Booking Hotels w/ Aeroplan
Jun 25, 2014, 9:57 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YOW/HBA
Programs: Qantas Silver, MileagePlus Silver
Posts: 418
Jun 25, 2014, 12:00 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
I actually used 45K Aeroplan (it fluctuates between 45K to 54K I think, so I got lucky) to book 1 night stay at Westin Regina & Europa in Venice, Italy in April 2014
It was the Wideroe mistake fare and I redeemed 6 nights of hotel all on various points/program
It's either 45K or like $600 Euro ($900 CAD?) for my date, which I'll never pay
I email'ed hotel directly to attach my SPG Gold status, and got a "tiny" upgrade to a TINY room but with a view of Grand Canal, so I'm glad I didn't pay out of pocket
If one does have tons of Aeroplan (THANK YOU AMEX) and want to splurge, it's doable
FYI - I looked and didn't find Aeroplan useful for other cities like Florence or Milan
Aeroplan hotel offerings usually only include Best Western and SPG properties
It was the Wideroe mistake fare and I redeemed 6 nights of hotel all on various points/program
It's either 45K or like $600 Euro ($900 CAD?) for my date, which I'll never pay
I email'ed hotel directly to attach my SPG Gold status, and got a "tiny" upgrade to a TINY room but with a view of Grand Canal, so I'm glad I didn't pay out of pocket
If one does have tons of Aeroplan (THANK YOU AMEX) and want to splurge, it's doable
FYI - I looked and didn't find Aeroplan useful for other cities like Florence or Milan
Aeroplan hotel offerings usually only include Best Western and SPG properties
Jun 25, 2014, 12:09 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
Programs: UA 50K, refugee from AC E50K, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 5,132
I've booked hotels with AE; it's very easy.
If you book SPG, the SPG res # is on the second to last confirmation page as you're clicking through. I always print to PDF as I'm clicking to ensure I capture this page.
I've only ever had one issue where a hotel in IST tried to claim that my booking was for one night only and not for the 3 that I stayed. I refused to pay extra and I never heard back. But since then I've always printed 2 copies of hotel reservations - one to show them at check in and if they take it, one more in reserve for check out. This only ever happened once though so typically there are no issues.
I found the redemption to be good value for the Sheraton in IGR. Other hotels are, as others point out, somewhat questionable value but if you have points to burn then go for it!
If you book SPG, the SPG res # is on the second to last confirmation page as you're clicking through. I always print to PDF as I'm clicking to ensure I capture this page.
I've only ever had one issue where a hotel in IST tried to claim that my booking was for one night only and not for the 3 that I stayed. I refused to pay extra and I never heard back. But since then I've always printed 2 copies of hotel reservations - one to show them at check in and if they take it, one more in reserve for check out. This only ever happened once though so typically there are no issues.
I found the redemption to be good value for the Sheraton in IGR. Other hotels are, as others point out, somewhat questionable value but if you have points to burn then go for it!
Jun 25, 2014, 1:17 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, AMEX MR, Avios, Marriott, SPG, many more with negligible points
Posts: 167
I've booked hotels with AE; it's very easy.
If you book SPG, the SPG res # is on the second to last confirmation page as you're clicking through. I always print to PDF as I'm clicking to ensure I capture this page.
I've only ever had one issue where a hotel in IST tried to claim that my booking was for one night only and not for the 3 that I stayed. I refused to pay extra and I never heard back. But since then I've always printed 2 copies of hotel reservations - one to show them at check in and if they take it, one more in reserve for check out. This only ever happened once though so typically there are no issues.
I found the redemption to be good value for the Sheraton in IGR. Other hotels are, as others point out, somewhat questionable value but if you have points to burn then go for it!
If you book SPG, the SPG res # is on the second to last confirmation page as you're clicking through. I always print to PDF as I'm clicking to ensure I capture this page.
I've only ever had one issue where a hotel in IST tried to claim that my booking was for one night only and not for the 3 that I stayed. I refused to pay extra and I never heard back. But since then I've always printed 2 copies of hotel reservations - one to show them at check in and if they take it, one more in reserve for check out. This only ever happened once though so typically there are no issues.
I found the redemption to be good value for the Sheraton in IGR. Other hotels are, as others point out, somewhat questionable value but if you have points to burn then go for it!