Air Canada - Aeroplan Revises Top Tier Benefits, Maintains Lead as One of the World's Best Value Loyalty Programs.

News release, after reading does not sound like they listened at all.

No MLL passes for Elite and below.

[This message has been edited by jakpot (edited 01-30-2002).]

[This message has been edited by jakpot (edited 01-30-2002).]

[This message has been edited by jakpot (edited 01-30-2002).]

Upgrade Policy
--------------
Effective February 1st for 2002 upgrade certificates, Super Elite members
will now be able to request upgrades to Executive and Executive First seven
days prior to travel. Elite and Prestige members may confirm upgrades at 72
and 48 hours, respectively, rather than 48 and 24 hours as previously
reported. To ensure that top-tier members who book travel closer to departure
have access both to paid Executive Class and Executive First seats and
upgrades, we will no longer accept the discounted "V" class fares as upgrade-
eligible. These policies remain competitive with the North American industry.

'Pay Double Reqward miles? what does this mean?

Special access to Aeroplan reward seats
---------------------------------------
Effective March 1st, Super Elite and Elite members will continue to have
special access to Air Canada seats that would not otherwise be available for
Aeroplan rewards. However, due to the significant cost in providing this
benefit, Elite members and those flying with them will now be required,
following the practice of U.S. airlines, to pay double reward miles, subject
to availability of Hospitality Class seats.


[This message has been edited by jakpot (edited 01-30-2002).]

Maple Leaf Lounge access
------------------------
Eligible Aeroplan fliers will continue to have complimentary lounge
access, including drinks and snacks for the member, unlike U.S. airlines which
charge upwards of USD$300 for annual lounge access privileges and require
payment for drinks and snacks. However, in order to avoid overcrowding and
offer a quiet retreat for which the lounges are intended, lounge access for
members' guests will be provided on the following basis: Super Elite and Elite
members may invite their immediate family (spouse and children) whenever they
travel; in addition, Super Elites may invite one guest whenever they travel
and Elites may invite one guest whenever they travel on intercontinental
flights. All other guests will be required to pay CAD$20 each. Super Elites
will also receive two complimentary guest passes per year.

Thank you Aeroplan.

what does that pay double for reward seats mean?

1D

It means if you want a seat free of capacity controls or blackout dates, you'll have to pay 50,000 miles for a coach ticket. This is common among US frequent flyer programs.

Where are you getting this news from, jakpot? It doesn't seem to be from the AC website. Could you please post a link?

-Zombie-

Uh-oh. I sense some unhappy Elites in AC's future..

From the Press release:
Elite members and those flying with them will now be required,
following the practice of U.S. airlines, to pay double reward miles, subject
to availability of Hospitality Class seats.

I don't whether to accept the half a loaf or not. Good we get rewards back BUT on the other hand we have to pay for double awards while earning 35% on domestic routes.
I stand corrected - According to the press release L and Q will now earn 50% as per last year. (though even at 50% it still steep)

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[This message has been edited by AlmostThere (edited 01-30-2002).]

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http://biz.yahoo.com/cnw/020130/a_ai...eroplan_1.html

Link to the press release:
http://micro.newswire.ca/releases/Ja...2.html/13213-0

I'm pretty certain that AA allows you to use the 500-mile e-upgrades on ANY fare.

[..edited to remove duplicated link..]

[This message has been edited by hsi.chang (edited 01-30-2002).]

Here's my response:

1) The announced MLL access changes are sort of OK, however, although we don't pay an annual fee a la US carriers for lounge access, our 'complimentary' memberships do have drawbacks which AC regularly fails to comprehend. For example, the vast majority of Prestige members are unable to get their hands on a MLL membership at all (unless part of a corporate contract) and SE and E members can't purchase spousal memberships either. Both of these options are available from US carriers which AC conveniently left out of the comparison...convenient, eh?

2) Instant KK will now require double miles? Get real! 50,000 to get a seat on YVR-SFO? I'm afraid that other US airlines (that I know of at least) do not all charge double for a comparable service. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this one.

3) No upgrades on V class? This 'seals the deal' for me. I will not be flying with AC at all this year unless it is on a reward. AC management just doesn't get it. A bag of pretzels on a lunchtime YVR-YYC flight and I am expected to pay an extra $100 one way the chance at an upgrade? NO WAY, NO HOW.

Thank you both for posting the link. I'm pleased with the partial restoration of the u/g window for SEs, since I rarely book my flights more than 1 week in advance anyway.

Also in the release: "Effective January 1st, to better reward those members flying on some discounted tickets, instead of all discounted ticket holders receiving 50% of miles travelled, customers paying higher fares (M, B, T, H, V) will be eligible for 75% of miles travelled. Also effective February 1, deeply- discounted fares, including travel on Tango by Air Canada flights, will be eligible for 50% of miles flown, rather than the 35% as previously indicated."

This would seem to be good news for those of you who travel within Canada, would it not? At the very least, it is marginally better than it was last year (since now V fares give 75% mileage as opposed to 50%)

-Zombie-