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 130240 times)

Offline israshot

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2018
  • Posts: 1103
  • Total likes: 226
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #240 on: January 06, 2020, 08:20:29 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
Probably at the online check-in.

Offline davidrotts63

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 7218
  • Total likes: 978
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 26
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Hyatt Member, BA Blue, Ebay banned, Amazon Prime
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #241 on: January 06, 2020, 08:33:08 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
At online check-in.
FTFY
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

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 #242 on: January 06, 2020, 10:35:09 PM »
Probably at the online check-in.
+1
Did so 2 weeks ago.
Always praying for delayed baggage.

Offline theyankel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 1123
  • Total likes: 73
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn, NY
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #243 on: January 07, 2020, 09:26:37 AM »
https://www.lifemiles.com/lockandfly

Now you can lock the mileage today and redeem later for Avianca flights.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could set-aside your seat and lock-in that fare for a while without actually redeeming the required miles? LifeMiles’ new Lock and Fly makes this possible.

With Lock and Fly, you can ensure the seat(s) won’t get sold, and the mileage won’t go up, giving you time to:

Coordinate with friends or family before booking, helping to avoid costly change fees
Transfer your bank points to miles, or qualify for a welcome bonus via a new LifeMiles credit card, to top up your balance before redeeming
You can lock the mileage for 3 days for as little as US$8.00* and complete the redemption as soon as you confirm the trip or complete the required miles to redeem the ticket; or if you need more time, you can Lock and Fly for a longer period too.


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 #244 on: January 07, 2020, 01:08:14 PM »

Offline mord1

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 901
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #245 on: January 09, 2020, 01:17:12 AM »
anything to do if see saver award space on UA, but not on lifemiles?  just daven and check back again later?

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 #246 on: January 25, 2020, 11:21:46 PM »
Booked an Air Canada tickets via LIfeMiles.
Name is Chaim - on email confirmation from LifeMiles says Chaim - at check in and on ticket says “Chai”.
Anyone had this before?
Will this make a TSA issue?

Offline RebTuvia

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jun 2019
  • Posts: 204
  • Total likes: 7
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: ברוקלין
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #247 on: January 26, 2020, 12:26:08 AM »
Booked an Air Canada tickets via LIfeMiles.
Name is Chaim - on email confirmation from LifeMiles says Chaim - at check in and on ticket says “Chai”.
Anyone had this before?
Will this make a TSA issue?
Have the email handy, it shouldn't be problem.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2020, 12:30:24 AM by RebTuvia »

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 #248 on: January 26, 2020, 03:37:08 PM »
Have the email handy, it shouldn't be problem.
Thank you, Air Canada confirmed they have a bug in there system - any name with the letter “m” at the end e.g. Adam the system moves the M as a title.
So no problem.

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 #249 on: January 29, 2020, 01:02:57 PM »
Always praying for delayed baggage.

Offline mord1

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 901
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #250 on: February 03, 2020, 10:20:08 AM »
is the lifemiles site down now?

Offline RebTuvia

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jun 2019
  • Posts: 204
  • Total likes: 7
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: ברוקלין
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #251 on: February 03, 2020, 10:39:59 AM »
is the lifemiles site down now?
Seems to be working fine for me

Offline mord1

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 901
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #252 on: February 04, 2020, 12:18:23 AM »
Seems to be working fine for me
thanks, it wasnt working and then tried it 15 minutes and it worked.
can I bring a checked bag for free if the fees were purchased with my explorer card, if I put in my united # at checkin?

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67599
  • Total likes: 16912
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #253 on: February 04, 2020, 12:22:06 AM »
thanks, it wasnt working and then tried it 15 minutes and it worked.
can I bring a checked bag for free if the fees were purchased with my explorer card, if I put in my united # at checkin?
Yes.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline mord1

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 901
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #254 on: February 04, 2020, 07:32:23 PM »

Offline nucheiner

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2016
  • Posts: 495
  • Total likes: 90
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #255 on: February 04, 2020, 10:12:01 PM »
.

Offline nucheiner

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2016
  • Posts: 495
  • Total likes: 90
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #256 on: February 04, 2020, 10:13:11 PM »
Yes.
Dan, is this new?

I'm pretty sure that despite providing my UA CC to Lifemiles, the United booking was showing a different last 4 digits, thus UA did not recognize the booking being completed with the card. Similar issue with Singapore mileage tix, and bookings using Chase UR when UMPC is used for a small amount.

Offline 159dallas

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 1046
  • Total likes: 41
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Programs: IHG Platinum Premier, Hertz PC, Enterprise EE
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #257 on: February 11, 2020, 12:01:37 PM »
Lifemiles up to 125% bonus through 2/27

1000-10000 100% Bonus
11000-50000 105% Bonus
51000-100000- 115% Bonus
101000+ 125% Bonus

This is a good combo with the 33% off Star Alliance flights Here: https://www.lifemiles.com/deals/detail-page

Offline 159dallas

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 1046
  • Total likes: 41
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
  • Programs: IHG Platinum Premier, Hertz PC, Enterprise EE
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #258 on: February 11, 2020, 12:10:38 PM »
Lifemiles up to 125% bonus through 2/27

1000-10000 100% Bonus
11000-50000 105% Bonus
51000-100000- 115% Bonus
101000+ 125% Bonus

This is a good combo with the 33% off Star Alliance flights Here: https://www.lifemiles.com/deals/detail-page

This would make the new 60000 business redemption cost around 990$ (Example YVR-TPE and visa-versa)

Also LAX-TPE
Also LAX-HKG

Offline yossig

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 954
  • Total likes: 136
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
  • Location: brooklyn
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #259 on: February 11, 2020, 10:46:07 PM »
It’s possible to book jfk-tlv-ewr?
The minimum for multi city is 3 legs and it has to end at the same airport that it started