Aeroplan has me over a barrel

[FreddyBeach]

Hello all,

First post in a while, just thought I would put this on to vent my frustrations with Aeroplan.

My family and I are planning a trip to WDW in May 2007 and intend to use Aeroplan points to get there. Right off the bat, it is nearly impossible to get 4 seats together on the same flight, so my wife and I have agreed to travel down separately each with a child. If we do it this way, not only do we get decent options for flights, but it will only cost us 100,000 points, apposed to the upwards of 150,000 points it could cost us using the Aeroplan Avenue options. So far so good.

I go to make the arrangements via Aeroplan... still so far so good...

Just an aside here. If you ever decide to do it this way, the best way to do it is to open two web pages, both logged on to Aeroplan. You start the booking process on the first 2 tickets, which holds them for 15 minutes. You then use the other web page to book the second pair of tickets... This way if all your options disappear after you book the first pair of tickets, you don't have to commit to them. Just close the browser and they are released back into the pile.

Anyway.

I start to use this process to book our "FREE" tickets.... When I got to the point of confirming the tickets, it popped up a screen which required that I submit my VISA number to pay for the "Airport Fees". Again, I was expecting to pay some fees. I've done this before..... But $120.65 per person? I am going to pay almost $500 for 4 free tickets. I know. They retail for approx $3000, but c'mon.

I checked to see if I cancelled the tickets, would I get the "Airport Fees" returned. "Most certainly sir. Right after you pay the $135 + tax cancellation fee". Per ticket.

I guess I should have seen this coming... It's not going to stop me from making the reservations, it just kinda sucks some of the fun out of the process.

There. I have vented. Maybe someone else will read this and not be blindsided by the cost.

Later eh?

Mike in the Maritimes.

 

[satman1962]

Ugh, I second your feelings towards Aeroplan. We recently switched to a Royal Bank Avion card. Although 30,000 points for a free ride, MUCH more flexable regarding the bookings! We're a family of six and the only time we use the aeroplan points is if we're travelling solo.

 

[surfer_ed]

I switched to Avion as well and although there was still some fees, it worked out to be about $135 in fees for 2 tickets at a very busy time of year.

The only time I travel Aeroplan is solo as well and normally when I am very flexible in my dates and book 8 months out.

Not to fully take AC's side of things but fees aren't likely to get better, I heard on the radio this morning that Pearson is the most expensive Airport in world for Airlines, charging the highest fees and the most costly to run???

 

[F4disneyfan]

Gold Travel Visa customer here I love the fact that it is an actual travel agent that does the booking with your points plus you can use any airline with your points yes that includes SWA you can also use the points for hotels and car rentals and numerous other things. I will never use a points card you have to pay 120 a year for and are locked into 1 carrier full of blackout dates and restrictions it is just not worth it at all that is why the Gold Travel Visa fits our needs perfectly.

 

[dhluvsDisney]

We discovered this a while back. These "free" flights seem to have too many $$$ attached. That is why we opted to go for gift cert and other options which give me our true value and pay for the flights. We discovered this especially with Air miles, and now use our points to get our Disney Park Passes instead. Full $$$ value.

Linda

 

[FreddyBeach]

If I really do a cold hard analysis of this situation, most of that 120.65 per person is not related to Air Canada at all, but related to travelling by air in general and to the US specifically.

$16.50 Airport Fee
$7.94 Canadian Security Tax
$14.50 US Arrival Tax
$14.50 US Departure Tax
$4.50 Facilities Fee
$2.50 US Security Tax
$32.18 Fuel Surcharge (This should not be included in my opinion)
$7.00 Immigration Tax (I'm visiting not immigrating)

And on and on.... + GST.

Really the only charge I would have issue with would be the Fuel Surcharge. I doubt bus companies have fuel surcharges...

Mike in the Maritimes

 

[PixieDustTink]

These airmiles plans from Canada all seem to be very hard to get points with where I'm at. Aeroplane doesn't accumulate miles very many places in my area. I fly out of Syracuse. At any rate we've found Northwest Airmiles card to be the very best. I've only had it three years and I've flown free twice already. There are very few black out dates and you can get airmiles many, many ways. Shopping Disney online, staying at hotels, renting cars etc. These miles accumulate faster than any other plan I've ever used! Last night on the Northwest site I found The Dolphin for 149.00 a night though it's still too early for us. If I booked that I'd have not only got a great rate but, airmiles for each dollar spent on the room too! Their airmiles program is called Worldperks. We've enjoyed having this more than any other program we've ever used!

I might combine it with Royal banks avion visa. What are the advantages of this card for those of you that have used it??

 

[bavaria]

I fly 100,000 miles/year; recently switched from Aeroplan to United (most of my travel is to the US)

Average cost of an Aeroplan ticket on points to MCO $125
Average cost of a United ticket on points to MCO $35

These are the costs which I have paid in the past two years, flying from a Canadian city to MCO on points.

 

[striker3636]

We too find that we get a better deal buying gift cards and WDW tickets. We tend to drive anyways and pull a camper.

 

[mom_rules]

Okay-anyone know if you can trade in aeroplan miles for say-airmiles or anything else?

 

[PixieDustTink]

Okay-anyone know if you can trade in aeroplan miles for say-airmiles or anything else?

If you mean transferring miles between programs there used to a be an online site where you could do this. I'll see if I can find it again for you. I've lost that info since last year when I saw it. I'm not sure if they use Canadian programs but, I seem to remember they do. Let me go see if I can find it!

 

[MikeyNS]

If you mean transferring miles between programs there used to a be an online site where you could do this. I'll see if I can find it again for you. I've lost that info since last year when I saw it. I'm not sure if they use Canadian programs but, I seem to remember they do. Let me go see if I can find it!

I think you're looking for points.com .. not really cost effective but better than nothing!

 

[amw]

Okay-anyone know if you can trade in aeroplan miles for say-airmiles or anything else?

You can use your aeroplan miles for other things besides travel. You could "purchase" WDW passes (although it's around 35,000 aeroplan miles! more than the flight!), or other goodies. Check out their website.

As for the original poster, I always book my travel tickets through aeroplan. My husband works in the US on a weekly basis, so we accumulate enough for 6 a year. You can book up to 5 regular rewards tickets at a time on each flight. That's the most the'll offer on any plane at the 25,000 rate. Otherwise, they'll start charging you 35,000 or more. So, you shouldn't have had to book twice for two tickets each.

I do agree, they're not the easiest 5 tickets to come by. To get them all together, you basically have to book as soon as the spots are available (11 months before I think), and be flexible with weekday departures. We booked our early March 2007 tickets to Disneyland at the end of last March -- 4 at the same time. Does require some pre-planning, but that's my A-type personality

 

[Disney Fanatic]

I too have switched to Royal Bank Avion Card instead of my Aeroplan Card.

The first straw was when I had not used my 160,000 miles for some time because we had a child and they just decided to empty my account due to inactivity. No call, no letter, no nothing.

The 2nd was when we finally decided to travel, it is near impossible to get seats for 3 people together. We had to opt to fly out of Buffalo on a partner flight and at the end of the day, the fees we paid with Aeroplan for the "free" tickets would have been around the same price as Southwest non-stop!!

Hence we are no longer using Aeroplan and hoping for better luck with Avion.

I know with the Avion Card or the TD Visa Gold Card you can use ANY carrier which should make things much easier and it is my undersstanding that there are not a select number of seat per flight like Aeroplan.

I am keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[bavaria]

I fly 100,000 miles/year; recently switched from Aeroplan to United (most of my travel is to the US)

Average cost of an Aeroplan ticket on points to MCO $125
Average cost of a United ticket on points to MCO $35

These are the costs which I have paid in the past two years, flying from a Canadian city to MCO on points.

And go figure - today booked Aeroplan ticket Canada - Europe in business class, all in fees and taxes were $75.

 

[hcortesis]

With increased competition from other airline reward programs, Aeroplan announced a week or so ago that there will be changes to their program. During the latter part of this year or early next year, they will be opening up all available seats to Aeroplan customers. They have said that you will pay more points as you get closer to your departure date, but if there is a seat available for cash, it will be available for points. Just heard this about 10 days ago.

 

[minnie56]

On Aeroplan! I have nothing but woes everytime I try to use my points! I made a booking last year for Rome and had to cancel it less than 24 hours after booking...cost me almost $300 in cancellation fees. I have RBC Avion too...but till I get through my 300,000 FREE miles...I am not giving up!

I am finding flying out of Buffalo very handy these days mind you, and all for under $150 return!

 

[mom_rules]

Would someone be so kind as to provide details of the RBC Avion plan?

What I meant re: miles exchange-for instance you can exchange HBC reward for airmiles etc.

 

[bavaria]

On Aeroplan! I have nothing but woes everytime I try to use my points! I made a booking last year for Rome and had to cancel it less than 24 hours after booking...cost me almost $300 in cancellation fees. I have RBC Avion too...but till I get through my 300,000 FREE miles...I am not giving up!

I am finding flying out of Buffalo very handy these days mind you, and all for under $150 return!

Sounds like you cancelled and had them redeposit the points? I recommend just changing dates to a future date within one year; the chagne cost is $55 and siginificantly less than the redeposit fee.

I've been on a quest to empy out my Aeroplan account for over a year now, and switch all my mileage earning opportunities to United. So far haven't been successful in draining that Aeroplan account

 

[amw]

I've been on a quest to empy out my Aeroplan account for over a year now, and switch all my mileage earning opportunities to United. So far haven't been successful in draining that Aeroplan account

I'll take them Just kidding.

Did you look at the Gift Certificates that are available under 10,000 points?

6,000 points -- Indigo $50 card; Blockbuster $50
6,500 points -- Gap $50; Cineplex evening for 4; La Senza $50; National Car Rental $50; Linens & Things $50; Pier 1 $50; Running Room $50
7,000 points -- Body Shop $50; HBC $50; ESSO $50; Square One $50; Ticketmaster $50

Also, lots of videos and travel bags. Worth of look if your just trying to get rid of them.