Altitude 2018 Benefits Selection Available
Dec 12, 2017, 5:43 pm
#107
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold
Posts: 6,911
Her AQD is past 75K status and actually more towards SE but she is not close with miles and only relatively close with segments (40 if I am not mistaken). We'll just wait and see. I am in no rush to make the decision and can certainly wait till some time in January or February.
Dec 12, 2017, 7:26 pm
#108
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,742
Thank you for your input. I thought about it as well but yes, my significant other travels quite a bit without me. She has 40 segments on AC ytd out of which 35 or so are on her own. She won't make it to 50k on her own because she mostly flies short haul on expensive eco tickets that she has to book on short notice. 50k status is valuable for her because of waitlist priority and occasional lounge access. The latter does not really matter as she could the lounge with all the lounge vouchers anyways but the ability to make it on a flight that she may otherwise miss should be worth it, particularly if it's about making it home for dinner with me or staying somewhere in the middle of nowhere on her own.
Very good question! I should rethink my priorities 
I really only started to fly AC this year but will likely continue to do so, in addition to some TATL BA flights.
I really only started to fly AC this year but will likely continue to do so, in addition to some TATL BA flights.
(Same here, of course).
This year's SE100K email wasn't signed by Ben Smith though...
Despite those who've rolled their eyes at this, I actually consider this to be a win overall. I'm quite certain that I save more in YQ than I spend in change fees on reward tickets. Especially since YQ seems to get more and more ridiculous all the time.
I think others have already answered the specific question pretty well, but I'd say in general, very little. I know people on a lot of boards ..... about their airlines' IT systems, but having experienced a lot of them, I can say that AC is without doubt worse on this front than the US3 and most major European carriers (e.g. LH, BA, LX, KL).
Dec 12, 2017, 9:35 pm
#109
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
That's fair. If forced to choose between the two, I'd go for the YQ waiver as well.
Dec 12, 2017, 10:01 pm
#110
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
However, most of my intercontinental bookings are on other airlines, so even the YQ waiver isn't that big a deal for me. I'd rather have unlimited free changes.
Have you ever had a big booking and noticed there was a slightly better option available? Was it worth $75? There have been many times I would have liked to make a change (shorten a connection from 8 hours to 2 hours, etc.), but didn't find it worth the change fee.
I suspect I'd make 10x as many changes if I didn't have to pay a fee.
Dec 13, 2017, 9:05 am
#111
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton G,Nexus, Amex MR Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 4,417
Between YQ waiver and ONE free change per booking, I agree.
However, most of my intercontinental bookings are on other airlines, so even the YQ waiver isn't that big a deal for me. I'd rather have unlimited free changes.
Have you ever had a big booking and noticed there was a slightly better option available? Was it worth $75? There have been many times I would have liked to make a change (shorten a connection from 8 hours to 2 hours, etc.), but didn't find it worth the change fee.
I suspect I'd make 10x as many changes if I didn't have to pay a fee.
However, most of my intercontinental bookings are on other airlines, so even the YQ waiver isn't that big a deal for me. I'd rather have unlimited free changes.
Have you ever had a big booking and noticed there was a slightly better option available? Was it worth $75? There have been many times I would have liked to make a change (shorten a connection from 8 hours to 2 hours, etc.), but didn't find it worth the change fee.
I suspect I'd make 10x as many changes if I didn't have to pay a fee.
Dec 13, 2017, 12:45 pm
#112
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
We can't have nice things because we'd use them? Not sure I follow your logic
I just booked YYZ-YUL-SFO because the late-afternoon YYZ-SFO was not available on the day I wanted. My options were 0800 departure or 2330 arrival on a non-stop. The connection is 1500-2033. Of the available options, it's the best time.
The 1655-1930 non-stop would be preferred (later departure and earlier arrival), but at this point, I'm not willing to pay $75 if it opens up.
I just booked YYZ-YUL-SFO because the late-afternoon YYZ-SFO was not available on the day I wanted. My options were 0800 departure or 2330 arrival on a non-stop. The connection is 1500-2033. Of the available options, it's the best time.
The 1655-1930 non-stop would be preferred (later departure and earlier arrival), but at this point, I'm not willing to pay $75 if it opens up.
Dec 13, 2017, 3:38 pm
#113
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: I'm From Here
Programs: AC*SE & MM/*Wood Gold/HHonors Diamond/Marriott Silver/AirMiles Gold
Posts: 4,564
Dec 13, 2017, 4:18 pm
#114
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
Dec 13, 2017, 4:23 pm
#115
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Bonvoy LTE
Posts: 1,881
We can't have nice things because we'd use them? Not sure I follow your logic
I just booked YYZ-YUL-SFO because the late-afternoon YYZ-SFO was not available on the day I wanted. My options were 0800 departure or 2330 arrival on a non-stop. The connection is 1500-2033. Of the available options, it's the best time.
The 1655-1930 non-stop would be preferred (later departure and earlier arrival), but at this point, I'm not willing to pay $75 if it opens up.
I just booked YYZ-YUL-SFO because the late-afternoon YYZ-SFO was not available on the day I wanted. My options were 0800 departure or 2330 arrival on a non-stop. The connection is 1500-2033. Of the available options, it's the best time.
The 1655-1930 non-stop would be preferred (later departure and earlier arrival), but at this point, I'm not willing to pay $75 if it opens up.
Dec 13, 2017, 4:44 pm
#116
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
I booked the 20:55 departure YYZ - SFO. If the 16:55 departure becomes available, I'd gladly pay the change fee to switch to that flight. Although on domestic/transborder routes, I'm not sure what works out better, the YQ waiver or free changes. I rarely make changes to my Aeroplan rewards as AC options are quite limited to begin with, internationally.
In my case, switching to the 1655 nonstop is not worth $75, and I can't do standby because it departs after my YYZ-YUL, but now I'm just going to hope for a weather waiver for YUL
Dec 13, 2017, 7:29 pm
#117
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Bonvoy LTE
Posts: 1,881
My issue internationally is that the connectors often change their availability as time goes on. From booking a flight to the next day, a better LH connector opened up. But it's not worth $75x2.
In my case, switching to the 1655 nonstop is not worth $75, and I can't do standby because it departs after my YYZ-YUL, but now I'm just going to hope for a weather waiver for YUL
In my case, switching to the 1655 nonstop is not worth $75, and I can't do standby because it departs after my YYZ-YUL, but now I'm just going to hope for a weather waiver for YUL
I wish I could do standby for the 16:55... but that means getting to the airport insanely early for my 20:55. And the 16:55 is probably oversold, since they're only offering J now for purchase...
To bring this slightly back on topic, worth it for me to spend $75 so I can arrive at 19:30 local time instead of 23:30 local time...
Dec 13, 2017, 8:33 pm
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Yah, but LH connections have YQ. I guess that's where the free change benefit would be handy since you'll be paying YQ with LH either way.
I wish I could do standby for the 16:55... but that means getting to the airport insanely early for my 20:55. And the 16:55 is probably oversold, since they're only offering J now for purchase...
To bring this slightly back on topic, worth it for me to spend $75 so I can arrive at 19:30 local time instead of 23:30 local time...
I wish I could do standby for the 16:55... but that means getting to the airport insanely early for my 20:55. And the 16:55 is probably oversold, since they're only offering J now for purchase...
To bring this slightly back on topic, worth it for me to spend $75 so I can arrive at 19:30 local time instead of 23:30 local time...
So not a shocker it's worth it for you, but not for cow. And eventually something else will come up where it will become vice versa.
No different than a walk-up-full-J buyer vs. someone who "would never do that" and "who does that? that's impossible!".
The FT world keeps on spinning.
Dec 14, 2017, 2:42 am
#119
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 8
Anyone else having issues not being able to select their threshold gift? I passed 90K and now 100K AQM a few days back and the option to select the gift did not appear.
Also wondering if anyone knows when they are doing another sweep for 100k? A friend who missed early recognition but qualified a few weeks back was given the new status about a week ago.
Thanks in advance.
Also wondering if anyone knows when they are doing another sweep for 100k? A friend who missed early recognition but qualified a few weeks back was given the new status about a week ago.
Thanks in advance.
Dec 14, 2017, 3:03 am
#120
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YEG
Programs: AC Lifetime SE100K, 3MM, SPG Lifetime Plat, Hertz PC, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,901
Anyone else having issues not being able to select their threshold gift? I passed 90K and now 100K AQM a few days back and the option to select the gift did not appear.
Also wondering if anyone knows when they are doing another sweep for 100k? A friend who missed early recognition but qualified a few weeks back was given the new status about a week ago.
Thanks in advance.
Also wondering if anyone knows when they are doing another sweep for 100k? A friend who missed early recognition but qualified a few weeks back was given the new status about a week ago.
Thanks in advance.