A few around here may recall the last time AC/AE gutted Aeroplan and a small group of FTers banded together and created ERRORPLAN. A successful compaign managed to convince RD to revise some of the more contentious elements of the changes.

I don't for one moment believe we can pull this off again and get everything lost returned. While the changes are significant this time around, they are not quite as earth shattering as back in 2001/2 (I believe that's when it happened). The major changes have occured year by year.

However, I think one or two are worth trying to get AC/AE to reconsider. From the posts thus far, Elites are up in arms about losing the 45K SSWUs. This is something AC/AE could change with a stroke on a keyboard, by returning to a simple schedule of threshold bonuses that are the same for Es and SEs.

It can also be argued that reinstituting SSWUs at this threshold will keep Es in the 40K to 80K range from defecting to a second FF program. And ultimately keep revenue with AC. For if we continue to fly AC domestically and put our miles into MP, then AC must pay UA cash to buy those miles on our behalf. Or others could just focus their domestic travel on AC through the year, but shift the transborder and overseas to a ONEWORLD or SKYTEAM carrier, and deprive AC of considerable ticket revenue.

Or, if as has been suggested, there are not that many affected because most Es only make it to 35K and seldom beyond, then what is the cost to AC/AE. With certs no longer transferrable (given imprinting with name and account number), it won't be a case of others using these coveted certs that were earned by those of us without a need for them. AC/AE would certainly redeem itself in our eyes by making this gesture, and demonstrate it really does care about Elites afterall.

I fully agree with you Shareholder.

Let me know what I can do to assist. Thanks for taking this on.

If AC gets another few quarters of record LF's then you can bet that Elite will be 50K for 2007!!! My prediction is that when this happens, the 45K bonus SSWU will make a one time appearance as a helping hand from the "Gods of Cote Vertu"

DF

I support this move.

The loss of SSWU's at 45k and the inability to trade coupons will result in half of my business going to other carriers next year.

This year the chance for an upgrade has made me choose AC over other carriers with lower price for the same date all but once.

I'm at 92k Q miles right now.



EliteTrotter

I remember that we were thinking about doing a similar campaign to Delta's FFers (where they rented one of those mobile billboards and had it drive around the block of the Delta AGM)... I donated money to that, but it ended up going to charity.

But if the goal is to put a couple of newsletters in MLL's and in seat pockets, I'm game

Well, I guess we have our scape goat!

Ouch and they will send you Certs that are good for two months

I will split my flying next year, do my 35K with AC and the rest with AA. If you fly in the back AA has more space.

Is it true, I a**holes could fly, Air Canada's headoffice would be an airport?
YAK

re: AA -- even with the abandonment of the MRTC program? How does it compare to the new EMBs?

You see, what the big advantage with AA (and I think even more with UA with E+), is firstly that for travel around North America, you get to upgrade much more easily. Secondly, if you don't, and let's face it, if you are mid-tier, you won't earn enough stickers to upgrade more than 25% of your flights, you will have to fly in the back. AA creates more room for status pax by allowing exit and bulkhead seats to be web selected at booking, and middle seats left empty.

Maybe drop Aeroplan and join UA Millage Plus. I am lucky only 1/3 of my flying is within Canada. I have 72K Q miles this year.
AC has put me in difficult situration, I still have 2 weeks to come up with a solution.

EMB the only flight I have done with AC was 1A nice.

On the former, I would say "yes and no" -- you don't have to deal with certs in many cases (full fare auto-upgrades), using miles, ability to buy upgrades, etc. but the F cabins on many US carriers' domestic fleets are significantly smaller than on AC. Many UA/DL F cabins are only 8 seats -- that's even smaller than on the new AC mini planes!

On the latter, agree thorougly. We can only hope that one day, AC IT and their award winning leader Lise Fournel manage to actually revamp their systems such that exit/bulkhead seats are available in advance and those middle seats can be blocked.

Simon

Nooooooooooooooo! No handing them off to a spouse what about a traveling companion? Now I'll have to start reading all those threads I've been avoiding.

"2006 Air Canada upgrade Certificates are ... Valid for use only by the member whose name and Aeroplan number appear on the certificate or one companion travelling on the same flight with the member designated on the certificate."

Well that is half a relief. Still, for the family member not traveling with you this is a major loss. Maybe the family account idea will return?