acysb87

Creative routing helps.i.e. YSB/YYZ/YVR/LAS/-LAS/SFO/YYZ/YSB gives you 6 segments,at least 5 on AC metal

GlennH

I was talking about other AC Top Tier members, not AC themselves.

I haven't seen one *A member listed in this thread that requires you to sit on their metal to get status. Lots of different mileage levels of getting *A G yes.

acysb87

Perhaps AC is playing the lead dog role?

illico

Forgive me, but I'm not sure what your argument is.

You want to continue to accumulate aeroplan points. Nothing in the 2012 requirement is going to prevent you from that. AC will continue to allow you fly US/CO/UA and credit to your aeroplan. The only problem is that you will not achieve status (MLL, priority boarding, upgrade certs...) which you do not seem to be concerned about anyway

GlennH

In that case you have missed the point of the conversation completely....of course I am interested in status. I am interested in status with the program that I collect miles from all sources with. I have no interest in DM or MP as a Canadian resident. Please read the thread /previous posts properly first.

yyzgigi

I haven't given up anything. No risk of me not flying 10k or 5 segments on AC. I also would prefer that those with AC status actually fly the airline, which should ultimately be better for the AC bottom line and protect my future interests.

I don't see anything negative in this.

jlisi984

What makes you think that because you're based in Canada you should be given AC top tier status?? That's like saying just because I like Hilton hotels, but I stay at Marriotts, I should be given Hilton status.
The basic fact is that the programme is one of loyalty. I don't know if you understand that word, so let me explain. AC doesn't want you loyal to the *A, they want you loyal to AC - the *A strengthens their program, sure, but it's supposed to be for loyal AC customers.
Why do you think AC should pay for you to access RCCs in the US if you never fly AC?
The reason for AC's low req. is that many Tango fares don't earn status miles. Well, one of the reasons anyways.
It really shouldn't be that hard for you to get 5 seg's on AC if you're Canada based. Sure, you may pay a few extra $.

I, for one, thank AC for putting out this requirement. It'll keep people like you in perspective and won't cut up the program for people like me who actually fly over 100K annually on AC.

Thank you for listening!

GlennH

If you had read properly, I already have 5 segments on AC this year.

Your Hilton / Marriot argument does not make sense. In Canada, if I want to be in a full frequent flyer / points program, AE is my ONLY choice.

If I could earn DM or MP points on VISA, Esso, CIBC, etc then I would switch! Why would / should I be forced to fragment my mileage earnings?

As for loyalty.....apparently being loyal to *A in the last 10 years has been fine up until now with AC.

Again, It really wont be a problem for me to get another 5 segments next year on AC. Its the priniciple. When does it stop? 20,000 in 2013?

Thanks for listening!

jlisi984

Well, if you're fine (ie. have requalified), then stop making arguments in this thread or you'll meet the same fate as contikipaul. For now the requirement is at 10K and there is no indication that it should change, and when it changes, we'll all bash at AC together!

GlennH

Arguments....its a discussion thread is it not?

This sets a precedent which COULD affect me (and many others I suspect) in following years if the 5 segment / 10k mileage requirement is raised.

So all things should be cheered regardless in the AE forum is that it?

YQMer

Hang on. There's a very big difference between providing an opinion on a recent change in policy and the example you've given.

I think we should be encouraging different perspectives in this forum, shouldn't we? It wouldn't be much of a discussion forum without some diversity in perspective.

YEG USER

I think you have inadvertently hit the nail on the head here. IMHO the problem with the current "loyalty" program that AC uses is that it isn't a "frequent flyer" program. As you say, you can earn miles for groceries, gas, insurance, VISA card and banking. You can also earn miles for hotel stays (although that is travel related), online shopping, buying tropicana orange juice and many other items that have nothing to do with flying. There is no such thing as Aeroplan top tier status (similar to Airmiles where you earn "gold" for shopping at a certain number of retailers and getting a certain number of miles in a year), there is only Air Canada top tier status.

I can entirely see why you wouldn't want to dilute your miles by going for another airlines FFP but look at it from AC's point of view. If all of your aeroplan miles come from other airlines, you are no different to AC than someone who accumulates all of their miles from buying orange juice or filling up at Esso; why would AC consider you to be one of its top customers?

If Air Canada truly had a frequent flyer program, where you could only earn miles from flying (and maybe some other travel related items), but didn't allow you to collect miles by shopping at certain pharmacies, hardware stores, gas stations, banks, etc. you likely wouldn't have the dilema you currently do as you would be a frequent customer of AC and its (not aeroplan's) partners.

In this case, restrictions can be good. We have no idea what percentage of AC's top tier members get AC status without ever setting foot on an AC plane; for all we know it could be a significant portion. Many of AC's benefits do not really cost the airline anything unless they fly AC (upgrade certs, etc.), but some benefits (such as lounge access) cost AC money regardless of what airline they fly. In addition, there are overhead costs associated with overseeing the top tier program. Granted, many of these are likely considered fixed costs, but there is probably a variable component associated with having more top tier members. If AC partly "culls the heard" then these additional costs go away. If AC puts even a portion of the cost savings back into the top tier program for the benefit of its remaining top tier customers, the restriction can indeed be a good thing.

YEG USER

+1

As I mentioned in a previous post, loyalty to *A does not necessarily equate to loyalty to AC. In the new requirements, you still get the benefit of your loyalty to *A, but you must also fly a token amount with AC.

We like to listen.

Agreed, this could be the start of a slippery slope, but opinions will differ on whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. In the suggestion box thread I had originally suggested a different calculation, 25% of miles or segments flown on AC for each tier level based on method of qualification (this was my suggestion number 4 on the list). Things could be made more interesting if my first suggestion on the list were to be implemented in addition to the minimum AC requirements...

2MM_Guy

While I understand your position.....

You are confusing AC and AP by discussing VISA, Esso etc. I don't think that AC cares how much gas we buy, but to obtain AC privileges they are implementing a rule for a low basic AC metal level. Do I agree with it, in principle: NO.

But they believe that they are giving a tangible benefit to people who do not fly on AC metal without obtaining any direct revenue in return. I get their point of view as well.

I was actually relieved that it is 10K/5 segments. What if they said you had to achieve P minimum on AC metal?

yyzprincess

SQ only requires one fly SQ metal and only in paid :J" for PPS.
LH same for HONS , with LH for HONS unlike SQ, coach or J count. As well codeshare where LH does not service. Example: MEL-SIN or SYD-SIN on SQ codeshare. However SIN-FRA SQ codeshare does not qualify towards HONS because LH has service SIN-FRA.

Both SQ & LH for regular tier status *A flights count as long as they are on EQM earning fares