Question: Aeroplan flight bookings to Jan 2010?

[WestbeachBC]

I'm planning on booking a trip to Australia using Aeroplan miles on AC - spanning from Dec 09 to Jan 10. I checked the Aeroplan website online and it only allows bookings to 24-Dec-09.

Does anyone know if I call Aeroplan to get help to book that they actually can get me my return flight booked in Jan 2010, or do I have to wait another month until I can book my return flight? I don't want to call and have to pay $30 to find out that they can't help me at all.

Thanks in advance,
Ken

[slashd0t]

They will not charge you to call them and ask questions.. Also, if it's a function the website cannot provide, they should be able to waive the $30 fee.

[bestof2k9]

Originally Posted by WestbeachBC

I'm planning on booking a trip to Australia using Aeroplan miles on AC - spanning from Dec 09 to Jan 10. I checked the Aeroplan website online and it only allows bookings to 24-Dec-09.

Does anyone know if I call Aeroplan to get help to book that they actually can get me my return flight booked in Jan 2010, or do I have to wait another month until I can book my return flight? I don't want to call and have to pay $30 to find out that they can't help me at all.

Thanks in advance,
Ken

Air Canada loads the reward inventory only 356 days in advance, so january is not available yet. You can always call to book the outbound with a ficticious return date and call to change return when it is loaded, but you will have to pay the 55.00 cad change fee. And information is always free with us

[WestbeachBC]

Thanks for confirming! I'll give them a call next week.

[dmgt]

Hello:

I often book as far in advance as allowed and have this challenge every time.

What they typically do is:

• book/ confirm you on a factious trip from Australia to Canada on a day that is in the system. i.e before the day you want to go to Australia.

• book you on a return to Australia on the day you wish to go to Australia. ( trips is booked in reverse)

• You call back when the return date is in the system. They then cancel your fictions trip from Australia and and make the corrections.

You are not charged for a call where they just answer questions. Your are charged if you make a booking.

A note is made in the file that you can make 1 change without a charge. When you fix the booking you are not charged again.

There is a risk. You are not guaranteed available space on the day you want to return. Space is given 1st come, 1st serve. I suggest you get up early and phone as soon as the center is open for both the outbound and return. If you never get what you want after the original booking, i.e. can't get the correct return portion, you would have to pay the cancellation fee.

If you get up early and it is not available. Have some flexibility try again the next day. also, remember others also have bookings they don't want and cancel later. Space may clear so keep trying. So far, I have eventually got what I want. I have 6 people going to Florida in prime time by following this approach. Mom and dad are in J and the other 4 in the back!

In essence you are booking your intended trip in reverse and fixing it later.

Good luck

[bestof2k9]

Originally Posted by dmgt

Hello:

I often book as far in advance as allowed and have this challenge every time.

What they typically do is:

• book/ confirm you on a factious trip from Australia to Canada on a day that is in the system. i.e before the day you want to go to Australia.

• book you on a return to Australia on the day you wish to go to Australia. ( trips is booked in reverse)

• You call back when the return date is in the system. They then cancel your fictions trip from Australia and and make the corrections.

You are not charged for a call where they just answer questions. Your are charged if you make a booking.

A note is made in the file that you can make 1 change without a charge. When you fix the booking you are not charged again.

There is a risk. You are not guaranteed available space on the day you want to return. Space is given 1st come, 1st serve. I suggest you get up early and phone as soon as the center is open for both the outbound and return. If you never get what you want after the original booking, i.e. can't get the correct return portion, you would have to pay the cancellation fee.

If you get up early and it is not available. Have some flexibility try again the next day. also, remember others also have bookings they don't want and cancel later. Space may clear so keep trying. So far, I have eventually got what I want. I have 6 people going to Florida in prime time by following this approach. Mom and dad are in J and the other 4 in the back!

In essence you are booking your intended trip in reverse and fixing it later.

Good luck

P.S. Westebeach, Check your private messages

That information is incorrect. The beyond inventory procedure was discontinued in may 2008 and the change fee now does apply, when calling to change the return to the actual date you want.

[dmgt]

Originally Posted by bestof2k9

That information is incorrect. The beyond inventory procedure was discontinued in may 2008 and the change fee now does apply, when calling to change the return to the actual date you want.

Thank you for the update re the change fee being charged. My last one was done early 2008 for a trip next month and no fee was charged.