Air Canada Altitude

Hi everyone

Later today, we’ll be announcing some changes to the amount of Altitude Qualifying Miles you’ll earn when traveling with Air Canada, along with some updates about changes to eUpgrades coming next year.

More miles with many Air Canada fares

Starting tomorrow – August 20 – all members will earn more Altitude Qualifying Miles on many Air Canada fares:

Note that this change will apply to all reservations, regardless of booking date, for travel effective tomorrow.

eUpgrade Add-ons

In order to preserve the sustainability of the eUpgrade benefit on overseas International flights, beginning March 2014, certain Altitude members will see the introduction of eUpgrade Add-ons. eUpgrade Add-ons are a supplementary payment, in addition to the required number of eUpgrade Credits that will apply as follows:
Other changes to eUpgrades

Also beginning in March 2014, a few additional changes to eUpgrades will take effect:
By allowing all members to earn Altitude Qualifying Miles with all Air Canada fares, and more AQM on our premium fares, we hope you’ll reach a higher Altitude status even faster.

Naturally we do not take these changes to the eUpgrade program lightly. However, in order to balance the challenging economics of offering an international eUpgrade privilege, we are striving to make changes that will allow us to continue offering this benefit, while also aligning ourselves competitively.

As some of you may note, the eUpgrade Add-on product is similar to what many other international carriers have introduced in connection with their mileage upgrade products. To that end, unlike in other frequent flyer programs, upgrades for Altitude members do not require the use of Aeroplan Miles, which instead can be reserved for use to purchase ClassicFlight Rewards. However, in order to sustain the delivery of Executive First service, we have introduced add-ons in addition to the number of eUpgrade Credits required.

Learn more about these changes here.

simd

Wow. Didn't see that one coming.

Quite the enhancement. I'm going to look very carefully at my "Loyalty" now.

Jasper2009

First of all, thanks for the advance notice!^ Even if it´s pretty bad news for most FFs, it´s good to have at least half a year advance notice.

The changes actually aren´t all that bad for SEs. But international upgrades have been effectively killed for non-SEs as paying Flex fares (which cost 2-3x as much as Tango fares) AND a $1000-$1500 r/t co-pay makes zero sense.

That being said, I like the new AQM earning structure which may encourage me to buy B or Z fares more often.

sluis

Wow, I can see a lot of altitude members moving away from Air Canada because of this. This is a very dangerous move for Air Canada. It doesn't make sense, as the Flex fare differential to Asia is already about 800 dollars and on top of that you would have to pay for the upgrade. We might as well just pay for LMU.

xLuther

I'm really not surprised, next phase of firing types of customers.

Probably make it a waste of money and effort to do a mileage run for anything but getting to 100K

acysb87

From 4 to 2 nominees for SE? I always choose Mrs.acysb87 first and generally one "set" of young adult family.
Now I have to choose, disappointing

canadiancow

Well that started good (with the AQM changes), but wow...

1. Do you really think it's a good idea to make these changes halfway through the year? I'm sure a lot of people would have credited miles differently if they knew this was coming. For example, UA, when introducing Premier Qualifying Dollars, announced them in 2013, and they are only required when collecting status in 2014 for the 2015 status year.
2. By eliminating nominees, you're only affecting the most lucrative customers. If I only buy Flex, and always upgrade myself, I don't nominate anyone. But if I always buy J, I never upgrade myself, and I can only nominate others.
3. I will need to think about this before making a final decision, but I had already been on the fence about switching to United. This is likely going to push me over.

mromalley

If I am reading this correctly - As an E50K - If I purchase a Latitude or PE fare then the "add-on" gouging.. umm fee does not apply.

canadiancow

That's correct.

gglave

No surprise here, but what is VERY annoying is the insufficient notice.

If this policy was planned for March 2014, then it should have been announced in the fall of 2012.

That way we could have decided where to direct our 2013 ticket purchases, either with AC or with another carrier / alliance.

acysb87

"•eUpgrade Add-ons will vary by market. The rate you pay will include any applicable taxes, and will be priced as follows:"

Applicable taxes could equate to 1K if reward tickets are any indication. Clarification needed here

"The eUpgrade Travel Companion benefit will be expanded, and will replace eUpgrade Nominees."

SEs with Ecredits will be mobbed at airport

"•eUpgrades with Aeroplan ClassicFlight Rewards will no longer be available."

Darn,darn,darn. Was nice on a NA or sun destination basis.

Mozzarella

Wow

Just when you think that AC couldn't make it worse - it does. Un...bel..ievable.

Another stake in the heart of a FF program that was terminal to begin with.

Plumber

Wow! is right.

Thanks AC Altitude for posting here.^

I like the changes to the AQM.

Oevrall does not affect SEs much, but it is a painful hit to the other E levels, especially on the add-on.

Also, dilutes MM and 2MM programs as all upgrades later will require the 'add-on' once you drop from SE to guaranteed E50K.

Also, to the removal of the recently-added upgradability of classic flight rewards (I assume these are not included in the same-day upgradability for all Altitude members).

KenHamer

Ah, the infamous co-pay. Twice.

Notwithstanding that Air Canada has often claimed, incorrectly, that they don't have a co-pay, they really did. The difference was that on other airlines you could request the upgrade and then only pay the co-pay when the upgrade cleared. With Air Canada you needed to pay the co-pay up front (in the form of much higher Tango+/Flex fares) and all you got was the risk of an upgrade.

Now you need to pay the non-refundable, up-front co-pay, regardless of whether or not you get an upgrade, and then pay another co-pay if the upgrade clears. Ta-da! The Double Co-Pay!

SE is certainly now worth a mileage run, or 17. For the price of about 10 Asia/Australia co-pays you could actually earn the 100K miles required for SE. I also see a lot of non-SE elites abandoning international upgrades altogether.

Which in the rational world should me more upgrade space available for SEs, but who are we kidding -- that ain't gonna happen.

Jasper2009

Indeed. Even though I earn 100k-150k status miles on AC metal each year, the MM benefits get "enhanced" faster than I can earn MM status, thereby eliminating any motivation to reach MM status. I´m quite sure that when I reach MM status, only lounge access and possibly upgrades from B fares will be left.