What 2 do with Dad's errorplan points?
Feb 18, 2004 | 8:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hhonors Gold, SPG Gold, US Dividend Miles Silver
Posts: 251
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.
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.
Feb 18, 2004 | 9:02 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Whitby ON Canada
Posts: 641
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).]
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).]
Feb 18, 2004 | 9:17 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: VIE
Programs: AC - ACMM; LH - SEN
Posts: 955
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mtacchi:
Points don't expire.</font>
Points don't expire.</font>
Feb 18, 2004 | 9:19 am
#5
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 8,573
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
andrew
Feb 18, 2004 | 9:22 am
#6
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 8,573
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 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).]
Feb 18, 2004 | 9:28 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: YXE
Posts: 3,050
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.
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.
Feb 18, 2004 | 11:27 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,190
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].
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].
Feb 18, 2004 | 1:04 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Posts: 933
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Andrew Webber:
According to www.aeroplan.com you get 250 AP miles every time you use Park&Fly at YYZ.</font>
According to www.aeroplan.com you get 250 AP miles every time you use Park&Fly at YYZ.</font>
IIRC only valid in combination with an AC flight...
Feb 18, 2004 | 9:56 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
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