Thank you for your good advice, mia. I will do as you have suggested.

Can I ask you a question, please? With Aeroplan miles, I gather it will cost me less in fuel charges and taxes to fly on a star-alliance airline rather than on an Air Canada plane? So when booking award travel, when I call the Aeroplan center, I can ask for a flight on one of their associated airlines that charge less in fuel and taxes? I should do my "homework" regarding flights available on these associated airlines and then call and that would work?

I would appreciate any general suggestions you may have.