I'm booking a flight YVR to LGA at the cheapest economy rate I can find. AC's fare (with the web sale) is around $25 Canadian cheaper than UA's fare through their site. However, if I fly Air Canada, I connect through YYZ. Therefore I get only half points for the flight across Canada for a total of around 3000 qualifying miles for the entire trip. If I fly UA I connect through Chicago, get full aeroplan miles (around 5000 for the trip and get economy+ seating to boot. This is well worth the extra $25. Why on earth would I fly AC?

I'm sure others plan the way I do and AC is losing a lot of business. If the only way AC can route someone from the west to the eastern US is through Toronto, the should be giving full aeroplan miles for the entire journey.