He logged into his Altitude account the next day, and was able to select his benefits.

Nope. I selected my benefits a few days back, but I couldn't add a friend. I called AirCanada then Aeroplan today. They informed me because I added the same friend in 2016, I will have to wait until March 2nd to add him again:confused:

That is true. You can't add someone while they have equivalent status. I rotate mine through my sons, so they don't have status when I nominate them.

Now that we have a full year of AQM/AQD behind us, I have a few observations on my likely selections.

In the past, I might have needed the 2500 AQM status miles from flight pass activities. That seems to be no longer the case if qualifying using AQD and the fares I typically buy. In order to get $20K AQD, I will be flying closer to 120-130K AQM.

The only possible reason I might select AQM, is to get over a threshold. Since thresholds are so far apart now, I would only get benefit of one threshold at 140K (possibly) if I chose the 2500 status mile bonus for flight pass activities. I would get that benefit once and receive 20 eupgrade credits for my troubles. If I choose eupgrades for flight pass activities, I get 12 each month on unlimited passes, and 12 for each eligible non-unlimited flight pass which in the last year would have amounted to 96+24 = 120 eupgrades.

Not that I can use the eupgrades either (will possibly be retiring over 120 this year) but there is at least the possibility that I would use them on a cheaper fare where I would need a whack of eupgrades to upgrade a particular flight. The status AQMs are of no conceivable use now. That goes for the other selection to reduce AQMs for status (which I have never used).

At least it makes the selection of privileges easier than in other years where I did go back and forth between eupgrades and status miles in Bundle 3.^

Anyone know if frequent sweeps are happening this year? My 35th segment was just posted this morning. Hoping that I get swept up shortly.

Both myself and MrsQQ still don't have the ability to choose.

I wonder how long after Jan 1 the next bunch will open up

Ditto. I'd like to choose sooner rather than later, in case I end up in a similar situation to last year, where my tags and card never arrived, and it was a giant pain to get them (they arrived mid March!).

I had the same.... does that mean the nominee will have no status from March 1 to whenever s/he gets the card in the mail?

Will have status but no card to prove until it arrives. Which should be reasonably fast.

Same here, I qualified over 2 months ago and still don't have the ability to select my options.

No email to select.
 

I still haven't gotten an email to select privileges? Is that normal?

I'm on the verge of 35K (2750 miles short, $2K AKD over -- $6K).

No mileage run planned. Was hoping for an option to buy the 35K.

My dashboard now shows I've passed 75K (first time) and will enjoy my new status "early in the new year". The banner still says 50K. I haven't checked into selecting privileges because I am undecided about the gifting 35K or alternate privileges.

I'm not sure why we all keep having this conversation.

You're not "on the verge of 35K" so much as you "haven't qualified for 35K".

If you were a SE with 93 segments and $30K spend, you might have a shot at getting topped up, but unless you do a MR in the next 48 hours, you're a 25K with some extra AQMs.

Agreed. 8% short of 35K is not "on the verge". It is 25K.

Sorry guys, I agree, it's not 35K, which is why I said I was hoping for the option to buy, which I know people are getting who are close to the next status.

Either way, I haven't gotten an email to select the 25K "privileges" either.

Bad wording on my part. Didn't mean to hit a nerve.