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Important updates to Air Canada Altitude in 2015

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Old Nov 1, 2014, 10:31 am
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Last edit by: mendy7511
Important updates to Air Canada Altitude in 2015 23 October

This afternoon, we will be announcing changes to certain elements of Air Canada Altitude in 2015, as well as new features to the program.

Minimum Air Canada Flight Requirement
The Minimum Air Canada Flight Requirement to reach Altitude status for 2016 is increasing. To qualify for Altitude status in 2016, the following Minimum Air Canada Flight Requirement will need to be met:
Prestige 25K: 12,500 AQM /12 AQS
Elite 35K: 17,500 AQM /17 AQS
Elite 50K: 25,000 AQM /25 AQS
Elite 75K: 37,500 AQM / 37 AQS
Super Elite 100K: 50,000 AQM / 47 AQS
The new MFR will not impact qualification for Altitude 2015.

500 Mile Minimum
For travel as of March 1, 2015, mileage accrual will no longer be rounded up to a 500 Mile minimum. Miles earned will be based on the distance flown and the fare option purchased for flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Air Canada rouge and Star Alliance member airlines.

eUpgrades to Business Class
For eUpgrade requests made on or after March 1, 2015, the number of eUpgrade Credits required to upgrade is increasing. The number of eUpgrade Credits you can earn through the Threshold eUpgrades program is also changing. These changes were made following a thorough benchmarking of the upgrades practices of other major international airlines who often limit international upgrades solely to their highest membership tier, and often severely limit the number of upgrades a member may request over the course of a year.

We will also be expanding the high Flex eligibility category to include the U and H booking classes on the Domestic, Transborder and Sun markets, as well as the U booking class on International markets. The inclusion of these booking classes within the higher Flex eligibility category actually decreases the number of credits required to upgrade flights on certain markets when compared to 2014.

For eUpgrade credit requirements as of March 1, 2015, visit: http://www.aircanada.com/en/aeroplan...e/updates.html

eUpgrades to Premium Economy
In early 2015, you will be able to access the comfort of Premium Economy using eUpgrade Credits, when upgrading from an eligible fare. eUpgrade Add-ons will not apply for these upgrades.

eUpgrade Nominees
Beginning March 1, 2015, Altitude Super Elite 100K members will be entitled to share their eUpgrade privileges with one eUpgrade Nominee. Members will maintain their ability to share their eUpgrade privileges with Travel Companions.

Priority Boarding
In early 2015, a new streamlined boarding process will be introduced to ensure that you get even more out of the Priority Boarding privilege.

Complimentary access to International Maple Leaf Lounges and Star Alliance Business Lounges
As lounge occupancy grows, many of our lounges are at capacity levels. And while we continue to invest in many lounge expansion projects, the reality is that in many locations, additional space is simply not available. At the same time, benchmarking shows us that our eligibility polices are still over-indexed as compared to many of our competitors. In particular, access to lounges is not a privilege offered by most international airlines at the 35,000 qualifying miles level. We have therefore modified our policy whereby Elite 35K members will continue to have access to Maple Leaf Lounges located in the domestic and trans-border departure zones, as well as those in Los Angeles and New York (LaGuardia). However access to International Maple Leaf Lounges or Star Alliance Business lounges will no longer be available as a Select Privilege. Instead, an option to purchase a Maple Leaf Club membership will be introduced with a 50% discount.

Priority Rewards
In order to maintain the integrity of the Priority Reward privilege for eligible Altitude members, Priority Rewards will be limited to ten (10) reservations (with up to 9 passengers each) per member per benefit period, beginning March 1, 2015. While a thorough analysis has indicated that this change will not impact the vast majority of members (over 95%), it will allow us to maintain a benefit which we know is widely appreciated.

Flight Rewards for Premium Economy
In early 2015, you will be able to redeem Aeroplan miles for seats in the Premium Economy cabin on Air Canada. Details will be coming soon.

Fuel Surcharge on Flight Rewards & Flight Reward change fee waivers
For reservations made as of March 1, 2015, the fuel surcharges on ClassicFlight rewards for travel within Canada and between Canada and the U.S. will be waived for all Altitude members (ie. 25K and higher) . This is applicable on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada rouge.

At the same time, Aeroplan Flight Reward change fee waivers for Super Elite 100K members will no longer be available for changes made on or after March 1, 2015. However, the fuel surcharges on ClassicFlight Rewards for travel between Canada and international destinations will be waived for Super Elite 100K members on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada rouge.

For a complete list of details regarding these changes, visit http://www.aircanada.com/en/aeroplan...e/updates.html

New REVISED REVISIONS to the Altitude Program (Oct 31 email)

=============
Last week, changes to Air Canada Altitude for 2015 were announced. As always, weve been listening to your feedback and will be adjusting certain elements of the program accordingly.

Threshold eUpgrades
The amount of eUpgrade Credits offered through the Threshold eUpgrade program will increase. As of 100,000 Altitude Qualifying Miles or 100 Altitude Qualifying Segments, 20 eUpgrade Credits will be awarded for every 40,000 AQM or 40 AQS flown.

eUpgrade Validity Date
eUpgrade Credits earned on or after November 7, 2014 will be valid until February 29, 2016.
Additionally, eUpgrade Credits earned on or after November 1, 2015 will be valid until February 28, 2017.

Mile Minimum
For travel from March 1, 2015 onwards, all Altitude members will earn a minimum of 250 miles on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada rouge as well as Star Alliance member airlines.

Minimum Air Canada Flight Requirement
For non-Canadian residents, the Minimum Air Canada Flight Requirement needed to reach Altitude status in 2016 will be 50% lower than the recently published Minimum Air Canada Flight Requirement.
These changes are representative of Air Canadas focus on recognizing our most valued and important members. We remain committed to offering you one of the best frequent flyer programs in the industry.

Air Canada
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Important updates to Air Canada Altitude in 2015

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Old Oct 24, 2014, 5:53 pm
  #856  
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Originally Posted by traacs
Ben , Why when I try to book does it still show up or is it not effective till March 1
Correct.
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 5:54 pm
  #857  
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Originally Posted by Wings100
Cannot find this....how many eupgrades will we start off with in March. On Latitude fare TATL, it will now be 22 credits both ways. Earn only 10 more at 60K....they need to consider a change to this
Someone posted earlier that the FAQ states: "The number of eUpgrade Credits a member can earn through their Select Privileges is not changing."

As for the number it's up to 70 for SE, if you choose them in all your selections.
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 5:56 pm
  #858  
 
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You high rolling entrepreneurs give me something to look up to. I thought I was already busy with my 30k in annual spend on AC. I'm a 30 yr old entrepreneur just trying to cross the chasm!

I need to keep pushing to develop new products and get them into the market so I can, spend more, not on AC anymore of course now that they killed SE. Last night I flew UA instead of AC, tomorrow morning I fly home, looking at booking UA instead of AC. The only thing I really missed this morning was no breakfast on my 2hr flight from IAH to ATL.
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 5:56 pm
  #859  
 
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Originally Posted by superangrypenguin
Same as this year
Which is 70 if you choose both the 50 and 20 as your select privileges.
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 5:58 pm
  #860  
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Originally Posted by Dorian
Entrepreneur. Have businesses in Asia, UK and Africa currently.

People that travel like myself and some others may not be plentiful, but they are screwing with us and risk losing a lot of money.
Wow, always curious as to what other high mileage travellers do, appreciate the info. Wish I could find another job that kept me travelling as much as I was, as mine will be winding down in 2015. Appreciate the info!
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 5:59 pm
  #861  
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Originally Posted by Nitehawk
You high rolling entrepreneurs give me something to look up to. I thought I was already busy with my 30k in annual spend on AC. I'm a 30 yr old entrepreneur just trying to cross the chasm!

I need to keep pushing to develop new products and get them into the market so I can, spend more, not on AC anymore of course now that they killed SE. Last night I flew UA instead of AC, tomorrow morning I fly home, looking at booking UA instead of AC. The only thing I really missed this morning was no breakfast on my 2hr flight from IAH to ATL.
You should be proud man. You're 4 years older than me and spending 30k on an airline!
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 6:05 pm
  #862  
 
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I "somewhat" understand the erosion of benefits, although i certainly do not like it. AC says it is trying to mimic other ffp's like CX and i get that.

But what i do not understand is how AC can charge so much more on a flex or j ticket over its competitors.

Ceb - yvr cx j = 3200$
Mnl - yvr nh j = 3200$
Hkg - yvr ac j = well over 4000$

If AC wants us to pay to be at the front of the bus by almost eliminating e-ups, then their prices should be damn competitive.


This doesnt really make any sense. What they are forcing flyers to do now is go price shopping. AC really have these delusions of grandeur thinking they can charge much more for their j product over their much superior competitors.
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 6:06 pm
  #863  
 
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Originally Posted by superangrypenguin
You can do a challenge.
Really? AC to UA challenges are possible? I presume for SE, the challenge is to Platinum and not 1K?
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 6:07 pm
  #864  
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Ive done a challenge from OW to UA once. FLy X number of flights/miles within 90 days and get gold/plat etc. That was a few years ago. You'll have to ask the UA die hards here as things may have changed
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 6:12 pm
  #865  
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Originally Posted by superangrypenguin
Ive done a challenge from OW to UA once. FLy X number of flights/miles within 90 days and get gold/plat etc. That was a few years ago. You'll have to ask the UA die hards here as things may have changed
The difference used to be challenges between alliances were generally allowed (even to AC), but not within an alliance. I looked myself two years ago during that round of devaluation, and the answer I gathered was a "no" to UA/US, at that time.
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 6:12 pm
  #866  
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Originally Posted by Absolute
The difference used to be challenges between alliances were generally allowed (even to AC), but not within an alliance. I looked myself two years ago during that round of devaluation, and the answer I gathered was a "no" to UA/US, at that time.
I see, thanks for the info
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 6:15 pm
  #867  
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Originally Posted by supatight80
I "somewhat" understand the erosion of benefits, although i certainly do not like it. AC says it is trying to mimic other ffp's like CX and i get that.

But what i do not understand is how AC can charge so much more on a flex or j ticket over its competitors.

Ceb - yvr cx j = 3200$
Mnl - yvr nh j = 3200$
Hkg - yvr ac j = well over 4000$

If AC wants us to pay to be at the front of the bus by almost eliminating e-ups, then their prices should be damn competitive.


This doesnt really make any sense. What they are forcing flyers to do now is go price shopping. AC really have these delusions of grandeur thinking they can charge much more for their j product over their much superior competitors.
I'd be curious to see what Ben has to say on this precisely, with AC's 77HD business class on this specific route.
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 6:16 pm
  #868  
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Originally Posted by superangrypenguin
I see, thanks for the info
Don't quote me on that, mind you Just from the searches I did on here back then, and on a few other websites.

Here is the UA page: http://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps...omoCode=TB8230

Customers who have Star Alliance Silver or Gold status are excluded from this offer.
Although I'm sure there are ways around this. I had also found this website: http://www.statusmatcher.com/
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 6:16 pm
  #869  
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Join Date: Jul 2006
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Originally Posted by supatight80
I "somewhat" understand the erosion of benefits, although i certainly do not like it. AC says it is trying to mimic other ffp's like CX and i get that.

But what i do not understand is how AC can charge so much more on a flex or j ticket over its competitors.

Ceb - yvr cx j = 3200$
Mnl - yvr nh j = 3200$
Hkg - yvr ac j = well over 4000$

If AC wants us to pay to be at the front of the bus by almost eliminating e-ups, then their prices should be damn competitive.


This doesnt really make any sense. What they are forcing flyers to do now is go price shopping. AC really have these delusions of grandeur thinking they can charge much more for their j product over their much superior competitors.
I would just say that in this example it's not really apples to apples. HKG and MNL/CEB are two (three) very different markets. See premium fares xCAI or CMB vs xHKG xSIN xDOH xDXB for examples of what I mean.
Not claiming we are always the cheapest but our prices should be in line with our competition on the route.
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Old Oct 24, 2014, 6:16 pm
  #870  
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Originally Posted by jsfrSuperElite
I'd be curious to see what Ben has to say on this precisely, with AC's 77HD business class on this specific route.
On some routes, AC's product is better. Aka any 787 J route...I don't do intl' so I may be talking out of my rear end...so i'm not sure if prices are competitive on those routes
superangrypenguin is offline  


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