Advice for a points program between Western Canada and France
Jul 19, 2013, 10:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4
Advice for a points program between Western Canada and France
Hi everyone,
My family and I will be doing a lot of travel with our relatives spanning in Lyon France and Vancouver Canada. We have aeroplan and British airway points but I am wondering if there would be a better points program to be on for collecting points through purchases and flights and to minimize fuel surcharges between these two countries. We will be residing in Vancouver.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
My family and I will be doing a lot of travel with our relatives spanning in Lyon France and Vancouver Canada. We have aeroplan and British airway points but I am wondering if there would be a better points program to be on for collecting points through purchases and flights and to minimize fuel surcharges between these two countries. We will be residing in Vancouver.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
Jul 19, 2013, 10:22 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Boo to BA and AC and AF for their fuel surcharges. Cross the border to escape taxes with a US carrier?
Hi everyone,
My family and I will be doing a lot of travel with our relatives spanning in Lyon France and Vancouver Canada. We have aeroplan and British airway points but I am wondering if there would be a better points program to be on for collecting points through purchases and flights and to minimize fuel surcharges between these two countries. We will be residing in Vancouver.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
My family and I will be doing a lot of travel with our relatives spanning in Lyon France and Vancouver Canada. We have aeroplan and British airway points but I am wondering if there would be a better points program to be on for collecting points through purchases and flights and to minimize fuel surcharges between these two countries. We will be residing in Vancouver.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
Jul 19, 2013, 10:30 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Do you fly to/from PAR, or another French airport?
AA miles can be used with no surcharges, as long as you avoid BA and IB. Possible one-stop routings to PAR would include: YVR-DFW-CDG (on AA); YVR-JFK-CDG (on CX/AA); and YVR-LAX-CDG (on AS/TN, although I'm not sure whether this routing is bookable as a single award).
Do you fly to/from PAR, or another French airport?
AA miles can be used with no surcharges, as long as you avoid BA and IB. Possible one-stop routings to PAR would include: YVR-DFW-CDG (on AA); YVR-JFK-CDG (on CX/AA); and YVR-LAX-CDG (on AS/TN, although I'm not sure whether this routing is bookable as a single award).
Jul 19, 2013, 11:06 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Do you fly to/from PAR, or another French airport?
AA miles can be used with no surcharges, as long as you avoid BA and IB. Possible one-stop routings to PAR would include: YVR-DFW-CDG (on AA); YVR-JFK-CDG (on CX/AA); and YVR-LAX-CDG (on AS/TN, although I'm not sure whether this routing is bookable as a single award).
Do you fly to/from PAR, or another French airport?
AA miles can be used with no surcharges, as long as you avoid BA and IB. Possible one-stop routings to PAR would include: YVR-DFW-CDG (on AA); YVR-JFK-CDG (on CX/AA); and YVR-LAX-CDG (on AS/TN, although I'm not sure whether this routing is bookable as a single award).
Jul 19, 2013, 12:55 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
You don't want to use Avios for TATL flights on AA metal: you'll be hit with very high surcharges. But for your paid flights on BA, you can credit the flights to AA's program, rather than to BA's program.
Also note that both AB and IB fly from LAX and JFK to Germany and Spain, respectively. They might fly to a French airport that is closer to your ultimate destination. It would mean a second connection (and a modest surcharge for flying IB), but it might be worth it to you.
You don't want to use Avios for TATL flights on AA metal: you'll be hit with very high surcharges. But for your paid flights on BA, you can credit the flights to AA's program, rather than to BA's program.
Also note that both AB and IB fly from LAX and JFK to Germany and Spain, respectively. They might fly to a French airport that is closer to your ultimate destination. It would mean a second connection (and a modest surcharge for flying IB), but it might be worth it to you.
Jul 19, 2013, 3:57 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
Jul 24, 2013, 8:29 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4
What is a magic card trick. I'm really interested in Alaska as they seem to be a good benefit. Especially signing up for the Visa card.
Doable. Alaska can be used for Delta and AA flights. And Alaska miles can be obtained using magic card tricks. But to do this one needs the ability to open a US bank account.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zussino
What about the Alaska airlines program for redemptions?
Quote:
Originally Posted by zussino
What about the Alaska airlines program for redemptions?
Jul 24, 2013, 9:06 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
OP: what do you intend to do with your miles? Aspirational travel to exotic places, rebates for your regular YVR-PAR/LYS trips, or upgrades on YVR-PAR?
Also: what's "a lot of travel"? More than 25,000 miles a year?
The answer to your question kind of depends on what you want to do and your travel patterns. For instance, BA Avios (and status on BA) would be really, really good if you wanted to upgrade your TATL flights (assuming you flew YVR-LHR-PAR/LYS). They aren't so good if you want to avoid fuel surcharges.
AS would be a good option because you can redeem on many different airlines. AA would be a good option as well.
Also: what's "a lot of travel"? More than 25,000 miles a year?
The answer to your question kind of depends on what you want to do and your travel patterns. For instance, BA Avios (and status on BA) would be really, really good if you wanted to upgrade your TATL flights (assuming you flew YVR-LHR-PAR/LYS). They aren't so good if you want to avoid fuel surcharges.
AS would be a good option because you can redeem on many different airlines. AA would be a good option as well.
Jul 24, 2013, 12:04 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4
OP: what do you intend to do with your miles? Aspirational travel to exotic places, rebates for your regular YVR-PAR/LYS trips, or upgrades on YVR-PAR?
Also: what's "a lot of travel"? More than 25,000 miles a year?
The answer to your question kind of depends on what you want to do and your travel patterns. For instance, BA Avios (and status on BA) would be really, really good if you wanted to upgrade your TATL flights (assuming you flew YVR-LHR-PAR/LYS). They aren't so good if you want to avoid fuel surcharges.
AS would be a good option because you can redeem on many different airlines. AA would be a good option as well.
Also: what's "a lot of travel"? More than 25,000 miles a year?
The answer to your question kind of depends on what you want to do and your travel patterns. For instance, BA Avios (and status on BA) would be really, really good if you wanted to upgrade your TATL flights (assuming you flew YVR-LHR-PAR/LYS). They aren't so good if you want to avoid fuel surcharges.
AS would be a good option because you can redeem on many different airlines. AA would be a good option as well.