Advice on booking to AMS with points for May 2022?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 4
Advice on booking to AMS with points for May 2022?
Newbie to the new Aeroplan system. We have points to use and want to book two return flights to Amsterdam May 2022 to connect with a cruise. When would you suggest booking? Any advice welcome
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Programs: AC 75K, Hertz President’s Circle, Accor Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 10,068
Before committing to redeeming Aeroplan for Y seats do check the non-stop KLM flights for $ as these would be way less hassle….save the miles for something else. KLM is much nicer in Y.
#5
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: YVR/YYZ
Programs: AC50K, *A Gold, Marriott Titanium (LGE), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 376
Space will be better in economy. This really isn't a "hard" flight to book online. Have you played around with the search engine?
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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I'd fly AC and route through YYZ/YUL, then hop on Lufthansa to FRA and get a connector to AMS. Should cost 40K each in Y, one-way excluding AC dynamic pricing.
Space will be better in economy. This really isn't a "hard" flight to book online. Have you played around with the search engine?
Space will be better in economy. This really isn't a "hard" flight to book online. Have you played around with the search engine?
#7
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: YVR/YYZ
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#8
Join Date: Jun 2010
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#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 4
Yes I would think YYZ and then direct flight best option. When is best time to book? Now or wait awhile. I am confused reference why paying to book with KLM would be best option? We have saved Aeroplan points for years and now have accumulated enough for Europe. Is there a better way to use our points?
#10
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: Aeroplan 25K, Marriott Plat
Posts: 343
Yes I would think YYZ and then direct flight best option. When is best time to book? Now or wait awhile. I am confused reference why paying to book with KLM would be best option? We have saved Aeroplan points for years and now have accumulated enough for Europe. Is there a better way to use our points?
If you don't have enough points to go round trip in business class, another option would be to pay for economy flights one way, and use points for business in the other direction. Given that choice, some would prefer business on the way there so you arrive fresh for your vacation. Others prefer to get better sleep when travelling East, and staying awake when travelling West, to combat jet lag. In your case, both these goals align.
In the early stages of planning, you might also want to consider adding a stopover for 5000 points. If you have any interest in spending a few days in London or Frankfurt, for example, this is an easy and inexpensive option. There are also other cities that would be possible.
#11
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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No one here can guarantee now is the best time to book, nor can they guarantee it will be better at a certain point in the future.
I am confused reference why paying to book with KLM would be best option? We have saved Aeroplan points for years and now have accumulated enough for Europe. Is there a better way to use our points?
- AC will sell you a cash ticket in Standard brand for $1,146 (Basic is $996)
- For the same flight in a Standard reward (substantially similar terms and conditions to a cash Standard fare) AC would charge $115 in taxes plus... just under 70K Aeroplan points for me with my status and credit card discounts, probably a little over 70K for you. So let's call it 70K.
So for 70K points, you're saving $1,031 in cash, which means your points are worth about 1.47 cents apiece (often known around here as "cpm" for "cents per mile").
But if you were buying a cash ticket, you could also buy a ticket from TAP, connecting through Lisbon, for $724. If you used that as the price to determine the value of the points, it would significantly reduce the value (0.87 cpm).
Historically, many FTers have aimed to get ≥2 cpm on their redemptions.
If you were to use points for business class ("J"), and you were open to a connecting itinerary on partner airlines, you could get a round trip ticket for 140K points and ~$200 in taxes. Relative to paying $3,200+ for such a ticket if you bought for cash, or redeeming points for you're getting a great deal: >2.1 cpm.
The finance guy in me will tell you that's a spurious calculation if you wouldn't actually purchase the J ticket for cash, but would acknowledge that for many people, points are a way to access experiences (e.g. international J travel) that they couldn't otherwise afford, and that there's value in that too.
Aeroplan tickets also have some interesting benefits. For instance, you can add a stopover for 5,000 points, such as spending a couple days in Munich on your way home from Amsterdam.
So ultimately it's up to you to do whatever you want with your miles, but just straight up redeeming an international Y flight is typically not the most value you can get out of them.