A LoyaltyLobby reader sent us a note about an Avianca LifeMiles mile increase combined with a fuel surcharge that suddenly has appeared on Europe – US business awards.
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You can access LifeMiles here.
Reader’s Comment:
Just had my FRA-SFO LH 454 booking on the radar, LifeMiles price was LM 69k + 0$ OW in Bz which was after the already after recent devaluation from the quote of LM 60k;
As of today the new quote is LM 80k + $196,71 surcharge
LM quotes now even worse than
LH Miles & More @ 78K miles + € 143,62 fees at a Bz flex miles booking, and
Air Canada Aeroplan @ 70k pts + CA $256
As a 2nd increase in short period this is ridiculous and at this quote turns LM into Zero use for me.
LifeMiles is notorious for unannounced changes and problems booking awards on its website, which could be due to IT issues or plain old award blocking (they must hate having to pay partners for award flights).
I replicated the reader’s Lufthansa award price at 80K with the nasty $171.71 taxes/fees + $25 award booking fee.
Interestingly, there is no fuel/carrier surcharge scam fee if you redeem from San Francisco to Frankfurt.
Conclusion
LifeMiles should be careful because most of the program cash flows are from mileage sales and conversions from several credit card partners.
If their award chart is not competitive or fees are excessive, few people are willing to tolerate their IT and customer service incompetence when there are better and easier programs to redeem through, such as Air Canada’s Aeroplan.
I checked, and the miles required for intra-Asia tickets that I issued using LifeMiles last year hadn’t changed, so they might target routes and airlines to whom they have the most money flowing out.
Have you seen changes in the number of miles or cash components for Avianca LifeMiles issued partner awards tickets? Please comment below.
