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
Apr 18, 2021, 8:43 pm
#1351
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,905
Can you elaborate further? Sounds really interesting and I don't want to play mind games. I would hate to misinterpret what you're saying.
Apr 18, 2021, 8:50 pm
#1352
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: 44,357
And VIPs have access to the Signature Suite when they're not flying paid J. I don't know the details, and it's mostly irrelevant because VIP isn't something you can even buy. But it confirms a suspicion a few of us had. I'm actually surprised they even bothered to mention it in terms of access.
One thing to elaborate on is that the delta between EL and EF is going to increase once the SS opens up again. It's small right now because you don't get SS access.
Apr 18, 2021, 8:57 pm
#1353
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,905
And VIPs have access to the Signature Suite when they're not flying paid J. I don't know the details, and it's mostly irrelevant because VIP isn't something you can even buy. But it confirms a suspicion a few of us had. I'm actually surprised they even bothered to mention it in terms of access.
One thing to elaborate on is that the delta between EL and EF is going to increase once the SS opens up again. It's small right now because you don't get SS access.
One thing to elaborate on is that the delta between EL and EF is going to increase once the SS opens up again. It's small right now because you don't get SS access.
Just to add on to that, my understanding is that there are low hundreds of AC VIPs.
Examples include William Shatner.
AC VIP is not like UA GS. The person in charge of travel at IBM Canada is AC VIP (maybe not, but that's the type of person who gets it). William Shatner is VIP (and other legit Canadian celebrities).
If you're thinking "I want VIP status", you're not going to get VIP status.
I had a negotiation with AC a few years ago, and they had no issue comping me SE (which I declined because I'm easily SE anyway), but VIP was a laughable request. If they value SE at $5k, they value VIP at $500k. Not that they'd sell it for $500k.
Examples include William Shatner.
AC VIP is not like UA GS. The person in charge of travel at IBM Canada is AC VIP (maybe not, but that's the type of person who gets it). William Shatner is VIP (and other legit Canadian celebrities).
If you're thinking "I want VIP status", you're not going to get VIP status.
I had a negotiation with AC a few years ago, and they had no issue comping me SE (which I declined because I'm easily SE anyway), but VIP was a laughable request. If they value SE at $5k, they value VIP at $500k. Not that they'd sell it for $500k.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Jun 22, 2021 at 7:21 pm Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same user
Apr 18, 2021, 10:24 pm
#1354
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: 44,357
Apr 18, 2021, 11:02 pm
#1355
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
A few posts that veered off in to a general discussion of AC VIP status have been moved to the VIP status thread.
Air Canada VIP Service
Adam Smith
AC Forum Co-Moderator
Air Canada VIP Service
Adam Smith
AC Forum Co-Moderator
Apr 20, 2021, 3:09 pm
#1356
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,734
So, who's ready for some good news?
This is without my 75K or credit-card discounts.
This is without my 75K or credit-card discounts.
Apr 20, 2021, 3:15 pm
#1357
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,905
Apr 20, 2021, 3:29 pm
#1358
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: 44,357
The SMR discount isn't very big. Under 3k in J, and even less in Y/PY.
I hope that gets better.
I hope that gets better.
Apr 20, 2021, 3:33 pm
#1359
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,946
One can start from further east as well 
Last edited by mileageking; Apr 20, 2021 at 3:40 pm
Apr 20, 2021, 3:39 pm
#1360
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
Apr 20, 2021, 4:16 pm
#1361
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,946
I know how much YOWgary admires new IST-YVR route on TK. Start in DOH, total 15,443 distance miles one-way. Lowest 100k, flexible 110k. Play around with dates for all AC metal (DOH-YYZ-YVR-SYD) and forced overnight in YYZ/YVR. Roundtrip 200k or 100k for SEs with priority reward.
Apr 20, 2021, 4:26 pm
#1362
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,734
As well, given the very specific comments we've heard from AC as recently as this past weekend, that YVR-SYD/MEL/BNE prices have been high while the future of travel to Australia remains uncertain, you have to imagine that the fact that these fares have come down, suggests that someone at AC has suddenly increased their degree of confidence that those flights will operate.
Re: IST-YVR, I 'admire' that route insofar as Western Canada has previously had really poor options for AP connections to Europe and the Middle East.
Apr 21, 2021, 6:07 am
#1363
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,506
I've seen a fair bit of discussion about the expense of getting to Australian destinations (at least when paying by points). By comparison, Auckland is quite inexpensive. The routes begin in December, though obviously we have no clear idea if they are likely to actually happen. Still, it's a good option if you just want to get to the other side of the world. And obviously Australia is relatively quick and cheap to get to from there.
Apr 22, 2021, 12:00 pm
#1364
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: FlyingBlue Silver; Air Canada 25K; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 456
"Also relevant from today's event:
Calendar Search:
On the topic of when we'll see a calendar-search function, it sounds like the calendar function is in its testing phase now, aiming to take Version 1 online sometime in Q2, where the calendar shows a 7-day view with the lowest price available, period. Version 2 will add the ability to filter by cabin, like "show me the cheapest business seat in this 7-day range" and will arrive later in the year.
Digging deeper: Amadeus (AC's provider) provides better-quality availability data, but the tradeoff is decreased speed per search, and this effect amplifies when searching multiple dates. Mark Nasr says his team's working with Amadeus to find the best match point between search results that don't show false negatives or phantom space, and searches that don't take 30 seconds to execute."
re: Calendar Search. I'm looking to use points on partner airlines for upcoming summer travel. I'm flexible on dates. How the heck am I expected to do this without having a calendar of availability??? For real....am I really expected to try each and every single date combination? Or do I really need to get on the phone and have an agent do the searching for me? Can't believe they'd go live with that important piece of functionality (available on every other airline in existence today) being available.
Calendar Search:
On the topic of when we'll see a calendar-search function, it sounds like the calendar function is in its testing phase now, aiming to take Version 1 online sometime in Q2, where the calendar shows a 7-day view with the lowest price available, period. Version 2 will add the ability to filter by cabin, like "show me the cheapest business seat in this 7-day range" and will arrive later in the year.
Digging deeper: Amadeus (AC's provider) provides better-quality availability data, but the tradeoff is decreased speed per search, and this effect amplifies when searching multiple dates. Mark Nasr says his team's working with Amadeus to find the best match point between search results that don't show false negatives or phantom space, and searches that don't take 30 seconds to execute."
re: Calendar Search. I'm looking to use points on partner airlines for upcoming summer travel. I'm flexible on dates. How the heck am I expected to do this without having a calendar of availability??? For real....am I really expected to try each and every single date combination? Or do I really need to get on the phone and have an agent do the searching for me? Can't believe they'd go live with that important piece of functionality (available on every other airline in existence today) being available.
Last edited by ajcopley; Apr 22, 2021 at 12:27 pm
Apr 22, 2021, 1:50 pm
#1365
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,633
"Also relevant from today's event:
Calendar Search:
On the topic of when we'll see a calendar-search function, it sounds like the calendar function is in its testing phase now, aiming to take Version 1 online sometime in Q2, where the calendar shows a 7-day view with the lowest price available, period. Version 2 will add the ability to filter by cabin, like "show me the cheapest business seat in this 7-day range" and will arrive later in the year.
Digging deeper: Amadeus (AC's provider) provides better-quality availability data, but the tradeoff is decreased speed per search, and this effect amplifies when searching multiple dates. Mark Nasr says his team's working with Amadeus to find the best match point between search results that don't show false negatives or phantom space, and searches that don't take 30 seconds to execute."
re: Calendar Search. I'm looking to use points on partner airlines for upcoming summer travel. I'm flexible on dates. How the heck am I expected to do this without having a calendar of availability??? For real....am I really expected to try each and every single date combination? Or do I really need to get on the phone and have an agent do the searching for me? Can't believe they'd go live with that important piece of functionality (available on every other airline in existence today) being available.
Calendar Search:
On the topic of when we'll see a calendar-search function, it sounds like the calendar function is in its testing phase now, aiming to take Version 1 online sometime in Q2, where the calendar shows a 7-day view with the lowest price available, period. Version 2 will add the ability to filter by cabin, like "show me the cheapest business seat in this 7-day range" and will arrive later in the year.
Digging deeper: Amadeus (AC's provider) provides better-quality availability data, but the tradeoff is decreased speed per search, and this effect amplifies when searching multiple dates. Mark Nasr says his team's working with Amadeus to find the best match point between search results that don't show false negatives or phantom space, and searches that don't take 30 seconds to execute."
re: Calendar Search. I'm looking to use points on partner airlines for upcoming summer travel. I'm flexible on dates. How the heck am I expected to do this without having a calendar of availability??? For real....am I really expected to try each and every single date combination? Or do I really need to get on the phone and have an agent do the searching for me? Can't believe they'd go live with that important piece of functionality (available on every other airline in existence today) being available.
Saver awards correspond to J flights available, generally, on AE.
Do note that United won't show availability for non-Star Alliance flights eg Etihad.