Fees
 

The Aeroplan website is now showing some new fees that will be applied to reward tickets in the near future.

Navcan & Fuel Surcharges effective April,30 2003.

Booking Fee effective July 1, 2003.

Quote from the web: "This fee will enable Aeroplan to increase redemption opportunities, introduce an even more efficient redemption process, make it easier to book reward travel, and much more."

much more... yeah, I know. much more fees to come.

A booking fee????

How can you claim you are offering free travel when you charge for bookings? Does any other frequent flier programme charge a booking fee?

The NavCan and fuel surcharges are also really just part of the cost of a ticket (especially the fuel surcharge as pointed a few weeks ago).

So now if you're an Elite and you want to pay double points for instant KK, you also have to pay a service charge for the privilege of using the phone to ask. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif Seems to me that the goodwill that the front-line staff generate -- like kind of excellent service that Empress describes in his other thread -- gets wiped out by policies like this.

Nickle and diming... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

A $25.00 Booking, yeah right. As Airbus320 says this is cheap nickel and diming of customers.

According to release:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

What's next monthly account fees like a bank? A 1-900 number for bookings?

I've been fairly relaxed about other changes to the Aeroplan system, but I guess everyone has a breaking point. This one hits at the heart of the reason as to why I've remained loyal to AP over the past few years since I've been flying regularily.

I could accept the other changes, because one of the great benefits I had, was aerogold filling my account with 100,000 plus miles every year, most of it business expenses...no question, it has dwarfed the miles from flying, hotels, etc. '

I almost never had problems finding an Aeroplan ticket, and could bring my wife along on business trips virtually anywhere a few times per year...the cost was minimal.

Now, with a one year old son, who can't be booked with my wife on-line, I'm looking at $100+ for a ticket to go anywhere. It's not the end of the world, but it's defintly not free.

To me this decision produces the following equation
Aeroplan = Air Miles,

Air Miles = A card that was taken out of my wallet and cut up about 3 years ago.

90% of my flying is domestic, despite that, I'm starting my research on a US carrier FF program. I don't know where I'm going, but NW, AA, CO are great places to start

Something should be done before this is too late. I would suggest calling CIBC if you have an Aerogold Card, so they can see the customers are not happy.

I am going to call CIBC and tell them to cancel the card when the annual fee is due again. If enough people call, the bank will put some pressure to Aeroplan. It's better than us calling Aeroplan directly.

What get me about this (interm) fee is that if you are FORCED to book reward travel by phone, because of an intended stopover or similar (which the online version has no provision for), you get charged. As far as fees in general, the is OUTRIGHT HIGHWAY ROBBERY. Shame on you Aeroplan.

I too might call CIBC Aerogold, as I did to Diners during the 2002 *E changes.



[This message has been edited by Airbus330 (edited 04-12-2003).]

This is horrible.
In one swoop AC has added $75 in fees to every ticket. That means the average domestic ticket will cost about $140 in redemption fees.
Air Canada has taken their passengers and loyal Aeroplan members for granted for too long. This is the last straw.
In all honesty West Jet provides better service, and has reasonable prices. With the addition of $140 to each domestic ticket, mathematically you are gaining nothing from Aeroplan points. You are better off buying a cheaper ticket on Westjet and saving the extra cash for a vacation fund or whatever. For those of you who travel to the US you are better off collecting points in a US based system to save yourself a new booking fee.

I have had it with Air Canada. The more we the consumers and the business community support them the worse they get. They have little if nay respect at all for the consumers and their loyal customers.

I serioulsy think it is time we express strongly our anger at this change. Enough is Enough already. We have accepted alot of changes over the past few years but I for one have had enough!

I'm going to liquidate my miles now. I think going to collect just AAdvantage miles.

Anyone have Rupert's e mail address?

These fees are simply outrageous!

When I can buy a YYZ-YVR ticket for about $500-550 (all taxes included) from Jetsgo or sometimes Westjet, it sounds VERY VERY unreasonable to pay more than $100 in fees/taxes to redeem a 25K miles ticket from Aeroplan!

Aeroplans fee as of July 1st on a r/t YVR-YYZ
Fee Surcharge $50 + GST
YYZ AIF $10 + GST
Ticketing Fee $25 + GST
Security Surcharge $14

Grand Total $104.95 !!!!!!!!

Can someone set up a meeting to discuss this with Rupert?

if someone sets up the meeting i would love to go!

First thing. I don't have a problem with certain fees or taxes that need to be paid. I don't like them but can live with that (the ticket is free, not the security charges etc). But charging to redeem your loyalty program points is right over the top.

Trouble or not, AE is making money and they are looking to make even more off the backs of there members. How long before the fees will be higher for redeeming a J seat vs Y or even higher for Star Alliance partner redemptions?

I think AC staff do a number of things right and kudos to them. But these fees really burn my butt. It's not the $25, it is the very principal of charging to redeem what your loyalty has earned http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

Second. Do you think that they will likely waive these fees for P,E, SE like some of the redemption delivery fees?