Stranger

Actually it's unfair to people who paid if they don't charge for gate checks and oversized cabin luggage. Perhaps we should wish for the Ryanair solution?

RangerNS

Well, actually enforcing the carry on rules before Zone 5 would also help, at least over the long term, in changing behavior.

Not allowing crew to have 13 bags each would help. Having closets and not taking up half of Jr bins with fire extinguishers would help.

But letting those with partner CCs check a bag for free might be the path of least resistance if delays because gate checks is an issue to them.

Bohemian1

Glad to see that someone else is also smart/old enough to remember this. 29 years ago - eek!

tcook052

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/air-cana...ners-1.1173461

Air Canada says TD, CIBC and Visa to continue as Aeroplan partners

Air Canada says it signed agreements with TD Bank, CIBC and Visa that will see them continue to be part of the Aeroplan loyalty program.

cedric

I thought TD already was the "primary card issuer". Didn't most CIBC Aerogold clients get shunted over to TD when they first made an arrangement? What makes someone a "primary card issuer" anyway?

Not much to be inferred from CIBC's press release: CIBC completes definitive agreements with Air Canada regarding Aeroplan - Nov 26, 2018

FlyerTalker70

We need to cut out the nonsense of allowing people with partner CCs get all (or some) the benefits of being an elite. I'm sick and tired of entering a packed MLL because there's a bunch of FoTSGs with Aeroplan cards (or worse MLL memberships) that grant them free access. Similar thing for priority boarding and free checked bags. Whilst all us elites worked hard for our *A Gold status (i.e. spending $2000/year on flights on *A sitting in middle seat economy on several long haul segments) those FoTSG just had to fill out an application or pay a fee to get the benefits.

Colour me jaded but there's a reason why we can't have nice things at United domestic clubs down.

Safe Travels,

James

yscleo

TD paid a lot more than CIBC, to AC. TD gets to say they are the primary card issue. CIBC is the other primary card issuer but they don't get to say that.

AC "sold" the CIBC customers to TD, but CIBC threatened to sue, so CIBC in addition to giving TD those customer database, gets to continue selling CIBC ae visas.

Amex is the primary transfer partner and is negotiating to keep that title.

MasterGeek

Bohemian1

I need you know how you get *A Gold for only $2k/yr.

That aside, do we have any hard evidence that lounge crowding and/or mediocrity is significantly due to card holders? I'm genuinely curious.

pitz

I was going to agree with you fully, but $2000 needs to be replaced with $20,000. Pretty sure that a $2000/year customer who gets any sort of status with AC would be considered to be just as much of a bottom-feeder as the people who merely churn credit card points.

And yeah when the MLL is more of a zoo than the general public areas, that's not exactly what I think most higher-spending FFPs really had in mind when they thought of lounge access as being a perk. Its pretty hard for AC to really move the needle on product quality, comfort, etc., when everyone and their dog has access.

5mm

Stranger

Still depends what AC needs to give in exchange for these miles. Apparently when there was AE in the middle, AC was not too happy with that.

Which of course begs the question, what is going to be different now?

YXUFlyboy

I don't get the argument. The TD card has a luggage option for people with very high incomes, or one for AP rewards only for people with more normal incomes. I can see card issuers offering more benefits for higher annual fees and frankly I don't see the difference here. Frequent fliers get benefits because they give airlines money. Credit card holders give banks money, who then give airlines money (see $1B from TD above). As long as the perk is paid for, who cares where it comes from? It generates the profit needed.

Keep in mind I can get SE100K right now if I want to sign up for a 6-month business class unlimited flight pass and not fly a minute. There's a reason airlines keep shifting to revenue-based loyalty models. It sucks but it's true.

FoTSGs are more traditional WestJet folks anyway, now with a Swoop(tm) option.

canadiancow

AC will get the money, instead of Aeroplan.

5mm