Variation in AQD earned for same flight/booking class?
 

I was looking through my transaction history and noticed a big difference in AQD earned for the same flight/seat booking. Any ideas why?

AC007 Vancouver (BC) - Hong Kong (HK) / Booking Class N / $849.75

vs

AC 007 Vancouver (BC) - Hong Kong (HK) / Booking Class N / $1,402.92

The only difference was the when I fly (June vs May).

Addendum:

May Flight 3,073.26 CAD (AQD $1,402.92)
05/19/2017 YCD-YVR AC 8260* Confirmed 11:15 AM/11:39 AM Economy / B
05/19/2017 YVR-HKG AC 7 Confirmed 01:30 PM/05:25 PM +1 Premium Economy / N
05/20/2017 HKG-TPE CI 920 Confirmed 08:10 PM/10:05 PM Economy / H
05/26/2017 TPE-PVG BR 712 Confirmed 10:10 AM/12:05 PM Economy / Y
05/26/2017 PVG-YVR AC 26 Confirmed 03:55 PM/11:30 AM Premium Economy / N
05/26/2017 YVR-YCD AC 8263* Confirmed 01:35 PM/01:57 PM Economy / B

June Flight 2,318.80 CAD (AQD $849.75)
06/16/2017 YYJ-YVR AC 8062* Confirmed 11:15 AM/11:41 AM Economy / B
06/16/2017 YVR-HKG AC 7 Confirmed 01:20 PM/05:25 PM +1 Premium Economy / N
06/17/2017 HKG-SIN SQ 865 Confirmed 06:50 PM/10:40 PM Premium Economy / P
06/23/2017 SIN-HKG AC 6303* Confirmed 01:05 PM/05:05 PM Premium Economy / E
06/23/2017 HKG-YVR AC 8 Confirmed 07:35 PM/04:30 PM Premium Economy / E
06/23/2017 YVR-YYJ AC 8077* Confirmed 06:00 PM/06:31 PM Economy / B

AQD is based on ticket price. Presumably you paid a substantially different amount for these flights.

If you would like to share more details on your route and what you paid, we can help determine whether it's correct.

See the addendum. The AQD I listed is for the YVR-HK leg only.

Very different itineraries. What was the total price by paid for each?

Total Price:
May Flight 3,073.26 CAD
June Flight 2,318.80 CAD

So a $700 difference between the two tickets.

What are we trying to figure out here?

Does a $700 difference in ticket price justify a $600 difference in AQD?

AQD is determined by

1. ticket price , MULTIPLIED by

2. AC mileage (on AC metal, or Star Alliance metal on 014 ticket stock) DIVIDED by Total Mileage of that ticket


"We use an industry-standard proration method based on the length (in Great Circle Miles) of each eligible individual flight segment to distribute the AQD value of your total eligible purchase (base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges) to each of your flight segments."

Do those figures include taxes/3rd party surcharges? For AQD, the relevant figure is the total of what AC calls "Air Transportation Charges", which is base fare plus carrier surcharges.

Here's how it would break down, assuming the prices you listed above are air transportation charges rather than total price (my apologies for not being clearer earlier).

The reason why the AQD is so much higher on the first itinerary is (1) the ticket price was higher and (2) the first itinerary has a shorter total distance, so the YVR-HKG flight is proportionately more of the total ticket price.

The actual amount of AQD may differ here since I'm not sure if I used the right ticket price per above (and ignore the Aeroplan mileage, unless you're SE and chose the bonus Aeroplan miles).

By the way, if you wouldn't mind sharing the mileage you earned on TPE-PVG, that would be appreciated so I can add it to my calculator :)

FWIW
 

Here's the complete transaction details

Thanks! Appears AC has changed the miles for a few of those routes as well.

If you want to confirm the amount that's eligible for AQD, I can re-run the calculation to give you a more precise answer (although I think your conceptual question should have been answered by now).

You can also use the calculator yourself if you like, there's a thread here on FT.

Yes, conceptually my question is answered.
My challenge now is I've got 81K in miles this year, and 14K in AQD. I need to see how I can up my AQD per mile on future bookings to reach SE for 2018.

Buy more expensive tickets.

The other option would be to fly more miles on cheaper tickets...

Not if the goal is to "up my AQD per mile".