Switching from Aeroplan to other *A Programmes
 

Like many AC*Es based outside of Canada, I've started to look through options for mileage accrual next year. While I'd love to be convinced that Aeroplan is still right for me (having been a strong supporter and an Elite member for nearly ten years), recently announced changes would seem to indicate that it might be time to change.

I've put together a bit of a quick and dirty spreadsheet in order to have a look at the options (AC, TK, A3, OZ). It's not yet complete and focuses on the airlines I tend to use/am likely to use next year. It lists mileage accrual for the four programmes and, in some cases, minimum miles credited. The link's here - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...hl=en_US#gid=0 - and I hope it's of use to others in similar predicaments.

(While I've done my best to be accurate, it's worth noting there may be errors/omissions but they're certainly inadvertent. If anyone fancies filling in the missing info or fixing any errors, the spreadsheet is editable - please do go ahead!)

I, for one, find this sheet very useful... It'll help me decide which program meets my 2013 status needs for my 2012 travel pattern. Thanks!

Excellent job. Thank you. I will start next week by registering my miles in A3 or TK.

Thank you for creating and sharing the sheet.

Do *Alliance Gold members get to use that priority lane at YYZ? If they allow Nexus users to use that lane then I wont even need AC *E anymore.

Very interesting table. I've never looked outside of AE. It was kinda disappointing to see how much more other Airlines offer in regards to >100% in regards to AE.

Great idea!

I don't have google chrome, so there is a message that displays stating that I have limited functionality of the spreadsheet so don't think I can edit. One thing that does stick out to me is that it appears that all of the non-AC mileage accruals for business and first class are incorrect. For most *A airlines I believe that Aeroplan awards 125% for Business and 150% for First. This is reflected as separate COS notes for each fare (on the Aeroplan website), and is not included in the reference tables that you used, so could be easy to miss. Your spreadsheet indicates that the premium cabins only earn 100% miles.

Updated Asiana chart
 

As of Jan 1, 2012, Asiana changes Air Canada's status miles earnings to Asiana's milage club.

I have updated the chart to reflect the changes. The same info can be found on Asiana's US website.

Basically, it is giving Air Canada the finger on their new changes. All economy class now earns 50% regardless of latitute fares or Tango+ fares when it comes to international flights.

Domestic flight is a flat rate 250 miles unless you are in C,D or Z then you earn 100% status miles.

Changes seem to discourage domestic flyers from running to Asiana due to Air Canada's recent change. To further stab AC, they encourage all internaitonal passengers who are Asiana club members to fly UA or US airway or Asiana instead of Air Canada.

The strategy seems to be poach the International Flyers but discourage the domestic heavy flyers ones from migrating to Asiana. Not a bad strategy...

Asiana has a easy way to get StarGold. 40000 status miles every TWO years.

confused
 

I'm new to the elite levels of FFPs so please be patient :)
Let me get this straight... I am a resident of the USA.
If I get Gold Preferred on USAirways I still have to pay for lounge access in the US.
If I get the equivalent with the Turkish Airlines program, I have lounge access as a *Gold in the US.
Is this correct?

Very useful info, but incoherent content. I am very confused by your info.

I get the impression that Asiana is helping Air Canada, although your comments sent me mixed messages.

If anything Asiana is helping AC retain their customers by not giving enough status miles on domestic an Int'l AC flights...

Maybe it's late and my brain is fried...

At the end, it depends what is important to a person. For travellers that earn status through multiple trans-pacific routes and StarGold status is important, Air Canada's new changes are tough for those earning around 50000 status miles through economy seats.

Basically, flying Air Canada with 50000 miles in economy cheap ticket trans-pacific earns NO StarGold status with Air Canada and now won't earn StarGold with Asiana neither.

However, if you abandon Air Canada and fly with UA or US Airway or connect to Asiana through US or US Airways, you can still earn that Asiana StarGold Status. Heck. You can earn UA's Premier Executive and its StarGold.


I think for most Canadian domestic travellers, you can give up Asiana as an alternative.

For more Canadian based trans-pacific, trans-atlantic customers with Asiana now or those Asiana Club members in Korea, fly anything other than Air Canada to get more status miles.

I think you get the story close to correct.

According to Star Alliance site,

"Continental, United and US Airways Star Alliance Gold customers may only access the United Clubs and US Airways Clubs within the U.S. when travelling in conjunction with a Star Alliance international flight."

When I show my Asiana card, I get into the club lounge even when I am flying from a US city to a US city.

Correct. Members of US *A FFP's do not get access to US domestic lounges when travelling non US domestic itineraries. Members of non-US *A FFP's get access to US lounges while travelling on US domestic itineraries.

I'm on the edge trying to confirm my suspicion that switching makes sense. I think I'll try A3.

I had 21 AC segments in 2010. Generally full fare, purchased with flightpasses from BOS-YYC. Not enough to hit 35K. This year, I supplemented with an EWR-SIN-EWR on SQ and a couple of Swiss flights. Hit 50K in 2011 but I won't hit 50K each year. Singapore is likely again at 19K roundtrip.

Great info! I have been looking to see if other *A is better for me than Aeroplan.

Just a question...
 

I know lots of you guys are worried about which airline to credit to, and I concede the AE has devalued their points a lot this past year.

However, what do you gain by crediting 40K miles to OZ or A3? Is lounge access really worth more than the 40K miles? From my glances at the A3 forums, it seems hard to redeem miles with them. Additionally, I've read that you only get lounge access on, let's say, A3 Star Gold if your boarding pass is marked with your A3 number. So then this forces you to keep crediting to A3 to enjoy the benefits.

So then aren't you rapidly accruing miles that are far less useful than AE or UA or US miles?