LM award search engine changes, increased *A blocking
Oct 6, 2017, 2:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 439
LM award search engine changes, increased *A blocking
Looks to me like LM rolled out additional changes to the award search interface as well as what appears to be to be significantly reduced availability / greater blocking of Star Alliance award inventory.
I haven't experimented exhaustively, but at least on dates/routes I've been watching, X and I awards on UA/LH/LX that were showing up a couple days ago and still show available via UA/AC are no longer appearing. (for example I'm looking at 10/8-11 ZRH-ORD-ZRH in X as well as 1/7/18 ORD-ZRH in I)
Unfortunately, just did a fresh SPG > LM transfer a couple days ago...
Anyone else noticing the same changes?
From an interface perspective, the award search form on https://www.lifemiles.com/index.aspx (via "Air Tickets" button on left of page) actually no longer works in Chrome unless I use an incognito window. The search form on https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/use/red/dynredparbe.aspx doesn't seem to have this issue.
I haven't experimented exhaustively, but at least on dates/routes I've been watching, X and I awards on UA/LH/LX that were showing up a couple days ago and still show available via UA/AC are no longer appearing. (for example I'm looking at 10/8-11 ZRH-ORD-ZRH in X as well as 1/7/18 ORD-ZRH in I)
Unfortunately, just did a fresh SPG > LM transfer a couple days ago...
Anyone else noticing the same changes?
From an interface perspective, the award search form on https://www.lifemiles.com/index.aspx (via "Air Tickets" button on left of page) actually no longer works in Chrome unless I use an incognito window. The search form on https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/use/red/dynredparbe.aspx doesn't seem to have this issue.
Oct 6, 2017, 4:11 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Hong Kong SAR
Programs: OZ & BA Gold, HHonors Diamond, Marriott & Accor Plat
Posts: 295
Saw the same yesterday - old interface seems completely gone - depressing 
It almost feels that with the new interface they only show one partner per rout (e.g. PVG-FRA they only show Lufthansa C class and Austrian Y class or for PEK-LAX is only now NH whilst before there was a lot of OZ or UA available too).
Not good at all - already looking to credit my miles elsewhere going forward
It almost feels that with the new interface they only show one partner per rout (e.g. PVG-FRA they only show Lufthansa C class and Austrian Y class or for PEK-LAX is only now NH whilst before there was a lot of OZ or UA available too).
Not good at all - already looking to credit my miles elsewhere going forward
Oct 8, 2017, 1:17 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 263
Yes, I agree, the new search tool has significantly reduced partner awards showing. Absent totally is Singapore, Air China, Thai. When doing searching for routes that had great availability, e.g. Hong Kong to BKK, Perth to SIN. Now nothing, zero. Glad I didn't buy more miles. I'm burning those I have and then that's it.
Oct 9, 2017, 5:55 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: AY Platinum, UA Premier Platinum, OneWorld Emerald, VA Platinum
Posts: 558
Yes, I agree, the new search tool has significantly reduced partner awards showing. Absent totally is Singapore, Air China, Thai. When doing searching for routes that had great availability, e.g. Hong Kong to BKK, Perth to SIN. Now nothing, zero. Glad I didn't buy more miles. I'm burning those I have and then that's it.
The old search engine has lots of SQ on many routes, the new one not so much.
Last edited by Guvner067; Oct 9, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Oct 10, 2017, 9:25 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
Posts: 3,023