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
Feb 11, 2021, 2:50 pm
#1246
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YYZ
Programs: Nexus
Posts: 210
Looking to book YYZ to BKK in the fall of 2021 in J.
Lots of availability on Aeroplan but not with Etihad. There is availability via IAD and there is YYZ to IAD availability however this does not show as an option.
Is this a bookable routing if I call AC Aeroplan?
YYZ -- IAD -- AUH -- BKK
Lots of availability on Aeroplan but not with Etihad. There is availability via IAD and there is YYZ to IAD availability however this does not show as an option.
Is this a bookable routing if I call AC Aeroplan?
YYZ -- IAD -- AUH -- BKK
Feb 11, 2021, 3:12 pm
#1247
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: SE100K, Bonvoy Ambassador, National Executive
Posts: 175
I called in to book my mixed J/F itinerary and fed the agent the flights I wanted that all showed as available online
Feb 11, 2021, 4:08 pm
#1248
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
Looking to book YYZ to BKK in the fall of 2021 in J.
Lots of availability on Aeroplan but not with Etihad. There is availability via IAD and there is YYZ to IAD availability however this does not show as an option.
Is this a bookable routing if I call AC Aeroplan?
YYZ -- IAD -- AUH -- BKK
Lots of availability on Aeroplan but not with Etihad. There is availability via IAD and there is YYZ to IAD availability however this does not show as an option.
Is this a bookable routing if I call AC Aeroplan?
YYZ -- IAD -- AUH -- BKK
Feb 11, 2021, 5:33 pm
#1249
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: YYC
Posts: 38
Does anyone know how to check the points earned progress in a calendar year under the new system on Aeroplan website? I ask because under the old website, it was a readily available feature that made it easy to keep track of that, but I don’t see that feature anymore. Thanks in advance.
Feb 11, 2021, 5:40 pm
#1250
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Does anyone know how to check the points earned progress in a calendar year under the new system on Aeroplan website? I ask because under the old website, it was a readily available feature that made it easy to keep track of that, but I don’t see that feature anymore. Thanks in advance.
If yes, others here have also mentioned having liked that feature on the old Altitude and Aeroplan sites, which is not available on the new Aeroplan.
Otherwise, the current option offers a drop down menu of time options but depending on your activity, it may not include all unless you save them often.
Feb 11, 2021, 6:52 pm
#1251
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: YYC
Posts: 38
Indeed the .csv format capability was a nice feature under the old program. As a minimum, for the time being, I think it'll be good to be able to see on the get-go the total accumulated points for a given period of time, at the top of the page as it was the case under the old program.
While the drop-down menu allows to see the points accumulated for individual transaction for a given period of time, one would have to select then copy and paste them into another format and calculate the sum (if feasible) which is a fairly cumbersome process.
While the drop-down menu allows to see the points accumulated for individual transaction for a given period of time, one would have to select then copy and paste them into another format and calculate the sum (if feasible) which is a fairly cumbersome process.
Feb 14, 2021, 1:09 pm
#1253
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,204
CIBC reinstated on its Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege website page language clearly indicating that cardholders get to bring one guest for free (scroll down and open the terms and conditions section):
https://www.cibc.com/en/personal-ban...lege-card.html
TD and Amex's premium/black card don't have such language in their official terms and conditions
https://www.cibc.com/en/personal-ban...lege-card.html
✦A primary cardholder and each authorized user with a CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card will each be able to offer 1 guest complimentary access to any Maple Leaf Lounge located in Canada and the United States, including International Maple Leaf Lounges in Canada and the United States when travelling on an international itinerary, (each, a “Guest Pass”) through November 7, 2021.
Last edited by hoipolloi; Feb 14, 2021 at 1:34 pm
Feb 14, 2021, 6:51 pm
#1254
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K, AC-3MM, Marriott- LT Titanium, SPG RIP
Posts: 2,959
I found it a weird transition.. I understand that the new priority rewards are up to Business Class for SEs , but still seems a big step down.
Still tryin to figure out all the ins and outs for SEs.
Feb 15, 2021, 7:49 pm
#1255
Join Date: May 2020
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE, AA PlatPro, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Plat & LT Gold, Hilton Gold, National EE
Posts: 878
SE priority rewards can be insanely valuable if used right. If you like to book international mRTWs in J, there is opportunity there or booking 6 intercontinental on a single ticket.
Feb 15, 2021, 8:13 pm
#1256
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,734
I picked a random date and found a YOW-YVR in J for 22.5k.
So while it's arguably not as good as before (this is actually the flight I'd want to take on that date, and it costs 2.5k less than under the old program), a little flexibility should keep things reasonable for you.
So while it's arguably not as good as before (this is actually the flight I'd want to take on that date, and it costs 2.5k less than under the old program), a little flexibility should keep things reasonable for you.
I plugged those dates into the search engine, intending to look at whether we're starting to see better discounts for status and/or premium cards, and it's worth noting that without logging in, I'm seeing multiple direct widebody-J options a day at 28.2K, that were showing up at >100K during your intial search back in November.
This isn't me taking a shot at your post, I think you built a solid breakdown of the results, this is me pointing out that since you ran those sample searches, they seem to have re-priced a lot of those flights to lower levels.
Maybe they saw your post and came to their senses, maybe it's the "algorithm tuning" that was hinted at back in December, but either way, things seem to have improved.
It's also worth noting that when I do log in, the 28,200-point awards become 22,900s, but the 72,400-point awards become 58,600s, and the 103,900 only drops to 100,300.
Stranger still, AC 127 only drops from 25,000 to 22,300.
All those flights are J9 C9 and at least P7 R6, and every flight is priced identically aside from the widebody surcharge.
I'm baffled. Anyone?
Last edited by YOWgary; Feb 15, 2021 at 8:22 pm
Feb 15, 2021, 8:31 pm
#1257
Join Date: May 2020
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE, AA PlatPro, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Plat & LT Gold, Hilton Gold, National EE
Posts: 878
I believe someone mentioned this earlier/in another thread that the pts to cash is based on a fixed amount. 1.4 pts per $ or something. Hence if the Revenue ticket changes then the Redemption amount changes. Minus a few minor deductions for CC and Status, it is pretty consistent across the board.
This might be improved as the system recognizes heavy CC spend as Mark Nasr alluded to (folks will be rewarded based on a higher status level and based on their spend with their co-brands).
Feb 15, 2021, 9:16 pm
#1258
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,781
Feb 15, 2021, 9:17 pm
#1259
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,734
I believe someone mentioned this earlier/in another thread that the pts to cash is based on a fixed amount. 1.4 pts per $ or something. Hence if the Revenue ticket changes then the Redemption amount changes. Minus a few minor deductions for CC and Status, it is pretty consistent across the board.
If you're referring to the "cash plus points" payment option, yes, I believe that operates on a fairly fixed ratio.
While that might be the case, I can certify that heavy credit-card spend is not a factor in whatever discounts I'm personally receiving, and nor is revenue miles flown.
Mar 2, 2021, 2:45 pm
#1260
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: Aeroplan E50/MM, HH gold, Nat Exec Elite, Kimpton Karma
Posts: 2,354
Unclear whether we are getting new membership cards this year. In past years I seem to recall there was a virtual card that could be downloaded to your phone.
AC agent couldn’t confirm any of this and didn’t know where to find a virtual card. I’ve searched around the website but no success. Would appreciate any advice about virtual cards.
AC agent couldn’t confirm any of this and didn’t know where to find a virtual card. I’ve searched around the website but no success. Would appreciate any advice about virtual cards.