Aeroplan has me over a barrel

[Lizziejane]

I've had success with Aeroplan. I think Aeroplan makes sense if you travel a lot for business withinin Canada, and Air Canada is your main provider. I've booked reward flights, and then I've had to cancel. HOwever, the tickets were treated the same as if you'd purchased a ticket - they were put on hold, and I have 12 months to rebook. Mind you, there's a $50 fee or so to do that, but still, considerably cheaper than purchasing a ticket. The $135 fee is applicable if you want them thrown back into the pot, without the 12 month restriction. You can't do that with a purchased ticket. It's use it or loose it.

Just one thing about the website when booking rewards - the site rarely lists all available flights. I took my husband to Vegas for his birthday, and travelling from Winnipeg, the only options the website gave me from the 'Peg was going through Toronto. I called iand had no problem booking flights through Denver instead. The guy on the phone told me the list on the website just throws out the most popular picks, but it doesn't necessarily list the only available options. By the way, there was no charge booking by phoning, contrary to what I previously believed. Also, the taxes all in for 2 to Vegas were about $60. Go figure! I think the difference may be having travelled on United instead of AC - their taxes are far less than ours.

And I am currently planning a trip to Orlando next January, and judging from the website, there is no shortage of nabbing 4 seats on the same flights. I guess it has a lot to do with the time of year you plan to travel. But I would suggest you call and see if there are 4 seats together rather than simply going by what pops up on the website. You never know, you might hit it lucky.

It does seem ridiculous that travelling from the Peg costs the same number of points as travelling from Toronto, seeing as how we have an extra leg in there. But overall, Aeroplan requires far less points than Avion. Read the fine print on Avion - they charge so many points (35,000 I believe) up to a certain dollar value. Again, coming from the 'Peg, I would always have to use more points, or anty up the extra $'s.

 

[MikeyNS]

Avion = 30,000 points for a flight in N/A to a ticket value of $750 (not including fees)
Aeroplan = 25,000 points for a flight in N/A

I've used both for flights from YHZ to MCO and Aeroplan did require more planning (booked right at the 356? day window and got the dates I wanted).. whereas Avion was great to snag good direct flights down within a month or two of leaving, in which we earned Aeroplan points anyways!

I've had success with Aeroplan. I t
think Aeroplan makes sense if you travel a lot for business withinin Canada, and Air Canada is your main provider. I've booked reward flights, and then I've had to cancel. HOwever, the tickets were treated the same as if you'd purchased a ticket - they were put on hold, and I have 12 months to rebook. Mind you, there's a $50 fee or so to do that, but still, considerably cheaper than purchasing a ticket. The $135 fee is applicable if you want them thrown back into the pot, without the 12 month restriction. You can't do that with a purchased ticket. It's use it or loose it.

Just one thing about the website when booking rewards - the site rarely lists all available flights. I took my husband to Vegas for his birthday, and travelling from Winnipeg, the only options the website gave me from the 'Peg was going through Toronto. I called iand had no problem booking flights through Denver instead. The guy on the phone told me the list on the website just throws out the most popular picks, but it doesn't necessarily list the only available options. By the way, there was no charge booking by phoning, contrary to what I previously believed. Also, the taxes all in for 2 to Vegas were about $60. Go figure! I think the difference may be having travelled on United instead of AC - their taxes are far less than ours.

And I am currently planning a trip to Orlando next January, and judging from the website, there is no shortage of nabbing 4 seats on the same flights. I guess it has a lot to do with the time of year you plan to travel. But I would suggest you call and see if there are 4 seats together rather than simply going by what pops up on the website. You never know, you might hit it lucky.

It does seem ridiculous that travelling from the Peg costs the same number of points as travelling from Toronto, seeing as how we have an extra leg in there. But overall, Aeroplan requires far less points than Avion. Read the fine print on Avion - they charge so many points (35,000 I believe) up to a certain dollar value. Again, coming from the 'Peg, I would always have to use more points, or anty up the extra $'s.

 

[offwegotoneverland]

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.

RBC Avion is one point accumlated per dollar spent (plus an initial amount of 5000 points and 2500 at anniversary)

15000 pts for a "connected" province or state flight

30,000 pts for North American flight (max value 750)

35-45 and up for others

You pick the airline you want flight you want (I normally use expedia or similar to figure out my best times) and fees have normally been aprox 50.00 per ticket.

Can also use pts to pay the fees if you want (but not a great value).

Points can also be redmeed for merch and gift certificates. Rbc Royal bank web site would have complete details.

 

[mom_rules]

Great information-thanks.
What is the annual fee?

 

[offwegotoneverland]

Great information-thanks.
What is the annual fee?

120.00 co-app 50. If your self employed and have one "personally" fee is 120 business is 50.00 each employee and the points can role up to yours or be left with the employee's.

 

[MikeyNS]

Great information-thanks.
What is the annual fee?

Or if you have the super duper RBC VIP package (gives you ""free"" everything, US account included) you get the cards ""free"" for the $30/month fee.

 

[FayeW]

One of our suppliers at work gives us an incentive to place business with them. They had a GREAT reward program, and I just found out this week that they are switching us to Aeroplan. I am so upset! I sent an email to the reward center complaining, and it turns out that everybody they are talking to about it is reacting very negatively. I hope they will cancel the plan.

The problem is, I think THEY think that they are giving us a great reward, because they probably pay $25-$30 per 1000 aeroplan miles. They don't realize that when we try to spend it (on anything other than travel in N.A) that we are only getting about $10 value per 1000! That is reducing our previous reward by 75%!! I mean, seriously, 47000 miles for ONE adult 7 day park hopper? I can buy the darn thing for less than $400! For 3000 more miles (and $250) two of us could fly to Orlando!

It has been 2 days since I heard the news, and I am still in a tizzy. Sorry to hijack the thread.

 

[amw]

The problem is, I think THEY think that they are giving us a great reward, because they probably pay $25-$30 per 1000 aeroplan miles. They don't realize that when we try to spend it (on anything other than travel in N.A) that we are only getting about $10 value per 1000! That is reducing our previous reward by 75%!! I mean, seriously, 47000 miles for ONE adult 7 day park hopper? I can buy the darn thing for less than $400! For 3000 more miles (and $250) two of us could fly to Orlando!

Well, that's the point. It's "cheaper" to get airline tickets than other special offers.

I don't think people have a problem with that. Airmiles charges 275 airmiles for a Wonderland day-pass that costs $35. For some people, that's a lot of airmiles to save. For others, if they have it, might as well go for free.

I think the problem with the aeroplan program (from the original poster) was the airport fees/taxes, and having to book your tickets so far in advance.

My husband travels a lot for work, and we get at least 6 free tickets a year. It does cost $150 per seat in fees (airport fees/taxes not aeroplan fees) and I tend to book a year in advance. But, I'm an A-type pre-planner so it works for me

 

[amw]

I just realized I got tagged! ... and it must have been while on this board. How ironic

 

[dhluvsDisney]

I just realized I got tagged! ... and it must have been while on this board. How ironic

Okay, silly question, but what does that mean?

Linda

 

[deany]

We have Aeroplan and Avion miles. Our bank, the Royal Bank switched from Aeroplan to Avion as there were more airlines to choose from. So we have some Aeroplan miles left. We did fly to Orlando from Kamloops in 2000 - all 5 of us for 25,000 points each. She said usually they only allow 4 seats for airmiles but she "borrowed" one from another flight. It worked out great - we didn't have to drive to Vancouver or Seattle so we saved on the drive plus the airport parking. Just a few months ago my son and I used some points to fly to St. Johns, Nfld and it should have been 25,000 points within Canada but cost us 37,500 each.

I have yet to use any Avion points and we must have almost 300,000!! It seems complicated to book them. Is it?
We are flying to WDW in Sept and I found a cheap flight on expedia for $335 our of Seattle. If I had booked it about 10 days before it would have been $284. Hardly worth spending the points on.

 

[amw]

Okay, silly question, but what does that mean?

Linda

Sorry. It's off-topic, but every now and again a "fairy godmother" creates the tag lines that appear under your name on the left of the screen from what you have posted. I guess I've been hanging out on the boards enough lately

 

[McKiggan]

I posted my frustrations with Aeroplan earlier this year.

Perhaps I can share another annoyance. I have been trying to use my points to book an ACV package for March break 07. No matter what dates (during the entire MONTH!) and no matter which Disney hotel I choose I get a "sorry, no bookings available" message.

I know I am "only" booking 9 months in advance, but I find it inconceivable that every single room at every single hotel that ACV has is sold out.

Am I doing something wrong?

 

[amw]

I posted my frustrations with Aeroplan earlier this year.

Perhaps I can share another annoyance. I have been trying to use my points to book an ACV package for March break 07. No matter what dates (during the entire MONTH!) and no matter which Disney hotel I choose I get a "sorry, no bookings available" message.

I know I am "only" booking 9 months in advance, but I find it inconceivable that every single room at every single hotel that ACV has is sold out.

Am I doing something wrong?

I'm not sure about WDW, but at DLR, Disney will not release the 2007 rooms yet. Apparently, they don't set the prices for 2007 until sometime in the Fall. You can call Disney Vacations directly to find out when they will be available, and then try booking with ACV.

 

[McKiggan]

Thanks AMW. I did notice that AC hasn't posted their flight schedule for March '07 yet so it may be that there (literally) are no filghts available (yet).

Here's hoping.

 

[offwegotoneverland]

We have Aeroplan and Avion miles. Our bank, the Royal Bank switched from Aeroplan to Avion as there were more airlines to choose from. So we have some Aeroplan miles left. We did fly to Orlando from Kamloops in 2000 - all 5 of us for 25,000 points each. She said usually they only allow 4 seats for airmiles but she "borrowed" one from another flight. It worked out great - we didn't have to drive to Vancouver or Seattle so we saved on the drive plus the airport parking. Just a few months ago my son and I used some points to fly to St. Johns, Nfld and it should have been 25,000 points within Canada but cost us 37,500 each.

I have yet to use any Avion points and we must have almost 300,000!! It seems complicated to book them. Is it?
We are flying to WDW in Sept and I found a cheap flight on expedia for $335 our of Seattle. If I had booked it about 10 days before it would have been $284. Hardly worth spending the points on.

I have booked with Avion points twice and it was easy.

As to if it's worth it I'd rather use my points for anything over about 275 or so and spend the 275 on something else for the trip.

 

[Newcastle]

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!

Disney Fanatic, I am curious. Do you recall how long your miles had remained in your account essentially untouched? I am assuming that you were still using your card and accumulating miles when they decided to empty your account. I am concerned that the same thing might happen to us. Is there some fine print somewhere stating when the miles will expire if they are not redeemed?

 

[Disney Fanatic]

Disney Fanatic, I am curious. Do you recall how long your miles had remained in your account essentially untouched? I am assuming that you were still using your card and accumulating miles when they decided to empty your account. I am concerned that the same thing might happen to us. Is there some fine print somewhere stating when the miles will expire if they are not redeemed?

I am not exactly sure how long the points were there but it was several years for sure.

We had a baby and decided not to travel for a few years.

I suggest you call Aeroplan and just ask them as I was quite shocked that this could happen.

I am sure they have themselves covered in some small print when you sign up for Aeroplan originally.

Good Luck!

 

[damo]

I've had success with Aeroplan.

I've had only success with Aeroplan too. It has been great for our family.

 

[amw]

Disney Fanatic, I am curious. Do you recall how long your miles had remained in your account essentially untouched? I am assuming that you were still using your card and accumulating miles when they decided to empty your account. I am concerned that the same thing might happen to us. Is there some fine print somewhere stating when the miles will expire if they are not redeemed?

They will only cancel your account if you are no longer accumulating. You can easily fix this by connecting you aeroplan card to your ESSO card. You'll only get a handful of aeroplan miles each fill up, but your account stays current if you are no longer flying.

Here's the info from the aeroplan website:

Mileage Expiry

Question:
Will my Aeroplan Miles ever expire?


Answer:
Almost all loyalty and frequent flyer programs have expiry policies, but ours is distinctive--to your advantage. With Aeroplan, your mileage never expires as long as you stay active. Compared to other programs, you have many more ways to stay active. What's more, you have a full 36 months to continue your participation in Aeroplan prior to expiry (new members have 12 months).

Please keep in mind that we do not consider "signup" Bonus Aeroplan Miles "earned" mileage. You should also note that mileage in Air Canada Super Elite, Elite or Prestige accounts will not expire.
Even if your Aeroplan Miles expire, you remain an Aeroplan Member. Your Aeroplan Card and Aeroplan number remain valid, so you do not need to re-enroll in Aeroplan the next time you want to accumulate miles. Simply use your card and your newly earned miles will be deposited into your Aeroplan account.

Please note, on a temporary basis, in the event your account expired between February 01, 2005 and December 31, 2005, you will have a full 12 month grace period for mileage reinstatement requests (e.g. if your mileage expired on June 2, 2005, you will have until June 2, 2006 to reinstate your mileage). A processing fee of $135.00 CAD plus applicable taxes applies. If you wish to reinstate your Aeroplan Miles, we invite you to contact the Aeroplan contact center.

Mileage that expires as of January 01, 2006, cannot be reinstated.