Announcing Air Canada Altitude
Sep 20, 2012, 10:01 pm
#181
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: YQR
Posts: 2,743
I'm a little surprised by the surprise too. It was pretty clear to me last December that AC *G was going to be harder to get with my planned travel for 2012. Given that I fly mostly UA transborder these days it wasn't too troubling to switch. Being *S on either airline is basically like being without status anyhow, so the lack of scam charges on redemptions was one deciding factor.
Sep 20, 2012, 10:06 pm
#182
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC-SE MM
Posts: 1,251
Fair enough, but keep in mind that airfares are significantly higher in Canada. I sympathize with the grumblings. From a cost perspective, it is significantly less costly to obtain 50K status in the USA than it is in Canada. Long haul flights to Asia out of Europe are also less costly than from Canada, so EU FFs have a better value proposition. In Canada, the pax pay much higher airfares and are screwed.
Sep 20, 2012, 10:14 pm
#183
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
Sep 20, 2012, 10:23 pm
#184
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50K (*G), Westjet Gold
Posts: 788
As for *G, I really use the status maybe once or twice a year outside Canada....and even then I usually go to NYC (LGA still grants lounge access to the new MLL), and if somewhere else, its not common enough to be a big issue.
I can see how someone who does any real travel on other carriers would be annoyed, but for me, it's not a bad looking change.
Sep 20, 2012, 10:54 pm
#185
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 6,222
No, but the cash savings on a single flight booked on US or UA instead of AC may well purchase a lounge membership, which can then be used whenever you fly, regardless of airline.
(Actually, UA and US *G get you access to lounges outside of the US, but I know what you meant.)
(Actually, UA and US *G get you access to lounges outside of the US, but I know what you meant.)
Sep 20, 2012, 10:57 pm
#186
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: AC*SE
Posts: 1,924
To me the changes look pretty reasonable but also add some complexity.
- Having to fight 75ks for exit rows may not be any fun though
- Free bikes/sport equipment is nice (although they never seemed to charge me for them anyway)
- Being able to upgrade AE tickets could be nice, that would help my domestic flying especially if I have a family member travelling on points while I'm on revenue. It's driven me a bit nuts that I couldn't upgrade the AE ticket (although op-ups have been a rare treat) and have the plane leave with open J seats. Wonder if this will just be for the member or direct family/nominees or travel companions.
- The whole first AE ticket change for fee thing is nice (and will save me $) although, to be honest the booking fee bothers me a lot more than the change fee for whatever reason - maybe now I'll just start booking tickets online and then calling to make my free change
. But I wonder how this will work, will it apply to any ticket booked by the SE? Or just tickets for the SE? Or if I have a tickets for 2 passengers on a single PNR will I get one ticket changed free and pay for the other? Hopefully it's straightforward and simply a free change on any ticket booked by the member!
The only point that gets me is that on this page (http://www.aircanada.com/en/aeroplan...lusive_Rewards) it specifically says that SE's will have:
Where as in this year's program it simply says we have "special access to unsold seats". I've been frustrated by this a few times this year and been unable to get economy seats on domestic flights with lots of room (mostly between YVR & YYC but occassionally on other routes). If this is a return to any economy seat availability I'll be pretty happy! I understood capacity mangement in J (to some degree) but, much less so in Y.
Now... I wonder if I'll pull off requalifiying!
- Having to fight 75ks for exit rows may not be any fun though
- Free bikes/sport equipment is nice (although they never seemed to charge me for them anyway)
- Being able to upgrade AE tickets could be nice, that would help my domestic flying especially if I have a family member travelling on points while I'm on revenue. It's driven me a bit nuts that I couldn't upgrade the AE ticket (although op-ups have been a rare treat) and have the plane leave with open J seats. Wonder if this will just be for the member or direct family/nominees or travel companions.
- The whole first AE ticket change for fee thing is nice (and will save me $) although, to be honest the booking fee bothers me a lot more than the change fee for whatever reason - maybe now I'll just start booking tickets online and then calling to make my free change
. But I wonder how this will work, will it apply to any ticket booked by the SE? Or just tickets for the SE? Or if I have a tickets for 2 passengers on a single PNR will I get one ticket changed free and pay for the other? Hopefully it's straightforward and simply a free change on any ticket booked by the member!The only point that gets me is that on this page (http://www.aircanada.com/en/aeroplan...lusive_Rewards) it specifically says that SE's will have:
Access to any unsold Economy Class seat, and additional Executive cabin seats on Air Canada flights
Now... I wonder if I'll pull off requalifiying!
Sep 21, 2012, 12:31 am
#187
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3*G AC*nobody TK*nobody
Posts: 1,967
I'm with Ken. Here is the map of 11K from YYZ: http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?R=11000mi%40yyz
You noticed that too. Well, all I know is that there is no incentive for me to fly on AC on my long hauls to Asia. For example, I have to go to China in peak travel season - December/January YYZ-PEK
5 star Hainan Business class is $2650 and First class $4600.
3 star Air Canada Executive class is $5356.
No brainer. The AC FF points are worthless when the cost savings on a J class seat are taken into consideration I could make 2 round trips on Hainan, at the cost of 1 trip on AC and then after 4 or 5 trips on AC have the pleasure of paying $1000 or so in charges to use my FF points. Not much of an incentive is it?
Do the math and it is obvious that on many long haul routes now, the AC FF program is worthless. On my Hainan flights I can fly First for less than AC, have a decent meal, premium service and get a better redemption opportunity for my points.
5 star Hainan Business class is $2650 and First class $4600.
3 star Air Canada Executive class is $5356.
No brainer. The AC FF points are worthless when the cost savings on a J class seat are taken into consideration I could make 2 round trips on Hainan, at the cost of 1 trip on AC and then after 4 or 5 trips on AC have the pleasure of paying $1000 or so in charges to use my FF points. Not much of an incentive is it?
Do the math and it is obvious that on many long haul routes now, the AC FF program is worthless. On my Hainan flights I can fly First for less than AC, have a decent meal, premium service and get a better redemption opportunity for my points.
Sep 21, 2012, 12:57 am
#188
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
OMG, I misunderstood the checkmark... I assumed that was just a gift lol - so let's say you gift the status to your pet, and you get him to nominate you, and loot all of his eupgrades, that's better than 100% bonus miles and the fees that come with them at redemption time right?
Last year they restricted that you can only be nominated by one other person due to abuse, so I really hope they don't water this one down as well down the road.
Sep 21, 2012, 2:29 am
#190
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
As someone else mentioned, I'm curious how boarding announcements will work now. How will they distinguish between the various Elites without spewing a mouthful of numbers?
I'm a little surprised by the "Sponsor a 50K Elite" privilege. If AC's intention is to cull the ranks of status members as a cure for overcrowded lounges, this seems counterintuitive. But I'm biased since I don't have a SO right now.
I'm a little surprised by the "Sponsor a 50K Elite" privilege. If AC's intention is to cull the ranks of status members as a cure for overcrowded lounges, this seems counterintuitive. But I'm biased since I don't have a SO right now.
Sep 21, 2012, 5:24 am
#191
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,309
Sep 21, 2012, 5:57 am
#192
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC E, *A G, Starwood Platinum, Fairmont Platinum, Porter Points
Posts: 719
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9700; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.8+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/6.0.0.666 Mobile Safari/534.8+)
So they can spin it in marketing materials and blue books... Have an increased number of elites who likely don't travel as much and won't incur the costs.
Originally Posted by AC888
As someone else mentioned, I'm curious how boarding announcements will work now. How will they distinguish between the various Elites without spewing a mouthful of numbers?
I'm a little surprised by the "Sponsor a 50K Elite" privilege. If AC's intention is to cull the ranks of status members as a cure for overcrowded lounges, this seems counterintuitive. But I'm biased since I don't have a SO right now.
I'm a little surprised by the "Sponsor a 50K Elite" privilege. If AC's intention is to cull the ranks of status members as a cure for overcrowded lounges, this seems counterintuitive. But I'm biased since I don't have a SO right now.
Sep 21, 2012, 6:42 am
#193
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonours Diamond, Marriott Rewards Gold Elite, AVIS Preferred Plus
Posts: 5
So, I guess I'm not the typical AC E, and their changes took away any desire to fly with them. I have averaged 80K during the last 5 years, but during 2012 I will only get to about 40K due to becoming a dad and spending some time off work. I expect to go back to 80K in 2013.
I'm based in London, so Heathrow lounge access is the most important perk for me, followed closely by *A G lounge access, since I have to do all my European travel on *A metal and not AC.
I normally fly to North America 4 times a year against about 30 trips within Europe. So now that I will be *A S, it means I may as well not belong to any FF program at all.
I guess is back to BA, although they suck too, hence my move to *A three years ago. In a way, AC got what they wanted: I only did 3 inter-continental flights with them this year - I'm not worth their time. I got the message loud and clear.
I'm based in London, so Heathrow lounge access is the most important perk for me, followed closely by *A G lounge access, since I have to do all my European travel on *A metal and not AC.
I normally fly to North America 4 times a year against about 30 trips within Europe. So now that I will be *A S, it means I may as well not belong to any FF program at all.
I guess is back to BA, although they suck too, hence my move to *A three years ago. In a way, AC got what they wanted: I only did 3 inter-continental flights with them this year - I'm not worth their time. I got the message loud and clear.
Sep 21, 2012, 7:16 am
#195
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: YYZ, YYJ, ZRH
Programs: AC MM
Posts: 430
...I think I will stay with my current 82K EQM balance and put the rest of my STAR flights (including some AC ones) into my MP account and go for 75K over there, or even 1K again. (Will easily renew my AA ExecPlat so have that base covered.)
No doubt the tier program is a more solid offering now, and more clearly defined based on how much you fly each year and what those flight patterns are. Is it better? A net assessment would say "No" if compared to MP for a number of benefits I won't go into. The real downside for AE is on the redemption side where award levels for premium flights have gone through the roof, as have the fuel surcharge fees. Hardly an incentive to earn more AE when their value continues to decline.
No doubt many of the more promiscuous will flee AE for A3's program and it's very attractive STARGold tier.
No doubt the tier program is a more solid offering now, and more clearly defined based on how much you fly each year and what those flight patterns are. Is it better? A net assessment would say "No" if compared to MP for a number of benefits I won't go into. The real downside for AE is on the redemption side where award levels for premium flights have gone through the roof, as have the fuel surcharge fees. Hardly an incentive to earn more AE when their value continues to decline.
No doubt many of the more promiscuous will flee AE for A3's program and it's very attractive STARGold tier.
Thanks.