Jan 17, 2022, 5:12 pm
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
========
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]
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
========
Lifemiles serious booking problems - Beware (from January 2022 onwards)
Jun 8, 2022, 8:15 pm
#226
Formerly doc4science
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: CMH/DSM
Programs: United Airlines Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 561
Interesting. I've only been looking at INTL flights so maybe that's why I've seen no change.
Jun 9, 2022, 4:59 pm
#227
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: BA Avios, UA MP, AA, Choice, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,096
And domestic CAN travel is not even showing up right?
Jun 10, 2022, 1:27 am
#228
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 340
Thank you! One of the flights indeed came back after 72 hours or so. The other flight did not appear to come back, although I can't seem to find that particular routing available on other previously available dates either, so it may be due to a different issue.
Jun 14, 2022, 1:40 pm
#231
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 340
Following up on my earlier post, I received an error message at the final step of booking, but my credit card has been charged, my LifeMiles have been deducted, and I received an email from LifeMiles stating that I redeemed miles. The ticket is also showing as "confirmed" on the partner website (EVA), which further shows my ticket number and allowed me to select seats.
I know I'm being a little paranoid, and that the wiki says I should be fine, but is there any reason for me to worry at this point that the booking did not go through properly for some reason? Besides getting that error screen, I'm a little nervous about not receiving an actual eticket from anyone.
I know I'm being a little paranoid, and that the wiki says I should be fine, but is there any reason for me to worry at this point that the booking did not go through properly for some reason? Besides getting that error screen, I'm a little nervous about not receiving an actual eticket from anyone.
Jun 14, 2022, 2:34 pm
#232
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
Following up on my earlier post, I received an error message at the final step of booking, but my credit card has been charged, my LifeMiles have been deducted, and I received an email from LifeMiles stating that I redeemed miles. The ticket is also showing as "confirmed" on the partner website (EVA), which further shows my ticket number and allowed me to select seats.
I know I'm being a little paranoid, and that the wiki says I should be fine, but is there any reason for me to worry at this point that the booking did not go through properly for some reason? Besides getting that error screen, I'm a little nervous about not receiving an actual eticket from anyone.
I know I'm being a little paranoid, and that the wiki says I should be fine, but is there any reason for me to worry at this point that the booking did not go through properly for some reason? Besides getting that error screen, I'm a little nervous about not receiving an actual eticket from anyone.
Im not familiar with EVA’s manage booking functions, but if the e-ticket is in there then you can skip the above
Jun 14, 2022, 6:28 pm
#233
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 600
Following up on my earlier post, I received an error message at the final step of booking, but my credit card has been charged, my LifeMiles have been deducted, and I received an email from LifeMiles stating that I redeemed miles. The ticket is also showing as "confirmed" on the partner website (EVA), which further shows my ticket number and allowed me to select seats.
I know I'm being a little paranoid, and that the wiki says I should be fine, but is there any reason for me to worry at this point that the booking did not go through properly for some reason? Besides getting that error screen, I'm a little nervous about not receiving an actual eticket from anyone.
I know I'm being a little paranoid, and that the wiki says I should be fine, but is there any reason for me to worry at this point that the booking did not go through properly for some reason? Besides getting that error screen, I'm a little nervous about not receiving an actual eticket from anyone.
To assuage my concerns, I downloaded the check my trip app which is powered by Amadeus and the trip showed up there along with an Asiana Airlines PNR. I used that PNR to locate my flight on the Asiana Airlines website and printed the confirmation.
Jun 16, 2022, 6:36 am
#234
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,293
There was a change to my Lifemiles booking by the operating carrier (Turkish). I have been trying to reach the operations department to help me confirm the new flight. However, when I go through the phone tree, the call disconnects after the "Do you want to take a survey question" before I can reach that department. If I'm transfered there from the Lifemiles booking department, either the call disconnects or if I do reach someone they cannot hear me . The operating carrier has already put me on a new flight, I just need it confirmed.
Any advice?
Any advice?
Jun 16, 2022, 3:45 pm
#235
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
There was a change to my Lifemiles booking by the operating carrier (Turkish). I have been trying to reach the operations department to help me confirm the new flight. However, when I go through the phone tree, the call disconnects after the "Do you want to take a survey question" before I can reach that department. If I'm transfered there from the Lifemiles booking department, either the call disconnects or if I do reach someone they cannot hear me . The operating carrier has already put me on a new flight, I just need it confirmed.
Any advice?
Any advice?
Jun 16, 2022, 8:01 pm
#237
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,373
Called in, representative couldn't book it either and didn't seem to have any overrides or clever ideas (said something along the lines of "it shows available in one of the systems, but it's not actually available when we go to book"). Emailed the support addresses with screenshots and didn't hear anything back. So yeah, seems darn near impossible.
Jun 17, 2022, 4:47 am
#238
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,293
The overall problem is that one of my flights (operated by TK) was cancelled. When I pull up the flight on TK's website, it notes the schedule change and they've moved me to a later flight.
However, TK won't reissue the ticket (they say I have to go through Lifemiles). When I call Lifemiles, the agent says "Oh your original flight was cancelled and I don't see any availability on another flight." When I tell them that TK has already opened space and rebooked me, they don't seem to get it/are not helpful.
Jun 17, 2022, 3:58 pm
#239
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM - IC RA - HHonors Gold - Hertz Gold - AA - US - CO - Choice Privileges
Posts: 1,648
There was a change to my Lifemiles booking by the operating carrier (Turkish). I have been trying to reach the operations department to help me confirm the new flight. However, when I go through the phone tree, the call disconnects after the "Do you want to take a survey question" before I can reach that department. If I'm transfered there from the Lifemiles booking department, either the call disconnects or if I do reach someone they cannot hear me . The operating carrier has already put me on a new flight, I just need it confirmed.
Any advice?
Any advice?
Jun 17, 2022, 4:05 pm
#240
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: USA
Programs: DL PM - IC RA - HHonors Gold - Hertz Gold - AA - US - CO - Choice Privileges
Posts: 1,648
Following up on my earlier post, I received an error message at the final step of booking, but my credit card has been charged, my LifeMiles have been deducted, and I received an email from LifeMiles stating that I redeemed miles. The ticket is also showing as "confirmed" on the partner website (EVA), which further shows my ticket number and allowed me to select seats.
I know I'm being a little paranoid, and that the wiki says I should be fine, but is there any reason for me to worry at this point that the booking did not go through properly for some reason? Besides getting that error screen, I'm a little nervous about not receiving an actual eticket from anyone.
I know I'm being a little paranoid, and that the wiki says I should be fine, but is there any reason for me to worry at this point that the booking did not go through properly for some reason? Besides getting that error screen, I'm a little nervous about not receiving an actual eticket from anyone.
United does have an "email receipt" option under "My Trips", for reference. The resulting "eTicket Itinerary and Receipt for Confirmation" includes the ticket number.