[i]MONTREAL, Jan. 8, 2009 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) ----Escape Pass is easiest way ever to make a clean getaway across North America
Air Canada today launched its new 'Escape Pass', giving customers the opportunity to make multiple getaways affordably across North America.
"With the temperatures outdoors falling as fast as the snowflakes there are already plenty of incentives to get away, but Air Canada's new 'Escape Pass' is the best reason yet. The 'Escape Pass is attractively priced for leisure travellers and offers customers a wide choice of North American destinations," said Charles McKee, Vice President of Marketing at Air Canada. "Getting away has never been this good, especially with Air Canada's refurbished North American fleet. Each aircraft features new interiors and personalized, seatback digital audio-visual systems with hundreds of hours of in-flight entertainment and a power plug at every seat."
On sale in Canada and the U.S. today until January 28, 2009, and good for travel on Air Canada and Jazz between January 15 and May 3, 2009, the 'Escape Pass' is ideal for leisure travellers because it provides flexibility, ease of booking, plus Aeroplan Miles. Available in packages of four or eight one-way trips and valid for either three days (Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday) or seven days of the week, the 'Escape Pass' starts at as little as C$520 for two return trips.
In addition, customers who purchase the 'Escape Pass' have the option to buy a special bonus pass for $199 (C$ or US$) per person for travel to select International destinations (London, Paris, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Lima or Hong Kong).The bonus pass is on sale from January 6 to March 31, 2009 and valid for travel between April 14 and June 15, 2009.
In Canada, the 'Escape Pass' is sold by zones corresponding to each of the country's four main regions -- The Atlantic, Central, Prairie and West/North. For each zone there are four variations of the pass - Domestic, Domestic Plus, Transborder and Transborder Plus - allowing travel within and to neighboring zones or across Canada and the USA. In the U.S., the 'Escape Pass' is available for an Eastern Zone, Western Zone or all North America, starting as low as US$760.
Learn more about how to select and use Air Canada's Flight Passes at www.aircanada.com.
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2009 Q miles: UA 28166 NW 6818 WS 1008 YouTube Jukebox: ArcadiaGoodbye Is Forever
Programs: AC*SE, National Emerald Club Executive, Best Western Gold Crown
Posts: 89
Best deal going!
Just bought this, as I did last year. Canada West version... the domestic segements aren't upgradeable, but the international bonus segments are. Last year I flew Executive First Suites for two to Paris on them by using SSWUs. $20000 worth of air fare for $398. a bargain even if you throw away the domestic segments!
The prices are very nice indeed. I could buy the West pass for $540 plus the option for $199 to get to LIM for $739 -- even less than the usual $786. Or pay a bit more and have some flight pass flights I could actually use.
Additionally the 8-pack should be eligible for the flight pass activity benefit, to give you additional SSWUs or whatever you selected.
The downside is that there are no status miles for travel (except maybe on the international option flight?) and only 25% AE miles.
Programs: AC SE, Hertz 5*, Fairmont Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 486
Read the other thread...
Apparently the bonus pass does not earn status miles (even though it is A-class). Also, the escape pass is a "time limited pass" so the 8-credit option will not give status people extra miles or UG certs (read the T's and C's of top tier section of AE.com.
Thanks, yes, have read the other thread now. As I unfortunately don't have vacation available for a trip to SAO or HKG, I think I'll pass on this and use the 20% sale on South America instead ...
Only 24-hours plus late on this one. It's been discussed on several other threads for a day now. Very ambiguous...
• No status miles for any flights including the bonus A-class one
• Unclear if each pass (regular and bonus) earns the elite selection third choice bonus (upgrade certs or bonus status miles)
If I get the Tue/Sat/Sun pass, does that restriction apply to the international add-on as well, or would I be able to fly internationally any day of the week?
I've already booked a flight to LIM for late May for ~$1200. Wish I had known about the pass back then. Now considering cancelling and rebooking using the pass, but I'd have to figure out what to do with a ~$1200 credit. It can't be used toward the cost of a flight pass, can it? Also, I know a credit has to be used all at once, but can it be used on two completely separate trips (i.e. with a return to the point of origin in between)?
OTOH, now that I read about no status miles (even in A? weird.) this is much less appealing.
Last edited by klparrot; Jan 8, 09 at 9:56 pm.
Reason: added last para
If I get the Tue/Sat/Sun pass, does that restriction apply to the international add-on as well, or would I be able to fly internationally any day of the week?
It really should be any day of the week as the YYZ-LIM segment only operates Mon/Wed/Fri.
Why does a pass have to be for you? Why not for the most price-sensitive traveller who doesn't care about upgrades. I am always amused by the criticism of AC products by people who think they all have to be tailored to their personal needs, as if the rest of us who care about a buck don't count.
...topic recently discussed-to-death in the final pages of this thread: 
