Classic and ClassicPLus Aeroplan flights
Oct 14, 2006, 7:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 8,289
Classic and ClassicPLus Aeroplan flights
Just checking out the flights on the Aeroplan website and while availability seems open, I was shocked at the redemption rat for ClassicPlus and Biz flights.
The new site will give you a biz class only selection (as opposed to before where you would choose Business and they could give you a mixed option where even one flight upfront counted as a Biz itinerary).
The 4 week availability is now yellow (Classic) and blue (ClassicPlus/Biz) colour-coded. Short-haul is 15/22.5K for econ flights, NA is 25/40K, but what struck me was the Biz flights for Asia ranged from 100K (mixed *), to 115K (AC only) and up to 395K
!!!! <Picking myself up off the floor and moving away from the computer>
The new site will give you a biz class only selection (as opposed to before where you would choose Business and they could give you a mixed option where even one flight upfront counted as a Biz itinerary).
The 4 week availability is now yellow (Classic) and blue (ClassicPlus/Biz) colour-coded. Short-haul is 15/22.5K for econ flights, NA is 25/40K, but what struck me was the Biz flights for Asia ranged from 100K (mixed *), to 115K (AC only) and up to 395K
!!!! <Picking myself up off the floor and moving away from the computer>
Oct 14, 2006, 7:59 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: YUL
Posts: 2,115
What would be very useful is the ability to piece together individual segments in a chosen class of service, rather than the system sticking them together to give the shortest connection time, but thereby forcing one segment into J, for example.
Oct 14, 2006, 8:06 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,803
Originally Posted by neuron
The 4 week availability is now yellow (Classic) and blue (ClassicPlus/Biz) colour-coded. Short-haul is 15/22.5K for econ flights, NA is 25/40K, but what struck me was the Biz flights for Asia ranged from 100K (mixed *), to 115K (AC only) and up to 395K !!!! <Picking myself up off the floor and moving away from the computer>
!!!! <Picking myself up off the floor and moving away from the computer>You got me concerened for a minute.
But these figures, 100k for a Star award to Asia, and 115k on AC only, are not new. Has been like that for a while. So I suppose it's safe to assume for SEs, if instant KK remains, there is no real change.
Oct 14, 2006, 8:22 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: AP elite; aa; USair; Delta; NWA
Posts: 128
Classic plus Ottawa to Vancouver via toronto is 51,000 economy !! Business class is 160,250. The value of one's points have dropped by half or more if one uses this option. Probably better to book star alliance rewards through the USA if classic awards not available. Fly to Chicago or New York and then wherever in Canada you are going.
Given that one is also giving up the points when using a reward ticket that one would earn by paying for a flight, using the Classic plus option would only make sense if one had so many points that it was better using them at less than half their value, rather than not at all.
I have now given up my Aerogold Visa -- and gone to MBNA platinum plus so I can choose which airline my points go to and save the 120 dollars as well. (I have points on Delta, American, KLM and US Air which I can now top up enough to get a reward.) I even get purchase protection which I did not have with Aerogold. I obviously do not need more half value Aeroplan points.
Given that one is also giving up the points when using a reward ticket that one would earn by paying for a flight, using the Classic plus option would only make sense if one had so many points that it was better using them at less than half their value, rather than not at all.
I have now given up my Aerogold Visa -- and gone to MBNA platinum plus so I can choose which airline my points go to and save the 120 dollars as well. (I have points on Delta, American, KLM and US Air which I can now top up enough to get a reward.) I even get purchase protection which I did not have with Aerogold. I obviously do not need more half value Aeroplan points.
Oct 14, 2006, 8:29 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*SE MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 3,439
Originally Posted by Stranger
So I suppose it's safe to assume for SEs, if instant KK remains, there is no real change.
I tried a few routes with my wife's Elite account and got results of +300k for YYZ-LHR in Business, 135.5k to YVR, etc. I'm sure someone will work out the implied redemption rate soon enough.
Oct 14, 2006, 8:36 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,361
Originally Posted by auerbal
Classic plus Ottawa to Vancouver via toronto is 51,000 economy !! Business class is 160,250. The value of one's points have dropped by half or more if one uses this option. Probably better to book star alliance rewards through the USA if classic awards not available. Fly to Chicago or New York and then wherever in Canada you are going
Oct 14, 2006, 8:46 am
#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: 10,068
Originally Posted by ChrisA330
ClassicPlus flights still start at the same level as the old Avenue reward levels. The flight you searched would most likely not have been available previously. Would be interested to know what date you were looking at. 51,000 for a last minute flight may be reasonable for some people.
Oct 14, 2006, 10:13 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,101
The interface is indeed much better.
Spending as many points as it would cost on ANZ to take their amazing business class service all the way from YYZ -- for a business class flight to Miami -- not so hot! (97,500)
Spending as many points as it would cost on ANZ to take their amazing business class service all the way from YYZ -- for a business class flight to Miami -- not so hot! (97,500)
Oct 14, 2006, 10:19 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 20,550
Here is another example:
15 Nov YWG-LHR D Class available at cost of 350K
22 Nov LHR-YWG
Then I moved to six months later
15 May YWG-LHR D Class available at cost of 350K
22 May LHR-YWG
15 Nov YWG-LHR D Class available at cost of 350K
22 Nov LHR-YWG
Then I moved to six months later
15 May YWG-LHR D Class available at cost of 350K
22 May LHR-YWG
Last edited by airbus320; Oct 14, 2006 at 10:25 am Reason: to add second scenario
Oct 14, 2006, 11:25 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,987
Are they insane?
Lets compare with the rates charged by some of the US airlines for "unlimited capacity" J seats between N. America and Europe:
UA 150,000
AA 180,000
NW 200,000
etc
AC 350-560,000 (or so it appears at a first look)
What are they thinking? Do they really think this is competitive? Nevermind the fact that Ac has only 2 seats available at regular rates while their compoetitors usually have more. It will take some more time to sort out the details of the enw program but this seems like insanity.
Plus looks like no preferred rates for Es and Ps.
Lets compare with the rates charged by some of the US airlines for "unlimited capacity" J seats between N. America and Europe:
UA 150,000
AA 180,000
NW 200,000
etc
AC 350-560,000 (or so it appears at a first look)
What are they thinking? Do they really think this is competitive? Nevermind the fact that Ac has only 2 seats available at regular rates while their compoetitors usually have more. It will take some more time to sort out the details of the enw program but this seems like insanity.
Plus looks like no preferred rates for Es and Ps.