Joining Air Canada Aeroplan vs other Star Alliance
Apr 24, 2017, 9:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 8
Joining Air Canada Aeroplan vs other Star Alliance
Hello,
I recently changed jobs and now have a position that will see me traveling about 20% of my time.
I've been a long time Aeroplan member but never flew Air Canada frequently enough to get any benefit from it.
Now that I'm going go be doing a lot more travel I've been looking into the various Star Alliance rewards programs as most my flights will originate in Toronto and thus will likely be on Air Canada. I've asked my colleagues and they do enough travel that they typically qualify for Altitude 50K and in some years Altitude 75K.
Since I'm such a newbie to this frequently flier world I though I'd reach out to the more experienced for advice on rewards programs.
On the face of it, Asiana looks like a better program as you accumulate points over 2 years and the duration of membership is 2 years. Therefore I could reach Star Alliance Gold status more quickly and keep it longer. Asiana also appears to give you the equivalent of a lifetime Star Alliance Gold membership once you hit a running total of 500,000 miles.
What I'm less sure about is what perks I'd be giving up by not going with Air Canada given I'll be flying out of Toronto exclusively.
ie- will it be harder for me to use my Asiana points to redeem them on an AC flight?
Will I miss out on the little surprise upgrades if I'm not an Air Canada Aeroplan member? (ie does Air Canada not really care if I'm a Star Alliance Gold member and only reward those on the Aeroplan program)?
Appreciate any advice.
I recently changed jobs and now have a position that will see me traveling about 20% of my time.
I've been a long time Aeroplan member but never flew Air Canada frequently enough to get any benefit from it.
Now that I'm going go be doing a lot more travel I've been looking into the various Star Alliance rewards programs as most my flights will originate in Toronto and thus will likely be on Air Canada. I've asked my colleagues and they do enough travel that they typically qualify for Altitude 50K and in some years Altitude 75K.
Since I'm such a newbie to this frequently flier world I though I'd reach out to the more experienced for advice on rewards programs.
On the face of it, Asiana looks like a better program as you accumulate points over 2 years and the duration of membership is 2 years. Therefore I could reach Star Alliance Gold status more quickly and keep it longer. Asiana also appears to give you the equivalent of a lifetime Star Alliance Gold membership once you hit a running total of 500,000 miles.
What I'm less sure about is what perks I'd be giving up by not going with Air Canada given I'll be flying out of Toronto exclusively.
ie- will it be harder for me to use my Asiana points to redeem them on an AC flight?
Will I miss out on the little surprise upgrades if I'm not an Air Canada Aeroplan member? (ie does Air Canada not really care if I'm a Star Alliance Gold member and only reward those on the Aeroplan program)?
Appreciate any advice.
Apr 24, 2017, 10:52 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,302
If you are not travelling domestic, you are not trapped by Aeroplan.
Join one of the US programes, far better and faster accumulation on work-paid tickets, especially shorthaul. Far superior elite benefits at the mid-tier level.
If you are flying on Air Canada, and will not reach Super Elite - you are best off with Mileage Plus UA.
All fares accumulate 100% elite qualifying miles, award tickets are much cheaper, and status does not have a spend requirement.
Join one of the US programes, far better and faster accumulation on work-paid tickets, especially shorthaul. Far superior elite benefits at the mid-tier level.
If you are flying on Air Canada, and will not reach Super Elite - you are best off with Mileage Plus UA.
All fares accumulate 100% elite qualifying miles, award tickets are much cheaper, and status does not have a spend requirement.
Apr 24, 2017, 11:07 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: YHZ | YYZ | YHM
Programs: AC 50K (*G), Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 636
Hello,
I recently changed jobs and now have a position that will see me traveling about 20% of my time.
I've been a long time Aeroplan member but never flew Air Canada frequently enough to get any benefit from it.
Now that I'm going go be doing a lot more travel I've been looking into the various Star Alliance rewards programs as most my flights will originate in Toronto and thus will likely be on Air Canada. I've asked my colleagues and they do enough travel that they typically qualify for Altitude 50K and in some years Altitude 75K.
Since I'm such a newbie to this frequently flier world I though I'd reach out to the more experienced for advice on rewards programs.
On the face of it, Asiana looks like a better program as you accumulate points over 2 years and the duration of membership is 2 years. Therefore I could reach Star Alliance Gold status more quickly and keep it longer. Asiana also appears to give you the equivalent of a lifetime Star Alliance Gold membership once you hit a running total of 500,000 miles.
What I'm less sure about is what perks I'd be giving up by not going with Air Canada given I'll be flying out of Toronto exclusively.
ie- will it be harder for me to use my Asiana points to redeem them on an AC flight?
Will I miss out on the little surprise upgrades if I'm not an Air Canada Aeroplan member? (ie does Air Canada not really care if I'm a Star Alliance Gold member and only reward those on the Aeroplan program)?
Appreciate any advice.
I recently changed jobs and now have a position that will see me traveling about 20% of my time.
I've been a long time Aeroplan member but never flew Air Canada frequently enough to get any benefit from it.
Now that I'm going go be doing a lot more travel I've been looking into the various Star Alliance rewards programs as most my flights will originate in Toronto and thus will likely be on Air Canada. I've asked my colleagues and they do enough travel that they typically qualify for Altitude 50K and in some years Altitude 75K.
Since I'm such a newbie to this frequently flier world I though I'd reach out to the more experienced for advice on rewards programs.
On the face of it, Asiana looks like a better program as you accumulate points over 2 years and the duration of membership is 2 years. Therefore I could reach Star Alliance Gold status more quickly and keep it longer. Asiana also appears to give you the equivalent of a lifetime Star Alliance Gold membership once you hit a running total of 500,000 miles.
What I'm less sure about is what perks I'd be giving up by not going with Air Canada given I'll be flying out of Toronto exclusively.
ie- will it be harder for me to use my Asiana points to redeem them on an AC flight?
Will I miss out on the little surprise upgrades if I'm not an Air Canada Aeroplan member? (ie does Air Canada not really care if I'm a Star Alliance Gold member and only reward those on the Aeroplan program)?
Appreciate any advice.
Apr 24, 2017, 1:16 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 3,759
In my opinion, it depends on how you value frequent flyer status benefits vs. award ticket redemption. There are other *A programs that are much easier to reach & retain Star Alliance Gold status in, but in general they are also much worse for redeeming award tickets.
It also matters whether your expected usage of award tickets is mostly domestic/NA or whether you will potentially use things like the mini-RTW which despite devaluation remains one of the best deals going in any FF program for redemption. The trouble is some people will pitch Aeroplan talking about the CPM they get redeeming mini-RTW in F but the person they are pitching it to just wants to fly to Goose Bay to see grandma.
United is a good compromise program that will get you *G benefits as well as a decent award chart, but IMO if you are going to fly mostly AC metal then AC E50 is worth it for the upgrade credits - if you fly the right fares/routes to use them.
It also matters whether your expected usage of award tickets is mostly domestic/NA or whether you will potentially use things like the mini-RTW which despite devaluation remains one of the best deals going in any FF program for redemption. The trouble is some people will pitch Aeroplan talking about the CPM they get redeeming mini-RTW in F but the person they are pitching it to just wants to fly to Goose Bay to see grandma.
United is a good compromise program that will get you *G benefits as well as a decent award chart, but IMO if you are going to fly mostly AC metal then AC E50 is worth it for the upgrade credits - if you fly the right fares/routes to use them.
Apr 24, 2017, 1:36 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
CoryTrevor Welcome to FT
What are your objectives from a ffp?
Frequent upgrades are unlikely to happen with any airline and/or ffp.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...post-here.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
I've been a long time Aeroplan member but never flew Air Canada frequently enough to get any benefit from it.
Now that I'm going go be doing a lot more travel I've been looking into the various Star Alliance rewards programs....
<snip>
On the face of it, Asiana looks like a better program as you accumulate points over 2 years and the duration of membership is 2 years. Therefore I could reach Star Alliance Gold status more quickly and keep it longer. Asiana also appears to give you the equivalent of a lifetime Star Alliance Gold membership once you hit a running total of 500,000 miles.
<snip>
Now that I'm going go be doing a lot more travel I've been looking into the various Star Alliance rewards programs....
<snip>
On the face of it, Asiana looks like a better program as you accumulate points over 2 years and the duration of membership is 2 years. Therefore I could reach Star Alliance Gold status more quickly and keep it longer. Asiana also appears to give you the equivalent of a lifetime Star Alliance Gold membership once you hit a running total of 500,000 miles.
<snip>
Frequent upgrades are unlikely to happen with any airline and/or ffp.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-...post-here.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
Apr 24, 2017, 4:35 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ideally YOW, but probably not
Programs: AC SE*MM
Posts: 1,826
Mostly North American means you could do one of the US programs or AC. My opinion is look at where you are flying and how you want to get there.
If you are going to mostly be sitting on AC planes, and especially if "North America" includes some Canadian travel, you should look at staying with AC since you get some benefits aside from *G in terms of e-upgrades.
If "North America" means mostly the US then you can and should consider one of the US FFA programs for the reasons rankourabu outlines.
As others have noted some of the other overseas *A carriers programs may be able to get you *G easier but either they have some requirements for flying on their metal that you may not like, you'll almost never be able to use your status for upgrades and/or your awards redemption is sometimes limited. Plus if you fly enough to get E*50 on AC you've got *G every year anyway, which does make a difference when flying on partner airlines.
If you are going to mostly be sitting on AC planes, and especially if "North America" includes some Canadian travel, you should look at staying with AC since you get some benefits aside from *G in terms of e-upgrades.
If "North America" means mostly the US then you can and should consider one of the US FFA programs for the reasons rankourabu outlines.
As others have noted some of the other overseas *A carriers programs may be able to get you *G easier but either they have some requirements for flying on their metal that you may not like, you'll almost never be able to use your status for upgrades and/or your awards redemption is sometimes limited. Plus if you fly enough to get E*50 on AC you've got *G every year anyway, which does make a difference when flying on partner airlines.
Apr 24, 2017, 11:29 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE*2MM. SPG Plat life
Posts: 4,644
Hello,
I recently changed jobs and now have a position that will see me traveling about 20% of my time.
I've been a long time Aeroplan member but never flew Air Canada frequently enough to get any benefit from it.
Now that I'm going go be doing a lot more travel I've been looking into the various Star Alliance rewards programs as most my flights will originate in Toronto and thus will likely be on Air Canada. I've asked my colleagues and they do enough travel that they typically qualify for Altitude 50K and in some years Altitude 75K.
Since I'm such a newbie to this frequently flier world I though I'd reach out to the more experienced for advice on rewards programs.
On the face of it, Asiana looks like a better program as you accumulate points over 2 years and the duration of membership is 2 years. Therefore I could reach Star Alliance Gold status more quickly and keep it longer. Asiana also appears to give you the equivalent of a lifetime Star Alliance Gold membership once you hit a running total of 500,000 miles.
What I'm less sure about is what perks I'd be giving up by not going with Air Canada given I'll be flying out of Toronto exclusively.
ie- will it be harder for me to use my Asiana points to redeem them on an AC flight?
Will I miss out on the little surprise upgrades if I'm not an Air Canada Aeroplan member? (ie does Air Canada not really care if I'm a Star Alliance Gold member and only reward those on the Aeroplan program)?
Appreciate any advice.
I recently changed jobs and now have a position that will see me traveling about 20% of my time.
I've been a long time Aeroplan member but never flew Air Canada frequently enough to get any benefit from it.
Now that I'm going go be doing a lot more travel I've been looking into the various Star Alliance rewards programs as most my flights will originate in Toronto and thus will likely be on Air Canada. I've asked my colleagues and they do enough travel that they typically qualify for Altitude 50K and in some years Altitude 75K.
Since I'm such a newbie to this frequently flier world I though I'd reach out to the more experienced for advice on rewards programs.
On the face of it, Asiana looks like a better program as you accumulate points over 2 years and the duration of membership is 2 years. Therefore I could reach Star Alliance Gold status more quickly and keep it longer. Asiana also appears to give you the equivalent of a lifetime Star Alliance Gold membership once you hit a running total of 500,000 miles.
What I'm less sure about is what perks I'd be giving up by not going with Air Canada given I'll be flying out of Toronto exclusively.
ie- will it be harder for me to use my Asiana points to redeem them on an AC flight?
Will I miss out on the little surprise upgrades if I'm not an Air Canada Aeroplan member? (ie does Air Canada not really care if I'm a Star Alliance Gold member and only reward those on the Aeroplan program)?
Appreciate any advice.
Apr 25, 2017, 4:07 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ, MNL, WAW
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Lifetime Plat, (now an AC nobody)
Posts: 1,978
Apr 25, 2017, 8:40 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 8
Thanks to everyone who has replied, I appreciate your advice. Out of the 65% North American travel I'll be doing, I'd say 2/3rds would be to the US and 1/3 within Canada.
I'm too much of a noob to know what I want out of a FFP (status vs free flights). Well okay...I know what I want....both as quickly as possible. Lol
I'd normally just have signed up to Air Canada but a friend who frequently travels Air Canada did some research and signed up to Turkish Airlines FFP in the end as *G is easier to get and keep (starting to learn your abbreviations).
I've browsed various sites before coming across this forum and the names that frequently came up as the best FFPs were Asiana, Aegean, Turkish and UA. Nobody seems to be bragging about Air Canada's FFP which had me hesitant.
Given I'll probably be flying mostly Air Canada is the consenus that it's probably still the best choice even if it's not the best FFP?
As a last point my colleague pointed out that he's sitting on a mountain of unused e-upgrade points. When he flies for personal reasons he does what most people do and selects the cheapest fare, which isn't eligible for upgrade. For him to use the points he'd need to spend on average $400 more for a higher fare class which doesn't feel worth it to him.
I'm too much of a noob to know what I want out of a FFP (status vs free flights). Well okay...I know what I want....both as quickly as possible. Lol
I'd normally just have signed up to Air Canada but a friend who frequently travels Air Canada did some research and signed up to Turkish Airlines FFP in the end as *G is easier to get and keep (starting to learn your abbreviations).
I've browsed various sites before coming across this forum and the names that frequently came up as the best FFPs were Asiana, Aegean, Turkish and UA. Nobody seems to be bragging about Air Canada's FFP which had me hesitant.
Given I'll probably be flying mostly Air Canada is the consenus that it's probably still the best choice even if it's not the best FFP?
As a last point my colleague pointed out that he's sitting on a mountain of unused e-upgrade points. When he flies for personal reasons he does what most people do and selects the cheapest fare, which isn't eligible for upgrade. For him to use the points he'd need to spend on average $400 more for a higher fare class which doesn't feel worth it to him.
Apr 25, 2017, 8:52 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,302
Noone mentions Aeroplan/AC Altitude because its the pits of frequent flyer programs (while its still a decent canadian credit card rewards program)
It really depends on the fare your work will be buying for you.
If they are cheap (tango) fares - careful - most wont earn much on Turkish, and status wont come fast when youre earning 25% or 50%. Only United still gives 100% status miles on all fares between Canada and the USA.
If they are expensive, last minute, business or latitude fares - you are best off with United for the insane mileage earning on expensive tickets, (or Aeroplan if you want/depend on domestic upgrades)
Redeeming with TK for award flights is also not a pleasant experience, and fees are high.
It really depends on the fare your work will be buying for you.
If they are cheap (tango) fares - careful - most wont earn much on Turkish, and status wont come fast when youre earning 25% or 50%. Only United still gives 100% status miles on all fares between Canada and the USA.
If they are expensive, last minute, business or latitude fares - you are best off with United for the insane mileage earning on expensive tickets, (or Aeroplan if you want/depend on domestic upgrades)
Redeeming with TK for award flights is also not a pleasant experience, and fees are high.
Apr 25, 2017, 10:15 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YEG
Programs: TK*G, AC
Posts: 345
Apr 25, 2017, 10:21 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,302
It's worse than that; Tango fares (classes S,T,L,A,C,K,W,G) actually earn zero on TK within Canada and between Canada and the US, so, unless you're consistently flying Flex, TK might not be the best program for you.