Questions and Answers

Hi Lucky,

I’m planning award redemption for 2 passengers in F for next February 2017. BKK-NRT (TG) NRT-SFO (NH). When I do a search for 1 passenger, the TG flight shows F available. However, when I change for 2 passengers F is no longer available only J is available. So, if I booked this reservation and when February comes around would I be allowed to make the change to F? Or would I have to cancel the award ($50) and make a new reservation?

Thanks.

I think it’s been said that Lifemiles’s call center is horrible to work with and that its much easier (cheaper even?) to cancel the award and rebook.

Thanks David. That’s probably what I will be doing later on in the year.

[USER=702]@Andre[/USER]

Welcome.

Problem with canceling is that you need to call the same horrible call center that handles changes, that said it cost less to cancel than to change the award.

These links are a bit old, but should cover the basics
[URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/03/23/avianca-lifemiles-award-chart-redemption-basics/[/URL]
[URL]http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avianca-lifemiles-amigo/1396001-cancelling-avianca-award-flights-not-flying-cheaper-than-buying-miles.html[/URL]

Just a word of warning [USER=7]@Tiffany[/USER] told me in the past that PointsPro charges an hourly rate for anything to do with the Lifemiles call center instead of a flat fee for other FF programs.

Yep, because it sucks! I once spent a total of six hours on the phone canceling LH tickets for Ben and I, and I don’t think the taxes were ever refunded.

You could get lucky and get a decent agent on the first call, but…set aside some time for it.

[QUOTE=”No Name, post: 15136, member: 268″][USER=702]@Andre[/USER]

Welcome.

Problem with canceling is that you need to call the same horrible call center that handles changes, that said it cost less to cancel than to change the award.

These links are a bit old, but should cover the basics
[URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/03/23/avianca-lifemiles-award-chart-redemption-basics/[/URL]
[URL]http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/avianca-lifemiles-amigo/1396001-cancelling-avianca-award-flights-not-flying-cheaper-than-buying-miles.html[/URL]

Just a word of warning [USER=7]@Tiffany[/USER] told me in the past that PointsPro charges an hourly rate for anything to do with the Lifemiles call center instead of a flat fee for other FF programs.[/QUOTE]
Thanks

Thanks. Yea, I’ve read about the horror stories in reference of phoning in.

I forgot to mention on the NRT-SFO segment is available for 2 passengers in F. So I guess this would be a mixed cabin. I’m wondering would LifeMiles code this as F reservation since the longer segment is in F? Probably not.

[QUOTE=”Tiffany, post: 15138, member: 7″]Yep, because it sucks! I once spent a total of six hours on the phone canceling LH tickets for Ben and I, and I don’t think the taxes were ever refunded.

You could get lucky and get a decent agent on the first call, but…set aside some time for it.[/QUOTE]
Wow 6 hours??? Oh my. You are scaring me:(

Thanks Tiffany.

[USER=702]@Andre[/USER]

LifeMiles prices an award from the highest cabin in your booking: If one segment has F, then it’s an F award.

This is normal for most FF programs, exception to the rule is often 2 cabin planes with the highest cabin sold as F. Think US domestic F or short-haul F in the Middle east.

In those cases you can in some programs get it to price as an J award by calling in for a manual booking.

[QUOTE=”No Name, post: 15191, member: 268″][USER=702]@Andre[/USER]

LifeMiles prices an award from the highest cabin in your booking: If one segment has F, then it’s an F award.

This is normal for most FF programs, exception to the rule is often 2 cabin planes with the highest cabin sold as F. Think US domestic F or short-haul F in the Middle east.

In those cases you can in some programs get it to price as an J award by calling in for a manual booking.[/QUOTE]

Okay, so LifeMiles would treat the attire award as F. The BKK-NRT is on a 3-cabin a380 flight. They are only releasing 1 seat in F this far out it seems. I believe I would have two choices 1) when TG releases more F seats, I could do the screenshot method via their email or 2) cancel the award and re book, which this would be cheaper. Hopefully the seats go back into inventory.

Thanks again No name. 🙂

[QUOTE=”Tiffany, post: 15138, member: 7″]Yep, because it sucks! I once spent a total of six hours on the phone canceling LH tickets for Ben and I, and I don’t think the taxes were ever refunded.

You could get lucky and get a decent agent on the first call, but…set aside some time for it.[/QUOTE]

Did you call the US number? I know it gets routed to a Colombian location but I called both the US and Bogota number and the wait was significantly less to get a rep when calling the Bogota number.

That wasn’t the hold time, that was the “dealing with stunning levels of incompetence and inefficiency” time 😉