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 18, 2014, 1:25 am
#1321
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Valencia, Spain
Programs: Pascal and Python, no C++
Posts: 738
I'm planning a trip to C2 with wife and kid next year, and found an interesting boomerang flying -- censored --.
The problem is that I'll have to call xx 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 xx 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.
And you want to add the worries of a tricked ticket to that? Not even talking that you need real people to look at that ticket? I call this Chutzpah
Last edited by WolfvanWeen; Nov 18, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Nov 18, 2014, 1:29 am
#1322
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In the air
Programs: Occasional RTW club
Posts: 6,924
This is very likely to create a lot of trouble. I fly a LOT and see families with infants all around. They usually have more than their share of worries already just getting everyone safely on and off board, not even talking about the cabin pressurizing and de-pressurizing phases of flight...
And you want to add the worries of a tricked ticket to that? Not even talking that you need real people to look at that ticket? I call this Chutzpah
And you want to add the worries of a tricked ticket to that? Not even talking that you need real people to look at that ticket? I call this Chutzpah
Not to mention that you wouldn't be calling TP, but LM, because LM issued the ticket and they are the ones who have to charge you $X for adding an infant.
Nov 18, 2014, 3:34 am
#1324
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Silver, EY Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 12,210
Nov 18, 2014, 5:32 am
#1326
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
Thanks for the advice. I'll give up the idea for now, and try to find a plan B to get to C2 in J for a reasonable price, cause 95k is too much for that ticket (the tricked one would be 40k).
I was able to book only one ticket in the last 50% off "promotional sale", that is already confirmed without issues. Unfortunately, was not able to book the ticket for C4 before LM fixed the bug.
If anybody know a remaining miscoded airport, even with a little discount, after the LM changes in C2 or C3, please send me a PM.
Thanks in advance.
I was able to book only one ticket in the last 50% off "promotional sale", that is already confirmed without issues. Unfortunately, was not able to book the ticket for C4 before LM fixed the bug.
If anybody know a remaining miscoded airport, even with a little discount, after the LM changes in C2 or C3, please send me a PM.
Thanks in advance.
Nov 18, 2014, 6:28 am
#1327
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Melbourne/Bangkok
Programs: A3*G, QF PLATINUM, BA GOLD, VA GOLD, HH DIAMOND
Posts: 2,245
However on a non tricked route the op has the right idea. An infant ticket at 10% of retail price can be booked and associated with the award ticket. That is done with the operating carrier
Nov 18, 2014, 8:02 am
#1328
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
By the way, even without a baby, should I have any problems at the check-in (questions asked, denied boarding)?
Nov 18, 2014, 8:12 am
#1329
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
What do you mean by operating airline not beeing able to touch the ticket? Is it an invalid/forbidden routing?
Nov 18, 2014, 10:56 am
#1330
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 347
If you are brave enough to use a tricked ticket with an infant, how about getting an adult miles ticket for the little one too? Nothing in the rules against that. 40K per person is still cheaper than 95K per adult.
Nov 18, 2014, 12:58 pm
#1331
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
A simple route like FOR-LIS-BKK, throwing away last sector seens pretty easy to do.
I wonder what would happen with a strange routing like C4-C2-C2-C4. Any experience with Bommerangs like that?
Last edited by blacklabel; Nov 18, 2014 at 2:08 pm Reason: follow rules
Nov 18, 2014, 1:16 pm
#1332
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Valencia, Spain
Programs: Pascal and Python, no C++
Posts: 738
That´s my point. Even if i buy a separate ticket to the kid or not. Is the op airline alowed to deny boarding, when the ticket does not involve any type of cabotage?
A simple route like a-b-c, throwing away last sector seens pretty easy to do.
I wonder what would happen with a strange routing like a-b-c-a (c-a flying Avianca). Any experience with Bommerangs like that?
A simple route like a-b-c, throwing away last sector seens pretty easy to do.
I wonder what would happen with a strange routing like a-b-c-a (c-a flying Avianca). Any experience with Bommerangs like that?
If flying alone of course, a-b-c is much easier, as this looks like a normal ticket. The other one (which you can't book anymore, by the way) will probably need a lot more explanation power at check-in. I guess most agents in Brazil know where Bogota lies... The usual story is to say: I know it's stupid, but it's an award ticket, and they have this strange routes, but I like flying you know? --- Now imagine saying this with wife and infant.
Last edited by WolfvanWeen; Nov 18, 2014 at 2:21 pm Reason: Even though it doesn't work anymore, I edited out the routing
Nov 18, 2014, 1:34 pm
#1333
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
Nov 18, 2014, 1:43 pm
#1334
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
You don't think, anybody will send you any trick, if you just posted tricks uncoded in this forum? Even a blind person could reproduce the trick with your posted information. There are many bloggers here that are just waiting to put such deals on their blogs until the deal is dead! And maybe AV/Lifemiles is also scanning this thread... If so: ¡hola colegas de AV/LM!
