This is the trip of a lifetime for us, we absolutley want to ensure specific flights in J, so want to be right on top of booking the reward the moment it is available. I've done some research but have a few more questions.

Specifically, when does the 330 day mark kick in? is it as of midnight in Montreal or midnight in the place of departure? or is it exactly 330 days from the moment of planned departure in the city of departure (noon 330 days prior to a flight departing at noon)?

Does aeroplan center have standard operating hours or do they open at 9am for example? Are the phones busy at that time? is there a strategy to get through first?

Also, When I call in on to secure the outbound flight, how do I manage the return flight? do I pick some arbitrary earlier flight and book my true outbound as the return flight and change it later, or do I tell the aeroplan rep. what I'm doing and they choose some arbitrary (or fictional) outbound flight?

Any other tips?