Apologies if this has been mentioned before, but has anyone else noted that this year for 70000 miles (last year 60000) we only get a NA hospitality ticket (which cannot be upgraded) rather than a full system companion ticket?? Seems another way AC is screwing us for flying with them!

I would love to hear other comments ... I see no value in this new award bonus personally!

SimonC

Six of one half a dozen of the other. I have only ever used them for travel in N. America (including Hawaii).

Since they are not upgradeable (although my companions have been upgraded about 50% of the time once we have gotten to the gate), I wouldn't subject my companion (or me) to Y class across the pond unless I could be sure the flight was empty and I got 4 seats in the back (like I did for Altbier last November).

I am happy with whatever AC gives my I guess since there are so many other good things about being SE, not the least of which is the upgrades from V fare and higher. People groused about that last year but in the end, I see it as a good deal.

What I would like to see and what I did ask AC for was the ability to use miles (the difference between an Aeroplan award Y and an Aeroplan J) for the companion ticket. They did it for their Hawaii program when the family went to the PiP in HNL a year and a half ago but then those were different types of companion tickets (didn't say not upgradeable).

The same should be true (but isn't ) for the North America free ticket at 70k, ie it is not upgradeable even if you wanted to spend some miles to do so. I would think it would be in AC's interest to get people to use more of their miles on unsold seats anyway. The upgrade could be limited to a time window to make it easier for other SE's to book their upgrades.

I think Aeroplan is a solid program. Compared with the other Star programs, you get a lot. LH is better in miles (status and total miles) earning ability if you fly in paid First and Business a lot. UA is better for benefits if you are flying in the US a lot but sucks when it comes to points earning ability for status.

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BlondeBomber's Star Alliance Gold Comparison Chart 2001: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

Dorian's Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
flyers'places - restaurant, bar & hotel recommendations: http://www.flyersplaces.com

Last year I requalified for Elite around April or May. At that point, I wondered whether I should continue to fly AC for the remainder of the year or, instead, switch to another carrier (probably AA). I didn't think I was going to make SE so there was no status incentive to stay with AC. But I did think I could qualify for the middle tier on another carrier. Ultimately, I decided to stick with AC because of the companion ticket threshold award. And, as it turns out, I did make SE.

I have absolutely no interest in the free economy ticket, so that incentive has been removed for 2002. With that incentive gone, I might switch to another airline when I've attained 2002 Elite. I suspect I'll be better off in 2002 with AC Elite as well as AA Platinum rather than just AC SuperElite by itself.

I'm still trying to figure out if SE is really significantly better than Elite. So far I've realized no additional benefit.

You make some very valid points ... esp the point of upgrading from "V" ... I just hope they do not change that next year (2001) or perhaps start making limitations on where you can use the System Wide coupons.

I too like the program, but I sometimes feel we are being nickled and dimed to death.

I guess I feel that if I give them all the $$$ I do to get to the SE level then I would like to see some thanks in return and while I do agree there are many excellent points in the program, the companion ticket was a great one for me as I have used it to go to Europe in the past.

SimonC

AB: there are many significant benefits over Elite from my perspective:

-- upgrade confirmed at time of reservation, no need to wonder if you made the cut and spent a $100 or more for a V fare that turns out to be non-upgradeable. Not a benefit if you fly paid J.

-- systemwide upgrades. I "regularly" fly on $900-$1100 V fares to CDG/LHR and LOVE the upgrades. (not a benefit if you only fly in N. America but a Super Deal to Oz, Europe and Asia).

-- 1 system-wide gets you from point A to B in N. America. Elite require 2 certificates to get from A to B if long haul (e.g. YYZ-YVR) (not a benefit if you fly paid J)

-- access to MLL lounge even when not travelling AC (has been quite useful for me)

-- access to J seats if not oversold for reward travel, Elite only get Y guaranteed now?

-- no blackout dates

It may not seem like much but when you start adding them up . . .



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BlondeBomber's Star Alliance Gold Comparison Chart 2001: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

Dorian's Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
flyers'places - restaurant, bar & hotel recommendations: http://www.flyersplaces.com

Upgrades are the #1 reason why I will try my best to make SE. I paid $1570 for my last couple H class YYZ-HKG. The tickets are fully changable if the H inventory is available with no change fee. The only difference from a full fare Y is that H is non refundable. I absolutely LOVE it.

Access to unsold J award seats is also a big plus. I only use my points to claim J class YYZ-HKG and D class YYZ-HKG is usually never available unless you are really flexible and book well in advance. This benefit comes in really handy especially if you are talking about dates around Chinese New Year and christmas.

Overall, those benefits saved me quite a bit of $$.

Hey AB,

If your considering going for Plat on AA, there's a few promos that would be helpful. First is the lowered levels for Canadian based flyers (18k for Gold, 35K for Plat) and the other is bonus miles for your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd flights between Canada and the US for flights between March 15 and May 31. The bonuses are 2500, 5000, and 7500 respecitively for each roundtrip.

I am not sure if these promos must be registered with AAdavantage or are automatic but would call AAdavantage just to be safe.

BlondeBomber and Empress, you are both, of course, absolutely right about the value of the SE benefits. The operative phrase, however, is "from my perspective".

For me, booking V or H class seats is nearly an impossibility. There's no way I can book 7 days in advance when I don't even know I'm going on the trip until 1 day before. Also, these fares have other restrictions such as a minimum or a Saturday night stay. The cost of this extra time (hotel rooms, car rental, my own time) almost always exceeds the difference in cost between a V and Y fare.

The other factor for me is that it's somewhat doubtful whether I'll make SE again in 2002. But I'll definitely qualify for Elite (almost there) and I could probably qualify for AA Plat as well. I figure I'm better off with status on two airlines than one and the removal of the companion ticket incentive makes this decision easier.

bluJaay, thanks, I am (vaguely) aware of AA's special offerings. I've been an AAdvantage member since the program started and continue to receive lots of direct mail from them.

[This message has been edited by After Burner (edited 04-08-2001).]

. . . there's always the MHD to save time (at least forgoing a Saturday night stay) AND money

SE's still get a great deal, even outside V's and H's

On YYZLHR, there are two walkup fares with no minimum stay--the MECONO and the Y2.

Elites can only upgrade the Y2, which is $1200 more expensive. SE's can upgrade the M.

Why can't Elites upgrade the M class fare?

AC*SE, never mind. I just saw the "fine print" on the Elite upggrade: "Upgrade certificates for travel to/from Europe are valid only on Y fare tickets."

I've done a few recent price quotes for YYZ-LHR flights and the M class fare has never appeared. I'm guessing its availability is very limited.

Only available w.e.f. 02 May 2001.

I have no idea what "w.e.f." means.

Sorry.

"with effect from"