travel agent

Effective for travel as of August 1, 2011, the minimum number of Aeroplan Miles accumulated based on distance flown on Air Canada and Star Alliance member airline flights is changing from 500 to 250 miles:

For distance flown up to 249 miles, Aeroplan members will earn 250 Aeroplan Miles.
For distance flown of 250 miles and more, Aeroplan members will earn miles according to the actual miles flown
This new policy will not impact Air Canada Super Elite, Elite and Prestige members, nor customers travelling on Rapidair flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montreal or Ottawa, or between Toronto City Airport and Montreal as they’ll continue to earn a minimum number of 500 Aeroplan Miles.
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/110502.html?src=hp_wn


another reason to leave aeroplan?

HerpaYvr

well that sucks!

YUL-YYZ-YOW is spared, but out west YEG-YYC or YXE/YXR- YEG/YYC not to mention the west coast! Man this is poor as you need to fly higher fares to earn status miles, it was OK on US carriers when paying lower fares having the actual miles earned, although some still gave you the moin of 500!

So if your already AP*E/SE/P you still get a minimum of 500 AP, only if your non status is your climb slowed down

Altaflyer

I find it odd I get 250 miles for a return flight to Vancouver costing $350+ yet often rent a 3 day weekend car rental from hertz for $55 and get 750 miles. Something is wrong with this!

jarusoba

That's an enhancement of benefits of P, E, and SE.

Santander

Doesn't affect E/SE... yet. I don't understand the reasoning behind this, I highly doubt there's some non-elite member out there who's amassed a fortune of AP points from flying YYJ-YVR or YUL-YOW... Another blow to the guys qualifying on segments, as if they didn't have it bad already.

RCyyz

The cynic in me smells a phased approach here - lower the minimum but protect those with status (even Prestige) then gradually enhance until the 250 mile minimum exists across the board.

But, call it what is is for now. With this latest enhancement (that oddly has a started date of August?!) AC / AE has done well to protect those with status.

HerpaYvr

I was thinking this also as a Delta Hotels P+ member I can spend $85 for a night and get 1,500 AP per stay!!! $50 avis rental for 500 AP. None of these are status though!

How many times have we read about those brave soles that travel weekly between two short distance cities and earn their status at 500 each way!

Man this change has me fired up!

DavidYYC

These changes and enhancements, just continue to be rolled out month after month.
I wonder what is next, and when will it ever stop?

yyzprincess

United gives 500 minimum to MP members with status.
Non-status flyers get actually miles flown.
That is the way it should be.
Loyalty should be rewarded.

IluvSQ

I agree, and I would wager that by the end of 2012 this will be the policy
for those with status as well.

Someone else commented about those qualifying on segments - this
change should not affect them.

muskoka

Its the old story- increase the temp in the water 1 degree per hour and the frog boils to death very slowly.......

(or the death by 1000 cuts analogy if you like)

I think I see a new toaster coming in my kitchen.....

zorn

Frogs, being rational creatures, would just leave the water.

Yul_voyager

Just hope that P/E/SE will continue to have 500 statut miles for each segment... not like the 25/50/100 bonus you can choose as privilege

Santander

What I meant was that somebody who qualifies based on flying, say YYC-YEG every week is doing a lot of flying but getting relatively few usable miles compared to somebody who goes across the pond every few months. This change would make it even worse for someone who's in their first year of this flying routine or someone who misses P by a couple thousand miles, at least in terms of using their miles. 10k miles for 40 segments?

ceaton

Given the price of short flights on AC, this is another insult. It's time FF status was detached from miles flown and tied to revenue.