What 2 do with Dad's errorplan points?
 

I know that every thread has one of these, but I'm sorta under the gun with time constraints. My papa has about 55000 aeroplan points that are left over from the Canadian days...he thinks they're going to expire soon.
He doesn't fly very often and would probably get more value from them if they were hotel points...I know he can transfer his amex MR to Hawaiian airlines and then to Hilton for a double...what can he do with Aeroplan?
Thanks & sorry for writing a book
the anvil.

Points don't expire.

Unless your dad has a US AMEX he can't do what you are stating here celticanvil. Check out my response to your question in the AMEX forum for more on that.

Others may be able to address this, but I don't think Aeroplan miles expire?? But if you (he) really wants to use them for hotel stays, Aeroplan does offer limited hotel rewards at a hideously lousy rate.

Edited: mtacchi seems to have addressed the expiration issue whilst I was slowly hammering away at the keyboard!


[This message has been edited by pdjcrawford (edited Feb 18, 2004).]

However, if the AP account is inactive (no accumultion of points) for 3 consecutive years AP will close the account and you forfeit any balance that was in the account.

So you need some sort of activity to keep the points alive for another three years. It could be a hotel stay, car rental, buy flowers, or post from a partner (e.g. the ginger ale promo, which isn't currently running).

andrew

According to www.aeroplan.com you get 250 AP miles every time you use Park&Fly at YYZ. I don't know how reliably they post, but maybe drive up there one weekend afternoon, drive in, drive out, and collect 250 miles?

Or even easier, just go to aeroplan.com and purchase the minimum 1000 miles for $40. I assume these will post immediately and don't require going to the airpot, whereas the parking ones may take time to post or require a follow-up. (I'm assuming a points purchase will count as activity).

andrew


[This message has been edited by Andrew Webber (edited Feb 18, 2004).]

Or simply transfer some of those MR points over to Aeroplan...

Cashing them in for hotel rooms usually represents an absolutely terrible value.

At some point in the future, you, him, or someone in the family will perhaps need to take a relatively short-notice trip. Maybe a sick relative, important job interview, etc., etc.

Keep in mind that Aeroplan has one-way rewards for 10k (short-haul), 15k (domestic - North America), 40k (europe), and there are often seats available for next-day or even same-day flying. If one is faced with the prospect of having to purchase an expensive walk-up fare, if possible, check with Aeroplan first for availability, as this represents the best possible use of points.

pdjcrawford, good point, I forgot MR is now an Aeroplan partner.

If the 3yr time limit is imminent, or if he's particularly worried, I'd be tempted to go for 1K@$40 just for the peace of mind.

andrew

Many programs accept a points transfer as activity to keep a dormant account alive after the 3-year limit, so if Aeroplan does this, he can always move some of his Amex MRs into his AE account. However, there is no way to move AE miles into his MR account. [Well, there is points.com, but the transfer rates and costs are outrageous.]

BTW, technically, AE miles expire at the end of every calendar year, but AC renews the program each year thus extending the validity of our miles for another year [plus another 11-1/2 months given to use them].

CelticAnvil,

I tried to email you but got bounced back.

IIRC only valid in combination with an AC flight...

mtacchi, sorry for bounceback you are good to go with [email protected]

gracias