Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Avianca | LifeMiles and Amigo
Reload this Page >

Lifemiles serious booking problems - Beware (from January 2022 onwards)

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Jan 17, 2022, 5:12 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: italdesign
Please do your homework before buying Lifemiles. It is what it is... for some that's useful, for others it's not.

Biggest complaints are about
- mixed class bookings are available but now many of the suitable connections dont show
- not being able to book anything that isn't available online (there are work-arounds, see screenshot method below)
- the quality of the call center (English speaking agents are scarce, you might get thrown in a loop with call transfers within their call center)
- no stopovers (>24H) or open jaws, but you can book one way awards
- no reservations on Certain subsidiaries of Star Alliance carriers (Lufthansa Cityline, Germanwings)
- no availability showing at all on the website (try logging out and logging back in)

Problems with ticketing / lack of confirmation screen or email
- write down the confirmation number shown on the screen after confirming your purchase.
check here: http://serviciosenlinea.avianca.com/...doReserva.aspx

Sometimes, even if you cannot see the PNR, the record may have been created, so better to call them and give them flight details you were trying to book. They can find the PNR from those details.
- ticketing usually takes place within 10-15 min of booking
- but it may also take up to 2 days
- if miles have been deducted from your account and a temporary authorization has been placed on your CC, you're probably fine even if you did not see a confirmation screen
- if no e-ticket number is visible on checkmytrip.com after two days, you should contact LifeMiles. You can expedite the ticketing by emailing with your booking reference to: [email protected] after you have booked, especially if you have booked last minute flights, and need ticketing straight away

Screenshot method.
So, on a date you are looking for in the future, there is availability for LAX-NRT and NRT-BKK. But not LAX-NRT-BKK.
It may be a case of the LM system not offering the through connection.

Take three screen shots - two 'available' screen shots for LAX-NRT and NRT-BKK and the 'not available' screen for LAX-BKK.
Send them all off with a scan of your passport page (PDF) and LM will make the booking manually for you.

You need to have 40% of the miles in your account for them to make the booking. On some occasions, credit card points do not transfer over immediately. In such cases also send screenshots of the points being debited from your credit card. In some cases the LM account will immediately show the points transferred in the account activity section. Send a screenshot of that as well.

After a day or two, you will get a reply via email saying the matter has been escalated to an internal area. The next day someone will call you from 305 447 2819 and will process the payment over the phone. You will need to set a PIN which you can do in your online LM account (under the account access section of your online profile).

Send to these two email addresses, and CC yourself (just for your records)
[email protected] (invalid as of July 2022)
[email protected]

Sample email:
====
Email topic: Urgent request for booking Lifemiles Award
====
Dear Sirs,

I have tried several times, over several days, but the following itinerary does not show on the website.
Please see the attached screenshots I took just now.
Please do the manual booking First Class/Business class for xx,000 miles. (*Know how many miles the whole award should cost-here, to avoid surprises once ticketed)

The availability is only 1 seat for this date, so please process this request urgently before it is gone.

Los Angeles (LAX) - Bangkok (BKK)
Saturday August 11th 2018
NH 175 connecting to NH 807
(*Provide the specific flight numbers you want, to avoid surprises once ticketed)

My passport copy (Number xxxx, expiry 20xx/xx/xx, Nationality xxx) is attached in this email.

LifeMiles Number: xxx
First Name: xxx
Last name: xxx
Date of Birth: Month, date, year
Gender: Male/Female
Email: xxxx
Phone Number: +1-xxxx

Regards,
XXX
========



Print Wikipost

Lifemiles serious booking problems - Beware (from January 2022 onwards)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 8, 2022, 10:18 pm
  #181  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP.
Posts: 1,325
damn I have like 220k miles left with Lifemiles but its so hard to find availability .
Amil is offline  
Old May 9, 2022, 8:22 am
  #182  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,406
Originally Posted by Kremmen
As I posted in Feb, TG premium availability is zero on all routes that I've looked at. (Including intra-Asia.)
Yeah One always hopes for a miracle!
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is offline  
Old May 10, 2022, 8:28 pm
  #183  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
Also, I'm trying to book a multi-passenger award (4x on UA on a US domestic route) and I'm bumping into an error just after selecting the passengers. Is this part of the 2022 crop of issues or was this always a Lifemiles issue and I just didn't notice? (Since I've never had to book more than a single person per booking before)
jamar is offline  
Old May 10, 2022, 9:39 pm
  #184  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,031
Is AV not showing any SQ inventory right now? UA, AC and TK all show the flight.

Also not showing any NZ intra-NZ inventory which UA and AC all show.

WTH!

Last edited by abcx; May 10, 2022 at 9:49 pm
abcx is offline  
Old May 11, 2022, 4:46 am
  #185  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 699
I don't see ANY inventory for ANY airline at the moment.

I've looked at several US - UK routes for the entire months of FEB and MAR next year and literally not a single seat.

I'm assuming Lifemiles is experiencing another one of their online 'glitches'?
dlflyer00 likes this.
108912 is offline  
Old May 11, 2022, 10:57 am
  #186  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,031
Originally Posted by 108912
I don't see ANY inventory for ANY airline at the moment.

I've looked at several US - UK routes for the entire months of FEB and MAR next year and literally not a single seat.

I'm assuming Lifemiles is experiencing another one of their online 'glitches'?
this is what I am wondering too. How long do these typically last?
abcx is offline  
Old May 11, 2022, 11:07 am
  #187  
Formerly doc4science
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: CMH/DSM
Programs: United Airlines Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 562
Originally Posted by doc4science
Problem with Air Canada persists. Unfortunately I found out after I transfered my MR over... luckily it was only 12k... hopefully someone at AV is able to book it from my email. HUCA didn't work for this one. Reps could see it, but couldn't book (definitely not phantom as CowTool and United both see seats).
I heard back from LM's email support today. They are closing my case because they could not find inventory (inventory very much exists). Apparently they called me to discuss options, but I have no record of the call. I guess I'll just book my tickets via United.
Fly2Connect is offline  
Old May 11, 2022, 12:11 pm
  #188  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,031
LM is not even showing simple UA domestic itineraries!
abcx is offline  
Old May 13, 2022, 8:12 am
  #189  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: Previously UA 1K, Delta Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat, Avis First, AA Gold
Posts: 126
Originally Posted by 108912
I don't see ANY inventory for ANY airline at the moment.

I've looked at several US - UK routes for the entire months of FEB and MAR next year and literally not a single seat.

I'm assuming Lifemiles is experiencing another one of their online 'glitches'?
This happened to me too, did you try logging out and then logging in again?
oreozp is offline  
Old May 14, 2022, 1:59 am
  #190  
hsk
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MIL,LHR
Programs: *A, OW, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 374
This has become a dumpster fire. How do they get away with pumping 'sales' and have ZERO availability?
hsk is offline  
Old May 15, 2022, 8:55 am
  #191  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Programs: AA, DL, AK, UN, CN
Posts: 967
Anyone have an agent they use for finding Lifemiles flights? If not I'm thinking to start a Colombian travel agency to do it for me and then offer the service to others.
ryandelmundo is offline  
Old May 17, 2022, 10:21 am
  #192  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Kettle Class
Posts: 796
Some inventory seems to be back up. Just booked a one way to LHR on United from EWR for 20,000 miles. LM is still charging a mystery tax of approximately 25$ (in addition to the normal booking fee) but it's still good value compared to the 30,000 miles United wants for this itinerary. Nonetheless, I have now spent down my balance of LM miles and assuming this flight sticks, I am done with this program and its highs and lows.
IndyHoosier and mildfrequence like this.
progapanda is offline  
Old May 20, 2022, 12:58 am
  #193  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
My issue with not being able to book multiple people on a UA flight also resolved itself.
jamar is offline  
Old May 23, 2022, 2:20 pm
  #194  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 367
Air Canada redemptions still appear to be broken - availability shows up but won't allow check out (fails on the second-to-last step just before entering in payment information.)
jebr is offline  
Old May 24, 2022, 5:29 am
  #195  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 699
It's very odd. I contacted support asking if there was an issue as I couldn't fine ANY availability on ANY route on ANY day. I got the usual drivel back about fluctuating availability but also a suggestion I try a different browser. I thought this would be of no help. However, I switched from Microsoft Edge to Google Chrome et voila, availability showing! Weird.
108912 is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.