Topic Wiki

Lifemiles Basics

Buying miles:

Lifemiles runs frequent promotions for buying miles, usually for 1.5 cents per mile. Given that Lifemiles has one of the most reasonable Star Alliance award charts, linked here, and doesn't charge fuel surcharges for any partners, buying miles can make a lot of sense.

The promos are usually run in one of two ways.

1. A straight up buy miles promo at 1.5cpm. In all previous buy miles promos, you needed to have an account before the promo starts in order to buy miles. Buying miles though the promo is limited to 75k per year. Be sure to use a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees.

2. A share miles promo. You can share miles from one account to another with a 100% bonus on each transaction. The cost is again 1.5cpm. Although in the past you needed to have a Lifemiles account in order to take advantage of the promo, the current promo (7/3-13) does not require a previously open account to participate. In order to maximize the promo on accounts not previously open, open 2 accounts, buy 1k miles at 3cpm, then share back and forth between both account at 1.5cpm. You can share back and forth between 2 accounts an unlimited amount of times provided you stay under the 75k cap. Doing this will most likely trigger a fraud alert with your CC, so it may be a good idea to call them beforehand and give them a heads up.

Lifemiles will also allow you to buy up to 60% of the miles required for booking a flight. The cost starts at 3cpm but is nonlinear. There are sweet spots that allows you to buy a large quantity of miles for 1.5cpm, usually in the 25-35k range. The 1.5cpm sweetspot varies depending on the amount required for the award. Full CPM spreadsheet linked here. (HT: Some dude on FT.)

Lifemiles is known to devalue without warning so hoarding miles is not advised. Buying miles at booking allows to hedge against sudden devaluations.

There is also a Lifemiles credit card  that occasionally offers a 40k bonus. Linked here.

Redeeming Lifemiles:
You can only redeem flights which are shown online. The Lifemiles call center has a horrible reputation and is usually useless. Emailing them usually yields better results if you can wait a day or two.

Lifemiles does not allow mixed cabin redemptions. If you want to book a first class flight with connections, you will need to book all legs in first class or book separate tickets.

Lifemiles is known to have better access to Miles & More and Singapore premium cabins than the rest of Star Alliance.

Lifemiles does not charge any fuel surcharges.

Lifemiles does not allow stopovers or open jaws on awards.

The max layover time that the booking engine will usually show is 8 hours, although people have had success forcing much longer layover times.

Lifemiles does not issue any lap infant award tickets.

Lifemiles cannot book any Austrian flights operated by Tyrolean Airways.

You can access partner confirmation numbers and eticket numbers with your Lifemiles PNR at checkmytrip.com

Lifemiles will occasionally show boomerang routings, which are routings that go from A-B, via C.  ;)

There are many mispriced cities and quirks in the Lifemiles booking engine, allowing for really cheap international awards.  ;)

Canceling a Lifemiles award: (HT, FT)

Lifemiles charges $150 to change an award and $50 to cancel.

Canceling:

1. This will take 20-30 minutes and costs $50
2. You have to pay the $50 up front and will need to have your credit card handy
3. You will need a PIN number for the call center. You set up the PIN online by changing your "information and preferences". Note that this has 3 pages but you only need to change the "Manage the Basics" page and hit "Save". The progress-bar at the top never seems to reach 100% but it doesn't matter. There are two places to press "Save and continue" when you give the PIN. The top button doesn't work. You have to click on the one on the bottom of the screen
4. Call the USA reservations number preferably during business hours +1 800 284 2622
5. Key 2 for English (or 1 for Spanish), 3 for Lifemiles/Corporate, then 1 for Lifemiles
6. If you have got a noisy phone line, hang up and go back to step 4. It is possible to get a good line even from overseas.
7. With luck, someone coherent will answer. If not, don't waste your time, HUCA
8. Give them the PNR to be cancelled
9. You will be asked "do you have a PIN". say yes. You will be put on hold
10. You will be connected to an automated system to key in your PIN. Don't press # afterwards.
11. You will be asked to pay the $50 via an automated system. You'll be asked for your CC number, then you must repeat it. Don't press # afterwards. Then the expiry month, then year, then the id number. Be ready to rattle through the keys as any hesitation causes the system to think you've finished. So, typically you will need 2-3 attempts. [The operator listens in on the automated process and helps you along if you don’t key in the right numbers]
13. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes while the card is checked. It may fail the first time, for no reason. Go back to step 12.
14. Once the CC is confirmed the operator will ask you for the full billing address, then your name as it appears on the card, then the name of the bank which issued the card.
15. You will be put on hold for 5-10 minutes
16. The operator will confirm the cancellation, or rather confirm it will be put in the queue for manual cancellation.
17. After 24 hours or so, you should receive an E Mail receipt for the $50 (could be in Spanish)
18. Miles will be refunded within 2-3 days, as if you had paid using the maximum miles with no cash to refund all the cash and the miles to what you had before making the booking. The miles sometimes reappear immediately. [Most often, the miles are available within 24 hours.]
19. The taxes - fairly modest - will be refunded in full since you already paid the cancellation fee up front. The refund should hit the CC within a week or so. No refund for the $25 booking fee.
20. The refund will be refunded to the original card.



« Last edited by username on March 11, 2019, 02:37:39 PM »

Author Topic: Lifemiles Master Thread  (Read 130192 times)

Offline sruly

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Feb 2011
  • Posts: 2156
  • Total likes: 70
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #220 on: November 10, 2019, 09:40:52 AM »
is it true that to book an LM award it has to be more than 12HRS before departure?
Is it 12hrs or 24hrs?

Offline smaxber

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2013
  • Posts: 1432
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #221 on: November 26, 2019, 05:35:14 PM »
Anyone know why the website consistently shows no awards for months at a time even if there is saver awards on United available?

Offline grodnoking

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 5847
  • Total likes: 767
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 17
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #222 on: November 26, 2019, 07:30:36 PM »
Anyone know why the website consistently shows no awards for months at a time even if there is saver awards on United available?
Lifemiles is always missing awards.
I'm not who you think I am.

Offline S123

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jul 2017
  • Posts: 207
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #223 on: November 27, 2019, 12:15:38 AM »
Is it ok to book someone else from your account?

Offline menachemd1

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2019
  • Posts: 168
  • Total likes: 19
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #224 on: December 02, 2019, 08:12:06 PM »
recently when booking united business partner awards thru Lifemiles it comes up on united as a confirmed business upgrade,
just wondering how this ticketing process works as it looks like the system applies a manual upgrade to the booking

Offline menachemd1

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2019
  • Posts: 168
  • Total likes: 19
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #225 on: December 03, 2019, 01:40:24 PM »
recently when booking united business partner awards thru Lifemiles it comes up on united as a confirmed business upgrade,
just wondering how this ticketing process works as it looks like the system applies a manual upgrade to the booking

Offline menachemd1

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2019
  • Posts: 168
  • Total likes: 19
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #226 on: December 19, 2019, 02:36:49 PM »
has anyone tried changing an award ticket booked thru the cyber Monday sale? wondering if it will price out in miles at usual rate

Offline menachemd1

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2019
  • Posts: 168
  • Total likes: 19
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #227 on: December 22, 2019, 02:08:12 PM »
data point: if you booked thru the cyber monday promo you can change your ticket and wont be charged the extra miles just a change fee
also lifemiles.com is down now

Offline chaaarvy

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Nov 2012
  • Posts: 252
  • Total likes: 16
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #228 on: December 25, 2019, 06:11:46 PM »
Has anyone this error when trying to book a flight? Is there any solution? Thanks

Offline Mayerw

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2018
  • Posts: 14
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Southfield MI
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #229 on: December 25, 2019, 06:19:19 PM »
has anyone tried changing an award ticket booked thru the cyber Monday sale? wondering if it will price out in miles at usual rate
What was the cyber monday sale?

Offline KSMH

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2018
  • Posts: 2773
  • Total likes: 496
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #230 on: December 25, 2019, 06:48:27 PM »
Has anyone this error when trying to book a flight? Is there any solution? Thanks
Yes, there can be a code on top of that. That's the PNR. That means the reservation was created but not ticketed. You need to call LM and give them your CC info for processing. There system is messed up these days so it can take some time.

If there is no code, call LM to see it they can book it manually. You need to call during LM English buisness hours except if you know Spanish.
Always praying for delayed baggage.

Offline yyk

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 76
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Cleveland
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #231 on: December 29, 2019, 12:42:07 AM »
How long does it take for a LM reservation to get ticketed once booked?

Offline yyk

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 76
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Cleveland
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #232 on: December 29, 2019, 01:10:10 AM »
Also, how do you add a Known Traveler Number to an LM account? And how do you choose a seat when making a LM booking? I just made my first LM booking and didn't see any of these options as I'm able to do when using united's site.

Offline KSMH

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2018
  • Posts: 2773
  • Total likes: 496
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #233 on: December 29, 2019, 01:20:53 AM »
How long does it take for a LM reservation to get ticketed once booked?
Also, how do you add a Known Traveler Number to an LM account? And how do you choose a seat when making a LM booking? I just made my first LM booking and didn't see any of these options as I'm able to do when using united's site.
Use the PNR and contact airline you'll be flying on  to choose seat and see if it was ticketed. If your CC was charged your most likely ticketed, give or take 24hr.

You can contact airline via phone or website ETC.
Always praying for delayed baggage.

Offline yelped

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 10465
  • Total likes: 3824
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 43
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #234 on: December 29, 2019, 01:21:10 AM »
Also, how do you add a Known Traveler Number to an LM account? And how do you choose a seat when making a LM booking? I just made my first LM booking and didn't see any of these options as I'm able to do when using united's site.
Add it on United's website.

Offline sillypainter

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 2068
  • Total likes: 200
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #235 on: December 29, 2019, 02:13:00 AM »
To answer some of the above questions.

UA bus awards show as UPGRADED even when booked directly with them or with LM, I booked with both programs and they show UPGRADED.

LM had an issue last week where credit cards couldn't be charged you had to call in the morning. They told me that Amex will charge instantly and V/MC may take longer to ticket and confirm.




Offline KSMH

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2018
  • Posts: 2773
  • Total likes: 496
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #236 on: December 29, 2019, 02:45:19 AM »
To answer some of the above questions.

UA bus awards show as UPGRADED even when booked directly with them or with LM, I booked with both programs and they show UPGRADED.

LM had an issue last week where credit cards couldn't be charged you had to call in the morning. They told me that Amex will charge instantly and V/MC may take longer to ticket and confirm.
+1 not sure about Amex vs Visa.

I have used a Visa and needed to call in for payment. Just save the PNR from during booking process and use that to identify the booking.

They will follow up with you for payment, so no worries.
Always praying for delayed baggage.

Offline TravelSER

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Mar 2016
  • Posts: 246
  • Total likes: 13
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #237 on: December 29, 2019, 06:46:09 AM »
Booked a few tickets with AMEX no issues 

Offline yyk

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 76
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Cleveland
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #238 on: December 29, 2019, 11:59:35 AM »
Use the PNR and contact airline you'll be flying on  to choose seat and see if it was ticketed. If your CC was charged your most likely ticketed, give or take 24hr.

You can contact airline via phone or website ETC.



Got it now! Thanks for your help everyone!

Offline WhiteSocks

  • Dansdeals Bronze Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2017
  • Posts: 49
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #239 on: January 06, 2020, 08:13:55 PM »
Just booked a United ticket with LifeMiles, but cant add my United MileagePlus # to the reservation, called but the agent said they can also not delete Avinaca #. Anyone else had this? Any way out? Dan has a post for AA tickets booked via BA