Both Air Canada and CPAir/Canadian Airllnes had some extraordinary awards in the early days of their programs [1984 to about 1990]. And with competition, lots of promos that made earning those miles much easier than these days. Logging 200K a year on one and 100K on the other carrier was quite common, with no Mileage Runs necessary. Of course, there was no such thing as elite status in those days, so a mile was a mile was a mile.

CP's best was 2 First Class tickets to any destination it flew for 160K points, or 2 Business Class for 140K. And besides the flights, one also received a week's stay in a suite at a partner hotel, and a week's luxury rental car. These could be taken any time, and not just in conjunction with the flight awards.

AC's best was 2 First Class seats to any destination for 150K, 2 Business Class for 120K. [CP also had this award.] And it came with the same hotel and rental car awards at no extra cost.

In both cases, the two tickets could be used by a couple travelling, or for two separate trips by the same person.

Ah, yes, those were indeed the days! My wife and I travelled the world in style for five or six years on such awards. And there were plenty of tickets left for family gifts too.

In more recent times, I think CP's best award was the 125K for a First Class BA or CX seat to South Africa or Australia/NZ. Each award required two longhaul overnights in each direction, a great way to sample these two carriers' superb front cabins.

And last summer AA ended its best award, which was 140K for a First Class CX award to these same destinations for the same reason.

It will be interesting to read the March issue to see what awards Randy decides rates.