WestJet Rewards - Big AirMiles Program Changes Coming Fall 2010

Thanks to feedback from Collectors like you, we are excited to announce the following enhancements that are coming soon to our flight program.

One-way flights (coming in Sept)

Additional Flight Options. If the flight you want is not available in our regular program, we will have more flight options for additional reward miles (coming in Sept)

Flights on over 25 new airlines (coming in Sept)

Flights departing from anywhere in the world (coming Sept)

Online flight bookings (coming this Fall)

Details here! (https://www.airmiles.ca/arrow/Splash?splashId=10600076)

What do you think of these changes? Personally, I am quite excited! I hope they will bring AirMiles up to a higher standard...I am especially excited for the online bookings and one-way flight options!

An AirMiles representative confirmed that Air Transat will be one of the airlines joining the program, and also stated that Delta Airlines will not be participating. Who do you think should/hope will be among those joining?

Cheers!

Umm, forgive me if I'm not excited.

Based on my recent Airmiles experience - hour long waits on the phone, pushy insurance sales pitch, and having to fork out $200+ in "fees" for the privilege of it all - the enhancements are nothing but lipstick on a pig.

How are they going to pay for these enhancements? Yet another huge spike in the number miles needed to redeem for a flight? Or perhaps more "fees" they're going to make us pay?

And, wow, introducing online booking? Gee, welcome to 2002, Airmiles.

The ability to book first/business class seats would be nice.

Additional Flight Options. If the flight you want is not available in our regular program, we will have more flight options for additional reward miles (coming in Sept)

........! I can see where this is going...

Never thought I'd see this day.. you can now book your Air Miles flights online, including one ways! You can also choose other options, one flight with miles, one with cash.. etc.. cool!

Ron.

Meh, about time they get up to standard but would still never use miles on a flight with their excessive fees

I was happy to see that they now offered one way fares - until I noticed that the two one way fares take quite a few more miles than a round trip.

For example YVR-YYZ in July 2011:
Round trip: 4225 miles
One way: 2535 miles

So two one way tickets will cost you 5070 miles (+ double the booking fee) which is 845 miles more than a round trip. :td:

Does a one way really cost anymore than a half round trip? Not if I book a cash ticket with AC or WS. So why should it with Airmiles? Once again they are gouging their customers - because they can.

There is definately value in the rewards that cannot be found elsewhere.

Eg. Winnipeg to Churchill 950 air miles r/t or 570 one way. Lots of availability on the dates I checked in polar bear season. 570 AM for a flight worth $492 plus taxes - which are comparible to Air Miles' taxes. That's $8550 spend on the Gold MC - less than Aeroplan.

I was happy to see that they now offered one way fares - until I noticed that the two one way fares take quite a few more miles than a round trip.

For example YVR-YYZ in July 2011:
Round trip: 4225 miles
One way: 2535 miles

So two one way tickets will cost you 5070 miles (+ double the booking fee) which is 845 miles more than a round trip. :td:

Does a one way really cost anymore than a half round trip? Not if I book a cash ticket with AC or WS. So why should it with Airmiles? Once again they are gouging their customers - because they can.

That's exactly what aeroplan does as well. The air miles agent I talked with last week said o/w cost 60% of the return mileage.
Aeroplan charges more than 60% for o/w trips.

That's exactly what aeroplan does as well. The air miles agent I talked with last week said o/w cost 60% of the return mileage.
Aeroplan charges more than 60% for o/w trips.

I rate Aeroplan only slightly higher than Airmiles - they are both scamming you when you buy one way tickets.

I guess I am spoiled because I mostly fly with US airlines these days. With Alaska, as an example, a round trip award ticket within North America costs 25,000 miles (+ $5 fee). A one way ticket costs 12,500 miles (+ $2.50 fee).