Booking with Avianca using Avios via Iberia plus
May 30, 2018, 9:41 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 106
I've called more than 10 times today and have been told:
– You're through to the wrong department and you should have pressed option 2 (I don't know how that is possible when you are asked to say your reason for calling?!)
– We're not Avianca, so why are you calling us?
– Let me check for you.... [immediately cut off]
– Let me transfer you.... [immediately cut off]
– No, we can't transfer you, you'll need to hang up and redial
– You're through to Iberia, not Avianca
– Let me see if I can find anything....[listen to 10 mins of music]... yes, I can find availabi.... [abruptly cut off]
It is beyond belief!
But what makes this so infuriating is that on my 2nd call today, I actually got through to someone who initially said I can't book AV, but then came back and said they'd found loads of availability. Just as I was asking how many Avios I needed, and planning to make a snap decision to book while the going was good, I was cut off. So, I at least have a very small glimmer of hope that it is possible and at least one person at IB+ knows this.
Jul 4, 2018, 6:47 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 106
Wow! Lucky you! You must have got through to one of the very few IB agents who knows what they are doing.
Jul 4, 2018, 11:20 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,578
It took about an hour on the phone. Lots of being on hold and checking with supervisors.
i bought a return even though we only need to fly one way, because the policy is return tickets only, but I feel like I might have been able to book one way if I’d asked.
i bought a return even though we only need to fly one way, because the policy is return tickets only, but I feel like I might have been able to book one way if I’d asked.
Jul 5, 2018, 3:44 am
#23
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,578
You must call Iberia to book.
Jul 5, 2018, 4:18 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,048
Jul 5, 2018, 7:41 am
#25
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 500
Great, what route did you book?
Jul 5, 2018, 7:50 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,578
Aug 9, 2018, 9:45 am
#28
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Maryland
Programs: AAdvantage, Starwood
Posts: 51
Trying to book Avianca using Iberia avios has to be one of the most frustrating...................
The numerous times the phone system does not connect you to a rep, the connection is terrible, the first few people I talked to insisted that I couldn't book tickets on Avianca because they aren't part of oneworld.
Finally, FINALLY, this morning, the rep who answered had no problem, she pulled up the Avianca flights I wanted. I had already checked on lifemiles.com and united that there were award seats available. She waited while I added the beneficiaries to my iberia account online. So patient. One of my passengers is under 2 so that started to be a problem but then she deleted their date of birth and said they would have to pay the taxes on an adult seat, I said fine. We get through all that and then she said, it's not working, can you call back later. And I said can I just hold on. She put me on hold but then came back and said, it's not working because the flight is operated by TACA, can we check for a different flight? Avianca/TACA is the only one who operates that route nonstop (IAD-SAL). Does this make any sense??? I was under the impression that Avianca bought TACA, TACA is part of Avianca so why would it matter? The flight number is AV580, so doesn't that mean it's an Avianca flight???
I could book on the Iberia website flights on AA but they connect in Miami and I'm traveling alone with a 1 & 2 year old so would rather fly nonstop.
The numerous times the phone system does not connect you to a rep, the connection is terrible, the first few people I talked to insisted that I couldn't book tickets on Avianca because they aren't part of oneworld.
Finally, FINALLY, this morning, the rep who answered had no problem, she pulled up the Avianca flights I wanted. I had already checked on lifemiles.com and united that there were award seats available. She waited while I added the beneficiaries to my iberia account online. So patient. One of my passengers is under 2 so that started to be a problem but then she deleted their date of birth and said they would have to pay the taxes on an adult seat, I said fine. We get through all that and then she said, it's not working, can you call back later. And I said can I just hold on. She put me on hold but then came back and said, it's not working because the flight is operated by TACA, can we check for a different flight? Avianca/TACA is the only one who operates that route nonstop (IAD-SAL). Does this make any sense??? I was under the impression that Avianca bought TACA, TACA is part of Avianca so why would it matter? The flight number is AV580, so doesn't that mean it's an Avianca flight???
I could book on the Iberia website flights on AA but they connect in Miami and I'm traveling alone with a 1 & 2 year old so would rather fly nonstop.
Sep 21, 2022, 10:21 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: San Juan, PR
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 146
I first called US line, which was fruitless ("call avianca to use your avios") even after trying to get ahead of that stupidity. Then I called the Spanish line for Iberia Plus, +34 913 30 73 50 and selected "Iberia Plus."
The agent seemed not stupid, but he claimed that with the most basic status (Iberia Classic) that the only agents that are trained to make this booking are accessible via contacto.iberia.com (a form you submit). There was no drop down related to making bookings on the form, which is in Spanish. The form will take 24 hours to receive any response. I tend to doubt him, or anyway, this is a blackhole / waste of time.
The agent seemed not stupid, but he claimed that with the most basic status (Iberia Classic) that the only agents that are trained to make this booking are accessible via contacto.iberia.com (a form you submit). There was no drop down related to making bookings on the form, which is in Spanish. The form will take 24 hours to receive any response. I tend to doubt him, or anyway, this is a blackhole / waste of time.