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, 10:23 am
#121
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,820
Exactly. For those of us who have done just fine avoiding AC metal, this is a positive.
And really, it's been just fine enjoying far superior carriers like BR, NH, LO or TK.
Even without YQ, I will avoid AC metal unless last resource. So yes, spending a few thousand more points from a credit card sign up or promo is preferred to $1000+ of my money.
Now if its true that YQ is staying for partners due to the vague wording, that will be a massive devaluation.
And really, it's been just fine enjoying far superior carriers like BR, NH, LO or TK.
Even without YQ, I will avoid AC metal unless last resource. So yes, spending a few thousand more points from a credit card sign up or promo is preferred to $1000+ of my money.
Now if its true that YQ is staying for partners due to the vague wording, that will be a massive devaluation.
In a surprising move, Air Canada has removed this fee for all carriers (though taxes and third-party fees still apply), but there is a C$39 fee when booking with partner airlines.There’s now no need to find routing with a partner airline that gave you a less than ideal itinerary just to save cash. Although it may cost you more points to redeem a flight, the savings you get from not paying surcharges make it a pretty good trade-off.
Aug 11, 2020, 10:23 am
#122
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,233
Future earning chart: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...plan/earn.html
Looks like we will soon need a new 'AQM/AQD' calculator.
Last edited by Bohemian1; Aug 11, 2020 at 10:38 am Reason: More mobile friendly.
Aug 11, 2020, 10:30 am
#123
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYZ
Posts: 380
don't forget no YQ on EVA so no trade off like some of the Atlantic routes so agreed for some this is a big deval based on your usage in the past.
Aug 11, 2020, 10:34 am
#124
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: 16,782
If my understanding is correct, the separation of status miles and spendable miles has some interesting ramifications.
The earning of status miles (SQM) appears to be unchanged - based on distance flown.
However the earning of spendable miles (now points) has significant changes as it is based on $ spent on base fare/surcharge.
At first glance this should favor expensive short flights.
[...]
Are my assumptions correct?
The earning of status miles (SQM) appears to be unchanged - based on distance flown.
However the earning of spendable miles (now points) has significant changes as it is based on $ spent on base fare/surcharge.
At first glance this should favor expensive short flights.
[...]
Are my assumptions correct?
Related question - will the select privilege of bonus (spendable) miles based on status still exist on top of this?
Not until "later in 2021". Hopefully by then AC will have joined the US3 in showing earning on the website. Although partner tickets may still be an issue. Lots of time left though.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Aug 11, 2020 at 10:45 am Reason: Fixed quote
Aug 11, 2020, 10:38 am
#125
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ *G; HH Diamond;
Posts: 1,644
Any info on changes to chart for Star Alliance Upgrade Awards?
Aug 11, 2020, 10:56 am
#126
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: 16,782
I feel like the Status Passes as a select privilege may mean the end of gifted status tiers. Not that I care since I've never gifted status, but some might.
Aug 11, 2020, 10:56 am
#127
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
- Priority boarding is going to be a complete mess in 2021. Almost every Aeroplan Distinction status member is grandfathered to P25K, which also gets Zone 2 boarding. For gates that have combined Zone 1 / 2 lanes, and agents that call them together, it's a devaluation for 35K, 50K, 75K and SE. If everyone is special, nobody is
Aug 11, 2020, 10:57 am
#128
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: 16,782
Aug 11, 2020, 10:59 am
#129
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: YYC, Canada
Programs: AC 35k
Posts: 1,898
Overall - for FOHTSGs, this is a massively positive change.
If you are a high CC spender or buy J around NA and Sun, this is a generally positive change. Free P25K (they may gut this tier) and decent benefits.
If you are actually a frequent flier, these changes are not very positive at all.
If you are a high CC spender or buy J around NA and Sun, this is a generally positive change. Free P25K (they may gut this tier) and decent benefits.
If you are actually a frequent flier, these changes are not very positive at all.
Aug 11, 2020, 11:01 am
#130
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: AC SE 1MM
Posts: 344
Comments:
- Priority boarding is going to be a complete mess in 2021. Almost every Aeroplan Distinction status member is grandfathered to P25K, which also gets Zone 2 boarding. For gates that have combined Zone 1 / 2 lanes, and agents that call them together, it's a devaluation for 35K, 50K, 75K and SE. If everyone is special, nobody is.
Aug 11, 2020, 11:03 am
#131
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,441
I liked the old program better, but that's no surprise to me.
Aug 11, 2020, 11:06 am
#132
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,506
Exactly. I want someone to put my suitcase overhead on my behalf while I board last!
Aug 11, 2020, 11:17 am
#133
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 57
However, as pointed out above, it looks like Air Canada is trying to make Aeroplan credit card holders somehow have better access to Altitude benefits than those who rely on cashback cards. That's clever, because to date I was only collecting Aeroplan miles/points to be used for fixed business class rewards, which if booked right, come at a significant discount to what I would have to pay if I was earning and using cents. That "value proposition" is apparently being devalued, but it is not clear to me by how much.
Aug 11, 2020, 11:18 am
#134
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Vancouver
Programs: AC SE100K 1MM, FB Platinum, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,605
I am gathering that Altitude is going away (not surprising). The new branding is really well done and the credit card look is very nice.
What will happen to the select privilege that gives a bonus on the base miles you fly based on status? I have selected this the last few years and as SE has given me a 100% Aeroplan mile bonus on the base AQM. It's not clear how that gets managed - if I am SE and purchase a business class fare, will I get 3X then 4X then 2X the dollar amount or will I still get the bonus based on what is now SQM?
What will happen to the select privilege that gives a bonus on the base miles you fly based on status? I have selected this the last few years and as SE has given me a 100% Aeroplan mile bonus on the base AQM. It's not clear how that gets managed - if I am SE and purchase a business class fare, will I get 3X then 4X then 2X the dollar amount or will I still get the bonus based on what is now SQM?
Aug 11, 2020, 11:20 am
#135
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYZ
Posts: 380
if i'm not mistaken the value of the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card sky rocketed in value with the companion pass. Assuming you can spend $25K a year no issues, the pass basically pays for the annual fee of the card (looking at YYZ-YVR) + you can enjoy all the other benefits. Downside it can only be used for economy seats.
