ACV and AQD
 

Looking at some ACV J ticket booked in C
VRA YUL $30
YUL YHZ $9.53

This doesn't seem right?

Didn't they say that some AC Vacations flights may not earn AQD at all? I guess by setting the bar low, they can make anything seem like a bonus.

"We told you that you may get $0 AQD despite spending several thousands on a vacation package, but look, we are crediting you with $39 AQD's, which is more than you could have got if we decided your flights were worth $0."

I agree.

I also have an example of why this may be the case.

I remember finding a really good SFO-EWR-SDQ (or something like that) deal on UA. It came out to around 3cpm ($250ish). I needed a few more miles that year, so I was looking at booking it for a weekend.

I could also get an all-inclusive resort for two nights for about $70/night.

However, on Expedia, booking the flight and hotel together (same flight/fare class, and same resort), it came out to around $275.

I've seen other cases on OTAs where adding a hotel actually DROPS the total cost.

How do you allocate AQD when the flight is $800, the resort is $800, and you paid $800?

The alternative is booking separately, but I imagine you wouldn't like what that does to your out of pocket cost :p

Thanks. I've just read through the litany of "ifs" and "we won'ts". I should have realized there would be a way to get screwed.

Indeed. Just came back from a trip to Samana where booking the flight on AC would of been $1050 and booking the hotel would of been $1150. Paid $1200 through ACV directly. Was kind of expecting a -$1000 AQD to post :-P

Don't laugh. Coming soon in 2017 - ACV bookings may indeed earn negative AQDs and carry over into the following year making re-qualification more difficult. Nothing like starting the year off deep in a hole. :D

What did you purchase and what was the cost?

Same thing on AA/BA
A flight SFOLON v.v. was USD 6k or so (in D class)
Booking via AA vacations, I could add a serviced apartment in London (when asked for the receipt from this serviced apartment, as my client demanded it, it showed £750), and the trip dropped in cost to USD 3100.
The resulting fare was an I class fare when the GDS displayed I0 (and also an IT fare by looking at fare construction.)
(though, in this case, it would be easy to work out the underlying fare...)

Which resort have you been to, if I may ask?

BTW, tour operators pay not even close to the rate listed by the resort. Even the resorts have some quite interesting offers. I've received an e-mail offer from Bahia Principe resorts offering stays for 55-65 USD per room per night in DR. That's under $350 person/week even with today's weak loonie. Only if those pesky tickets wouldn't be so expensive...

A new one that just opened, Viva Wyndham V Samana. Hotel and grounds are beautiful but I wouldn't recommend it at this point until they iron out service issues (very long waits to get food at restaurant, room upon check-in etc)

Darn, I was thinking about checking it out...
OTOH waiting for food has to be a Samana thing. I've seen some rather long line-ups to get into the main buffet at the GBP El Portillo.

Buffet was fine - problem was the à la carte restaurants (which is supposed to be the only meal offering for Dinner, buffet being only for breakfast and lunch). Waiting for 3.5 hours for main course to be told 'sorry, kitchen just closed' isn't fun lol.