2x1 is back!, But now with more miles!
Jun 4, 2018, 6:16 pm
#691
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
I've bought miles recently from LifeMiles using a 140% bonus from OMAAT. Everything went fine until I discovered that LifeMiles has done the same transaction twice. After my e-mails they reverted the miles, but have NOT refunded my money. It's been a week and they have stopped responding to my e-mails. I think I'll dispute the transaction through Amex tomorrow. Any advice my friends?
Not a bad idea to dispute the transaction anyway, especially if there are any currency conversion issues.
Jun 5, 2018, 3:20 am
#692
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: AY Platinum, UA Premier Platinum, OneWorld Emerald, VA Platinum
Posts: 558
Just be careful with disputing a CC transaction. I did one 3 years ago through VISA and Lifemiles cancelled (closed) my account without notice.
I opened another one which I still have.
Maybe give it another week.
If you do plan to dispute, make sure you know the time limits imposed by your CC company.
I opened another one which I still have.
Maybe give it another week.
If you do plan to dispute, make sure you know the time limits imposed by your CC company.
Jun 8, 2018, 4:45 pm
#693
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3*Gold, Air Canada Aeroplan
Posts: 37
Back in May 2018, I've bought miles from LifeMiles using a 140% bonus from OMAAT. Everything went fine until I discovered that LifeMiles has done the same transaction twice. After my e-mails they reverted the miles, but have NOT refunded my money. It's been a week and they have stopped responding to my e-mails.
An update: after 2 weeks of bombarding LifeMiles with e-mails, they finally agreed to refund my money within the next 20-30 business days!
An update: after 2 weeks of bombarding LifeMiles with e-mails, they finally agreed to refund my money within the next 20-30 business days!
Last edited by csdyyz; Jun 8, 2018 at 4:47 pm Reason: adding details
Jun 11, 2018, 12:09 am
#695
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
Every two to three months on average. But it can be longer sometimes. .
Last edited by LHR/MEL/Europe FF; Jun 11, 2018 at 12:14 am
Jul 4, 2018, 12:05 am
#696
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 261
I understand about the buying miles when making a booking - but is there another way to acquire miles on the cheap aside from waiting for promos?
Am needing 18,000 miles (which I will then use to buy additional miles through a booking) - and don't particularly want to pay full freight.
I have spied the "club lifemiles" but this isn't going to deliver what I need in time.
Am needing 18,000 miles (which I will then use to buy additional miles through a booking) - and don't particularly want to pay full freight.
I have spied the "club lifemiles" but this isn't going to deliver what I need in time.
Jul 4, 2018, 1:33 am
#697
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
I understand about the buying miles when making a booking - but is there another way to acquire miles on the cheap aside from waiting for promos?
Am needing 18,000 miles (which I will then use to buy additional miles through a booking) - and don't particularly want to pay full freight.
I have spied the "club lifemiles" but this isn't going to deliver what I need in time.
Am needing 18,000 miles (which I will then use to buy additional miles through a booking) - and don't particularly want to pay full freight.
I have spied the "club lifemiles" but this isn't going to deliver what I need in time.
Jul 4, 2018, 2:08 am
#698
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 261
I have used a loophole in the past with IHG - but with avianca's cancellation fees - buying points via a redemption and cancelling isn't worth it
Anyone know if Avianca's cancellation fee applies in the first 24 hours?
Last edited by baggyred; Jul 4, 2018 at 2:13 am
Jul 6, 2018, 1:49 am
#699
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
Essentially, you don't need 100% of the miles for a redemption, only 40%. So, if you want to fly first class LAX-ICN, you can ticket it with only 36,000 miles in your account, and pay the rest in cash valuing points at 1.5CPM instead of the required 90,000 miles for the award.
So, your cash co-pay would be around 810 USD to "purchase" the outstanding 60%, i.e. 54,000 miles.
Jul 6, 2018, 1:52 am
#700
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023
I understand about the buying miles when making a booking - but is there another way to acquire miles on the cheap aside from waiting for promos? Am needing 18,000 miles (which I will then use to buy additional miles through a booking) - and don't particularly want to pay full freight.
SPG points come to mind. full story with Lucky's blog (link)
Jul 6, 2018, 2:34 am
#701
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,408
Essentially, you don't need 100% of the miles for a redemption, only 40%. So, if you want to fly first class LAX-ICN, you can ticket it with only 36,000 miles in your account, and pay the rest in cash valuing points at 1.5CPM instead of the required 90,000 miles for the award.
So, your cash co-pay would be around 810 USD to "purchase" the outstanding 60%, i.e. 54,000 miles.
So, your cash co-pay would be around 810 USD to "purchase" the outstanding 60%, i.e. 54,000 miles.
but I think what was being referred to was buying a smaller award, topping up with points and pay (at 1.5c), then cancelling, and using the newly acquired miles as the base 40-42% of a new award. This might work depending on (a) cancellation fees (if any) and (b) time taken to refund the miles.
Jul 6, 2018, 5:32 pm
#702
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 261
My own experience says no. You can call in an hour after ticketing (not after booking, since ticketing is not instantaneous), and request for a free cancellation. when they ask where you are calling from, say a city in the USA.
It is not a loop hole, but a feature!
Essentially, you don't need 100% of the miles for a redemption, only 40%. So, if you want to fly first class LAX-ICN, you can ticket it with only 36,000 miles in your account, and pay the rest in cash valuing points at 1.5CPM instead of the required 90,000 miles for the award.
So, your cash co-pay would be around 810 USD to "purchase" the outstanding 60%, i.e. 54,000 miles.
It is not a loop hole, but a feature!
Essentially, you don't need 100% of the miles for a redemption, only 40%. So, if you want to fly first class LAX-ICN, you can ticket it with only 36,000 miles in your account, and pay the rest in cash valuing points at 1.5CPM instead of the required 90,000 miles for the award.
So, your cash co-pay would be around 810 USD to "purchase" the outstanding 60%, i.e. 54,000 miles.
Just for completeness, the sweet spot is a little over 40% to get the 1.5c - more like 41/42%.
but I think what was being referred to was buying a smaller award, topping up with points and pay (at 1.5c), then cancelling, and using the newly acquired miles as the base 40-42% of a new award. This might work depending on (a) cancellation fees (if any) and (b) time taken to refund the miles.
but I think what was being referred to was buying a smaller award, topping up with points and pay (at 1.5c), then cancelling, and using the newly acquired miles as the base 40-42% of a new award. This might work depending on (a) cancellation fees (if any) and (b) time taken to refund the miles.
Once booked - cancel the booking immediately and get back the booking fee and taxes (maybe a week later - no biggie) and then using the 20000 points as my baseline for a non-USA flight.
I've actually crunched the numbers and it works out anyway - regardless of whether I have to cough up the $25USD booking fee and the $100 USD cancellation
Jul 6, 2018, 6:31 pm
#703
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 261
Points transfers from partners.
SPG points come to mind. full story with Lucky's blog (link)
SPG points come to mind. full story with Lucky's blog (link)
So a quick precis is - buy the SPG points (at a current discount) and then transfer to lifemiles 1:1. Pity I missed the 25% bonus in June.
The lifemiles award I want is 40000 points - so the way I see it i have two options.
Buy 20000 SPG points, transfer and get the 5000 bonus - then use that 25000 plus buy 15000 points plus pay
Or buy 17500 points (adding on a few i already have - and buying another 22000 with points plus pay.
I think the first one works out best.
Just checking - Is it possible to transfer SPG in lots of 500?