Is AQD requirement helping or hurting AC?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,246
Is AQD requirement helping or hurting AC?
I was just updating my signature below for today's flight (and I still have a
JL flight and DL flight tomorrow), when it struck me that from 1990 or so until
2015 I would not have more than a handful of non-Star Alliance flights a year.
The usual exceptions were things like the AZ fare mistake, or flights within
China where *A was not available.
Last year my non-AC/*A flights increased, and this year they are increasing
even more.
I am still flying my 100K+ miles annually, but since *A flights will no longer get
me to SE, I am now looking for the best prices.
So AC is saving the cost of me being SE, but they and *A are losing a lot
of my overall business ( which is overwhelmingly paid F/J international travel).
Is this really a long-term winning strategy for AC?
JL flight and DL flight tomorrow), when it struck me that from 1990 or so until
2015 I would not have more than a handful of non-Star Alliance flights a year.
The usual exceptions were things like the AZ fare mistake, or flights within
China where *A was not available.
Last year my non-AC/*A flights increased, and this year they are increasing
even more.
I am still flying my 100K+ miles annually, but since *A flights will no longer get
me to SE, I am now looking for the best prices.
So AC is saving the cost of me being SE, but they and *A are losing a lot
of my overall business ( which is overwhelmingly paid F/J international travel).
Is this really a long-term winning strategy for AC?
#2
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
Posts: 5,702
#3
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,494
#9
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: YYZ most of the time
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Princess Elite
Posts: 3,921
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE*2MM. SPG Plat life
Posts: 4,644
I was just updating my signature below for today's flight (and I still have a
JL flight and DL flight tomorrow), when it struck me that from 1990 or so until
2015 I would not have more than a handful of non-Star Alliance flights a year.
The usual exceptions were things like the AZ fare mistake, or flights within
China where *A was not available.
Last year my non-AC/*A flights increased, and this year they are increasing
even more.
I am still flying my 100K+ miles annually, but since *A flights will no longer get
me to SE, I am now looking for the best prices.
So AC is saving the cost of me being SE, but they and *A are losing a lot
of my overall business ( which is overwhelmingly paid F/J international travel).
Is this really a long-term winning strategy for AC?
JL flight and DL flight tomorrow), when it struck me that from 1990 or so until
2015 I would not have more than a handful of non-Star Alliance flights a year.
The usual exceptions were things like the AZ fare mistake, or flights within
China where *A was not available.
Last year my non-AC/*A flights increased, and this year they are increasing
even more.
I am still flying my 100K+ miles annually, but since *A flights will no longer get
me to SE, I am now looking for the best prices.
So AC is saving the cost of me being SE, but they and *A are losing a lot
of my overall business ( which is overwhelmingly paid F/J international travel).
Is this really a long-term winning strategy for AC?
#12
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, SPG; IC Pl/A; AA; DL
Posts: 14,320
Remember Star Alliance flights can get you to SE again, provided they are ticketed by Air Canada on 014 stock (don't have to be AC codeshares).
AQD Enhancement for 2017
"You will earn Altitude Qualifying Dollars (AQD) for the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges (Y, YQ and YR) on eligible flights flown, including:
Flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada RougeTM.
Flights operated by Star AllianceTM member airlines ticketed on Air Canada ticket stock (ticket numbers beginning with “014”)."
AQD Enhancement for 2017
"You will earn Altitude Qualifying Dollars (AQD) for the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges (Y, YQ and YR) on eligible flights flown, including:
Flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada RougeTM.
Flights operated by Star AllianceTM member airlines ticketed on Air Canada ticket stock (ticket numbers beginning with “014”)."
#13
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: YOW
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 578
Remember Star Alliance flights can get you to SE again, provided they are ticketed by Air Canada on 014 stock (don't have to be AC codeshares).
AQD Enhancement for 2017
"You will earn Altitude Qualifying Dollars (AQD) for the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges (Y, YQ and YR) on eligible flights flown, including:
Flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada RougeTM.
Flights operated by Star AllianceTM member airlines ticketed on Air Canada ticket stock (ticket numbers beginning with 014)."
AQD Enhancement for 2017
"You will earn Altitude Qualifying Dollars (AQD) for the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges (Y, YQ and YR) on eligible flights flown, including:
Flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada RougeTM.
Flights operated by Star AllianceTM member airlines ticketed on Air Canada ticket stock (ticket numbers beginning with 014)."
Jumping in on this.. is there somewhere on the fare rules (of UA, for example) that specifies the cost of changing the ticket stock from 016 to 014? Or is the only way to find out to call in and speak to an agent?
Thanks^
#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,883
Sometimes you can find UA flights for the same price on AC.com, and then it's ticketed 014. But then you have the hassle of code share - and if you want a United P fare, forget it, AC.com will charge you double or triple.