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
Nov 28, 2020, 11:50 am
#1051
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, Bonvoy, Alaska, Avios
Posts: 1,290
global.error.dxapi.37181
It is right after the passengers and contact info page. I should go to seat selection next but I get the error and only option is to resume last search.
Nov 28, 2020, 4:06 pm
#1052
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Diamond, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,085
I'm not sure if anyone has further commented on this after the new program launched. I tried searching and couldn't find anything, so if this is a duplicate post I apologize. I was just told by the Concierge that a flexible reward in J does not get access to the Signature Suite. No awards qualify for entry. So, for a SE, there is no benefit I can see to paying the extra points for a flexible rather than lowest business class reward.
Nov 28, 2020, 4:23 pm
#1053
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: 44,354
I'm not sure if anyone has further commented on this after the new program launched. I tried searching and couldn't find anything, so if this is a duplicate post I apologize. I was just told by the Concierge that a flexible reward in J does not get access to the Signature Suite. No awards qualify for entry. So, for a SE, there is no benefit I can see to paying the extra points for a flexible rather than lowest business class reward.
There has been absolutely no official word on it. But I don't think they'd want to advertise it, given all Signature Suites are closed.
I think you'll have to wait until they reopen to figure out if it's actually a perk.
Nov 28, 2020, 4:42 pm
#1054
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,904
The only time that was ever mentioned was at the media event in July, when Mark Nasr said "Latitude" would get you in, which people interpreted as "business flexible".
There has been absolutely no official word on it. But I don't think they'd want to advertise it, given all Signature Suites are closed.
I think you'll have to wait until they reopen to figure out if it's actually a perk.
There has been absolutely no official word on it. But I don't think they'd want to advertise it, given all Signature Suites are closed.
I think you'll have to wait until they reopen to figure out if it's actually a perk.
Nov 28, 2020, 4:54 pm
#1055
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,734
The Standard-to-Lat delta with points is a fraction of what it is with cash. I worry that AC will nerf that over time, but for now, booking a Priority-Reward Lat award and eUpgrading is by far the best value in the whole program.
Nov 28, 2020, 4:56 pm
#1056
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: 44,354
It's about 12k on YYZ-HND on a random date. At 1 cent per point, I can easily eat and drink that value in the SS. At 2 cents, I'd probably need to be there for lunch and dinner.
Here's an interesting one. It clearly is factor my status into the changes and refundable lines, but none of the others.
I get a preferred seat on all fares.
I get 3 checked bags on all fares.
Standby is correct.
I get priority check-in on all fares.
I think they should be consistent on whether they show things based on the fare, or based on fare+status. Changing it halfway through the table is confusing.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Jun 22, 2021 at 6:08 pm Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same user
Nov 28, 2020, 5:20 pm
#1057
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Programs: AC SE100K MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Accor Diamond, National Emerald Club Exec Elite
Posts: 1,085
The premium on business flexible (Latitude is economy - it is never going to get you into the SS) isn't actually that high. That's verifiable without trusting the blogs.
It's about 12k on YYZ-HND on a random date. At 1 cent per point, I can easily eat and drink that value in the SS. At 2 cents, I'd probably need to be there for lunch and dinner.
It's about 12k on YYZ-HND on a random date. At 1 cent per point, I can easily eat and drink that value in the SS. At 2 cents, I'd probably need to be there for lunch and dinner.
Nov 28, 2020, 7:57 pm
#1058
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,734
I was booking YVR-BNE using a priority reward (including a return from SYD). The difference was only about 7000 points so I might have done it if I was assured SSL access and that's why I called the concierge. He seemed pretty certain that once the SSs reopen, no reward fare class at all will allow access, even flexible business.
I've lost track of how many times this month alone, I've had three different AC staff assure me "I checked with my manager, this is definitely the answer" only to find out an hour later that the answer they gave was wrong.
Nov 29, 2020, 3:20 am
#1059
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC SE100K, Star Alliance - Gold, Bonvoy-Titanium, Hilton-Gold, Avis-President's Club
Posts: 158
Return date Modifications after departure (reward fare)
Hi, under the new AE program, i was trying to recall which thread or answer would be appropriate for my inquiry as if i had flown the departure trip of my round trip of points redemption, would I still be able to make any modifications (earlier / later date) of my return trip?
Currently, I’m an SE.
1. what if the scenario is for myself and/or companion under the same reservation? Is it free of charge?
2. What if the scenario is for somebody else where i’m not in the ticket reservation (i redeem for my parents let’s say)? Is it free of charge?
Thank you!
Currently, I’m an SE.
1. what if the scenario is for myself and/or companion under the same reservation? Is it free of charge?
2. What if the scenario is for somebody else where i’m not in the ticket reservation (i redeem for my parents let’s say)? Is it free of charge?
Thank you!
Nov 29, 2020, 6:15 am
#1060
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,204
AC's estimator tool prices it in the >500 band, starting at 10K.
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...an/redeem.html
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...an/redeem.html
Nov 29, 2020, 6:37 am
#1061
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 8,007
Sorry if this has been asked before, but when booking flights and you see a mixed cabin itinerary I can't see which legs are in what class. I'm able to see the class if I click through the booking process, but not when I start the search and see all the options.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Nov 29, 2020, 6:59 am
#1062
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Last edited by Adam Smith; Jun 22, 2021 at 7:40 pm Reason: Remove quote of deleted post
Nov 29, 2020, 10:42 am
#1064
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
I was booking YVR-BNE using a priority reward (including a return from SYD). The difference was only about 7000 points so I might have done it if I was assured SSL access and that's why I called the concierge. He seemed pretty certain that once the SSs reopen, no reward fare class at all will allow access, even flexible business.
New VIP lounge YYZ int'l: Air Canada Signature Suite
So the concierge seems correct about not allowing access to reward J, but given I'm not up to date with the new program I could be wrong (which means that the thread I reference above also needs a wiki update).
Nov 29, 2020, 3:45 pm
#1065
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, Bonvoy, Alaska, Avios
Posts: 1,290
I decided to call Aeroplan since I kept getting the global error message when trying to book. YYZ-YUL-CZM return CZM-YYZ
~40-45 minutes before I got an agent. Then another 45 minutes while he had issues booking the flight. He originally gave me a $275 quote for fees then 10 minutes later $250.
In the end I paid $196 (combined for 2 J fares)
And..
the quote both he saw I and saw online was 82,600 (41,300 each). Turns out I got billed 78,600 (39,300 each)
~40-45 minutes before I got an agent. Then another 45 minutes while he had issues booking the flight. He originally gave me a $275 quote for fees then 10 minutes later $250.
In the end I paid $196 (combined for 2 J fares)
And..
the quote both he saw I and saw online was 82,600 (41,300 each). Turns out I got billed 78,600 (39,300 each)
Last edited by mikeycanuk; Nov 29, 2020 at 5:47 pm