Airfares to Brazil

[numazu]

I tried and got accepted right away. Did not put in a Lifemiles account number, put in the promotional code for the extra miles, and put in my SSN, annual income and housing situation. Got four routine questions about my previous credit activities, and voila, a $50k credit limit. 

I do hope that I get the full 60,000 miles bonus, because a one-way economy award ticket in Avianca from North America to Brazil is 30,000 miles.  Sourced here: https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/inc/starredawards.aspx

[tassojunior]

1 hour ago, numazu1 said:

I tried and got accepted right away. Did not put in a Lifemiles account number, put in the promotional code for the extra miles, and put in my SSN, annual income and housing situation. Got four routine questions about my previous credit activities, and voila, a $50k credit limit. 

I do hope that I get the full 60,000 miles bonus, because a one-way economy award ticket in Avianca from North America to Brazil is 30,000 miles.  Sourced here: https://www.lifemiles.com/eng/inc/starredawards.aspx

You can also use the Avianca miles for tickets on United at the same 30K each way.

[Walker]

Is there an expiration date to use this bonus miles?  I have no plan to travel to Brazil in the next 90 days.

[torogen]

13 minutes ago, Walker said:

Is there an expiration date to use this bonus miles?  I have no plan to travel to Brazil in the next 90 days.

A quick Google search reveals:

The program has just announced an adjustment to their mileage expiration policy, which is worth being aware of. As if April 15, 2018, Avianca LifeMiles is modifying their mileage expiration policy:

• Currently miles expire after 24 months of inactivity, and any sort of mileage activity (including earning or redeeming miles) extends the expiration date of your miles
• Under the new policy, miles will expire after 12 months of activity, and only earning miles will extend the expiration date of your miles (meaning that redeeming miles will no longer reset the expiration date of your miles

Miles earned prior to April 15, 2018, will continue to have the old expiration policy, while miles earned as of that date will be subjected to the new rules.

 

[brockmiller]

On 3/3/2018 at 1:55 PM, tassojunior said:

Avianca (at least Columbian, not Brazilian Avianca) was one of the first airlines and is extremely good. I've flown them twice and would rank them with the top airlines. I flew coach but I'm sure their biz is above average. Avianca Brazil was a different airline before some sort of merger/acquisition and has never had a great reputation. I would choose Avianca over any other airline to Columbia or Peru. 

C-O-L-O-M-B-I-A

https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/colombia/articles/15-things-you-should-never-say-in-colombia/

[Lucky]

I received 60000 miles thanks to this offer, and tassojunior who posted the link. Then today, it got better. Avianca sent me an offer to fly to Bogota or Cali round trip for 26,500 miles. I have enough for both of us!

The flight down to Bogota is nonstop, leaving LAX right before midnight and arriving about 7 a.m.

 The problem is the return flight- 15 hours redeye touring many of Avianca's Latin stops. You can choose from 3 alternatives, seeing Quito or Salvador or Mexico City, bu there is no shorter opportunity. So I am still thinking about it. 5 hours in Quito in the middle of the night? Hmm.

[tassojunior]

Mexico City has a lot of guys. Bogota has very many and several gay massage parlors, but Medellin is where the guys are better looking and half the price of Bogota. The Gold Musuem is worth the trip to Bogota alone.

[Lucky]

So I received 60000 LifeMiles for applying for the credit card. Today Avianca wrote and offered to triple those miles at a very low cost compared to other airlines. I would have 180000 miles! I filled out the forms and received a failure message. I was told to contact call center. Ha! After a very long wait, an agent came on the line at the same time a recording began asking me if I was satisfied with the assistance the agent gave me. Does it get more absurd?

[tassojunior]

Avianca is a great airline. Though sounds like their telephone agents arent the best.

That bank that handles their credit card from Puetro Rico is awful.

Be sure to fly the Columbian Avianca and not Avianca Brazil.

[Lucky]

The problem turns out to be with the bank. They rejected my card for a reason unknown to me. I twice waited on a lengthy hold to find out why, but gave up as the wait was just too long.

[Lucky]

In case anyone cares, I finally solved the problem of the rejected card. Yesterday the bank assured me that the card would not be rejected, then it was. I spoke with Lifemiles and they could do nothing. But later Banco Popular called me to tell me everything was finally ready. It was and I now have 180,000 miles, good enough for a first class ticket to Bangkok on Star Alliance. (Not that I won't run into more glitches!)

[Lucky]

Jeez, I am already regretting buying those miles. I have tried to find Business or First to Bangkok on Star Alliance, and it is never available. Apparently only the lesser airlines will have possibilities.

[tassojunior]

2 hours ago, Lucky said:

Jeez, I am already regretting buying those miles. I have tried to find Business or First to Bangkok on Star Alliance, and it is never available. Apparently only the lesser airlines will have possibilities.

If you have to, Singapore is easier, especially on United. There are plenty of cheap tix from there to Bangkok....I've seen plenty for $30. 

[Walker]

You need to plan many months ahead of time if you are trying to use miles for premium cabins.  The market is flooded with miles and points now, and the supply for the free premium cabin seats is very limited.

[Lucky]

I have been looking at December and January- high season in Bangkok. So I know the search will be tough. We want to go to Hong Kong after Bangkok. Now thinking of Eva Air to Taiwan, where we have never left the airport. Dates are quite flexible with the exception that I want to be in Bangkok when the weather is the coolest.

Thanks for the responses!