Important changes to the Aeroplan program (2015)
Sep 25, 2015, 10:00 am
#46
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,153
Geographically it does make more sense now, and the Europe devaluation was less than I expected, but that intra Asia 1 devaluation is steep...wow
Minor price increases on mini rtw unless you use HKG as the destination, but based on new rules might as well use Perth as turnaround
Minor price increases on mini rtw unless you use HKG as the destination, but based on new rules might as well use Perth as turnaround
Sep 25, 2015, 10:09 am
#47
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: Marriott LT Gold, IHG Club, Hertz Gold, Aeroplan, Avios, SkyMiles, Thrifty, AMEX
Posts: 985
Well, I'm just as anoyed at the Europe J increase as the next person, but I should point out (hesitantly, as I don't want to give AE any ideas) that Europe 1 Y redemptions have been at 60,000 for as long as I've been redeaming AE miles, which is since the early '90s. And the realignment of Poland into Europe 2 makes more geographical sense, even though it sucks for LOT redemptions. Actually, these changes will probably inspire me to go for Europe 2 redemptions more, as there's a much less jump from Europe 1 now.
Yes, that is correct. For instance, just this week I booked 2 Europe 1 tickets, at the current 90,000 miles level, for next summer. As long as I do not make any changes after the new mileage levels kick in, I will not have to pay the difference; however, if I make a change after December 15, the mileage will be recalculated and I will have to cover the distance. As I managed to book our perfect flights, that won't be happening... 
Sep 25, 2015, 10:10 am
#48
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR to SEA
Posts: 2,546
Sep 25, 2015, 10:37 am
#50
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,823
By coincidence, I have an Intra Asia in J (FUK-SIN-HND) booked for early November nested into a Japan trip. I was thinking over the past few days of cancelling the award part to SIN with the rationale that I could book it some time on a future trip.
So much for that theory..keeping my FUK-SIN-HND trip on SQ and NH and going to enjoy burning those 30k miles. Heck, I might even try and fit something else in now as well!
Last edited by mapleg; Sep 25, 2015 at 10:59 am
Sep 25, 2015, 10:52 am
#52
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,612
Wow - these guys are thieves. Another devaluation in just 4 years. At this rate, the next one will be coming in 2019 before the kettles save up for their next award. With the fuel surcharges, the limitations on MPM routings, it no longer makes any real sense to fund this program with your miles. The could have at least added a stopover to one way awards to appease some of the take aways.
The interesting part is, in the US, there are many credit cards where you can earn 4.5 points per dollar on your spend. It's no where near that level in Canada and the sign up bonuses are not as rich. For those that are earning based on credit cards, the point earning power is much weaker north of the 49th parallel.
The interesting part is, in the US, there are many credit cards where you can earn 4.5 points per dollar on your spend. It's no where near that level in Canada and the sign up bonuses are not as rich. For those that are earning based on credit cards, the point earning power is much weaker north of the 49th parallel.
Sep 25, 2015, 10:53 am
#53
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YYZ / FRA
Programs: IHG RA; Avis First
Posts: 1,445
Damn this sucks for EU! 
+20k J and 15k F I still have yet to fly F from Canada to Germany.
Looks like AMEX will have an increase of applications lol
Damn greedy .......s! They didn't even wanna start in 2016, they want to start just before the Christmas holidays.
+20k J and 15k F
I still have yet to fly F from Canada to Germany.Looks like AMEX will have an increase of applications lol
Damn greedy .......s! They didn't even wanna start in 2016, they want to start just before the Christmas holidays.
Last edited by BRAISKI; Sep 25, 2015 at 10:58 am
Sep 25, 2015, 11:03 am
#54
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz
Posts: 1,611
Wow - these guys are thieves. Another devaluation in just 4 years. At this rate, the next one will be coming in 2019 before the kettles save up for their next award. With the fuel surcharges, the limitations on MPM routings, it no longer makes any real sense to fund this program with your miles. The could have at least added a stopover to one way awards to appease some of the take aways.
The interesting part is, in the US, there are many credit cards where you can earn 4.5 points per dollar on your spend. It's no where near that level in Canada and the sign up bonuses are not as rich. For those that are earning based on credit cards, the point earning power is much weaker north of the 49th parallel.
The interesting part is, in the US, there are many credit cards where you can earn 4.5 points per dollar on your spend. It's no where near that level in Canada and the sign up bonuses are not as rich. For those that are earning based on credit cards, the point earning power is much weaker north of the 49th parallel.
Sep 25, 2015, 11:11 am
#55
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR to SEA
Posts: 2,546
North America to Asia business class is double the cost of economy, and just under triple for first.
North America to Australia business class is double the cost of economy, and just under triple for first.
I fully expected North America to Europe to go up to those multiples, which would be 120k for J and around 160-170k for F. So yes, as it stands, the devaluation ex-NA was not as bad as I expected (some of it most likely due to elevated YQ collected to Europe). It's more or less in line with United's current chart too.
BA Avios raised business class to TRIPLE the price of economy and first class QUADRUPLE. Up until this year I had benchmarked Aeroplan against BA charges and thought that would be the upper bound of pricing, but now, I fear for the future.
At 200k for a J ticket to Asia, that would be when I will have to tap out and give up
North America to Australia business class is double the cost of economy, and just under triple for first.
I fully expected North America to Europe to go up to those multiples, which would be 120k for J and around 160-170k for F. So yes, as it stands, the devaluation ex-NA was not as bad as I expected (some of it most likely due to elevated YQ collected to Europe). It's more or less in line with United's current chart too.
BA Avios raised business class to TRIPLE the price of economy and first class QUADRUPLE. Up until this year I had benchmarked Aeroplan against BA charges and thought that would be the upper bound of pricing, but now, I fear for the future.
At 200k for a J ticket to Asia, that would be when I will have to tap out and give up
Sep 25, 2015, 11:16 am
#56
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 82
Thanks. I too am booking Europe 1 for next summer in J but Swiss and Turkish haven't opened up yet for July/August.
Yes, that is correct. For instance, just this week I booked 2 Europe 1 tickets, at the current 90,000 miles level, for next summer. As long as I do not make any changes after the new mileage levels kick in, I will not have to pay the difference; however, if I make a change after December 15, the mileage will be recalculated and I will have to cover the distance. As I managed to book our perfect flights, that won't be happening...
Yes, that is correct. For instance, just this week I booked 2 Europe 1 tickets, at the current 90,000 miles level, for next summer. As long as I do not make any changes after the new mileage levels kick in, I will not have to pay the difference; however, if I make a change after December 15, the mileage will be recalculated and I will have to cover the distance. As I managed to book our perfect flights, that won't be happening...
Sep 25, 2015, 11:18 am
#57
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR to SEA
Posts: 2,546
Oh? Intra-Asia award using AS miles, which also has a Canadian credit card by MBNA, on Cathay J starts at 22,500 one way and 27,500 for F without any fuel surcharge. You can fly for example, HND-HKG-BKK/SIN on CX F for only 27,500 bookable as one-way. If you use Aeroplan miles, you have to book roundtrip and Aeroplan charges YQ on either TG or NH within Asia provided the scarce F award seat is even available. CX has a ton of F award availability within Asia.
Keep in mind you can simply get AS miles by applying for a Canadian credit card and spending in $C whereas Aeroplan gutting the Intra-Asia award to such unreasonable level will cause informed customers to reconsider their commitment to Aeroplan.
All things considered, if intra-Asia award is a big deal to you, dump your Aeroplan credit cards and get a MBNA Alaska Air MasterCard and/or SPG AMEX.
Keep in mind you can simply get AS miles by applying for a Canadian credit card and spending in $C whereas Aeroplan gutting the Intra-Asia award to such unreasonable level will cause informed customers to reconsider their commitment to Aeroplan.
All things considered, if intra-Asia award is a big deal to you, dump your Aeroplan credit cards and get a MBNA Alaska Air MasterCard and/or SPG AMEX.
CX has tons of equipment swaps to BKK and SIN, I would not rely on those seats to stick if you book them far out. The only reliable flight is the 747 to HND parked overnight.
Sep 25, 2015, 11:32 am
#59
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,127
BA uses a distance based award chart as opposed to zone based.
The strategy for those who have a Canadian AMEX Platinum or Gold Rewards card would be to convert AMEX MR points to Aeroplan for your transpacific first/business class flight. For flights within Asia, convert AMEX MR points to BA Executive Club to get the short haul awards.
Sep 25, 2015, 11:36 am
#60
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan 75K, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,375
I can't believe the Asia 1 business rewards cost is increasing 167% (2.67⨉)! I love the current 30K deal. That has to be the biggest one-time increase we've ever seen!