Introducing Air Canada Basic Economy
Nov 17, 2018, 10:47 am
#166
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,302
Nov 19, 2018, 6:15 am
#168
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,139
Flying on a Basic fare with status
I am still toying with various options for the family vacation next summer but I want to make sure I understand this whole Basic fare right. Let's assume my dates are set and I buy the tickets using my Amex Plat to get insurance, I don't see a lot of difference between Basic and Standard. Itinerary would be something like YQB-YYZ-LIS and LIS-YUL-YQB.
I won't get free seat selection on either of these fares but since we will be travelling with my daughter, I can call in to ask for seat assignments. With my status, I can check more bags than I want to carry. No possibilities to eUp on Basic, but I wouldn't do it anyway. Basic yields me a total of roughly 1,710 AQM and 2 AQS for the international segments plus some AQD (no idea how to quantify that). Standard would yield something like 3,719 AQM, 4 AQS plus AQD on all segments. If we value redeemable miles at 0.2 cpm, that is a difference in value of $40. Wife and daughter don't really accrue AQM or AQD anyway so this is only valuable to me.
Since I want to book the whole family on the same PNR, everyone has to be either Basic or Standard. For the dates I am looking at, the total difference is about $200 for the whole family between the two fares. I am tempted to go with Basic and spend the difference on a great meal in Portugal instead but am wary of any hidden catch with this fare.
Is that it? Am I missing anything?
I won't get free seat selection on either of these fares but since we will be travelling with my daughter, I can call in to ask for seat assignments. With my status, I can check more bags than I want to carry. No possibilities to eUp on Basic, but I wouldn't do it anyway. Basic yields me a total of roughly 1,710 AQM and 2 AQS for the international segments plus some AQD (no idea how to quantify that). Standard would yield something like 3,719 AQM, 4 AQS plus AQD on all segments. If we value redeemable miles at 0.2 cpm, that is a difference in value of $40. Wife and daughter don't really accrue AQM or AQD anyway so this is only valuable to me.
Since I want to book the whole family on the same PNR, everyone has to be either Basic or Standard. For the dates I am looking at, the total difference is about $200 for the whole family between the two fares. I am tempted to go with Basic and spend the difference on a great meal in Portugal instead but am wary of any hidden catch with this fare.
Is that it? Am I missing anything?
Nov 19, 2018, 6:34 am
#169
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
I am still toying with various options for the family vacation next summer but I want to make sure I understand this whole Basic fare right. Let's assume my dates are set and I buy the tickets using my Amex Plat to get insurance, I don't see a lot of difference between Basic and Standard. Itinerary would be something like YQB-YYZ-LIS and LIS-YUL-YQB.
I won't get free seat selection on either of these fares but since we will be travelling with my daughter, I can call in to ask for seat assignments. With my status, I can check more bags than I want to carry. No possibilities to eUp on Basic, but I wouldn't do it anyway. Basic yields me a total of roughly 1,710 AQM and 2 AQS for the international segments plus some AQD (no idea how to quantify that). Standard would yield something like 3,719 AQM, 4 AQS plus AQD on all segments. If we value redeemable miles at 0.2 cpm, that is a difference in value of $40. Wife and daughter don't really accrue AQM or AQD anyway so this is only valuable to me.
Since I want to book the whole family on the same PNR, everyone has to be either Basic or Standard. For the dates I am looking at, the total difference is about $200 for the whole family between the two fares. I am tempted to go with Basic and spend the difference on a great meal in Portugal instead but am wary of any hidden catch with this fare.
Is that it? Am I missing anything?
I won't get free seat selection on either of these fares but since we will be travelling with my daughter, I can call in to ask for seat assignments. With my status, I can check more bags than I want to carry. No possibilities to eUp on Basic, but I wouldn't do it anyway. Basic yields me a total of roughly 1,710 AQM and 2 AQS for the international segments plus some AQD (no idea how to quantify that). Standard would yield something like 3,719 AQM, 4 AQS plus AQD on all segments. If we value redeemable miles at 0.2 cpm, that is a difference in value of $40. Wife and daughter don't really accrue AQM or AQD anyway so this is only valuable to me.
Since I want to book the whole family on the same PNR, everyone has to be either Basic or Standard. For the dates I am looking at, the total difference is about $200 for the whole family between the two fares. I am tempted to go with Basic and spend the difference on a great meal in Portugal instead but am wary of any hidden catch with this fare.
Is that it? Am I missing anything?
Nov 19, 2018, 7:03 am
#170
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YQB
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 2,139
That's true for domestic or transborder flights but according to AC.com, you can earn 25% Aeroplan Miles/Altitude Qualifying Miles on select flights between Canada and destinations over the Atlantic. I would assume AQS/AQD would also be credited but could be wrong.
Nov 19, 2018, 8:58 am
#171
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE100K; SQ KF Elite Gold; AS MVP 75k; DL Plat.; Hilton Gold; SPG/Marriott Gold; IHG Gold;
Posts: 54
That's true for domestic or transborder flights but according to AC.com, you can earn 25% Aeroplan Miles/Altitude Qualifying Miles on select flights between Canada and destinations over the Atlantic. I would assume AQS/AQD would also be credited but could be wrong.
Nov 19, 2018, 7:58 pm
#173
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
That's true for domestic or transborder flights but according to AC.com, you can earn 25% Aeroplan Miles/Altitude Qualifying Miles on select flights between Canada and destinations over the Atlantic. I would assume AQS/AQD would also be credited but could be wrong.
Nov 19, 2018, 8:46 pm
#174
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
Nov 20, 2018, 5:52 am
#175
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,300
I have booked a couple of flights YYC/YEG -YVR on Basic and on this past Sunday I called in to ask about upgrade fare and was told no. Basic is basic its exactly that, no thrills, just basic! Its cheap for short hauls.
Would I do this for long hauls, nope! I rather choose my seat and get the AQS/AQD but that is me!
Nov 20, 2018, 6:44 am
#176
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
Oh yes for the sake of what is normally just a few dollars I’ll likely take Standard. Doesn’t mean trips on OPM won’t leave me AQM free though.
Fortunately my next potential trip is showing Standard as the lowest available fare. I wonder if I can wait until only Flex is available
Fortunately my next potential trip is showing Standard as the lowest available fare. I wonder if I can wait until only Flex is available
Dec 19, 2018, 12:59 pm
#177
Join Date: May 2015
Location: YUL
Programs: AC 50K, *A Gold
Posts: 301
I'm looking at the following trip : LGA-YYZ-CDG-YUL-LGA where all is booked in K class through United.
But on the booking page of United it states BASIC economy and it's K class for UAL coded flights on AC metal. I don't know if it is K class for UA or AC. Will I earn AQS for every leg and AQD ?
AC states that flights over the atlantic do earn AQS AQD but it doesn't say which ones .. some help would be appreciated.
But on the booking page of United it states BASIC economy and it's K class for UAL coded flights on AC metal. I don't know if it is K class for UA or AC. Will I earn AQS for every leg and AQD ?
AC states that flights over the atlantic do earn AQS AQD but it doesn't say which ones .. some help would be appreciated.
Dec 19, 2018, 3:00 pm
#178
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
I'm looking at the following trip : LGA-YYZ-CDG-YUL-LGA where all is booked in K class through United.
But on the booking page of United it states BASIC economy and it's K class for UAL coded flights on AC metal. I don't know if it is K class for UA or AC. Will I earn AQS for every leg and AQD ?
AC states that flights over the atlantic do earn AQS AQD but it doesn't say which ones .. some help would be appreciated.
But on the booking page of United it states BASIC economy and it's K class for UAL coded flights on AC metal. I don't know if it is K class for UA or AC. Will I earn AQS for every leg and AQD ?
AC states that flights over the atlantic do earn AQS AQD but it doesn't say which ones .. some help would be appreciated.
-James
Jan 7, 2019, 6:55 am
#180
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
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