sleeps_on_red-eyes

Hi FTers,

Just booked on the AC website an unusually low fare: $249 Cdn. for return flights SFO-YYZ-LHR and LHR-YYZ-SFO, out on 26 Jan and back on 4 Feb. Booking class N, unfortunately, but what would you expect? The fuel surcharge, U.S. and U.K. passenger fees are more than this fare by about twenty dollars.

nolens volans

This and similar fares ex U.S. have been around for aeons.

Regarding N class, there seems to be some uncertainty as to whether it might earn miles after all for this kind of itinerary. See the last few posts in the 'Booking classes FAQ' sticky above.

back seat

In the sticky it states:

TOURIST

* They earn 0 Aeroplan miles, booked in R, K, N, G, P.
* Non-refundable, no changes permitted.
* Bookable as roundtrips only.
* No standby permitted.
* Non-upgradeable.
* 250 bonus Aeroplan miles per roundtrip when purchased on AC's website.
* No advance seat selection.

Hope this wasn't a mileage run . .. .

ramraideruk

Can you get miles with another partner (UA for instance?)

nolens volans

Yes, for Canada-U.K. flights. But it's not clear whether the same rules apply when the flight is part of an ex-U.S. itinerary. There have been occasional reports of people booking ex-U.S. N fares on AC.com and seeing a page which states that the fare earns 100% status miles, though this may simply be a glitch. Also in the last couple of posts in the sticky, Andrew seemed to be saying that a SEA-LHR fare would earn 50% miles on the N.American leg and 100% on the international leg (though I don't know if he was just talking about ex SEA specifically or all ex U.S.).

Is there anyone who has actually done one of these and can confirm whether any miles are earned?

Shareholder

Since AC made its category changes on these European routes, the US-originating fares have changed from L-class (which earns miles and is upgradeable with SSWUs) to N-class (no AE mileage). The OP might call AC res and find out the cost to upgrade the fare to L-class. Might only be $100 return...other fees and taxes remain constant...could be worth it if you were concerned about earning SMs and using elite upgrade certs.

This fare change was another door slammed for those of us into cheap, status-mile earning MRs. In theory, these fares are to compete from those US cities with the lowest fares offered by US carriers, so if you could find the same fare on US or UA, you could book it and most likely it would be in a fare class that earned full status mileage. It has been interesting over the past few years to watch AC/AE close up the "loopholes" we've been writing about, bit by bit, year after year... Sometimes it doesn't pay to have a Company Lurker visiting the forum!

YVR72

Whn you go to book this flight at $249 ($525 after all the B.S.) it says:

Your ECONOMY fare includes:

Cabin: Economy Class Cabin
Lounge Access: Not included
Air Canada Status Miles for flying with us: 100%

Perhaps Andrew's stickys don't cover flights ex-Other countries?

nolens volans

Exactly what I was talking about. So has anyone done it and earned the miles?

YVR72

From the second post in the sticky, Andrew says for all other destinations N = Discounted Economy Class. Not Upgradeable. 100% Aeroplan status miles.

So its a great mileage run! I can fly YVR/YYC/SFO...SFO/YYZ/LHR and back same routing. Looks like 14,666 status miles for $972 all-in!

Not bad for January 31st!

nolens volans

I'm still not entirely convinced that 'all other destinations' includes U.S.-LHR which is strictly speaking a North American flight + a Canada-U.K. flight.

But go ahead, do it - and let us know whether the status miles post!

YVR72

Well, if I can't report on the status miles, maybe I'll be able to report on some XM aircraft???

Argonaut1000

Would suggest that you save a copy of this page where it shows the 100% status miles.

tcook052

UA, LH & US all an almost identical price so why roll the dice with this N fare?

nolens volans

Deleted!

Shareholder

Just remember that the fare on LH will likely on qualify for 50% mileage. But if you do enter Europe from a gateway other than LHR (or other UK airport) and then take a connecting flight to LHR, you won't have to pay the UK fees, just the lower ones at that gateway.