eUpgrade Credits. The number of eUpgrade Credits required has remained largely unchanged. For members traveling on journeys under 500 miles, now only 4 credits will be required with most Tango Plus fares. This is mainly designed for members flying Rapidair, or our western triangle service between Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. At the opposite end of the spectrum, those flying on international journeys over 11,000 miles will be charged a larger number of credits. Naturally, this better aligns the value of our Executive First product with distance travelled.

New fares eligible for an upgrade. Elite 75K and Super Elite 100K members will be eligible to upgrade an Air Canada Vacations booking, for the flight segment departing from or destined to the Sun destination (ie, those destinations within Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America). Additionally, Super Elite 100K members will be able to upgrade an Aeroplan Classic Flight Reward for travel within North America. Note that in both cases, upgrades may only be requested at time of check-in

Maple Leaf Lounge access. In order to better manage the capacity of our international Maple Leaf Lounges, Elite 35K members will no longer have access to Maple Leaf Lounges located in the international departures zone of London Heathrow, Montreal, Toronto, Paris and Vancouver, as well as the London Heathrow Arrivals Lounge. Elite 35K members can secure access to these lounges when they choose Star Alliance Lounge access or Maple Leaf Lounge Guest Passes as part of their Select Privileges. Of course, they will still have complimentary access to all Maple Leaf Lounges located in the domestic and transborder departure zones of Canadian airports, along with those located in Los Angeles and New York LaGuardia.

Status recognition with partners. Naturally, Air Canada frequent flyers are used to priority travel services and rewards when flying with the Star Alliance member airlines. Next year, that will extend to certain hotel and car rental partners. Depending on the Altitude status you reach, this could mean bonus miles, a fast-track offer to a higher status – or even a complimentary status match. More details on this will be forthcoming in early 2013.

Preferred Seats. Elite 75K members will enjoy complimentary access to Preferred Seats next year when traveling on any Tango Plus or Latitude fare. Super Elite 100K members will have access to Preferred Seats with any fare. And before you ask, as today, Elite 35K and Elite 50K members will retain complimentary access to the forward bulkhead Preferred Seats.

Threshold Gifts. Super Elite 100K members will continue to have access to the Threshold Gift program – and next year, Elite 50K and Elite 75K members will as well at the 60,000 Status Mile and 90,000 Status Mile thresholds, respectively. Gifts will include bonus miles, gift cards, travel incentives and much more, designed to recognize your continued loyalty beyond just the new Altitude status levels.

Aeroplan Flight Reward change fee waiver. Super Elite 100K members will no longer pay the $90 change fee for the first change made on an Aeroplan reservation, including Classic and ClassicPlus Flight Rewards. Note that this will not apply when a reservation is fully cancelled and miles are refunded to your account.

Checked baggage allowance. Our complimentary checked baggage allowance for Altitude members remains unchanged versus this year's program, and among the most generous in the industry. New next year, when special equipment such as bikes and surfboards is checked as part of your complimentary checked baggage allowance, the handling fees will be waived for all Altitude members.

Altitude Elite 50K for a friend. Many of our current Super Elite members have spoken about the desire to extend the priority services they enjoy to friends and family members. To that end, Super Elite 100K members will have the option to choose this as a Select Privilege next year. Rest assured, we are examining additional ways to allow our most frequent flyers the ability to extend this valued benefit in the future.