Originally Posted by
jarusoba
Agreed with you.
I'm just perplexed about why we are ALWAYS getting less than what AC publishes. Not a big deal. But AC could save a lot of miles if they shortchange everybody in every flight by 5 miles each. Just like if a utility company charges everybody 1 penny extra per bill, nobody would complain but they could make a good few extra thousand dollars a month.
If you start with published revenue-seat-miles, make some conservative assumptions about Aeroplan membership, fraction of fares which qualify for miles, fraction of flights which are shaved (ie exclude all the stuff under 500 miles), distance shaved per flight, and value points at half a cent per mile, you get to:
AC saves roughly $1M per year by shaving miles.
Is that a lot? Depends on your perspective. If you ask a flyer who loses out on a few cents worth of points it's probably not worth complaining. Ask the AC exec who gets a bonus for saving costs, and maybe it's as good as winglets, or cutting meals, or not offering real champagne.