Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[Princess Fiona]

Newbie questions before I stump up the $2250 US for 150K miles:
Can I buy multiple tickets on one account? Can they all be points plus pay? Finally when do redemption seats become available on * Airlines? Is it a year in advance? I'm trying to increase my chances of getting a US trip in J Nov-Feb next year ( 4 seats needed but will split into 2x2)

 

[vitagen]

My same questions before I pull the trigger!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Just made my first LM redemption for a family member for Xmas!

One-way EDI-MEL in business. CA from FRA-MEL...doubts about the soft product but a full flat bed all the way and better connections trumped the LH A380.

34k miles + $675 cash + $363 tax (UK APD of course being the vast majority).

Reservation shows up in CMT...now just the wait to see ticket numbers and check all is well.

...and now time to buy some more miles and get the return trip and next years holiday flights!

Eticket issued now - less than half an hour.

 

[kamchatsky]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Received 100% bonus for lifemiles offer ..... Whilst tempting I am not travelling anytime soon so have to hold off any purchasing of points.

Anyone know how long the points will expire?

 

[kamchatsky]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Just made my first LM redemption for a family member for Xmas!

One-way EDI-MEL in business. CA from FRA-MEL...doubts about the soft product but a full flat bed all the way and better connections trumped the LH A380.

34k miles + $675 cash + $363 tax (UK APD of course being the vast majority).

Reservation shows up in CMT...now just the wait to see ticket numbers and check all is well.

...and now time to buy some more miles and get the return trip and next years holiday flights!

You will need to keep your expectation very low when flying CA ...... Couldn't you fly TG directly to MEL, or OZ to SYD and then pay yourself to MEL?

 

[Princess Fiona]

Received 100% bonus for lifemiles offer ..... Whilst tempting I am not travelling anytime soon so have to hold off any purchasing of points.

Anyone know how long the points will expire?

The website states 24 months if no transactions, but miles can be re-activated for a fee.
Sounds promising ?

 

[kamchatsky]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

The website states 24 months if no transactions, but miles can be re-activated for a fee.
Sounds promising ?

Yes it definitely sounds promising, especially I was flying J regularly using BMI *A awards when BMI was still in *A.

Unfortunately I still have quite a lot of points in US DM and also not travelling anytime soon. So have to give this one a miss.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

The website states 24 months if no transactions, but miles can be re-activated for a fee.
Sounds promising ?

you just need to buy more mile to keep account active, even if its only 1000. or just accrue a flight to your AV account

 

[travelislife]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Any terms and conditions restricting buying miles if a new account is opened within the promo period? I already have an account but would be good for family.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

You will need to keep your expectation very low when flying CA ...... Couldn't you fly TG directly to MEL, or OZ to SYD and then pay yourself to MEL?

Nope. Departure date is 21 Dec...slim pickings. I've booked what was available online (i.e. short stopovers only) and done plenty of checking on KVS etc.

I'm sure the traveller will be happy (never flown J/F before), much more so than making connections on separate tix, especially clearing customs at SYD and rechecking etc.

As the CA sectors involve overnight flights I think the flat bed is an advantage.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Any terms and conditions restricting buying miles if a new account is opened within the promo period? I already have an account but would be good for family.

Yes.

Applies only to members enrolled in the program prior to September 3rd, 2012

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Applies only to members enrolled in the program prior to September 3rd, 2012

Guess I should enrol just in case.

I know I can't buy any miles now, but even if I was eligible I wouldn't because right now I just don't have the money.

 

[burmans]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Yes.

Applies only to members enrolled in the program prior to September 3rd, 2012

Yes I think a few of us noted this when there was first commentary about Avianca which is why Avianca saw a spike on registrations a couple of months ago. Never mind, the evidence is that they do this a few times a year!

 

[casanovawa]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Hmmm, do i or not... Have plenty of money in the bank, although I'm saving up at the moment for something, and have enough USDM miles for my next J trip and the QFF points are heading towards the 140,000 for another OW award...

Would still need to get a better handle about how many points will get me what and whether this fits in with how i prefer to travel before I could decide to... but got a month to research it...

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm definitely going to buy the maximum with this I think. 150K miles goes a long way with the co-pay and I've had great fun playing with the online booking engine
The idea of paying slightly more than the cost of a Y return and getting J is very attractive

 

[alieninperth]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Newbie questions before I stump up the $2250 US for 150K miles:
Can I buy multiple tickets on one account?

Yes, I have just done a dummy booking for 2 pax (Mel to NYC in July/Aug next year)

Can they all be points plus pay?

Yes, I move the slider to min points and it was 108k pts plus $2,067.12 so with this promo it works out to be $3,687.12 plus tax for 2 or $1,843.56 plu tax per pax.

Finally when do redemption seats become available on * Airlines?

This will depend on the airline, some will be 330 days out and others will be 300. I believe that LX only release 14 days out but I could be wrong.

Is it a year in advance? I'm trying to increase my chances of getting a US trip in J Nov-Feb next year ( 4 seats needed but will split into 2x2)

Interestingly Aeroplan was showing 4 seats in August in J but Lifemiles was only showing 2. And even then, the 2 were on United as opposed to 4 on Turkish and SQ.

 

[casanovawa]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Yes, I have just done a dummy booking for 2 pax (Mel to NYC in July/Aug next year)


Yes, I move the slider to min points and it was 108k pts plus $2,067.12 so with this promo it works out to be $3,687.12 plus tax for 2 or $1,843.56 plu tax per pax.

And again are the taxes pretty reasonable like a USDM redemption?? Talking $200 per person or so??? And is it a couple of hundred or so to add a stopover somewhere back along the route to/from?

 

[Shanye2233]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I have done alot of different routing hundreds and never saw the taxes above $300. However the past week or so I noticed they jacked on a redemption fee of $25 p/p . I got 4 ppl travelling so extra $100 for no reason. Also when I sstart using the points and cash option I think the more cash you use the cheaper the miles become. If you have a trip of 8k and use 7k and cash it's at $30 but every block of 1,000 decreases

There is nothing online to add a stopover and I believe you can only do it on a return trip and by calling the office

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

And again are the taxes pretty reasonable like a USDM redemption?? Talking $200 per person or so???

The taxes are taxes...not taxes plus fuel surcharges dressed up as 'taxes'. Therefore they are exactly the same as a US redemption. The redemption fee, which seems to have been introduced within the last week is $25 online which is less than US's $50.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I believe that LX only release 14 days out but I could be wrong.

This only applies to F class, same with LH.