(Another) Codeshare Mileage Accumulation Question
 

I recently booked an itinerary on Expedia as I could not book it on aircanada.com. It involves a codeshare segment marketed by BD on AC metal. When I pull my confirmation number up on Air Canada's website, I am able to see the itinerary below.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6014/itinerary.jpg

The YHZ-LHR segment BD4860 is operated by AC. My question is about the fare types listed here. Are these Air Canada fare types or fare types of the airline marketing the flight?

I know in the case of codeshares, mileage accumulation is based on the Aeroplan rules for the operating carrier. How can I tell if the L fare for that BD4860 flight equals an L fare for AC (100% mileage) or if it maps to something ineligible for miles?

(I do realize that the flights to and from CMN both marketed and operated by BD and LH are ineligible for mileage accumulation)

Thanks in advance for the help. Feel to say "You could have found the answer to this if you would bother to search the forum," but after doing so, I am still unclear on how fare types for one carrier map to another.

Isn't that YHZ-LHR flight an AC-operated flight?

That is correct. Not sure why the Air Canada itinerary doesn't list that in the footnotes.

At any rate, I booked that segment under the BD flight number because it was ~$70 cheaper that way. So my question is: since it's operated by AC, does the listed "L" fare ensure it is 100% mileage, or do I need to worry about if that's a BD fare that would translate to some other fare on AC that is less than 100% mileage?

Thanks again all!

My read of the rules makes me believe since you booked as a BD it's a L under their code, for Aeroplan. BD L = 25%

appears to be a BD codeshare flight number and booking class, but what booking class does that translate to with AC is a mystery

This does not necessarily follow. In addition, BD L would in this case earn 0%.

However my best guess is that it will simply map into L also on AC. I say that because the first leg is also in L. I suspect they are married together as a single L fare YYT-LHR. In which case, would be 100%. Mind you, this is just a guess. Worst case scenario would be that it maps into a Tango fare, thus 50%.

Still, not a good idea to book an AC flight as a codeshare. Except if in J in which case it does not matter.

From the Aeroplan website:
"For bmi code-share flights operated by another Star Alliance airline, refer to the Aeroplan Miles section of the carrier operating the flight."

I believe the Aeroplan earning rules that are used are those of the operating carrier - AC in this case. L booking on AC is 100%, so if L was also the fare on AC, it should be 100% earning. Unfortunately, as g_h_t points out below, the fare marketed as L by BD is not necessarily an L on AC.

Got it now. Reading some of the old threads, it seems like to only way to figure it out is to call BD to ask what their L fare maps to on AC flights. Of course, that relies on getting a knowledgable airline agent. That's the trick of it.

It does not appear that AC sells Tango fares on the YHZ-LHR route. Should that make me feel a little better that the BD L fare probably maps to a 100% earning fare class on AC?

That does not necessarily imply that the BD fare does not translate into a Tango fare though.

Merely, not likely.

Got it. So other than moderate uncertainty on mileage earning for that segment, the only other major disadvantage of being on the codeshare flight number is the inability to request an upgrade until check-in?

Correct. Assuming it maps into Tango Plus, of course. No upgrades on Tango.

I would have paid the extra $70.

Me too!!!! ^^^ :)

Call AC and give them the actual AC flight number that is equivalent to BD4860, your name and date of travel.

AC should be able find another PNR for you which lists you as being booked under the equivalent AC flight number as opposed to BD4860 (this may be referred to as the "operating PNR").

In this PNR, the actual AC booking class will be listed.

Also, if you want to do seat selection, it should be done in this PNR, and not the one showing the flight number under the BD code.

Thanks for all the help! I'll give AC a call and let you know what I find out.

Good luck, I have been successful with AC previously and now I am dealing with AC late flights, missed connections on other metal and no points, because we were placed on another carrier and fare? Why should be loose out is my argument….still waiting to see, so I feel your pain my friend.

This worked out well. I called to select my seats, and the agent confirmed it was also an L fare on Air Canada. She seemed genuinely glad to let me know that since it is an L fare it is in Tango Plus, and it is eligible for upgrades (at the gate) and 100% mileage accumulation. It was quite the pleasant call-in experience.

Thanks for the help!

Thanks for the help!