AC Cyber Monday Deal - 15% off
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
AC Cyber Monday Deal - 15% off
Came across this today whilst trolling the AC website for deals:
Promo Code : XC3CF3X1
T&Cs:
Safe Travels,
James
Promo Code : XC3CF3X1
T&Cs:
- Book by November 26, 2018 at 11:59 pm from your city of departure in Canada.
- Valid on base fares in Economy (Basic, Standard, Flex, Comfort and Latitude), Premium Economy (Lowest), Premium Economy (Flexible), Business (Lowest) and Business (Flexible).
- Travel valid from January 10, 2019 until June 15, 2019.
- Subject to availability at time of booking.
- Blackout dates apply.All destinations:
February 15, 2019 February 18, 2019
February 28, 2019 - March 3, 2019
March 7, 2019 March 10, 2019
March 15, 2019 March 17, 2019
March 22, 2019 March 24, 2019
March 29, 2019 March 31, 2019
Asia & Australia - return travel dates:
April 27, 2019 May 5, 2019
- Valid on certain codeshare flights only:
Lufthansa Group
Swiss International Airlines Group
Austrian Airlines Group
Brussels Airlines
Eurowings
Asiana
Safe Travels,
James
#3
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
It looks like they changed the promo code from 'XC3CF3X1' to 'CYBERMONDAY2018'. I was halfway through on a booking before it kicked me out and it took me a while to figure out why YYZ was not an eligible destination all of a sudden!
#9
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,140
But I'm still curious - have you confirmed that the same fare basis code (which, admittedly, Air Canada does not make it easy to find) is still available but has increased in price? Or is it just that you can only get a price on a different fare basis code now? Because if the later, is it not possible that the cheaper fares just sold out?
For example, here's what ExpertFlyer is showing for J cabin YYC/FRA for some random dates that are eligible for the cyber monday sale. Have these changed?
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
We all track different destinations. It could be for routes we fly more often, it could be for ones we want to fly or plan to fly so we keep an eye on prices.
As for whether they have increased, probably yes for some routes. Two of my routes have definitely increased, so I look at other airline options. Two others have remained within the same range.
As I pointed out recently, AC has now added a large "Carrier Surcharge - Canada". This has affected overall price on some routes, but not as much on others. The base fare is lower so the commission to TAs is lower, if anything at all. Plus, the value of any % off promo code is lower. The Base plus YQ for AQD calculations should still be the same. I haven't checked all of the numbers yet.
So, the AC 15% Cyber Monday (pick a fake holiday designed to convince consumers there are deals...) may save a couple of hundred on a J international business class fare, but will barely move the needle on a Y ticket in North America. As always, YMMV.
As for whether they have increased, probably yes for some routes. Two of my routes have definitely increased, so I look at other airline options. Two others have remained within the same range.
As I pointed out recently, AC has now added a large "Carrier Surcharge - Canada". This has affected overall price on some routes, but not as much on others. The base fare is lower so the commission to TAs is lower, if anything at all. Plus, the value of any % off promo code is lower. The Base plus YQ for AQD calculations should still be the same. I haven't checked all of the numbers yet.
So, the AC 15% Cyber Monday (pick a fake holiday designed to convince consumers there are deals...) may save a couple of hundred on a J international business class fare, but will barely move the needle on a Y ticket in North America. As always, YMMV.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,497
I believe you both.
But I'm still curious - have you confirmed that the same fare basis code (which, admittedly, Air Canada does not make it easy to find) is still available but has increased in price? Or is it just that you can only get a price on a different fare basis code now? Because if the later, is it not possible that the cheaper fares just sold out?
For example, here's what ExpertFlyer is showing for J cabin YYC/FRA for some random dates that are eligible for the cyber monday sale. Have these changed?
But I'm still curious - have you confirmed that the same fare basis code (which, admittedly, Air Canada does not make it easy to find) is still available but has increased in price? Or is it just that you can only get a price on a different fare basis code now? Because if the later, is it not possible that the cheaper fares just sold out?
For example, here's what ExpertFlyer is showing for J cabin YYC/FRA for some random dates that are eligible for the cyber monday sale. Have these changed?
#12
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Ontario Canada
Programs: Air Canada 50K - Hilton Diamond - Marriott Platinum
Posts: 281
YYZ-FRA-KTW doesn't seem to work for a flight i am waiting on. the FRA-KTW is a codeshare with LH so seems to fall outside of the "Valid on certain codeshare flights only"
but price has gone up $20 since a week ago on flex fares
it seems to have some really weird blackout dates i don't see a pattern to them
but price has gone up $20 since a week ago on flex fares
it seems to have some really weird blackout dates i don't see a pattern to them
Last edited by Aselwyn; Nov 26, 2018 at 9:59 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
It sucks but I've been in this situation a few times (i.e. taking the train up to YOW from YXU just to get a dirt cheap United fare to HKG). Most recently I managed to snag a $515 CAD flight from London,UK to LA then New York to London,UK (also on United). I had to use my Aeroplan points and an Air Canada flight pass I bought for this purpose to take advantage of the fare and make it work out for me (it also allowed me to visit my parents near YXU and my sister in YSJ). If you are flexible with when and where you are taking off, great air fares can be had. In fact, I'm starting to see $400 CAD return flights on United to North America now from Europe.
Safe Travels,
James
#15
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SEMM / HH Diamond
Posts: 3,140
While it's still cyber monday .... if anyone really believes that AC is gaming the system, then I encourage you to find any prices that you're suspicious of, and then post the price and associated fare booking codes here, tonight (while the sale is still on). Then we can all watch together to see if the base fares go back down again, once the sale has finished. And with the data that you've posted here, we'll be able to understand how AC did it.
If the prices don't go back down again, but have actually gone up permanently ... then I ask you to consider whether or not this was an artificial price fixing situation, as appears to be implied - or is it just that previously cheap fares are now sold out (which, you know, is kinda what happens).
Bottom line, I'm a little skeptical that AC is doing anything deceptive, but I am very interested in seeing details so that we can all move past innuendo and start talking facts. If AC really is temporarily inflating base prices during a sale (perhaps by zeroing out cheaper fare classes), then they should be held to account.
If the prices don't go back down again, but have actually gone up permanently ... then I ask you to consider whether or not this was an artificial price fixing situation, as appears to be implied - or is it just that previously cheap fares are now sold out (which, you know, is kinda what happens).
Bottom line, I'm a little skeptical that AC is doing anything deceptive, but I am very interested in seeing details so that we can all move past innuendo and start talking facts. If AC really is temporarily inflating base prices during a sale (perhaps by zeroing out cheaper fare classes), then they should be held to account.