mrclutch31

Maybe Amex will bump up the benefits for its Reserve card, which is already lacking compared to TD VIP. Namely, I hope they include more lounge access and not just MLL.

rankourabu

How exactly would AC ever know you're using those??

RK23

I'm sure cookies and other web tracking data provided to AC could help.

cedric

That's exactly what they're trying to stop. Partners have reduced availability to AC because these systems are resulting in significantly increased IT resources, beyond the capacity of what the legacy systems are designed to provide. Every search request requires AC's systems to query their partners and these services are substantially multiplying those requests.

RangerNS

The chances of a 25ker being able to use their eUps is worse than the worst casino game anywhere, and I'm considering the casino from Vegas Vacation in that.

RK23

I will admit I do not know enough about how much resources are consumed by those tools but I logically find that argument dubious because I can use United's calendar search option to find all ANA flights at saver rates but apparently AC is blocking ANA bookings or is it the other way around?

I can do the same with Lifemiles calendar view.

So in theory, a one time scrape every few hours or even once a day would actually reduce the usage of IT resources if people go to a one-stop search tool like seats.aero instead of every single individual searching for availability using calendar views on partner airlines.

canadiancow

I'm not exactly sure what they're going for with that change.

AC has no idea if you're using any of those services.

I'm actually more concerned with something like https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32836668-post1263.html. I don't think that is against the spirit of the terms, but it's certainly against the letter, and that is something they could detect pretty easily.

Anyone who wants to find R space is going to be doing it through a service like EF, or a cowtool beta, which are both using very legitimate sources for that data (paying for GDS access). Is setting an R alert considered "participation in [their] program via ... automated means"? I certainly think so. But I don't think that's what they're trying to stop.

But EF still has full GDS access. I have an A alert for some flights next year because I want to buy a cash PY fare, but don't want to pay for an E fare. Other than the fact that I, the purchaser and traveler, am an Aeroplan member, is that actually "participation in [their] program"? I don't think so, because it's not related to "the Aeroplan Program". But if you're looking for R or N space, those are classes that are only relevant for "Aeroplan".

Or even if you book a flight with points in E class, and then set an alert for A so you can rebook if the price drops. That's prohibited. But if you're doing it with a cash booking, it's allowed.

While I agree, I think the discussion is more about what they say is (not) allowed, rather than what they can catch.

Back in the day when there was an eUp request window, rather than a clearance window, I know a lot of us had scripts to do that for us. That certainly seems "prohibited" now (though also unnecessary since you can request at any time). And it would not have been hard to catch.

Symmetre

The irony in this is having received an email from CIBC just this morning inviting me to upgrade my core personal card to a black one - which I already have with them for business.

mrclutch31

which should be fine because one is personal while the other is business. They have now made it clear that those two are separate product categories.

pilot007

Is there any way to give feedback on this? As a Chase Aeroplan card holder, I was just about to apply for an Amex Aeroplan card not so much for any signup bonuses, but for the eUpgrade benefits and also to keep a Canadian CC to maintain a credit score in Canada. I don’t churn cards. Feels like having two Aeroplan cards should be permitted, particularly if it’s an Amex and MC/Visa or Canadian/US cards for those of us with cross-border lives.

canadiancow

The Chase is a "core" card, and the ones with eUp benefits are "premium", so they're completely different categories.

My bigger issue is that they keep launching very interesting promos on the different cards. I got the Amex Reserve because it had 25% back on reward bookings. Then I cancelled it after a year, because the TD Is my primary, which I've held for over 3 years.

Then they launched an SQM+eUp promo for new signups on the Amex. I applied again, so I could get the necessary SQM without booking another TATL.

I have zero interest in the welcome bonuses, but when there's an interesting promo that requires holding a specific card...

RK23

You can call and wait 1-2 hours on hold to give feedback to an underpaid and overworked representative who may not even have the tools to submit a voice of client request.

Adam Smith

No they haven't. They've not defined the different types of card anywhere, only made an unclear parenthetical reference to them in one place. The one reference to them in the T&Cs is also very poorly drafted and prohibits applying for different product types, which implies that having a personal premium card and a business premium card would actually be against the rules.

That would be extremely ineffective. The customer relations web form is one option. Social media is another. But phoning in is pretty much a waste of everyone's time.

rankourabu

The "partners are blocked because of tools" is only a one-sided AC explanation to why things are blocked, I would take that with a bit a of salt, instead of blind belief that seems to be circulating.

As you notice, UA and Lifemiles do not have these issues with blocked partners (nether does AA with Etihad) - and all those are arguably more gameable, at a much higher volume than Aeroplan ever was/is/will be

It seems that they are at least attempting to address the pooling of miles into "families" by brokers, but enforcement will be another issue, if it remains at empty threats of "we may", it solves nothing.

Wigg

To me its clear that Aeroplan is attempting to eliminate the points brokers/fraud, and the abuse of sign up bonuses / card churn (likely by the same targeted group). This is my intyerpretation from the Aeroplan e mail sent announcing the changes.

Sec 10 of T&C re bonuses seems clear - "This means that a Member may be granted a maximum of one New Card Bonus for each type of Aeroplan Credit Card that the Member becomes a holder of, regardless of issuer." It says "may", not "will" or not "is only entitled to". Like many T&C this is entirely vague - it provides both flexibility for Aeroplan to enforce only when they feel there is abuse, but can provide some anxiety to Members who are uncertain. As previously stated above a person requires a second card in addition to AMEX because of its somewhat limited acceptance. I would be practical and assume if you have one AMEX and one VISA which remain open for a number of years you would not be accused of abuse. Let your conscious guide you. If you are opening new cards every 18 months then you have something to worry about.

Re card types (entry, core, premium, etc.) - while these are not defined in the T&C as noted AMEX and CIBC do label them in these categories on the Aeroplan site. I could not find the same for the TD cards on the Aeroplan site.

One could say that Aeroplan has brought this upon themselves. For frequent flyers engaged in Aeroplan (by flying) these products are a great add on and provide nice benefits. By turning Aeroplan into a profit centre (rather than using it support the core business) and offering large sign up bonuses, Aeroplan has a much broader user base which includes the abusers.

I sadly have very limited knowledge of the other booking tools which were available to assist in reward redemptions and can't comment on that aspect. One of the reasons I have a very large balance of points and joined FT.