billhallny: i explained this whole mess to LP, they said if the flight posted on usair FF and I was able to remove that flight from their FF(usair) there shold be no problem with getting it to post on LP. BUt I'm not so sure....it wouldn 't exactly be the first time LP gave me and other people wrong information

Howdy all. Even though I'm virtually curtain my 1 mil. bonus will NOT have posted in time (Pudding Guy said it took 3 months for his bonus to post - & I JUST took my last - U.S. flight) I'm seriously considering going back to Guatemala to watch the World Cup soccer qualifying match on Sat. 7/15. It's the U.S. vs. Guatemala and it's a huge game for Gua. - they're the underdogs. I get the feeling it will be kinda like their Superbowl. I'm not a big soccer fan or anything; but Gua. was by far my favorite of the 8 countries I visited, and I'd like to treat some of the kids I met there on my mileage run (and who were so nice to me) to the game (we kept in touch via the net). I'm sure tickets will be (at least by U.S. standards) relatively inexpensive. I think it would be a lot of fun (and a great game - I'll probably root for Gua! Can they revoke my citizenship for that!?) I fortunately have enough Continental miles to go round-trip; and I'm sure I'll stay at the Radisson in Gua. City again if I go. Just wanted to get everyone's opinion. Anyone crazy enough (especially when we can't use miles yet!) to go with me, or meet me there (I'm in L.A.). E-mail me directly if you want: [email protected]

I don't think you're crazy at all. I made quite a few contacts myself when I made my run and I was even thinking of (and still am) returning to Antigua to improve my Spanish. I say go for it! For sure it will be a great and unique experience going to a football game with locals. And by all means cheer for their team too! Have fun! By the way, did you go out to any clubs while you were in Guatemala City and have the cops came in and started frisking people for drugs? That was something to behold - unpleasant and unsettling to say the least.

Myself and 2 other women (both in their 70s, but you would never know it!) just returned from our week long journey to finish our million mile run. We had an incredible time getting in the last 3 airlines in South America.

Our first day took us from Grand Rapids to Miami, where we had enjoyed meeting Randy Peterson and Milesrus in the airport, exchanging stories and receiving t-shirts and luggage tags.

Our second day took us to Lima, Peru on Lacsa airlines afterwhich we endured a terrifying taxi ride to our pension near several downtown universities. The pension was quaint and very safe.

The next day we had a round trip ticket booked on Aces Airlines to Quito to fulfill our Aces and Saeta requirements. Our flight over was wonderful with great service and food. We hired a driver (who spoke very, very little English - we speak very, very little Spanish) to take us to the volcano, where the girl at the information desk promised us the weather was clear. However, after we drove the 1 1/2 hours there, we found out that the volcano was socked in and that we wouldn't be able to see a thing. After much hand gesturing, the driver communicated that he would take us to a local market, which was incredible. Wonderful handicrafts, exotic food, and the most interesting people. There were local women sharpening old knives that they held between their toes and sharpened with wicked looking blades. People selling live chickens, unidentifiable food products. It was unbelievable!

The driver then took us to a Hiacianda for lunch, which had wonderful food and beautiful grounds. He took our Spanish phrase book and in very halting English tried to say a few words. He was most charming. After lunch we went back to Quito where he took us on a tour of the old part of the city. We visited many beautiful churches and walked through some beautiful areas. Finally, after about 12 hours, he took us back to the airport. When we gave him a $15 tip, he almost fell over.

Our return trip on Aces was to have left at 10:00, however, they had mechanical problems and we finally boarded at 11:30, only to return to the gate an hour later and find out that they were cancelling our flight till morning. Because we had a 9:00 flight to Cusco the next morning, this posed a bit of a problem, but the Aces people were extreemly professional and very helpful and along with 3 others who were making the run (including Travelforless), were shuttled to the Hilton where we finally had dinner (at 2 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gifo am) and hopped into bed in our clothes to get up 3 hours later. The flight the next morning went well, and someone from Aces greeted us upon landing to help us change our tickets to Cusco for the following morning. And so, along with Travelforless, we spent the afternoon at a market in Lima, and enjoyed dinner at a local restaurant that served some of the best beer I've ever tasted.

After arriving at the airport at 4:00 for our 5:45 flight, we were told that we would have to wait for the 8:45 flight because the early flight was overbooked. We were disappointed because we already had lost a day in Cusco and didn't want to lose any more time there. However, we checked back before the early flight went out and were able to get on it (in fact, they had been trying to find us in the airport to get us on that early flight).

We thoroughly enjoyed our day in Cusco on the official holiday, Inti Raymi. There was pagentry, costumes, and parties throughout the city. It was an incredible day! We went up to the (sp) Sexy Women Indian Ruins, where there was a huge party. Food, dancing, craft vendors, and many, many people. I can't wait to go back to that beautiful city.

Because we missed our original flight to Cusco we were not able to get to Machu Pichu. We all agreed that another trip using our miles will be in the near future.

Our remaining days and flights were uneventful, excepting that we did have the opportunity to watch Robin Williams in the Bicentenial Man 4 different times on 4 different flights!

The 2 women I traveled with on this trip and I agreed that it was an incredible adventure. Despite the fact that we had to get up very early most days (4:45, 3:00, 6:00-after getting to bed at 3:00, 2:45, 3:30 and 7:00-finally a longer night!) we would do it all again in a heartbeat. The people were great, the airlines superb, and the scenery magnificant.

The 5 of us who made the first run for 500,000 miles are already planning a 1 year reunion in Guatamala, and I can't wait to show my husband Ecuador and Peru, especially Cusco.

Thank you Latin Pass for opening my eyes to new places and adventures. I know that I'll use many of my miles and your airlines to return to your beautiful country.

[This message has been edited by vandykes4 (edited 06-29-2000).]

[This message has been edited by vandykes4 (edited 06-29-2000).]

The Latin Pass promo ends today. I finally completed all the requirements for the million mile bonus yesterday. Way back on April 4 when I was in Guatemala and checking in for my 5 flight segments I had the misfortune of having the Copa ticket agent take my passenger receipt when I checked in for the flight. After three months and numerous e-mails and phone calls I never was able to get a copy of the ticket from Expedia.com (no expletives allowed on this board, but I am thinking them!) All the talk of having original passenger receipts made me nervous that I might lose 500,000 miles of the bonus. So I flew to Puerto Rico two weeks ago and took a Copa flight from San Juan to Santo Domingo and spent a few days in an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. Great fun, gorgeous weather (I mean it was sunny, but still hot and sticky). Last week I flew National Airline from San Francisco to Las Vegas. The next day I flew Las Vegas to Los Angeles on National. When I checked in at the counter the agent looked at my record and said "I see you are a frequent flyer with LP. Now what program is that?" I said, "That's Latin Pass." She replied, "Oh Latin Pass!" She then tore up my boarding pass for seat 29A and printed out a new boarding pass for seat 3F. She never said a word about upgrading me. Now is that respect or what?
I only had Lacsa, Lacsa(Nica segments), Taca, Aviateca, and Taca Peru post automatically. 3 Marriott stays and 3 Avis days also posted automatically. Yesterday I submitted boarding passes and receipts for Avianca, Aeropostal, Aces, Aces(Saeta), Copa, 1 segment on KLM and 4 segments on National, a Holiday Inn night, and 8 more Avis days.
Overall the bonus trips cost $4,500 (and that is "every" little expense associated with the trips except gifts) and 130,000 miles (1. California-Miami business class on UAL 40,000 miles, 2. California-Guayaquil, Ecuador, American business class 60,000 miles,
3.California to Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic - California, American economy 30,000 miles), with 4 trips for a total of 21 days away from home.
Flying for the bonus seemed like an endurance test at times. I am glad I did the journey and the bonus will be highly appreciated. Thanks everyone for all the insight this board offers. And thanks LatinPass for providing the incentive that brought so many of us to Latin America. I think this promotion has done much to enlighten those of us who ventured to the international destinations of Latin America.

I posted a report earlier on my million mile trip. I have checked with Latinpass a couple of times for an account update:

All but three of the LP carrier flights are posted; all of the hotel and car rentals are posted; but none of the four TWA segments has been posted despite calling TWA a few times before the trip and the fact that my LP # printed on all boarding passes.

So, I am sending (via return receipt Express Mail with color xerox copies of everything) my original ticket stubs, boarding passes, American Express itineraries, photos of us boarding the flights, and signed certificates by flight attendants from every flight that has yet to be recorded.

This should, hopefully, get my credits posted and expedite the awarding of the one million miles.

Thanks to all who posted on the board - your assistance proved to be invaluable.

Best of luck with posting,

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David Cleveland
[email protected]
Kailua, Hawaii

I dropped off all of my boarding passes, tickets,etc. at the Latin Pass office in mid May. I am still waiting for Copa and Aeropostal to post from flights that were taken in March. Also my SJO and CCS Intercontinental stays haven't posted, even though Priority Club showed them being transferred over months ago. LP told me it would be six weeks once they had the receipts in hand, but in light of the fact that they are swamped, it seems to be taking a little longer. Avianca still hasn't
posted from my May flight either. I guess patience is a must.

MauiGirl:

I just checked LatinPass this morning and the same thing is happening with me. Avianca and Saeta have not posted. Radisson and Hilton stays have not posted nor my US Air and TWA flights. Avis did post for both of my rentals. I delivered a complete folder with details by section with original receipts. They acknowledge receipt of my receipts in June, but say it will take time while they wait for the airlines and hotels to post. Why the stall tactics? If you have given them proof with original receipts, why don't they take the initiative and just post the activities? Other airlines are much more responsive to this type of action.

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I don't think this necessarily helps, but....

US Air and TWA took the longest to post to my account and my traveling companion's account: it was about 6 weeks after the TWA flight and 8 weeks after the US Air flights. Latin Pass had the boarding passes during this period, but it sounded like the delay was on the part of US Air and TWA.

The promo is legitimate, though-- my bonus and my traveling companion's bonus posted last week, the same day the final US Air segment was cleared (8am-- US Air segment still pending; 1pm US Air segment and bonus both posted).

Have patience and good luck. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif