Correct, at some point burn rates are going to outweigh earn rates, whether from the earn side from banks or organically if/when my family goes from 3 to 4 and they turn two years old each.

If and when Aeroplan truly becomes unaffordable we'll give up, but this devaluation is not that point. Credit card bonuses to this point have inflated along with Aeroplan's award chart. TD also targeted myself among others to open some other accounts which was worth 110k in total (and I didn't even open everything). I definitely don't fly enough to earn 100k any ff miles, not with the short Alaska Vegas hops and fifty percent earnings on the 600 cad specials to Hong Kong

Alaska has wound down their YVR and Bellingham operations significantly. Vegas and Honolulu are now seasonal, YVR to lax is down to one flight a day, and ex YVR fares are nothing special, and slightly better with the companion fare, which has its own problems with one stop service with an infant (same problems with ex Seattle flights with an infant, too much extra travel time that my spouse does not approve)

Citi was giving out 100k AA bonuses just last year (so the claim of 4 years ago seems misplaced), which is even better than the 75k today. I remember reading people getting 4 to 7 cards, manufacturing the 10k spend and then canceling the card to get annual fee refunds. I distinctly remember thinking this is why rules in the US were tightening up so much more relative to Canada, when people are generating 500k miles within a very compressed period of time.

Just booked some TATL J flights. In before the changes.

It was a targeted offer for AMEX Platinum in the U.S., not opened to everyone.

http://thepointsguy.com/2014/07/citi...-life-support/

Last time they actually had such an offer open to everyone was definitely more than 4 years ago.

Hey that's pretty generous. Might have to start a "Canadian business" soon .

It was definitely open to everybody. The points guy you quoted got 3 himself, including online applications

http://thepointsguy.com/2014/06/getting-my-third-citi-executive-aadvantage-100k-offer/

If you think it was only targeted, tell that to the people who all got multiples on Flyertalk: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/citi-thankyou-rewards/1511082-citi-executive-aa-mastercard-october-2013-september-2014-a-256.html

Again, it was extremely public:

http://travelsort.com/blog/citi-100k-executive-aadvantage-offer-still-available-plus-expiring-offers

There are no cards in Canada that would allow for multiples to that extent, and if there was, I would definitely not be surprised if there is more Aeroplan inflation as a result.

Doh! The day that I feared.
This is probably buried in there some where, but does it mean I can't book anymore for a summer 2016 trip before December, if there is a chance I might change the flight dates (but not destination or class)?

Or can I just pay $90?

Yes. Probably

Sorry, I probably can't book, or probably just pay $90?

Probably subject to change without notice.

All kidding aside, based on past experience the tickets can be changed and will stay at the same point level if you get the right agent. If not, HUCA and hope agent one didn't annotate you file to sabotage the effort.

Thanks Allvest. Alright, maybe I will explain the situation then, if it comes to it, without giving my PNR, and gauge if the agent is friendly. Hope Aeroplan is kind enough to do date changes without point penalties.. A $90 change fee benefits them too, no?

Getting more points out of you probably benefits them more.

Well I don't have the points! I will likely not change the ticket even if it can't be flown

I have backed away from AE after one of the early devaluations. How can you trust a company who constantly and openly steals (apparently legally) from you? I still collect but only as a consequence of a good deal. AE impacted my psyche so much that I mostly use a cash-back credit card now (the bonus is used to invest in my vacations). I collect other points but I won't pay for them (unless the payback is immediate - don't give them time to devalue their gift points). This current devaluation makes it more difficult to burn up that final AE balance.

So this means that intra-Japan flights will go from 20K to 40K?

That's completely insane. Not to mention they can't even book intra-Japan online (because taxes are $0) so any reservation requires a call into the call center, and arguing with agents for an hour that the $30 fee should be waived.

This *used* to be true.

Now that the tickets are autopriced, it's anyone's guess what the approach will be.

Although as with everything, there's a manual override... so who knows. Maybe there's still SOME level of agent cooperativeness involved.