Incentive to travel this year?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: YOW, LHR, SIN
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Posts: 674
Incentive to travel this year?
Hi folks:
I re-qualified for S100K for 2023 via the credit card promo. I have 53K SQM and $11K SQD.
I have a few travels coming up before December 2022, and I am confused what the incentive is to travel? My understanding is that all I will get is SQM for 2022 which will reset to 0 on January 1, 2023, or I am to assume that any travel this year will carry over and count towards my 2024 re-qualification?
-Or- am I better off postponing all travels to 2023? Please help.
I re-qualified for S100K for 2023 via the credit card promo. I have 53K SQM and $11K SQD.
I have a few travels coming up before December 2022, and I am confused what the incentive is to travel? My understanding is that all I will get is SQM for 2022 which will reset to 0 on January 1, 2023, or I am to assume that any travel this year will carry over and count towards my 2024 re-qualification?
-Or- am I better off postponing all travels to 2023? Please help.
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
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The main incentive would be getting where you want to go.
I'm debating the incentive to buy paid tickets, and using points for trips I wouldn't normally, but I'm not changing my travel patterns.
I'm debating the incentive to buy paid tickets, and using points for trips I wouldn't normally, but I'm not changing my travel patterns.
Last edited by canadiancow; Sep 23, 2022 at 11:41 am Reason: typo
#3
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,505
I have a few travels coming up before December 2022, and I am confused what the incentive is to travel? My understanding is that all I will get is SQM for 2022 which will reset to 0 on January 1, 2023, or I am to assume that any travel this year will carry over and count towards my 2024 re-qualification?
I think at this point there's not a lot of reason to believe anyone will be starting the new year with more than $0 SQD. However, there's good reason to believe there will be ways of earning SQD next year other than strictly through receiving 1 SQD per $1 spent.
Last edited by TheCanuckian; Sep 23, 2022 at 6:15 am
#4
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
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On top of what the cow said, consider flying other airlines/alliances. I've flown a bunch of SkyTeam and have made at least DL PM, might even make it to DM before the end of the year. Or if you're stuck with Star, consider whether having some points at another program (e.g. UA) might be useful.
I disagree completely. Air travel is back to close to 2019 levels. AC has already massively bloated the ranks of elites with all their promos and extensions. Why on Earth would they let people earn SQD on the cheap next year?
I disagree completely. Air travel is back to close to 2019 levels. AC has already massively bloated the ranks of elites with all their promos and extensions. Why on Earth would they let people earn SQD on the cheap next year?
#5
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,505
I disagree completely. Air travel is back to close to 2019 levels. AC has already massively bloated the ranks of elites with all their promos and extensions. Why on Earth would they let people earn SQD on the cheap next year?
#6
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Though I think I've booked almost all of my travel for the rest of the year already, with the assumption that I can't get anything from AC.
On top of what the cow said, consider flying other airlines/alliances. I've flown a bunch of SkyTeam and have made at least DL PM, might even make it to DM before the end of the year. Or if you're stuck with Star, consider whether having some points at another program (e.g. UA) might be useful.
I'm also planning to credit a large paid J *A trip to UA. It will cross me over the Silver threshold (though I may get it through Marriott anyway - TBD), and earn me some UA miles (which are still useful for SAUA).
Though that is a trip I might have booked on AC if I weren't (well) above the SE qualification thresholds. Or at least credited to AC if I weren't (well) above the 350k threshold gift.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Posts: 3,167
It's my guess--and I could be wrong--that they will continue to offer occasional incentives or bonuses--double SQD or some bonus related to credit card spending, etc. The pandemic has allowed them to try out some new ideas to see how they can manipulate our behavior through them. I'm guessing some will stick. But obviously it's all just speculation.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC, BA, Marriott, SPG
Posts: 842
I firmly hope that they don't offer any more freebies (neither double SQD promos, nor stunts like the $30K spend for free status, etc). However, and perhaps selfishly, I do wish that they would provide an SQD rollover. They could make it a high bar ... perhaps only rolling over amounts in excess of $20K, no matter what status you have ... so it's not something that would aid the bottom feeders. It would, however, give those of us who do like a fly, some recognition & motivation for flights made at the end of the year. I would spend more with AC if they did.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
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agree on this. I’ll finish the year with over 200k and can roll over to next year because of my Amex but I still have 0 sqd. I’ll probably finish the year just shy of $100k sqd so letting me start with 20k sqd (or anything) next year would be nice. While I know I’ll have no issue hitting that number it’s still the piece of mind and the thought that’s nice.
#11
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But what if you're already past 350k?
"What is the incentive?"
"What is the incentive?"
Last edited by canadiancow; Sep 24, 2022 at 11:20 am Reason: yet another typo