Have just got back from my first jaunt using the miles, and very enjoyable it was too. As a bonus I got an email for the targeted bonus buy, so ave topped up the account.

The only downside of the whole thing was that the return BKK-SYD was on a very old Thai 744-200 with really old business class seats, so as I'm just about to rebook for necxt year, who should I be looking to book with to get proper lie flat business seats on all legs.

Cheers

That's pretty unlucky really as the aircraft isn't typically scheduled to SYD. It is popping up a bit more recently (several times last week) and ironically part of the reason is that these old config planes are in the process of being refitted with new product...there is a bit of disruption with 747 schedules...they will all be gone very soon!

I did first class Thai last month any my Europe - Bangkok leg was on an old plane that wasn't even flat bed in first. It was ok, almost flat, but if I had paid normal price I probably would have been ticked off.

From LifeMiles

From September 3rd through September 28th buy miles 2x1 and enjoy more!

We want you to receive twice as much, therefore, for each package of 1,000 miles you buy, LifeMiles will give you a bonus of 100 % more that can be redeemed to fly on routes operated by Avianca, TACA, AeroGal, Star Alliance member or other airline partners. Also, you can enjoy your LifeMiles on hotels, car rentals, amusement parks and much more thanks to our vast partner network.

You can access this promotion through our Call Center, LifeMiles.com or at Avianca and TACA’s Information Centers (except in Colombia).

Yes good news!

I just made my first LM booking - EDI to MEL in business just before Xmas - 34k + $1015 - oneway.

Return leg to be booked later.

Just for a comparison I registered with LifeMiles and checked what it would cost for a First return to Europe.

Dividend Miles - 150,000 @ US$0.0325 = $4875 + taxes etc
Life Miles - 200,000 @ US$0.030 = $6000 + taxes etc

Even at 2 for 1 Life Miles is still expensive!

Nope!

US miles cost 0.035 not 0.0325.

And the most effective way to use LMs is part cash part miles, not miles outright.

The actual numbers are US: $5644 (includes 7.5% sales tax) + taxes etc.

For Lifemiles you are looking at 80k miles ($2400) + $1530 + taxes etc.

So LifeMiles = $3930 + taxes etc.

In actual fact LifeMiles is substantially cheaper!

(none of these numbers reflect promos of course)

So if you got both on 2for1 offers, the Dividend Miles would be $2822+ and the LifeMiles would be $2730+

I didn't notice the miles + cash bit about LifeMiles - makes a difference.

All booked. MEL-EDI in business 34k + $784 (total $1294). Thai A380.

Oooo they have an A380 now! Does it do the Sydney leg?

Not quite...they start in October. SYD no, not yet. Frankfurt, Paris & Tokyo are the main routes.

terrible only pre-3/9/12 members can get the bonus.

Just for information I went onto the Thai website last night to see how much our First Class tickets would have cost if we'd bought them retail.

$21,706.48!!! Sydney-Rome then London-Sydney

Makes the Dividend Miles scheme very attractive. Either that or it shows how overpriced First Class seats are.

Well...you were warned!

Hi Bc I have looked @the Life Miles spending calculator and there are no Australian cities listed.How did you calculate the above?