Aug 12, 2020, 12:02 am
Last edit by: Adam Smith
You must call in for stopovers, multi-city, or complicated routings, until the new booking system launches in 2021.
I hope others will significantly improve this wiki!
There are four zones: North America (inc Central), South America, Atlantic (including India and Western Russia), Pacific (inc Eastern Russia) and the chart is based which one you start from and which one you end up in, there's ten of these.
Cost is based on distance, which zone pair your flight is in, which class you are flying in.
Partner airlines (again) are a better deal because while Air Canada will calculate cost on a wide ranges but partner airlines are fixed to the bottom of the range.
YQ is eliminated. There's a 39 CAD fee for booking a ticket which contains a flight on a partner airline. Aside from this, there's no incentive any more to book a return flight it seems and every incentive not to.
Note: The partner booking fee is refundable, so it's basically a YQ, rather than a booking fee.
Most flights are devalued. However, the elimination of YQ sweetens this significantly. Within North America, a lot of flights became cheaper, YVR-HNL very significantly. YVR-TYO is much cheaper while YVR-AKL is a little cheaper.
A vastly more powerful booking system is promised for 2021.
There are a lot of new tricks to be learned. https://princeoftravel.com/blog/new-aeroplan-flight-rewards/ is a good start.
Information that is harder to find:
I hope others will significantly improve this wiki!
There are four zones: North America (inc Central), South America, Atlantic (including India and Western Russia), Pacific (inc Eastern Russia) and the chart is based which one you start from and which one you end up in, there's ten of these.
Cost is based on distance, which zone pair your flight is in, which class you are flying in.
Partner airlines (again) are a better deal because while Air Canada will calculate cost on a wide ranges but partner airlines are fixed to the bottom of the range.
YQ is eliminated. There's a 39 CAD fee for booking a ticket which contains a flight on a partner airline. Aside from this, there's no incentive any more to book a return flight it seems and every incentive not to.
Note: The partner booking fee is refundable, so it's basically a YQ, rather than a booking fee.
Most flights are devalued. However, the elimination of YQ sweetens this significantly. Within North America, a lot of flights became cheaper, YVR-HNL very significantly. YVR-TYO is much cheaper while YVR-AKL is a little cheaper.
A vastly more powerful booking system is promised for 2021.
There are a lot of new tricks to be learned. https://princeoftravel.com/blog/new-aeroplan-flight-rewards/ is a good start.
Information that is harder to find:
- SE IKK redemption from the old program can be changed ("within reason") without repricing. Dates, routings, no problem. Origin/destination should be fine. But nothing that would have required a repricing under the old program. This is from Mark Nasr in https://www.facebook.com/pointsmiles...44878252851420
- The "Activity" page only shows you the most recent ~48 transactions. See this post for information on how to get older data.
- A partial refund may not be possible (e.g. if you book RT and outbound flight is cancelled by you or AC, to delete the first flight segment, you have to cancel the entire ticket and rebook the inbound at a potentially higher fare. It seems supervisor can grant exceptions.)
2020 Air Canada Aeroplan Program
Aug 11, 2020, 10:09 pm
#226
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,204
Is YUL-YHZ going to have a distance of 499, 500 or 502 miles for the purpose of the award chart ?
Aug 11, 2020, 10:20 pm
#227
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
I suggest you write in to their feedback form as was suggested to me on a similar question up thread (my concern was YEG-YVR).
I wrote in with a general comment about the old vs new “short haul.” I suggested increasing the threshold of the lowest distance to 750 miles instead of simply increasing by a few miles to accommodate a few things such as YVR-YEG. Even at that distance many short haul zones will be smaller than what they are currently.
Aug 11, 2020, 10:29 pm
#228
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,290
If redemption pricing is not determined by origin and destination "as the crow flies", but instead by the sum of the distance of the flights chosen, this raises a dilemma. Say I book YVR-SFO-YYZ-MUC in Y which is 7,198 miles and therefore redeem 55k points. What if, for whatever, reason the airline rebooks me on the day of departure to just YVR-MUC which is 5,198 miles and therefore "worth" 40k points. Am I entitled to a refund of 15k points?
I'm asking because this sort of thing has happened to me on two occasions, once on UA and once on LH, both on reward tickets, and both were not subject to IRROPS. Flights were on time but UA/LH obviously needed seats on the other flights being dropped. I only found out on check in that the ticket has to be reissued, which caused a flurry of phone calls by the check-in agent before I could be checked in. New tickets are then issued in full fare Y and earn points.
I'm asking because this sort of thing has happened to me on two occasions, once on UA and once on LH, both on reward tickets, and both were not subject to IRROPS. Flights were on time but UA/LH obviously needed seats on the other flights being dropped. I only found out on check in that the ticket has to be reissued, which caused a flurry of phone calls by the check-in agent before I could be checked in. New tickets are then issued in full fare Y and earn points.
Aug 11, 2020, 10:33 pm
#229
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,397
If redemption pricing is not determined by origin and destination "as the crow flies", but instead by the sum of the distance of the flights chosen, this raises a dilemma. Say I book YVR-SFO-YYZ-MUC in Y which is 7,198 miles and therefore redeem 55k points. What if, for whatever, reason the airline rebooks me on the day of departure to just YVR-MUC which is 5,198 miles and therefore "worth" 40k points. Am I entitled to a refund of 15k points?
I'm asking because this sort of thing has happened to me on two occasions, once on UA and once on LH, both on reward tickets, and both were not subject to IRROPS. Flights were on time but UA/LH obviously needed seats on the other flights being dropped. I only found out on check in that the ticket has to be reissued, which caused a flurry of phone calls by the check-in agent before I could be checked in. New tickets are then issued in full fare Y and earn points.
I'm asking because this sort of thing has happened to me on two occasions, once on UA and once on LH, both on reward tickets, and both were not subject to IRROPS. Flights were on time but UA/LH obviously needed seats on the other flights being dropped. I only found out on check in that the ticket has to be reissued, which caused a flurry of phone calls by the check-in agent before I could be checked in. New tickets are then issued in full fare Y and earn points.
That being said, I might wait to see if I get SQM credited before deciding whether to ask for 15k points back.
Aug 11, 2020, 11:06 pm
#230
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
Did you honestly think that five years after the last major revision to the award chart, we wouldn't see increases of at least 10%?
210K for YOW-PER is a kick in the berries, no question, but YVR-HND in ANA J, just went from 150K to 110K r/t.
Don't ask me how that second one is now cheaper than YUL-CDG, but the point is that there are some pros and cons across the whole chart.
210K for YOW-PER is a kick in the berries, no question, but YVR-HND in ANA J, just went from 150K to 110K r/t.
Don't ask me how that second one is now cheaper than YUL-CDG, but the point is that there are some pros and cons across the whole chart.
I don't like how this is moving closer to the WestJet model. That is not good. It should be the other way around. As frequent fliers we need to create the environment where these two are competing to win us over with their loyalty program. I am disappointed by the program changes. I am not surprised.
Aug 12, 2020, 1:41 am
#231
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,852
Just went over my notes from the briefing and these dates may or may not be of interest:
* August 11 - program details revealed (which is where we're at now, natch)
* August 24 - "bank notifications start" re: credit cards, but it seems some here are already getting a heads-up from their banks?
* November 8 - "soft launch, program and co-branded cards launch" - so while Nov8 is the go-live it's still being called a "soft launch"?
* Q1 2021 - "hard launch, mass (ad) campaign starts" - I suppose by this time a few more planks of the Aeroplan 2 platform will be in place, so it'll be a little more of a 'complete' package. Those features, which as of today are TBA beyond Nov11, may well include the likes of Priority Rewards, the Status Pass, 'Everyday Status Qualification' etc.
* August 11 - program details revealed (which is where we're at now, natch)
* August 24 - "bank notifications start" re: credit cards, but it seems some here are already getting a heads-up from their banks?
* November 8 - "soft launch, program and co-branded cards launch" - so while Nov8 is the go-live it's still being called a "soft launch"?
* Q1 2021 - "hard launch, mass (ad) campaign starts" - I suppose by this time a few more planks of the Aeroplan 2 platform will be in place, so it'll be a little more of a 'complete' package. Those features, which as of today are TBA beyond Nov11, may well include the likes of Priority Rewards, the Status Pass, 'Everyday Status Qualification' etc.
Aug 12, 2020, 4:16 am
#232
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,507
Ticket prices are known to fluctuate, so that they often begin high, decrease gradually over time, then spike up at the end. My understanding is that with this new system points and revenue are tied together, so we should expect to see the points pricing fluctuate similarly to the revenue pricing. If that's the case, would we anticipate booking early, then potentially canceling and rebooking if and when the prices fall? This seems especially something those with SuperElite status would do because of the free changes. Or have I misunderstood how pricing works?
Aug 12, 2020, 4:28 am
#233
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC-ELITE 50K
Posts: 66
Family Account
does the family account will only allow sharing miles for redemption or will it allow family AQD and AQM to also be pooled to get status as a family ?
Aug 12, 2020, 4:51 am
#234
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*SE 2MM
Posts: 16,673
It only shares for redemptions (and takes proportionally fro meach account so you can't designate who the points are taken from). Apparently all family members will benefit from the highest status of any family member when it comes to booking - so if there is an SE in the family and SE's are offered some kind of booking advantage, that booking advantage is open to everyone in the family circle... in practice probably means that if SE can cancel for free, all family members can also cancel for free.
Aug 12, 2020, 4:59 am
#235
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: YYT
Programs: M-Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Aeroplan 50K, DragonPass, AMEX MR, NEXUS
Posts: 1,715
Aug 12, 2020, 5:37 am
#236
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,506
75,000 miles for a transpacific ticket that costs $1000 easily roundtrip isn't too bad. 1.3 cents a mile. The added flexibility of booking one-way also increases the value, as I toggle between programs and typically fly the longer leg back to Asia in J. I've had some qwerky itineraries over the years with more stopovers/transits to enhance the value, such as doing the long route HKG-BKK-LHR-YUL in 2014, although the extra charges were about CAD 475. Given the long distance, that number seemed much more reasonable than a 1.5 hour flight to La Guardia with $100+ in extra charges.
Aug 12, 2020, 5:44 am
#237
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,583
Aug 12, 2020, 5:47 am
#238
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,506
Clearly, for Y bookers, need to book BEFORE Nov 8, it's big deval everywhere (and I'll guess that's where MOST people redeem, to Europe or Asia in Y). Plus, ANA/EVA/TK didn't have much YQ to begin with to offset the miles increase
For J, it's reasonable increase and without YQ
And Predictor is useless if MOST of the time options are in the mid-to-high end ranges
but I'd look into Intra-Asia redemptions now, who knows whether the LCC low $ flights will return or not. TPE-HKG is 8000 pts one-way, competiting with Avios eh...
For J, it's reasonable increase and without YQ
And Predictor is useless if MOST of the time options are in the mid-to-high end ranges
but I'd look into Intra-Asia redemptions now, who knows whether the LCC low $ flights will return or not. TPE-HKG is 8000 pts one-way, competiting with Avios eh...
https://www.globalphotos.org/air202008.htm
Aug 12, 2020, 6:30 am
#239
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC 50K, Viporter Priority
Posts: 39
https://www.newswire.ca/news-release...860921849.html
One thing worries me: they talk about access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America and Air Canada Café (while the Amex Aeroplan Platinum provided access to All Maple Leafs Lounges including international which had better offering)
nothing else from Amex in my mailbox or on their website. I hope they don’t raise the fees (TD equivalent card is now at $599, vs $499 for the Amex Aeroplan platinum)
Aug 12, 2020, 6:36 am
#240
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: NFA
Programs: Air Canada Super Elite, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 72
Yeah you can put your friends into your sharing group too. Wonder what the mechanism will be to leave a group/kick someone out
Last edited by Adam Smith; Jul 30, 2021 at 12:24 am Reason: Edit to reflect thread move