Avianca/Taca Lifemiles may be Best Program in Star
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Programs: AA Plat, Sixt Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis First, Caesars TR Diamond, Mlife Gold
Posts: 4,928
Avianca/Taca Lifemiles may be Best Program in Star
After a review of the new Lifemiles program it seems to be the best combination of the US Airways & BMI programs combined.
A short summery:
Elite qualification:
Diamond 75,000 miles or 85 segments
Gold 40,000 miles or 45 segments
Silver 22,000 miles or 25 segments
Unlimited Elite Upgrades
Excluding Europe
Diamond 120 hours
Gold 72 hours
Silver 48
Diamond "4" System Wide Upgrades
Used when ticket is purchased
Good on all international fares and non promo domestic fares.
Upgrades are transferable to whomever the member dictates.
Elite Bonus Earnings
Diamond 100%
Gold 100%
Silver 25%
Avianca/Taca Lounge access
Diamond both Avianca/Taca & Star member plus one guest
Gold both Avianca/Taca & Star member plus companion
Silver Avianca/Taca for member
Elite Baggage
Silver/Gold/Diamond 2 pieces up to 70lbs each.
Elite Waiver of administrative fee for award tickets on lifemiles.com
Diamond waiver for tickets from call center or point of sale.
Mileage Redemption
Cash & Miles awards
Can purchase miles sometimes at 2 for 1, like US with 100% bonus.
Can book online, including partner flights.
One-way awards at 50% miles.
Both "limited" and "all seats" redemption levels.
"All Seats" redemptions earn miles based on class flown.
Earnings
J fares earn a full 200% miles & status.
https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/pdf/11..._PDF_2_eng.pdf
A short summery:
Elite qualification:
Diamond 75,000 miles or 85 segments
Gold 40,000 miles or 45 segments
Silver 22,000 miles or 25 segments
Unlimited Elite Upgrades
Excluding Europe
Diamond 120 hours
Gold 72 hours
Silver 48
Diamond "4" System Wide Upgrades
Used when ticket is purchased
Good on all international fares and non promo domestic fares.
Upgrades are transferable to whomever the member dictates.
Elite Bonus Earnings
Diamond 100%
Gold 100%
Silver 25%
Avianca/Taca Lounge access
Diamond both Avianca/Taca & Star member plus one guest
Gold both Avianca/Taca & Star member plus companion
Silver Avianca/Taca for member
Elite Baggage
Silver/Gold/Diamond 2 pieces up to 70lbs each.
Elite Waiver of administrative fee for award tickets on lifemiles.com
Diamond waiver for tickets from call center or point of sale.
Mileage Redemption
Cash & Miles awards
Can purchase miles sometimes at 2 for 1, like US with 100% bonus.
Can book online, including partner flights.
One-way awards at 50% miles.
Both "limited" and "all seats" redemption levels.
"All Seats" redemptions earn miles based on class flown.
Earnings
J fares earn a full 200% miles & status.
https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/pdf/11..._PDF_2_eng.pdf
#2
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: CNF
Programs: Priority Club, TAM Fidelidade, BAEC, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 2,184
Where can we find the redemption rates?
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 851
Very promising thanks for the briefing.
Any news on land based miles - i.e. credit cards etc
Any news on land based miles - i.e. credit cards etc
#4
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Leeds UK
Programs: BD, AA, BA, CO Marriott Plat>gold, Hyatt Diamond>Plat,Hilton Gold SPG Gold PC Plat
Posts: 1,093
Sorry wrong thead
Last edited by xcalx; Jun 22, 2012 at 2:05 am Reason: wrong thread
#5
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: zurich
Programs: Miles&Smiles Gold
Posts: 509
Cash + Miles Option: you need to have at least 40% of the total miles on your account, the rest can be paid with cash (1K = 12,75 USD )
Return (One-Way) (miles + cash)
Europe - Europe
Eco: 25.000 (12.500)
Business: 40.000 (20.000)
Europa - North America
Eco: 60.000 (30.000)
Business: 100.000 (50.000)
First: 135.000 (67.500)
Europe - North Africa, Israel and Arabian Island
Eco: 35.000 (17.500)
Business: 60.000 (30.000)
First: 90.000 (45.000)
Europe - Central Africa
Eco: 60.000 (30.000)
Business: 90.000 (45.000)
First: 120.000 (60.000)
Europe - South Africa
Eco: 60.000 (30.000)
Business: 100.000 (50.000)
First: 135.000 (67.500)
Europe - Singapore and Male
Eco: 60.000 (30.000)
Business: 100.000 (50.000)
First: 135.000 (67.500)
Europe - Southasia
Eco: 100.000 (50.000)
Business: 125.000 (62.500)
First: 160.000 (80.000)
Europe - North Asia
Eco: 90.000 (45.000)
Business: 130.000 (65.000)
First: 160.000 (80.000)
Europe - Southpacific / Australia / Newzealand
Eco: 110.000 (55.000)
Business: 170.000 (85.000)
First: 200.000 (100.000)
Europa - Central America / Caribean
Eco: 65.000 (32.500)
Business: 105.000 (52.500)
First:
Europa - northern South America
Eco: 90.000 (45.000)
Business: 130.000 (65.000)
First: 160.000 (80.000)
Europa - southern South America
Eco: 95.000 (47.500)
Business: 140.000 (70.000)
First: 160.000 (80.000)
Return (One-Way) (miles + cash)
Europe - Europe
Eco: 25.000 (12.500)
Business: 40.000 (20.000)
Europa - North America
Eco: 60.000 (30.000)
Business: 100.000 (50.000)
First: 135.000 (67.500)
Europe - North Africa, Israel and Arabian Island
Eco: 35.000 (17.500)
Business: 60.000 (30.000)
First: 90.000 (45.000)
Europe - Central Africa
Eco: 60.000 (30.000)
Business: 90.000 (45.000)
First: 120.000 (60.000)
Europe - South Africa
Eco: 60.000 (30.000)
Business: 100.000 (50.000)
First: 135.000 (67.500)
Europe - Singapore and Male
Eco: 60.000 (30.000)
Business: 100.000 (50.000)
First: 135.000 (67.500)
Europe - Southasia
Eco: 100.000 (50.000)
Business: 125.000 (62.500)
First: 160.000 (80.000)
Europe - North Asia
Eco: 90.000 (45.000)
Business: 130.000 (65.000)
First: 160.000 (80.000)
Europe - Southpacific / Australia / Newzealand
Eco: 110.000 (55.000)
Business: 170.000 (85.000)
First: 200.000 (100.000)
Europa - Central America / Caribean
Eco: 65.000 (32.500)
Business: 105.000 (52.500)
First:
Europa - northern South America
Eco: 90.000 (45.000)
Business: 130.000 (65.000)
First: 160.000 (80.000)
Europa - southern South America
Eco: 95.000 (47.500)
Business: 140.000 (70.000)
First: 160.000 (80.000)
Last edited by northernstar84; Jun 22, 2012 at 3:10 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Programs: AA EXP, CM Silver, IHG Silver
Posts: 522
Looks like the cash and miles combo for award flights is for more than just Avianca/Taca flights. I checked booking awards with United through LM... just a standard USA award.. offered *limited* flights on UA for 10,000 miles plus $191.00 cash.
Also should be noted that AV/TA requires a minimum flown miles on their metal for elite. Three levels of elite status require 5K, 10K, and 15K respectively on their metal to qualify for their elite.
Also should be noted that AV/TA requires a minimum flown miles on their metal for elite. Three levels of elite status require 5K, 10K, and 15K respectively on their metal to qualify for their elite.
#7
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 4,648
Lifemiles has easily the worst customer service and telephone support ever. Just be warned before you all get excited about the prospect.
I could feasibly earn top tier elite on Avianca and they have offered up a status match, plus I have a Citi LifeMiles credit card and regularly splurge 8 million pesos a month on flights in their Cedritos office in Northern Bogotá.
They have better economy class than LAN and a real business class, and elite lounges at most Colombian airports.
Despite all of the benefits, no matter how much LAN abuses us LAN victims, I simply cannot face a lifetime of LifeMiles customer service. Whatever they say on their website, just ignore it. You will spend an eternity chasing up missing miles and arguing the toss with Costa Rican idiots.
Set up a LifeMiles account, go to their contact centre page and call a few of the numbers. Even their telephones don't work. Just give up!
I could feasibly earn top tier elite on Avianca and they have offered up a status match, plus I have a Citi LifeMiles credit card and regularly splurge 8 million pesos a month on flights in their Cedritos office in Northern Bogotá.
They have better economy class than LAN and a real business class, and elite lounges at most Colombian airports.
Despite all of the benefits, no matter how much LAN abuses us LAN victims, I simply cannot face a lifetime of LifeMiles customer service. Whatever they say on their website, just ignore it. You will spend an eternity chasing up missing miles and arguing the toss with Costa Rican idiots.
Set up a LifeMiles account, go to their contact centre page and call a few of the numbers. Even their telephones don't work. Just give up!
#8
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: PC Plat Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Carlson Silver, Lifemiles Diamond
Posts: 25
That said, I have to agree that, for some reason, I've never had miles on TACA flights post automatically, but been upgraded to business every single time I've flown with them, so can't complain much. I've usually been able to resolve the issue with a quick call to the call center around a week or two after the flights, or by emailing the elite support alias (though that one can take a couple of weeks at times!).
I do have a somewhat funny story to share... a couple of months ago forgot my laptop while connecting at UIO flying with Taca/Aerogal. They handled it extremely professional, got an email that same night saying the craft personnel had found it, and stored it on the airport safe, then handed it back as I was connecting at UIO on my return flight. That's brilliant service, and very much appreciated!
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,474
US Bank is very conservative with credit cards.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,474
I do have a somewhat funny story to share... a couple of months ago forgot my laptop while connecting at UIO flying with Taca/Aerogal. They handled it extremely professional, got an email that same night saying the craft personnel had found it, and stored it on the airport safe, then handed it back as I was connecting at UIO on my return flight. That's brilliant service, and very much appreciated!
#11
Ambassador: LATAM
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: PNA
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 4,648
To clarify I wasn't saying Avianca has awful customer service, specifically LifeMiles. They send you around in circles. AV has some great FAs, we get great service in their sales office and as you pointed out, they can deliver the goods on the ground too.
All I was saying, my experience over the phone with LifeMiles trying to sort out problems suggests I should not seriously consider their programme until I retire and have bags of spare time on my hands.
All I was saying, my experience over the phone with LifeMiles trying to sort out problems suggests I should not seriously consider their programme until I retire and have bags of spare time on my hands.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: CNF
Programs: Priority Club, TAM Fidelidade, BAEC, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 2,184
Well, redemption rates seem pretty high to me, but with no fuel surcharges could be useful.
How many miles is intra - South America?
How many miles is intra - South America?
#14
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,188
About 5 years ago, we were flying Avianca from SCL to LAX via BOG afgter a cruise, and our plane had to turn around an hour out of SCL, due to some unspecified problem detected by the pilot (my wife said an attendant mentioned a problem with wing flaps, I think). After an hour back at SCL, the plane was cleared to continue but my wife was too nervous to continue flying, and Avianca personnel escorted us back out through passport control, got our bags, etc. Told us to call a central # to arrange for a new flight, but when we decided to find the Avianca office at the airport, we ran ito the same airline personnel. They were very understanding of my wife's nervousness. Said the Avianca flight the next day was filled, so they put us on a LAN non-stop for the next day and arranged free hotel for the night (first arranged for the downtown Sheraton, but when my wife asked if we could just stay at the airport Holiday Inn, they checked and said yes). I don't know how typical this of the airine, but we could not have been treated better.
#15
Company Representative - Milez.biz
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: Aeroplan, Miles & More, Flying Blue
Posts: 69
Hi northernstar84,
Where did you find the Star Alliance redemption rates? Are they available somewhere on the Lifemiles website?
Are the standard (non SA) Lifemiles redemption rates also available somewhere?
Thanks
ph
Where did you find the Star Alliance redemption rates? Are they available somewhere on the Lifemiles website?
Are the standard (non SA) Lifemiles redemption rates also available somewhere?
Thanks
ph