Originally Posted by Shareholder

No more so than AE flights on AC and other carriers that now add the fuel surcharge, though AE online does not add the booking fee AM does. Flights are less and less an option for AM, though I think they can still be worthwhile on short haul flights where the fare saved can be in the $300 range and fees just $150 or so. Longer haul flights have all the same charges that revenue tickets include and often base fares are only $300 or so.

It would appear to be best to use AMs for gift cards...even the new instant cash is not as good a deal. (VIA tickets are the best travel redemption at the moment with the reduced redemption rate per $100 card.) If you plan to travel in the southern Ontario-Quebec corridor, much better deal even in Via1 than flying.