yyznomad

This is probably aimed at FOTSGs (I'm a big spoon kinda FOTSG, so not the same type of FOTSG as a real FOTSG FOTSG).
"I just avoided having to pay an extra $3 by snagging the last Standard seat! Oh and look grandma, look! look! regardez! 10% off something! I'm in!"

The Lev

AC has plenty of my money already in credits and flights I am unlikely to take - otherwise I'd be biting. My company might take advantage for some employees who (still) travel regularly by buying one for each of them.

TOR27

Not a bad offer at all, especially if this qualifies for 2x earn on aircanada.com purchases with the Infinite Privilege Cards. Takes the discount up to ~15% assuming 2% redemption value of those extra points.

scotchmeup

My experiences has been that this charges as buyatab and not aircanada and doesn't trigger category multipliers.ymmv.

yyznomad

Well, I was wrong. There are many ways to view this.
I guess truly in the eye of the buyer.

mileageking

It's a good offer and a no brainer to get 10% off. If you have disposal funds and know you will buy AC airfares for travel next year (or for any future travel), then it makes perfect sense. Remember 10% discount is used towards method of payment and would be on top of other 10/15/20/25% discounts AC will offer in the future. Plus you also get CC points for buying the gift card. Now the question is how much (not if) you value 10% off to invest the right amount of dollars in advance towards airfare.

yyznomad

Sure, makes sense.
I think some of the visceral reactions, including mine, are from the known and documented experiences here on FT, along with personal experience using the GCs.
So part of it is knowledge, experience, and risk tolerance.

Adam Smith

Many of us have thousands, or tens of thousands, of dollars tied up with AC already, in credits, travel vouchers, eCoupons, FPs, etc. With travel uncertain for 2021, it could well be 12-24 months before these get used, for many of us.

Using GCs on purchases also typically negates any travel insurance that may come with paying on a credit card, and since the purchase doesn't code as travel, it will likely earn fewer points for many people.

To each his own, and if it works for you, fill your boots. But all that taken in to account, 10% isn't particularly interesting to me.

mileageking

Best four words. Like I said it makes perfect sense for those that have disposal funds and looking to book for travel next year would go for it. There aren't many put claims through travel insurance (in the grand scheme of things would be small percentage).

Bohemian1

Actually, the best four words are "The bar is open."

But to each his own.

mileageking

Someone else would say best four are "Johnnie Walker Black Label"

painintheuk

Them's fightin' words in these parts!

Dr. PITUK

Adam Smith

I don't think you understood my point. I have disposable funds, and I'm looking to book travel for next year. But I have a 3-month domestic UFP, an 8-credit SW Latitude pass, an 8-credit Sun pass, and a handful of credits, eCoupons and vouchers. Not to mention my Aeroplan and Amex MR balances are bloated from having cancelled so many trips this year.

If I buy a GC, it's costing me ~2% a year in interest as opportunity cost. So if it takes me 12-24 months before I use this GC, that's 2-4%. Fewer points earned since it doesn't code as travel is worth another 1-2% or so. Right off the bat, that's eating up a big chunk of that 10% discount.

GCs also can't be used to purchase FPs, which are often a good value proposition.

Just because it makes perfect sense for you doesn't mean it makes perfect sense for everyone who has disposable funds and is looking to book travel.

I never said it was huge, but it's worth factoring in. I'm out of pocket $1,000 for having used an eCoupon to pay for part of a domestic trip earlier this year after weather messed up our plans, and I've collected several thosand dollars of trip interruption/cancellation insurance in recent years. Small as a proportion of my total travel spend over that period, but cash is cash, and even if as a risked percentage there's a 1, 2, 3% chance of collecting on it, that's another erosion of the value of the 10% discount.

painintheuk

I'm not nearly as detailed in my thinking as Adam Smith , and don't have nearly as much invested, but if I'm going to give a 0 interest loan to AC, then I need more incentive - especially after how they have dealt with previous flights. I already have some credits which may or may not be recognized for cancelled flights, as well as a couple of gift cards (why can't one get digital cards with AP points?) and an interest free-loan/GoT FP.

Dr. PITUK.

mileageking

I actually did understand your point the first time but there may not be too many people in the same boat as you are with UFP, 8 credit SW latitude pass, 8 credit sun pass and handful of credits, eCoupons and vouchers all stacked up together.

If it doesn't make sense based on your personal circumstance with so many stacked up flight credits, doesn't mean it wouldn't make sense for an average consumer who is looking to get the best deal and able to use the discount as it makes perfect sense for them. To get 10% additional discount for method of payment on top of whatever AC's discounted fare offers from time to time (10/20/25%) would be viewed as significant.

I never said that you said it was huge or it was not worth factoring in. My perspective ion travel insurance (which you brought up) is that overall it would be a small percentage of the total cost and for many I don't believe it would be a determining factor whether to go for the 10% off savings for payment option.

Agree cash is cash and even more reasons for many that would want to save 10% as those savings go back into their pocket. It's a no brainer and what may not make sense for you also doesn't mean the same for many consumers.