Changes to Altitude 2018 announced
Oct 31, 2017, 5:30 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: AC:50K
Posts: 708
I'm a perfect example of this: I had never flown in business class until I hit P25K and got a couple flights upgraded; now I always fly in business class.
Oct 31, 2017, 6:12 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,574
Personally, neither in bundle 2 is useful to me. The only friends whom might be worth gifting 50k too already travel enough to get 50k on their own. I've only paid for wifi when in heated Twitter debates. I got to 94 AQS on year one with OPM (and a $500 of mine for the open bar at YYZ on NYE). Lower requalification is pointless. So only two useful options, and two to pick.
So really no choice at all.
But they were false and useless choices last year, too.
So really no choice at all.
But they were false and useless choices last year, too.
Oct 31, 2017, 6:14 pm
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Only J via Peasant Points, 777HDPeasant or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance and Narcissism.
Posts: 5,962
Oct 31, 2017, 6:59 pm
#34
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz/ord
Programs: AC E50 UA1k 2MM AA EXP Royal Ambassador SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,516
Oct 31, 2017, 8:27 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BKK/SIN/YYZ/YUL
Programs: DL, AC, Bonvoy, Accor, Hilton
Posts: 2,924
Nothing has really changed for me. I expect I am typical of many Altitude members.
- I haven't used the onboard cafe coupons except on 2 flights and received nothing because;
One was Rapidair and they had not loaded anything, cashed in but got nothing and other was a flight that involved me going standby on an early flight and not getting the credit shown on my BP. Thanks Air Canada
- Haven't used the guest entry to the MLL because I lost the coupons, but honestly because no one flies with me that could use them. I am not popular like the bovine boy
Besides as an E50 I don't need them anyway.
Bundle 2 and the flight pass gimmicks are useless for me as I don't use a flight pass.
I haven't used a E upgrade coupon in 2 years.
The supposed priority security clearance is a joke. The priority line isn't available in many cities after 9 pm, or on some weeknights after 8 pm.
I'll stick with the 50% bonus and the lower qualification. I'll scrape in with my TPAC in December. I really do hope they cut down on the number of customers in the MLL.
BTW, my prediction is that in 2019 Silver 25 gets dropped. The E35 will be the new 25.
- I haven't used the onboard cafe coupons except on 2 flights and received nothing because;
One was Rapidair and they had not loaded anything, cashed in but got nothing and other was a flight that involved me going standby on an early flight and not getting the credit shown on my BP. Thanks Air Canada
- Haven't used the guest entry to the MLL because I lost the coupons, but honestly because no one flies with me that could use them. I am not popular like the bovine boy
Besides as an E50 I don't need them anyway.Bundle 2 and the flight pass gimmicks are useless for me as I don't use a flight pass.
I haven't used a E upgrade coupon in 2 years.
The supposed priority security clearance is a joke. The priority line isn't available in many cities after 9 pm, or on some weeknights after 8 pm.
I'll stick with the 50% bonus and the lower qualification. I'll scrape in with my TPAC in December. I really do hope they cut down on the number of customers in the MLL.
BTW, my prediction is that in 2019 Silver 25 gets dropped. The E35 will be the new 25.
Oct 31, 2017, 9:14 pm
#37
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 2,494
Anyone notice the number of MLL passes has decreased? It used to be 6 for SE, now it's 4.
I don't think this will change much for me. My wifi-enabled flying is such that a 12 month pass doesn't make much sense. I typically buy a one month pass for EYW, and pay as I go the rest of the time.
Jack, how do you figure E50K is worth more than a 12 month pass? It retails for over $750 CAD. Are you saying you'd pay that much for E50K?
I don't think this will change much for me. My wifi-enabled flying is such that a 12 month pass doesn't make much sense. I typically buy a one month pass for EYW, and pay as I go the rest of the time.
Jack, how do you figure E50K is worth more than a 12 month pass? It retails for over $750 CAD. Are you saying you'd pay that much for E50K?
Oct 31, 2017, 9:18 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,694
As an E50, it seems I’ve traded an MLL pass for AC Cafe on 2 reservations. Certainly nothing to write home about. I guess it’s true what they say: “flat is the new up.”
Oct 31, 2017, 9:31 pm
#39
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: Aeroplan E50/MM, HH gold, Nat Exec Elite, Kimpton Karma
Posts: 2,354
I don’t see, if I read it correctly, that the onboard cafe coupons will be any easier to use so not much of a benefit before or in upcoming year. Hopefully I’m wrong....
Oct 31, 2017, 10:03 pm
#40
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
I'm interested in the uptake numbers on wifi, in particular 100K level, given that most of them are business travellers. They'd have to give up the 100% bonus, eUpgrades or 50K, all of which benefit the traveller personally, to get something that they probably already expense anyways.
Nov 1, 2017, 5:23 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,429
I'm interested in the uptake numbers on wifi, in particular 100K level, given that most of them are business travellers. They'd have to give up the 100% bonus, eUpgrades or 50K, all of which benefit the traveller personally, to get something that they probably already expense anyways.
Nov 1, 2017, 5:32 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,139
As an E75K, under the 2017 program, I would have picked the 75% miles bonus, 55 eUp credits and 5 MLL passes. I don't use flight passes so bundle 3 is useless for me.
Under the 2018 program, I will still get the 75% miles bonus, 55 eUp credits and 3 MLL passes. But I will now get 3 Air Canada Café coupons. I expense anything I eat when I travel and never eat anything from the AC Café anyway so that new option has a value of 0.
But still, I commend AC for trying. People on this forum have asked for free food/drinks and free Wifi for E/SE members and AC delivered on these requests. So, not a bad day for Altitude members, I guess!
Under the 2018 program, I will still get the 75% miles bonus, 55 eUp credits and 3 MLL passes. But I will now get 3 Air Canada Café coupons. I expense anything I eat when I travel and never eat anything from the AC Café anyway so that new option has a value of 0.
But still, I commend AC for trying. People on this forum have asked for free food/drinks and free Wifi for E/SE members and AC delivered on these requests. So, not a bad day for Altitude members, I guess!
Nov 1, 2017, 5:51 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Mississauga Ontario
Posts: 4,106
I'm interested in the uptake numbers on wifi, in particular 100K level, given that most of them are business travellers. They'd have to give up the 100% bonus, eUpgrades or 50K, all of which benefit the traveller personally, to get something that they probably already expense anyways.
It was probably a contract thing with GoGo: "Air Canada will actively encourage use of onboard GoGo services to it's elite customers".
They've done that. Contract term satisfied. Next issue.
They don't do things for us. They do things for themselves. Get that, and you get the program.
Nov 1, 2017, 6:14 am
#45
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE; SPG Platnium; HH G
Posts: 551
I still feel like the lounge passes are largely useless.
I've struggled to give mine away for the past few years as an elite.
I'm not really in the AC FFP anymore, I'm 35k now, but I'll be 0 next year. Is the 100k AQD still $20,000? Not to hijack a thread at all, but I couldn't imagine spending that on AC metal alone (or the confusing ticket stock thing) as any kind of leisure traveler, even a corporate traveler it seems would have to be in paid j or last minute y all the time to make it.
I've struggled to give mine away for the past few years as an elite.
I'm not really in the AC FFP anymore, I'm 35k now, but I'll be 0 next year. Is the 100k AQD still $20,000? Not to hijack a thread at all, but I couldn't imagine spending that on AC metal alone (or the confusing ticket stock thing) as any kind of leisure traveler, even a corporate traveler it seems would have to be in paid j or last minute y all the time to make it.