding out also post that they have not discovered anything. So if anyone has a tricked route, and want the trick to die quickly due to publicity on Australian Frequent Flyer "AFF" and possibly others blogs, please, by all means, send anything you know to Shanye.
My mistake haha . I enjoy your enthusiasm as always
Nov 17, 2014, 4:11 pm
#1314
Join Date: May 2013
Location: west coast best coast
Programs: TINDER GOLD, STARBUCKS GOLD, COSTCO EXECUTIVE!!
Posts: 3,989
Does anyone else have an issue with booking a ticket, going through purchasing, having it error out, then when doing a second search the space is gone? Twice this has happened to me. The first time, the space came back. Now waiting if it will come back for the second time.
Nov 17, 2014, 4:26 pm
#1315
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Does anyone else have an issue with booking a ticket, going through purchasing, having it error out, then when doing a second search the space is gone? Twice this has happened to me. The first time, the space came back. Now waiting if it will come back for the second time.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avian...ms-beware.html
Nov 17, 2014, 4:51 pm
#1316
Join Date: May 2013
Location: west coast best coast
Programs: TINDER GOLD, STARBUCKS GOLD, COSTCO EXECUTIVE!!
Posts: 3,989
Nov 17, 2014, 5:54 pm
#1317
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: TXL
Programs: A3 Silver
Posts: 1,116
Nov 17, 2014, 6:53 pm
#1318
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: LH FTL,Hyatt Platinum,BMI Silver
Posts: 50
To complete some of my itineraries, sometimes it can still make sense for me to book single, one-way legs using the LifeMiles program. Im referring to miles that I bought in the past.
But I still think, that the availability on very many legs, no matter if it is a tricked route or an official one, has become worse and could be much better.
If someone has an idea, if it is still possible to make a bargain even after the recent changes in the award charts, he or she should feel free to contact me. I only refer to bargains and possibilites after the release of the new award charts.
I discovered that there are possibilities for c2-c5 and c2-c3, but mostly in Y- Class and with a poor availability. I would recommend it to backpack- travellers, who are flexible and can book in advance.
I do also think that for a majority of people, using LifeMiles, the prices for an award have become higher in general now, whereas only few people might really benefit from the new charts.
But I still think, that the availability on very many legs, no matter if it is a tricked route or an official one, has become worse and could be much better.
If someone has an idea, if it is still possible to make a bargain even after the recent changes in the award charts, he or she should feel free to contact me. I only refer to bargains and possibilites after the release of the new award charts.
I discovered that there are possibilities for c2-c5 and c2-c3, but mostly in Y- Class and with a poor availability. I would recommend it to backpack- travellers, who are flexible and can book in advance.
I do also think that for a majority of people, using LifeMiles, the prices for an award have become higher in general now, whereas only few people might really benefit from the new charts.
Nov 17, 2014, 10:46 pm
#1319
Join Date: May 2013
Location: west coast best coast
Programs: TINDER GOLD, STARBUCKS GOLD, COSTCO EXECUTIVE!!
Posts: 3,989
Nov 17, 2014, 11:26 pm
#1320
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Manaus, AM, Brasil
Programs: Smiles Gold, Amigo Gold, BW Diamond. Exp. MP Silver, HH Gold, IHG Plat., Choice Plat., Le Club Plat.
Posts: 29
I'm planning a trip to C2 with wife and kid next year, and found an interesting boomerang flying TP J, C4S-C2-C2-C4N.
The problem is that I'll have to call TP to add an infant to this reservation, and I'm afraid that questions would be asked, since the route is very unusual.
Has anyone did this before? Any problems on the fone or at the check-in counter? Should I ask to short check baggage?
Thanks.
The problem is that I'll have to call TP to add an infant to this reservation, and I'm afraid that questions would be asked, since the route is very unusual.
Has anyone did this before? Any problems on the fone or at the check-in counter? Should I ask to short check baggage?
Thanks.