peanutgirl

My family has enough points to go from the east coast of canada, yyz or yhz to spain, BCN then on to London, LHR, then home from LHR. Are there any tricks or potholes I should be aware of. I will be calling aeroplan in 2 weeks since we have to coordinate 3 account to all get on the same flights. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated.
Thanks

c_9

Some advice:

Start hunting early - seats are available almost a year in advance, and finding seats on short notice is VERY hard to do, especially when it's for three people.

Consider different routings -- BCN first, LHR first, that sort of thing -- because that might help your search.

Look at booking through the US, to save fuel surcharges. On many destinations, the surcharge is so high that just buying regular tickets becomes more attractive again. United charges no fuel surcharges on reward tickets, presently, so they're a good one to watch for.

Sign up for the ANA frequent flyer program, because their website search engine shows more options than the Aeroplan website. It's tricky to learn so be patient, but it's worth it for complex itineraries.

You only pay the booking fee when you book, so calling Aeroplan to ask a question or ask them to check availability is free. However, it takes a long time and frustrates the agent, so any work you can do on your own will make you and them happier and nicer.

Good luck!

alc

Just to confirmed that I understood correctly, here are your routing:

YYZ (or YHZ) --> BCH
(stop)
BCH --> LHR
(stop)
LHR --> YYZ (or YHZ)

If the above is correct, you can start your research on AEROPLAN web site now by select the "Multi-City" option, just make sure you select the 3 PAX so it will show you the correct reward inventory.

If you want to save the money on the phone agent booking fee, you can do it yourself with either 3 different laptop or just 3 different brower from a single laptop. For example, I use IE + Chrome to book 2 reward tickets for my in-laws at the exact same time - click button 1 here and click button 1 there. There is still a room for seat end up not available as other might just got that seat 0.01 sec before you do.

In regards to any tricks or potholes, I think others will provide you much more than me. My only comment will be if you want to save the YQ fee, you will need go thru the States.

tcook052

One pothole to steer around with separate passengers on separate award files issued on separate AP accounts is to ensure you match up seating so there aren't problems later as a recent poster encountered on this thread.

ACYYZ/SD

Don't forget there is also twice weekly YUL (Montreal) - BCN (Barcelona) service offering J/Class when doing your search.

g46r

+1. Anytime you put a travel party to different PNRs, you need to take very active management on each ticket and seat assignments, on each segment. Don't assume things will go right on their own - they won't. Verify things with each operating carrier, and double check at least once before departure.

mboca28

Because of the huge AC ripoff on fuel surcharges and fees try and use some of US partners or European partners

TAP flies thru Lisbon
US Air out of Phl clt
United out of IAd
Lufthansa out of everywhere east coast

yyzgigi

Not sure about TAP, but if you fly Lufthansa you will stay pay rip off charges. Swiss (LX) from Montreal to Zurich will avoid the charges.

peanutgirl

Thanks for the advice. I realized I wrote the original wrong. Want yhz or ysj to BCN then BCN to LHR then home to YHZ orYSJ. Thanks for advice though.

yqtyyz

Those fuel charges do add up.

I booked something similar (YYZ-FCO-LHR-YYZ) and I believe the fuel surcharges and such cost approximately $1000/pp, so using other carriers is something I'd now know what to look for next time.

1Newflyer

So ANA shows the Aeroplan availability options ??

Tigersan

http://thepointsguy.com/2011/06/how-...-availability/

Note that Aeroplan website often does not correctly show all available options.

1Newflyer

Thanks

But if the Aeroplan does not have the flight ANA shows available, then how to book the flight on AP?

Tigersan

Call them and start playing the AP Agent roulette.

1Newflyer

Thanks again, will do that for my next trip to Europe from YYC.