Comments on: Air Canada Aeroplan: My New Favorite Airline Frequent Flyer Program?

By: 1500 Bonus Aeroplan Miles with Hotel Point Transfers - Points Miles and Martinis

1500 Bonus Aeroplan Miles with Hotel Point Transfers - Points Miles and Martinis — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:40:31 +0000

[...] has been a lot of discussion on BoardingArea on how Air Canada is a great program, see this post on View From the Wing. While this is a good bonus if you’ve already had a plan to transfer the points to miles, [...]

By: Ray

Ray — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:45:57 +0000

I have benefitted from Aeroplan, with a fair number of reward flights. But I’m very careful.
I put a value of $.02 on each Aeroplan point. If I can buy the ticket for less than the number of points at that rate, I buy the ticket, and save the points for another day. So, if a flight to England is going to cost me more than $1200 (60,000 aeroplan points X .02), then I’ll use the points. Otherwise, I buy the ticket.
I also try, when travelling overseas on rewards, to fly with one of Air Canada’s Star Alliance partners. The ticket costs the same (say 60,000), but the partners don’t add in the fuel surcharges. I had to change a flight to Australia last year, ending up going on Air Canada rather than United. Result? same 75,000 points, but about $300 more in fuel surcharges.
Then, there’s the upgrade certificates. I pretty much can’t make use of them. I fly a lot, but always on flight passes or low-cost airfares. Those tickets (which Aeroplan sent me with regularity) are unusable on such flights. I would pretty much need to buy a ticket at full economy to get the upgrade. For the short hauls I generally do (about 3 hours), it’s simply not worth it. Those certificates lie there on my desk, mocking me.
So, by all means enjoy Aeroplan and its rewards program. But know the costs, and select accordingly.

By: Eric Hoffman

Eric Hoffman — Fri, 08 May 2009 07:45:49 +0000

Do you want to know why Air Canada is headed toward bancruptcy again? They do everytrhing in their power to alienate customers. On aeroplan reward business tickets you used to be able to standby for available business class seats. Effective Jan 19 Air Canada would prefer to keep the business class seats empty instead and force you to fly economy on business class reward tickets. A NICE way to reward loyal customers. I have in excess of 2,000,000 miles and think I should just join VISA points. At least you know if you book economy you get economy.

By: Robert Rodger

Robert Rodger — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:32:07 +0000

I have aeroplan miles that expire on Monday 16 February. I’m visiting Arizona at present and an Exxon-Mobile gas station I visited to buy gas and keep my aeroplan miles active had not heard of this option. Gas at Esso in Canada certainly does work.

What’s your suggestionS?

By: Thierry

Thierry — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:02:54 +0000

Miles expire after seven years even if you have credit cards affiliated to aeroplan?

By: samuelsidler.com » Where I Was in 2008

samuelsidler.com » Where I Was in 2008 — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:06:04 +0000

[...] as much travel. I’m also considering switching my mileage to Air Canada instead of United for several reasons, though this year I *will* qualify for Premier Executive status which is nice. That might make it [...]

By: Jim Johnson

Jim Johnson — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 02:02:54 +0000

For Aeroplan, are there credit card churning opportunities, or realistic hotel point transfer opportunities, such as AA to Hilton 1:2?

If not, seems like it would be difficult for an American to accumulate Aeroplan miles, unless you charge immense sums on American Express cards (not accepted by many merchants), or credit UA and US miles there while losing elite status, double RDMs, upgrade instruments etc.

By: Gurit Lotan

Gurit Lotan — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:59:12 +0000

I understand that there is a two-tier system to this 7 year deadline for using miles with Aeroplan. Prior to the institution of the new system and after that.
Anyone is aware of that?
Thank you

By: Ric Garrido

Ric Garrido — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:42:02 +0000

Thanks for the great information about Aeroplan miles. The 7-year expiration is something I was completely unaware. My Aeroplan miles will hit 7 years in late summer 2009.

I’ll have to try that two-partner trick Gary. The award ticket fees I have seen the past two years are always outrageous.

I noticed the other day in an award search that the routing came up as an around the world option but I couldn’t progress with the award when I selected those flight options.

This post has placed a good redemtpion challenge on my plate. And I also have some of those DC Club Rewards points to add to the Aeroplan account.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:56:27 +0000

If you fly on Air Canada metal you eat hefty fees when booking with Aeroplan.