Will Aeroplan modify J class overseas instant KK for SE's companions-2008, I hope so.
 

I understand why the instant KK benefit was restricted this year.

What I would hope is the some modification to the rule for 2008.

I would recommend that if an allowed/designated travelling companion (prehaps restricted to a member of the nuclear family of the SE) flies with the SE at all, then he/she would be eligible for instant KK. Let me give a couple of examples.

Right now, if a companion flies with the SE, and the SE has a Business class award on AC, or if the SE has a paid J or C (or Z?) class ticket, the companion can get instant KK (using the Aeroplan miles from the SE's account).

I would suggest the following (I have experiences these examples):

a) if a SE flies on business class revenue ticket from Canada to an overseas destination, with the intermediate overseas destination served by AC, but the final destination is not served by AC, then the companion travelling with the SE should have access to instant KK on the AC segments. As started in the other thread, I have a revenue ticket from YOW to LIS via LHR - my wife can not access instant KK seats in business class on the Air Canada Canada-LHR flights.

b) If the SE is flying on AC on any revenue ticket (ie economy ticket, and perhaps has upgraded with an upgrade certficate), the companion should have access to the instant KK inventory in business class.

That would help.

Might be simpler if it were just restricted to direct relatives. Perhaps based upon a list of names supplied ahead of time, to avoid issues such as, is an SO a relative.

This is a great suggestion! I would vote for this one for sure. It is very annoying to be on a revenue ticket in C and not be able to bring along a companion! This is what I use most my miles for- and yes, it is all long haul. The restriction of IKK this year was most disappointing.

Why use IKK when you can use BATCAT in this case?

Not sure how well these restrictions could be made to work in practice. Allowing relatives only is a non-starter. A list of names to include SOs would have to be alterable - couples split up - and so would potentially allow the kind of abuse the IKK change was introduced to combat.

BATCAT is not applicable, if one goes to an overseas destination not served by AC - eg trying to go to Lisbon from Ottawa, I am flying from YOW to LHR on AC, and from there to LIS on TAP. Although I am flying on a revenue business class ticket, BATCAT does not apply unless the whole route is flown on AC.

Conversely, if I wanted to fly from YOW to LHR on an economy ticket (and then upgrade), BATCAT does not apply. I can use instant KK for the companion to get an economy class award ticket - however, the companion can not upgrade.

Why not do BATCAT YOW-LHR-YOW in Premium cabin on AC.

Buy LHR-LIS-LHR . EX: LHR to Europe has it share of good deal fares.
Alternatively redeem an award for that route.

You may even discover: YOW-LHR-YOW, LHR-LIS-LHR lower than YOW-LIS-YOW in premium cabin.

Asia Miles has a list of five or so "nominees" that you can designate miles to redeem for. I think something similar could work for kk with one change allowed every year or similar.

Cheers,

As the routing on the ticket is from YOW to LIS via LHR, BATCAT does not apply. In theory, I could get the sponsor to buy 2 tickets (ie YOW-LHR, and LHR-LIS); that way, my wife would be eligible for BATCAT. However, the disadvantage to 2 separate tickets is that one can not interline on those 2 tickets (ie luggage, protection from missing the connecting flight at LHR, if the first flight is late etc).

For the same reasons (lack of interlining), I am not interested in buying my wife 2 separate fares - ie YOW-LHR-YOW, and LHR-LIS-LHR.

For the same reasons again (lack of interlining), I am not interested in buying a YOW-LHR-YOW fare, and then getting an award for LHR-LIS-LHR.

That is why (see other thread), I am interested in getting one ticket for my wife - either the "cheapest" revenue ticket which allows her to upgrade (at least on the transatlantic segments), or one (rather than 2) Aeroplan award (I would have to check if one can interline on 2 Aeroplan awards).

Having dealt with UA since 2004, I find I get positive results only speaking with UA human being.
You seem to believe as non UA status member you may get the results via email. I say go for it.
Afterall, what do I know. I am only UA 1K who only does 200K+ BIS per year on UA metal.
Please post your outcome.

If that fails you will have 2 options:

You want to save on your wife's ticket be it $$ or miles; have to put up with some risk with interlinning.

If you want to take no risk, buy your wife similiar ticket to the one you are getting.

As my home airport is VCE, and I do realize that is a minority, BATCAT doesn't work very well. You could suggest buy two tickets, but at certain peak times a Y class ticket VCE-FRA can be over 600 EUR... not a great option.

Isn't a more likely outcome to be further cuts to KK?

I am crossing my fingers and hope for the better. However, I have to admit that looking at the cuts that has happened for the last few years, it is unlikely to be so.

My SE status for next year is already secured. Will still make enough to attain E by the end of Feb in 2008 but if the IKK will not improved, I will be moving most of my international travel out of AC. After having sampled premium cabins on the rest of *A fleet for the last 2 years, IKK was the only thing that binds me to AC.

Why would they change the status quo to reinstate something they have taken away? Has it hurt their bottom line? I don't think so. Do you feel ripped off? Yes but there's still enough there for us to keep coming back. It is a business so no need to give you want you can obviously do without.
As earlier poster pointed out, they are more likely to keep pulling till there's an effect on the bottom line, thats how the make money.

I think this is a non-issue. The list should be non-changable for the year. If a couple splits up, then I that name would get the boot for the following year.

Each year the member could submit a list of X# of names. It is so simple, it is surprising they didn't go that way in the first place...unless complete elimination of IKK is the ultimate goal! :eek: