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)
#871
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 42
Now it seems that nothing works on lifemiles website. Have tried booking some dummy Turkish, UA, ANA, and Avianca and every time I select the passenger and move to the next section it gives me an error just occurred message. Cant imagine that every single one of the bookings was phantom space but new to lifemiles so cant be certain
#872
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,406
Now it seems that nothing works on lifemiles website. Have tried booking some dummy Turkish, UA, ANA, and Avianca and every time I select the passenger and move to the next section it gives me an error just occurred message. Cant imagine that every single one of the bookings was phantom space but new to lifemiles so cant be certain
Last edited by skimthetrees; May 11, 2024 at 10:42 am
#874
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 21
Now it seems that nothing works on lifemiles website. Have tried booking some dummy Turkish, UA, ANA, and Avianca and every time I select the passenger and move to the next section it gives me an error just occurred message. Cant imagine that every single one of the bookings was phantom space but new to lifemiles so cant be certain
#875
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,406
Now it seems that nothing works on lifemiles website. Have tried booking some dummy Turkish, UA, ANA, and Avianca and every time I select the passenger and move to the next section it gives me an error just occurred message. Cant imagine that every single one of the bookings was phantom space but new to lifemiles so cant be certain
#876
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 21
Have you tried a different browser? Is Lifemiles website set to USA/English? Not that others are a problem, that's just what I use. Sometimes adblockers can cause problems. Do you have one? Is it disabled on Lifemiles.com and any intermediate site that gets triggered during the payment process? Popups enabled? I seem to recall some folks having issues in the past because of something in their profile. I cant remember exactly, maybe the name, FF #, or CC? Check back through the thread since no one else seems to remember either. Have you set a payment PIN?
I have also tried deleting all CC#s on my profile but no use. I have been using Lifemiles for more than 7 years and have redeemed dozens of tickets. It's my first time encountered this kind of error. I have called CS but they could not see any restrictions on my account...
#877
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,406
Yes, I have tried different browsers and devices including the mobile app. None of them worked. I have tried both English and Spanish, but still same error. And yes I have enabled everything.
I have also tried deleting all CC#s on my profile but no use. I have been using Lifemiles for more than 7 years and have redeemed dozens of tickets. It's my first time encountered this kind of error. I have called CS but they could not see any restrictions on my account...
I have also tried deleting all CC#s on my profile but no use. I have been using Lifemiles for more than 7 years and have redeemed dozens of tickets. It's my first time encountered this kind of error. I have called CS but they could not see any restrictions on my account...
#878
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 21
Since it is happening on multiple browsers and platforms it points to something wrong with either your profile or payment. I searched through the thread. One issue folks have had is not completely filling out their emergency contact in their profile. Is this complete in your profile?
#880
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,406
Probably means no business awards available. Have you confirmed whether other *A partners show business space on the days you are searching?
#881
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,243
Yes, both AC, LH (via AC and UA), and UA all have availability. I noticed this morning that the searches did not revert back to economy, but trying a 10 day period of time in October using a variety of routes, all were 0 business class. The site seems to be down at the moment.
#882
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,798
I couldn't even log in, the sign in returns some error when trying to load the account overview. LM at its best.
Last edited by demue; May 20, 2024 at 8:25 pm
#883
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,406
Yes, both AC, LH (via AC and UA), and UA all have availability. I noticed this morning that the searches did not revert back to economy, but trying a 10 day period of time in October using a variety of routes, all were 0 business class. The site seems to be down at the moment.
#884
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: NJ-EWR
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Plat, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, HH Gold, Avis First
Posts: 78
Curious on others recent experience. I spoke to multiple agents and they informed me that lifemiles has change their policy to a max layover being 12 hours. Last fall I was able to manual book under 24 layovers but this no longer seems to be the case.
Anyone else find similar or still able to book longer layovers?
Anyone else find similar or still able to book longer layovers?
#885
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 42
Have also went round and round with their useless social media team on IG and they are just as incompetent as the phone people