Super Elite Priority Rewards - when do they apply?
Dec 15, 2008, 12:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: yyz
Programs: AC*E, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 14
Super Elite Priority Rewards - when do they apply?
I became super elite in June 2008, and I have just seen the "Super Elite Priority Rewards" chart which is effective March 1, 2009.
I am new to this rewards redemption stuff, and I'm confused about when these redemption levels apply and I am hoping someone will be kind enough to explain this to me!
For example, I was planning to take a vacation to South America in summer 2009 (i.e. one ticket, for personal travel in economy class). If I book my seat before March 1, 2009 I will pay 50K miles, but if I book after March 1, I will pay 65K miles?
Or does the 65K miles requirement only kick in if there are no seats "available for sale" on the flights I want (in which case I am using my SE status to get a seat that would not normally be available as reward travel)?
Thanks in advance.
I am new to this rewards redemption stuff, and I'm confused about when these redemption levels apply and I am hoping someone will be kind enough to explain this to me!
For example, I was planning to take a vacation to South America in summer 2009 (i.e. one ticket, for personal travel in economy class). If I book my seat before March 1, 2009 I will pay 50K miles, but if I book after March 1, I will pay 65K miles?
Or does the 65K miles requirement only kick in if there are no seats "available for sale" on the flights I want (in which case I am using my SE status to get a seat that would not normally be available as reward travel)?
Thanks in advance.
Dec 15, 2008, 12:49 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,900
I became super elite in June 2008, and I have just seen the "Super Elite Priority Rewards" chart which is effective March 1, 2009.
I am new to this rewards redemption stuff, and I'm confused about when these redemption levels apply and I am hoping someone will be kind enough to explain this to me!
For example, I was planning to take a vacation to South America in summer 2009 (i.e. one ticket, for personal travel in economy class). If I book my seat before March 1, 2009 I will pay 50K miles, but if I book after March 1, I will pay 65K miles?
Or does the 65K miles requirement only kick in if there are no seats "available for sale" on the flights I want (in which case I am using my SE status to get a seat that would not normally be available as reward travel)?
Thanks in advance.
I am new to this rewards redemption stuff, and I'm confused about when these redemption levels apply and I am hoping someone will be kind enough to explain this to me!
For example, I was planning to take a vacation to South America in summer 2009 (i.e. one ticket, for personal travel in economy class). If I book my seat before March 1, 2009 I will pay 50K miles, but if I book after March 1, I will pay 65K miles?
Or does the 65K miles requirement only kick in if there are no seats "available for sale" on the flights I want (in which case I am using my SE status to get a seat that would not normally be available as reward travel)?
Thanks in advance.
As an SE, you have access to IKK, which basically means it doesn't matter whether or not there are ClassicFlight awards available or not; you can get them for the same number of miles. That means only 40k for NA J awards. The only extra fee is the one you pay to call into the Aeroplan call centre, since you can't book with IKK on the web site (but you can book ClassicFlight awards).
With the recent changes to IKK, you now have to pay a 30% premium above the ClassicFlight levels for the same benefit. So, if you can get a ClassicFlight award, it doesn't matter when you book it. But if there are no ClassicFlight award seats available (only 7% of seats go in this category), then you have to use IKK. So, bottom line, if you know when you are going to travel, try for a ClassicFlight award... if you can't get one, IKK now before you have to pay an extra 15k miles.
Dec 15, 2008, 7:57 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*SE MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 3,442
Dec 15, 2008, 7:58 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: yyz
Programs: AC*E, Starwood Platinum
Posts: 14
Well, call me crazy but I plan to book the economy for 50K. To me it's not worth it to spend an extra 25K for exec.
(My personal travel is usually on my own, and I prefer taking more trips that are less expensive than fewer trips that are more expensive... but that's just me!)
(My personal travel is usually on my own, and I prefer taking more trips that are less expensive than fewer trips that are more expensive... but that's just me!)
Dec 16, 2008, 4:03 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: YEG
Programs: Now AC Peon, *A nobody, SPG Gold, Hertz 5*, FPC Platinum
Posts: 1,427
Well, call me crazy but I plan to book the economy for 50K. To me it's not worth it to spend an extra 25K for exec.
(My personal travel is usually on my own, and I prefer taking more trips that are less expensive than fewer trips that are more expensive... but that's just me!)
(My personal travel is usually on my own, and I prefer taking more trips that are less expensive than fewer trips that are more expensive... but that's just me!)
For an intercontinental long haul...it's a no-brainer. Unless you are flying to BOG which I have heard does not have the exec first seats.Perhaps you haven't flown exec-first before?
Dec 16, 2008, 4:14 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,282
Dec 16, 2008, 4:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC E75K *G
Posts: 7,111
Dec 16, 2008, 5:01 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YHZ
Programs: AC-SE MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 298
Dec 16, 2008, 5:10 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,900
Dec 16, 2008, 5:14 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YHZ
Programs: AC-SE MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 298
In my experience, SE IKK rewards show up. For some reason, not all flight combos show....in that case I have always booked one leg correctly, then called in to get the other leg changed (within the 24 hr rule).
Dec 16, 2008, 5:38 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: UA 1K, AC MM E75, Marriott LT Ti, IHG Dia Amb, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 15,533
IKK flights do show up at least on domestic and cross-border, (since that's all I've looked for since becoming SE). They are called "Special Classic".
Dec 16, 2008, 10:26 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: AC SE100k, MM, MP, onepass, Fairmont Platinum, Millennium Hotels Elite
Posts: 57
Actually, YYZ - Bogota has the new Exec First seats. Flew it a couple of weeks ago and it was XM 767.
HOWEVER, this crap about dinging your best customers for more points for rewards is making me seriously think about loyalty to AC next year.
Why do they try to bleed their "most valuable" customers????
SOmeone please tell me - I am getting really pissed.
Dec 16, 2008, 10:41 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: NZ Elite, AC SE100K, Westjet, Marriott, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 6,166
Well, call me crazy but I plan to book the economy for 50K. To me it's not worth it to spend an extra 25K for exec.
(My personal travel is usually on my own, and I prefer taking more trips that are less expensive than fewer trips that are more expensive... but that's just me!)
(My personal travel is usually on my own, and I prefer taking more trips that are less expensive than fewer trips that are more expensive... but that's just me!)
18 months and 160+ CRJ/Dash8 segments later have humbled me that it really is ok to fly behind the curtain. I don't like it, but it is a survivable experience. I will avoid it whenever possible, but not to the point of not making a future trip because I blew my miles up front.
I'm always somewhat amused by the people who go on ad nauseum about how much they enjoyed a flight. How great can 12 hours really be that is spent in a tube breathing nasty air, eating mediocre food, in close proximity to strangers and way too many rules and orders. I can think of many places I would rather be, and things to do.
Speaking of banging on ad nauseum, have I taken this OT?