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 130207 times)

Offline justmeha

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Feb 2019
  • Posts: 1505
  • Total likes: 150
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #480 on: May 07, 2023, 05:46:28 PM »
I'm trying to book LUZ-JFK with a stop in WAW using Lifemiles.
The itinerary is available as Saver Award on United, but Lifemiles returns an error- the issue seems to be the LUZ-WAW leg, as they do show the WAW-JFK leg. I spoke to customer service and they were unable to help.
Any workarounds on getting Lifemiles to show Star Alliance availability?
can you pull up LUZ-WAW show up on its own?

Online cgr

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Aug 2017
  • Posts: 4377
  • Total likes: 1318
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #481 on: May 07, 2023, 06:16:38 PM »
can you pull up LUZ-WAW show up on its own?
No. I ended up booking just the WAW-JFK leg via lifemiles and paid $ for the LUZ-WAW leg.

Wasn't worth an additional 21.5k points (since Amex is currently offering a 15% transfer bonus) to book the full itinerary via UA.

Offline HoKo

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 1030
  • Total likes: 221
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #482 on: May 26, 2023, 09:29:35 AM »
Does transferring points  from a credit card program to lifemiles extend their expiration? I have a faint memory of their terms stating mileage transfers won't extend expiration ( although it may have been the sort of thing that wasn't actually enforced in reality)

Worked with amex transfer

I transferred points a ~week ago and this worked for me as well. It did take a day or 2 for the expiration date to update though. 

Offline myi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 23540
  • Total likes: 2427
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 356
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: InMyPants! 🙈
  • Programs: 2Many2List!
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #483 on: June 06, 2023, 01:06:22 AM »
Any point in wasting my time calling/emailing to get a flight booked that's not showing up on LM? But showing on UA website?
It's from ZHR-EWR. It's operated by Swissair/United. But I see lots of dates in June showing, while July and August nadda.
 
Quote
Need your LG Exalt fixed? Cracked in half? Water damage? Or parts to repair yourself. 347.201.2501

Online yelped

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 10469
  • Total likes: 3831
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 43
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #484 on: June 06, 2023, 10:20:44 AM »
Any point in wasting my time calling/emailing to get a flight booked that's not showing up on LM? But showing on UA website?
It's from ZHR-EWR. It's operated by Swissair/United. But I see lots of dates in June showing, while July and August nadda.
Is it United metal? Is it showing on Air Canada?

Offline moish

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 10006
  • Total likes: 297
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: AA LT Plat, Avis, SPG Plat
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #485 on: June 07, 2023, 09:28:54 AM »
Any point in wasting my time calling/emailing to get a flight booked that's not showing up on LM? But showing on UA website?
It's from ZHR-EWR. It's operated by Swissair/United. But I see lots of dates in June showing, while July and August nadda.
 
You can sometimes get more results by changing from 'Smart Search' to Star Alliance or to the airline itself.

Online tavster

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jan 2015
  • Posts: 3573
  • Total likes: 724
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 65
    • View Profile
  • Location: Israel
  • Programs: LY TP
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #486 on: June 07, 2023, 02:54:45 PM »
No sure if it's new - there is 25% transfer bonus when you transfer Citi points to LifeMiles

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
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.

Online UKinNYS

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Dec 2020
  • Posts: 796
  • Total likes: 334
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #488 on: June 07, 2023, 03:15:36 PM »
If planning Europe trip worth noting here that award pricing to UK is 10k less than mainland Europe

Offline YOSSI170

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 414
  • Total likes: 31
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #489 on: June 07, 2023, 08:35:30 PM »
can i cancel a lifemiles ticket within 24 hours of booking?

Anyone knows?

Offline bmw

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 754
  • Total likes: 83
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #490 on: June 07, 2023, 09:14:34 PM »
dont think so

Online yelped

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 10469
  • Total likes: 3831
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 43
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #491 on: June 07, 2023, 09:18:46 PM »
Anyone knows?
Why not? They have to allow it legally (unless within 7 days of travel).

Online Aviw

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Nov 2022
  • Posts: 274
  • Total likes: 70
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #492 on: June 07, 2023, 11:12:51 PM »
Why am i getting
The origin/destination entered is not available for the selected airline. Please try with another search
For JFK/TLV or TLV/JFK

Offline HoKo

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 1030
  • Total likes: 221
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile

Offline CLEboy

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Jun 2022
  • Posts: 83
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #494 on: June 08, 2023, 09:46:21 AM »
https://www.reddit.com/r/awardtravel/comments/yipmff/lifemiles_cancellation_less_than_24_hours_after/
My experience has been that you have until midnight of the day you booked the ticket to cancel, not 24 hours. Best (and only way) to cancel the booking is through calling them.

Online cholent

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 2647
  • Total likes: 518
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #495 on: June 08, 2023, 10:17:57 AM »
Why am i getting
The origin/destination entered is not available for the selected airline. Please try with another search
For JFK/TLV or TLV/JFK
Try it with star alliance not smart search
Don't ask stupid questions and you won't get stupid answers

Offline zaltz

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Mar 2021
  • Posts: 181
  • Total likes: 25
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: US
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #496 on: July 02, 2023, 01:37:42 PM »
What does lifemiles charge for an infant in lap?

Offline zaltz

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Mar 2021
  • Posts: 181
  • Total likes: 25
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: US
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #497 on: July 02, 2023, 10:46:58 PM »
What does lifemiles charge for an infant in lap?
For a flight with Swiss from jfk to gva

Offline HoKo

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 1030
  • Total likes: 221
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #498 on: July 02, 2023, 10:57:12 PM »
What does lifemiles charge for an infant in lap?

This is somewhat old but you might find it useful :

https://liveandletsfly.com/infant-award-tickets-aeroplan-lifemiles/

Offline zaltz

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Mar 2021
  • Posts: 181
  • Total likes: 25
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: US
Re: Lifemiles Master Thread
« Reply #499 on: July 02, 2023, 11:01:17 PM »
So after calling multiple times, finally someone was nice enough to check the price for me, even though I didn't have a ticket for the adults yet, and it basically came out to be just the taxes and booking fee with no extra miles necessary for the infant