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You can't always get what you want

DOUGLAS MCARTHUR

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:38 PM EDT 01/06/08

Redeeming airline rewards can be a challenge if you're looking for first- or business-class seats. As with most good things, patience and timing are essential ...Read the full article

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  1. David C from Canada writes: Sounds like it might be less complicated if I go back to University, take some theoretical physics/Engineering courses, and build myself a Star Trek transporter.
  2. Dizzy D from Edmonton, Canada writes: hahaha good commend David C. Reading that article was like reading one of my advanced accounting books from university. Who books trips a year in advance anyways??
  3. A C from Albertario, Canada writes:
    Just goes to show, some people will pay a great deal to get something for nothing.
  4. David McFarlane from Bobcaygeon Ont, Canada writes: Try using a travel agent to redeem your Aeroplan miles for a business class trip. Although there is a nominal charge it's well worth it. 3 years ago I had to make an emergency trip to Australia to see my mother who only had a few days to live. Thanks to my travel agent and the help of a friendly sevice agent at Aeroplan I was able to get business cass tickets leaving the next day.
  5. Frances T from toronto, Canada writes: It is indeed very difficult, if not impossible, to use the Aeroplan miles. I checked the Alliance web site and saw a business class seat available /offered by another airline, then called up Aeroplan to enquire about it. The operator's answer was a simple "NO, it is not available" . She wouldnt bother to look for other flights for me. She even hanged up on me when I asked to speak to the supervisor.

    Dont bother contacting Aeroplan;s customer service either - they will send you one of those standard reply that the case is considered closed unless you want to file a new complaint within 7 days. They simply ignore any comment/complaint...typical of Air Canada's service (or lack of)
  6. M D from Ottawa, Canada writes: I gave up and now buy $100 Sommelier cards on Aeroplan and go shopping.
  7. j wilson from vancouver, Canada writes: One question: If there's anyone out there who stopped using Aeroplan in favour of a different rewards program and regrets it, please post your story.
    Ive never heard of such regret, but I am interested to see if it might exist.
  8. Dude Love from Canada writes: Patients and persistence is the key to getting what you want with rewards points. As for calling, customer service. Always start the conversation by asking "how are you today?" and follow up with "I am hoping you can help me." Works everytime.
  9. Nassar Ben Houdja from Canada writes: Using these gimmicks, the result after hours on the phone is "You can't get there from here".
  10. There's a War between those who say there's a War and those who say there isn't from Canada writes: an utterly contrived set of situations that are rarely applied in the real world

    I suspect the story is more about driving people to use their horded points than anything else - and why should we?

    I just checked a flight to europe through AC and on a 60,000 point economy flight I will pay approx 330.00 in taxes for the privilege of using my points - that's more than 1/3 of an economy class ticket - in TAXES!
  11. P Martin from St. John's, Canada writes: I gave up on aeroplan miles a little over a year ago. Better to go with a 1% cashback card. An example - a little more than a year ago, during off season, it cost me 45,000 points to go to Ottawa from St. John's. Disgusting...and a couple hundred extra dollars in "fees". Never again. It costs at least 30,000 points to just get off the island. Pathetic.
  12. Sue City from Canada writes: You're essentially getting a free flight, so why expect a First/Business class seat? Apparently everyone's entitled these days...
  13. Closely Watching from Canada writes: Alaska Airlines has the best reward program, the most leg room on the planes and the best service I have ever received. No problem using points for any class of service, partners and upgrades. Gotta love them if you live on the west coast.
  14. Yellow Submariner from Canada writes:

    hey There's a War ... it is very easy to get around taxes with Aeroplan when crossing the Atlantic ... have them route the outbound portion through the USA.

    I've saved bundles that way over the years exiting the Prairies - fly out through Chicago on United, and come back via Toronto, and you pay virtually no taxes! Taxes are dependent on where you begin your oceanic hop. Makes no sense, but it's true!
  15. Albin Forone from Canada writes: I've stuck with Aeroplan - never used points for flights, which don't seem like such a deal, but have had some free hotel nights, a good electronic gadget, and now am interested in its new music download service. My points are a mix of employer-paid business and personal travel - I certainly give Air Canada / Aeroplan points a once over for personal travel planning but certainly wouldn't pass up a better/cheaper flight on another carrier out of "loyalty" or greed for Aeroplan points. My main gripe in life, well, in this aspect of it, is that the Ontario LCBO offers Air Miles but not Aeroplan points, since I spend a lot at that monopoly to get through this nasty, brutish and short earthly tenure, and receive discriminatory treatment.
  16. Jeff Doucette from Calgary, Canada writes: Admittedly I am an Aeroplan Super Elite member and have benefited from the extra access to the seats on every plane. I have booked five flights since March for myself or family and paid the Classic rate on everyone. Nice perk for sitting on a planne for 100,000 miles in 2007.

    That said, I am responding to J Wilson because in fact we are converting back to CIBC/Amex after an experiment with RBC Avion. The reason is that although you can book on any airline, there are maximum prices for domestic and internatonal flights. With the price of kerosene this summer almost all flights East of Toronto are priced out of RBC Avion's program. They need to revisit their limits to maintain their competitive edge.
  17. David from Ottawa from Ottawa, Canada writes: I understand that people are generally pretty frustrated by Aeroplan but I must say I have used it for years and have travelled to Haiti, Phoenix, Atlanta, Savannah, Boston, Seattle, Vancouver and most recently to Thailand and Beijing. I usually use the service of an agent as they can get information quicker and easier than the website. I booked my flight to Thailand about a month or so before I left. A business class seat, normally $8000 (I checked Air Canada's web site afterwards) cost me about $285. Great way to travel and it only cost me 25,000 more points that economy. I have never had to book really far in advance. For those interested, I get most of my points through my VISA card but also travel quite a bit with work. I have been a member since 1989. Love it.
  18. Thomas Richter from Canada writes: Am a member of Miles and More and have had the unpleasant experience of attempting to get upgrades on already booked flights and being told that other member airlines of the Star Alliance, namely Air Canada and LOT Polish Airlines won't use existing Star Alliance miles to upgrade even when seats are available. Seems like these carriers are doing their utmost to alienate passengers. That being said, as a last resort, once can always trade the points for merchandise.
  19. TheWay ISeeIt from Calgary, Canada writes: Due to various job and responsibility changes, I've had some years with lots of travel and others with very little. As a result, I've been every kind of Aeroplan member from Super-Elite to Basic over the last ten years. After being Elite last year, I'm back to Basic again and it gets much harder to find the reward seats at Classic redemption levels.

    You have to plan way ahead which means getting vacation time locked in early. This can be hard to for some people even if they have the foresight themselves to try. Their employers often can't accommodate it. Those who can get the seats. It's that simple. The seats are there. It just that the early birds get them. If you want to go to Rome or Hawaii in Business class (sometimes even Economy) on the first Saturday of Spring Break, you have to call 1 year ahead.

    To answer a question asked earlier, I use both Aeroplan and RBC Avion Visa. Aeroplan can be good or bad depending on the agent you get. Overall, the culture at AC is bad. There's still a lot of bitterness in the ranks over the merger with Canadian, the seniority deals, the contracts, etc. and it translates to indifferent front-line service.

    The Visa points are good for when you can't plan ahead and have to buy the tickets or want to travel at peak times. All the programs seem to require you to pay the taxes but I like the suggestion about routing through the US to reduce them. Will have to try that next time.
  20. Michele K from Ottawa, Canada writes: Jeff Doucette - to my knowledge, the RBC Avion $$ limits haven't changed since the beginning of the program several years ago. They weren't realistic then (which is why I didn't switch over to the Avion program), so they must be really out-of-whack today.

    Haven't yet heard anyone talk about booking travel with their Air Miles points - it had better be a plan, because we've accumulated 30,000 'miles' and I'm counting on them to provide a couple of free vacations.
  21. There's a War between those who say there's a War and those who say there isn't from Canada writes: Sue City from Canada writes: You're essentially getting a free flight, so why expect a First/Business class seat? Apparently everyone's entitled these days...

    You need to qualify "free" here - the guy who flies 100,000 per annum to get "free" flights or the international and domestic surcharges and taxes that make your "free" flight no longer free.
  22. Forgive Me Lord from Canada writes: Aeroplan promotes b.s. about rewards and then makes it exceedingly difficult to redeem. If an Aeroplan member has the patience of Job, and doesn't surrender in frustration, they're rewarded with layer upon layer of extra charges. Either way, you're treated with contempt.

    Ditching Aeroplan improved my quality of life.
  23. Catherine O'Brien from Toronto, Canada writes: Another example of the "rich get richer..." Why don't they just lower their prices and keep it simple? I'm just p*ssed off that I have to pay top dollar since I don't travel on business very often - I just like to vacation and my fares are going to subsidize these reward programs.
  24. Fungal Fred from Fungusville, Canada writes: Okay I tried it at aeroplan.com. 1 adult out to Bangkok April 17 2009, return April 30 2009. 75,000 miles. Try 2 adults: 150,000 miles. Okay, let's see if we can take one of the kids:

    "No results were found for your dates. Air Canada doesn't fly between the selected cities. The Availability Calendar is not displayed because only Air Canada flights are presented on the calendar. To view Star Alliance partner flights for other dates, start a new search."

    And so it begins .... send the wife and one kid from one airport, the husband and another kid from another airport. Arrive different times and different days, overnight in Timbuctu.... pay the fees ... don't change your travel plans ... pay the card fee ....

    Or just buy tickets on a discount airline, again.

    Of course, I'm only Elite. I can't expect to get a reward flight.
  25. Mark P from Calgary, Canada writes: Actually the trick with Aeroplan rewards is to book at least* one segment in business class in your entire itinerary. If you do, then you have priority for business class seating when you get on *all of the segments, if business class is available at check-in. Since it is exceedingly rare for business class to be full with revenue passengers, this ensures you business class travel on the reward tickets.
  26. eric lange from mississauga, writes: As a long time member of American Express, my business Lange Ticket Exchange uses american express to purchase Toronto Maple Leaf and other tickets for a ticket exchange website. We spend over $1.2 million dollars on american express per year, which means we have approx. 1.6 million american express points to spend. We transfer over to aeroplan most of the points on a monthly basis, then we use Aeroplan to purchase tickets for company staff travel for our other business Lange Transportation so we can supervisors to shows. If we see the travel points cost more than 1.5 cents for every aeroplan point we use real dollars to purchase staff airline tickets, if the travel points is less than 1.5 cents we use the aeroplan to sent staff to trade shows all across Canada. Last year we averaged 30,000 points to sent a staff member to a city like Toronto to Edmonton, sometimes 25,000 points and sometimes as much as 45,000 points. We find the biggest issue is prime time like August it can be more than 80,000 points so we switch to Westjet or pay with real dollars again paying with american express to build up more points. Last year we had over 40 return flights on the aeroplan system. So we use the fact we spend alot of money on American Express each month, to benefit the other division of the company. As a company we save approx. $30,000 per year! Plus we can afford to send extra staff for the largest trade shows to ensure we can provide that extra level of service.
  27. S Lucht from Canada writes: Mark P: I'd be careful about that strategy. While what you say was once true, Aeroplan ticket holders now seem to be lower on the totem pole.
  28. RD Lone from Vancouver, Canada writes: I switched to the new TD cards after dealing with the Aeroplan fiasco. The TD system works amazing; if you can book it on the airline's website you can book it with your TD points. Granted that the bonus rate is lower and is essentially a cash back card at 1.5-2%, I prefer it due to the flexibility.
  29. Tony L from Everywhere but home, Canada writes: I have been an AC Aeroplan FF, and a CIBC AeroVISA card carrying member since 1995. I only travel across N.A. for work around 4 times a year, so by no means am I an Elite anything in AC's eyes. I generate the majority of my points via purchases on the AERO VISA and ther supporting retail partners. My wife and I have travelled to ASIA on points every year since 2003, we fly Business Class only on any Star alliance member, OZ, SQ, TG, ANA flights for the simple reason that there seems be a lot more reward seats available (only my experience) on them. Also because the experience amongst ASAIN carriers is a totally different vs NA ones. I sometimes have booked 6 months in advance, but one year I booked, last minute, only 4 weeks in advance, and I only travel during " industry off season" around the FEB-APR time period. There is hope for all the frustrated Aero members. Patience required. As the article says, dealing with an agent on the phone is the ONLY way to go. I spend on average 1 1/2 hrs! on the phone (not inc. the time on hold) going over all the options available to me, but it's definitely worth the 30$ in booking fees. This way I can see what's available on all airlines, and also for any overnight stays that may be attractive to us. This way I can visit another city/ country on the same trip. Whether it's NRT, ICN, HKG, TPE, SIN, etc... I would never use my points for an ecomony ticket overseas. 50% more points gets you a ticket that on the surface is worth 4-6 times the cost if you were to purchase the same ticket via an agent or airline. If I were to fly economy overseas, I would just purchase the ticket outright and save the points for the next time around. Plus the points required for BC, are very attractive vs ecomony. We can complain all we want, the facts are is there is something for everybody on every program. Aeroplan has been very good to me, sorry it hasn't been for other members. for 250,000 pts, you can get a TV.
  30. Tony L from Everywhere but home, Canada writes: David McFarlane from Bobcaygeon Ont, Canada writes: Try using a travel agent to redeem your Aeroplan miles for a business class trip.

    Hi David, glad to hear Aeroplan was there for you during difficult times. How was the process done with the assistance of a travel agent & aeroplan in arranging a trip in such a timely manner? Is this possible with all travel agents and aeroplan, or just a one-off thing during extraordinary circumstances?

    I wish to visit Asia again next month, last minute stars all aligning simultaneously, if all things willing.

    Some more guidance would be greatly appreciated, as I call my travel agent in the morning.

    Regards,

    Tony L
    Somewhere besides home
  31. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: Closely Watching writes, "Alaska Airlines has the best reward program, ..." It's nice that their MP lets you get a basic ticket for only 20,000 miles but otherwise, its other benefits are the equivalent of American Airlines' program using members of OneWorld.

    "Gotta love them if you live on the west coast." Yes, as a LCC, their routes are VERY limited.

    Yellow Submariner writes, "I've saved bundles that way over the years exiting the Prairies - fly out through Chicago on United, and come back via Toronto, and you pay virtually no taxes!" This is great advice, I have had good luck burning off United Mileage Plus points by gifting tickets to my family. AC gave up a lot of cross-border routes from Winnipeg to United through Chicago O'Hare or Denver. With Aeroplan, work out a combination of AC or United RJ flights with a United or non-North American Star Alliance partner like Lufthansa or Singapore (or take a RJ from Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa to Philadelphia to catch a US trans-Atlantic flight).

    The funny thing is that advice to users of US FF plans is to find flights on non-US alliance partners.

    Difficulty in using FF points is not isolated to Aeroplan ... it's a huge problem with US-based airlines' plans.

    http://www.katu.com/news/specialreports/18385049.html
  32. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: Sue City writes, "You're essentially getting a free flight, so why expect a First/Business class seat?" Because you are caught in a situation where you are cashing in more points than the 'basic' 25000. I found myself in such a predicament a year ago, when my meeting schedule put my personal travel plans up in the air (so to speak) for the US Memorial Day weekend (when I have my deferred Victoria Day holiday). The usual holiday sale blowout did not appear at United and I was stuck spending points because United was charging $780 to Chicago. It was 50000 for a short notice coach seat on either United or American, or 45000 SuperSaver for a first class seat on American.

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