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
Mar 25, 2015, 9:08 pm
#1771
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto (YYZ)
Posts: 6,279
That makes total sense to you and any other logical person. I believe some of the agents just make things up as they go along to get you off the phone.
Mar 25, 2015, 10:34 pm
#1772
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 9
I´m willing to learn but how on earth is LM able to pull up a reservation without a record locator since then it woudn´t be a reservation at first?
Yes, you can´t pay online at that stage but an agent should be able to charge you (if h/she is willing to do it).
Just give them a call again and ask especially for the reservation code and do the payment on the phone.
Yes, you can´t pay online at that stage but an agent should be able to charge you (if h/she is willing to do it).
Just give them a call again and ask especially for the reservation code and do the payment on the phone.
Mar 25, 2015, 11:57 pm
#1773
Join Date: Apr 2002
Programs: BA,Amex,Hilton,Hyatt,SPG
Posts: 586
If nothing helps, wait for the named 72h timeline; then check online if your seats are back and if so, call LM to make your reservation on the phone, this time!
Mar 27, 2015, 9:00 pm
#1776
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 9
The seats opened up extactly after 72hours. Managed to book them online itself.
Mar 29, 2015, 5:55 am
#1781
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: CDG
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 1,611
Mar 29, 2015, 6:20 am
#1782
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Valencia, Spain
Programs: Pascal and Python, no C++
Posts: 738
That's true, there are some routes from and to the fruit (actually some throughout the year, e.g. if you happen to be a descendent of Genghis Khan), however not the ones we were used to and found interesting.
Mar 29, 2015, 9:35 pm
#1783
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SIN
Posts: 25
I found some routes, but like you said not the ideal routings...maybe they will keep coming back with the crucial leg now available.
