Aeroplan Reward Flight Selections - Getting worse and worse?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Asia Miles
Posts: 12
Aeroplan Reward Flight Selections - Getting worse and worse?
Hi fellow frequent flyers. I've been observing and reading FlyerTalk for a while, but this is my first time posting. So please be patient ..
I have been flying Air Canada for the last 3 years and using Aeroplan credit cards, so I was able to rack up points quickly and redeeming flights often. I travel between Vancouver and Toronto a lot for family visits, and selections of flights have been great, until the beginning of 2017.. I notice that reward flight options between YYZ and YVR have greatly diminished. While flights are still available, most, if not all, are in the morning before 9am in the morning going from YYZ to YVR, or connecting flights with stops in YUL, YYC, YWG, or YEG.
Just want to know what everyone thinks and you experiences!
I have been flying Air Canada for the last 3 years and using Aeroplan credit cards, so I was able to rack up points quickly and redeeming flights often. I travel between Vancouver and Toronto a lot for family visits, and selections of flights have been great, until the beginning of 2017.. I notice that reward flight options between YYZ and YVR have greatly diminished. While flights are still available, most, if not all, are in the morning before 9am in the morning going from YYZ to YVR, or connecting flights with stops in YUL, YYC, YWG, or YEG.
Just want to know what everyone thinks and you experiences!
#2
formerly BackSlash3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: YYZ Realistically, YKZ Aspirationally
Programs: AC P25, Marriott Gold, IHG Diamond AMB
Posts: 452
I think that it's just a matter of loads getting higher so award availability is going down. You're looking at a very popular non-stop route so filled planes at preferable times isn't surprising.
Im doing more transatlantic J awards. I've found that I can find something around what I'm looking for but that's single connections and I don't care about the connection point.
Im doing more transatlantic J awards. I've found that I can find something around what I'm looking for but that's single connections and I don't care about the connection point.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,786
I don't think it works like that between AC and AE. More likely, there are more people getting rewards earlier.
#4
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,736
Welcome to (posting on) FT!
Are you looking for J or Y rewards? How far out do you usually book (or try to book)?
Are you looking for J or Y rewards? How far out do you usually book (or try to book)?
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Asia Miles
Posts: 12
I think that it's just a matter of loads getting higher so award availability is going down. You're looking at a very popular non-stop route so filled planes at preferable times isn't surprising.
Im doing more transatlantic J awards. I've found that I can find something around what I'm looking for but that's single connections and I don't care about the connection point.
Im doing more transatlantic J awards. I've found that I can find something around what I'm looking for but that's single connections and I don't care about the connection point.
As they now start selling Premium econ for the YYZ-YVR route, the reward fights are even worse. Just an observation.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Asia Miles
Posts: 12
I typically book a week to a month ahead. Never had problems (very rarely) finding reward flights. But since Jan 2017, reward flight choices were just not even close to what it was like just two months ago.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Asia Miles
Posts: 12
If they change it they change it. It's nothing much I can do. But I just want to know if others also see the trend.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: AC.SE
Posts: 2,578
I've also had some struggles getting award flights, even with IKK. Not sure what's behind it. It may be that loads are higher, but I've noticed that on at least one route I fly relatively frequently, capacity has been cut (which may be in part why loads are higher).
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,067
I personally don't EXPECT award seats to be open a month out. Great if they are but i would not be upset if they were not available.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Asia Miles
Posts: 12
All I am saying is I've notice the availability of reward flights have drastically gone down since the beginning of 2017. It's very obvious to me, and I am just curious if anyone else feel the same.
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,294
There is a contractual obligation to release 8% of seats, per route, per month (I think that's accurate?).
That doesn't mean a 100 seat plane will have 8 seats available. It means that a 10,000 seat/month route will have 800 seats available.
That being said, I recently booked a six segment weekend (one day out), and most segments were booked with a fare basis of IBP00. Only a few required my SE IJBP00 (i.e. IKK).
Yes, the YVR-YYZ required IKK.
AC may have improved their RM systems such that popular flights are less likely to be released, but they are under very strict contractual terms with Aeroplan.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,786
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,294
Though AC also tends to release seats closer to departure if they know they won't sell them, although that tends to be Y, not J.
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: AC
Posts: 2,167