Well, I bit the bullet and am using Aeroplan points for a business seat in July (from Toronto). But the taxes would have been 2/3 less had I been willing to fly LOT Polish Airlines with a seriously long layover in Warsaw. I wasn't about to do either. The only good thing about it was that the LOT itinerary would have taken me to Florence - my destination - although by a rather convoluted route. I am now hoping that the Toronto to Rome direct flight is not Rouged.