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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 130202 times)

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #260 on: February 11, 2020, 10:51:38 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
Good luck
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Offline yossig

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #261 on: February 11, 2020, 10:56:43 PM »

Offline nucheiner

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #262 on: February 14, 2020, 03:09:09 PM »
Is it possible to do a Same Day Change on a United ticket booked with Lifemiles? Also what would happen if I missed the flight?

Offline KSMH

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #263 on: February 14, 2020, 05:00:14 PM »
Is it possible to do a Same Day Change on a United ticket booked with Lifemiles? Also what would happen if I missed the flight?
Try with UA directly.
If you miss your flight it would be UA rebooking you at their discretion as too, if to charge.
Always praying for delayed baggage.

Offline RebTuvia

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #264 on: February 17, 2020, 09:27:48 PM »
Can I transfer Capital One Points to a non-cardholders LifeMiles account? If not are there any ways around?

Offline ROYA

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #265 on: February 18, 2020, 04:20:09 PM »
I find it interesting that Life Miles uses your id number that you enter upon signing up as your member id number. They just add 2 digits at the end..
Would love to hear opinions on this.
 

Offline ROYA

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #266 on: February 18, 2020, 04:31:25 PM »
In this post: https://www.dansdeals.com/credit-cards/credit-cards-points-start-need-know-best-credit-cards/#When_to_use_bank_points_and_when_to_transfer_to_miles
it says "Alternatively, you can transfer 6.5K points to Avianca Lifemiles for a Cleveland-LaGuardia flight on United:"
Do any other routes work? I tried a few and the only one that had available flights was this specific route.

It doesn't work for any United flight?

Offline as2

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #267 on: February 18, 2020, 04:35:10 PM »
In this post: https://www.dansdeals.com/credit-cards/credit-cards-points-start-need-know-best-credit-cards/#When_to_use_bank_points_and_when_to_transfer_to_miles
it says "Alternatively, you can transfer 6.5K points to Avianca Lifemiles for a Cleveland-LaGuardia flight on United:"
Do any other routes work? I tried a few and the only one that had available flights was this specific route.

It doesn't work for any United flight?
There has to be saver award availability on United. At times, even when there is saver space, it doesn't show up on LM.
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline mimb

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #268 on: February 18, 2020, 04:35:46 PM »
In this post: https://www.dansdeals.com/credit-cards/credit-cards-points-start-need-know-best-credit-cards/#When_to_use_bank_points_and_when_to_transfer_to_miles
it says "Alternatively, you can transfer 6.5K points to Avianca Lifemiles for a Cleveland-LaGuardia flight on United:"
Do any other routes work? I tried a few and the only one that had available flights was this specific route.

It doesn't work for any United flight?

United needs to have Saver availability to be bookable by partners

Offline ROYA

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #269 on: February 18, 2020, 04:43:28 PM »
United needs to have Saver availability to be bookable by partners
There has to be saver award availability on United. At times, even when there is saver space, it doesn't show up on LM.
Thanks for the info. Created an account to see this option that Dan talks about.. hopefully it will come in handy sometime down the line. Can I see saver award availability if don’t have United Explorer card?

Offline as2

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #270 on: February 18, 2020, 04:45:13 PM »
Thanks for the info. Created an account to see this option that Dan talks about.. hopefully it will come in handy sometime down the line. Can I see saber award availability if don’t have United Explorer card?
While there is expanded availability for cardholders, you should still be able to see some saver space without it. Anything you can't see without a card, Lifemiles can't see either.
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline RebTuvia

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #271 on: February 18, 2020, 08:32:45 PM »
I transferred Capital-One points to Cardholders LifeMiles account almost 12 hrs ago, but points still haven't showed up in LifeMiles. Called Capital One they claimed the points transferred instantly. Called LifeMiles they said that they have not received any points yet and it could take up to 8 days...

What is this supposed to mean?
Don't they usually transfer instantly?
Any experience with this?

Offline ROYA

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #272 on: February 19, 2020, 09:01:21 AM »
You have to have a Life Miles CC to transfer points to Life Miles?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #273 on: February 19, 2020, 09:15:00 AM »
You have to have a Life Miles CC to transfer points to Life Miles?
No
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Offline Eli53div

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #274 on: August 17, 2020, 01:55:56 PM »
Might be Targeted, 25% bonus from Citi TY to Lifemiles.

Offline 159dallas

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #275 on: August 17, 2020, 02:03:25 PM »
-1 I got it too
Might be Targeted, 25% bonus from Citi TY to Lifemiles.

Offline sam28

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #276 on: August 19, 2020, 01:11:53 PM »
is this new that u cant transfer from Amex to Lifemiles ?


Offline KSMH

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #277 on: August 19, 2020, 01:18:19 PM »
is this new that u cant transfer from Amex to Lifemiles ?

U can transfer, but linking has issues.
If your account is linked you should be able to.
Always praying for delayed baggage.

Offline sam28

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #278 on: August 19, 2020, 02:06:44 PM »
its not so i guess i cant .

Offline KSMH

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Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #279 on: August 19, 2020, 02:37:59 PM »
its not so i guess i cant .
... Until they fix it.
Always praying for delayed baggage.