Jan 28, 2024, 4:06 pm
Last edit by: yyznomad
As of April 10, 2024
Where's My Package?
For those who have come to this thread for information on receiving your 2024 packages in the mail, AC is still sending them out. Yes, consistently inconsistent, and competently incompetent.
There is no change in the design of the luggage tags or membership card. The only new item is a keychain card (see below for a picture).
Stop your whining about having physical cards
Just because YOU have NEVER been asked to furnish a physical card doesn't mean that nobody needs a physical card. Also, just because YOU can't think of a reason, doesn't mean that there is no reason. This has been an ongoing, pedantic, and incessant dialogue in this forum for years. If you've never been asked for your card, you probably haven't flown enough, especially on other *A airlines in other parts of the world. SO STOP IT.
The Great 75K Debacle of 2024 tl;dr (if you're rolling your eyes, relax; this is tongue in cheek)
For those who believe that they received a 75K package in error, here's the tl;dr version (this thread is a painful read, so read the entire thread if you're a masochist like me (yyznomad)):
- Check your online account and the AC App - if it shows you're 75K even though you expected to reflect a lower status level, then 75K is yours for 2024!
- Unofficial reports: AC acknowledging their mistake in sending out 75K packages to those who were 75K in 2023 but didn't requalify for 75K in 2024
- Unofficial reports: AC confirming that they are allowing these mistake 75Ks to keep 75K status for 2024.
- Those who fall in the above cohort have confirmed that their online status shows as 75K and were provided with 75K benefit selections, so although we haven't had any official proof from AC, the reported evidence is mounting...
- Others have reported being lower than 75K in 2023 but still getting a bump to 75K for 2024. There may be other reasons for this that are not necessarily related to the aforementioned "mistake" 75K debacle:
- For example, you may have been near the 75K threshold in at least one of the *QM categories in 2023, and AC gave you a freebie bump up (this would be status quo to prior years, so nothing new)
- There are reports of account glitches where one gets to choose benefits twice and have "doubled up" on benefits, such as eUps. This may or may not be related to the aforementioned mistake 75K debacle.
- Conjecture: Based on the anecdotal evidence so far, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that AC just gave more bump ups to 75K because they couldn't contain or fix the original mistake-75K issue properly.
2024 Keychain Card
2024 Elite Packages Arriving [75K packages may be sent in error]
Mar 28, 2024, 4:37 pm
#347
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,441
I qualified for 35K, but used the parental status extension to be bumped back up to Super Elite. I have received 0 packages so far. I will cross MM any day now, so maybe I'll get that one.
Mar 29, 2024, 10:19 am
#349
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, SPG; IC Pl/A; AA; DL
Posts: 14,324
That's a bummer--have you reached out on their social media accounts (but even they seem to be hit and miss these days)? At some point not having what you are due will make a difference to your 2024 travels. That kind of delay is inexcusable.
Mar 29, 2024, 1:21 pm
#351
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE 100K MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 1,082
99% of what comes to you in the 'package' gets recycled immediately so I wish they would just do away with the whole thing to save the un-necessary expense of creating + mailing them, and the un-necessary environmental burden of delivering them and getting rid of them.
Mar 29, 2024, 1:45 pm
#352
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: Air Canada
Posts: 5
Well sometimes lounges (not UA or AC) requires physical hard copies of your elite card, they don't accept digital and have been turned away from access into *G lounges, so although it's sometimes of no value, other times there are definite value to have the physical membership card on hand.
I guess there is a point to 'getting what you are due', but really, what's in the package that is of any value? Spoiler alert...it's a nothing of import letter from Mark Nasr, a membership card (that also exists on the App), a couple of bag tags and the thingeys to attach them, and this year the super bonus is a mini key-tag that I guess you can attach to your key chain so when you drop your BMW keys and sunglasses on the bar everyone will know you are an AC SE, so now you're extra special.
99% of what comes to you in the 'package' gets recycled immediately so I wish they would just do away with the whole thing to save the un-necessary expense of creating + mailing them, and the un-necessary environmental burden of delivering them and getting rid of them.
99% of what comes to you in the 'package' gets recycled immediately so I wish they would just do away with the whole thing to save the un-necessary expense of creating + mailing them, and the un-necessary environmental burden of delivering them and getting rid of them.
Mar 29, 2024, 1:52 pm
#353
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE 100K MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 1,082
Well sometimes lounges (not UA or AC) requires physical hard copies of your elite card, they don't accept digital and have been turned away from access into *G lounges, so although it's sometimes of no value, other times there are definite value to have the physical membership card on hand.
I still contend the whole thing should be electronic.
Mar 29, 2024, 3:30 pm
#354
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Aeroplan SE 100 IHG Plat Amb Nexus
Posts: 667
I guess there is a point to 'getting what you are due', but really, what's in the package that is of any value? Spoiler alert...it's a nothing of import letter from Mark Nasr, a membership card (that also exists on the App), a couple of bag tags and the thingeys to attach them, and this year the super bonus is a mini key-tag that I guess you can attach to your key chain so when you drop your BMW keys and sunglasses on the bar everyone will know you are an AC SE, so now you're extra special.
99% of what comes to you in the 'package' gets recycled immediately so I wish they would just do away with the whole thing to save the un-necessary expense of creating + mailing them, and the un-necessary environmental burden of delivering them and getting rid of them.
99% of what comes to you in the 'package' gets recycled immediately so I wish they would just do away with the whole thing to save the un-necessary expense of creating + mailing them, and the un-necessary environmental burden of delivering them and getting rid of them.
Mar 29, 2024, 5:05 pm
#356
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,353
I totally agree with most of this and would have little concern about the delay other than getting the physical card. Over the years I have had the occasional time when I wasn't in J and the lounge wanted to see the physical card. Shouldn't be the case but in places like Kathmandu and Guatemala City it can happen. I'm leaving in 7 days to Thailand and Nepal so while unlikely to need my physical card it is a distinct possibility it may be needed.
I've only had the problem a handful of times, and some of the issues have been solved (like when the BP said "SE" instead of "SE - AC*G"). But I've had UA, LH, and TG all ask for a physical card at one point or another.
It's not an unreasonable request to either expect them to:
1. send you a card on time every year
2. take a look at your 6 banked years of SE and just send you an SE card that expires in the 30s.
3. take a look at your MM status and send you a 50K card (along with the regular annual SE card) that expires in 5-10 years with a note saying "just in case anything gets lost in the mail in the future, this will get you into all partner lounges"
Mar 30, 2024, 11:51 am
#358
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE 100K MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 1,082
Yeah, I don't know why this has to keep coming up. The package contains the physical card. And just because someone (in their "thousands of flights") has never been asked for a physical card, does not mean it doesn't happen.
I've only had the problem a handful of times, and some of the issues have been solved (like when the BP said "SE" instead of "SE - AC*G"). But I've had UA, LH, and TG all ask for a physical card at one point or another.
It's not an unreasonable request to either expect them to:
1. send you a card on time every year
2. take a look at your 6 banked years of SE and just send you an SE card that expires in the 30s.
3. take a look at your MM status and send you a 50K card (along with the regular annual SE card) that expires in 5-10 years with a note saying "just in case anything gets lost in the mail in the future, this will get you into all partner lounges"
I've only had the problem a handful of times, and some of the issues have been solved (like when the BP said "SE" instead of "SE - AC*G"). But I've had UA, LH, and TG all ask for a physical card at one point or another.
It's not an unreasonable request to either expect them to:
1. send you a card on time every year
2. take a look at your 6 banked years of SE and just send you an SE card that expires in the 30s.
3. take a look at your MM status and send you a 50K card (along with the regular annual SE card) that expires in 5-10 years with a note saying "just in case anything gets lost in the mail in the future, this will get you into all partner lounges"
It must cost several millions of $$ annually to create, print and distribute these packages, of which 90% winds up in the recycle bin, so I contend there must be a better way.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Mar 31, 2024 at 8:03 am Reason: Fixed quote
Mar 30, 2024, 11:55 am
#359
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,441
What if your phone is dead or broken? What if there is a system glitch, or downed network? The physical card is all the proof you need to access the benefits regardless of circumstances like above. Then there is the fact that there can be many airlines involved all around the world. AC can't enforce its own policies, let alone those of another airline on another continent. The card is still needed in 2024.
Mar 30, 2024, 11:59 am
#360
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
No, it's not an unreasonable request so long as there are the rare exceptions you state where a physical card is required. That said, my point really is it's 2024, there is no reason why this cannot all be electronic. Other than the mag stripe, if it even works, what is different with the physical card than what is on my phone with the QR code? That combined with my BP (which should also ideally be on my phone) should suffice in any situation.
It must cost several millions of $$ annually to create, print and distribute these packages, of which 90% winds up in the recycle bin, so I contend there must be a better way.
It must cost several millions of $$ annually to create, print and distribute these packages, of which 90% winds up in the recycle bin, so I contend there must be a better way.