Aeroplan miles

[snickerboo]

Okay, who uses them successfully and aer there tricks to doing this? Trying to book flights for 4 to California (DL) is very definitely difficult. Even though the rewards chart indicates it should be 100 000 miles round-trip for four, nearly every flight is premiuim or half economy class, half business class, etc. And it's nearly impossible to line them up for a week's stay. What is the point in collecting these things if they make them this difficult to redeem?

 

[stefanospops]

I Have only had success booking basic aeroplan trips to Orlando just once. I am on there all the time and have tried booking early, late, and nothing seems to work. A lot of investors are nervous about the sheer number of aeroplan miles that are out there so Air Canada is doing what it can to reduce those numbers. Instead, I now just fly out of Buffalo and save my aeroplan miles for car rentals. Good luck!

 

[damo]

We haven't had problems. I just make sure I book far enough out. Are you flying to LAX from Toronto? Two years ago we flew to LAX and back for 25000 points each and there were four of us. The year before that we flew to San Fransisco and then back from LAX without any problems. We regularly fly to Savannah and haven't had any problems either.

You may want to give them a call because sometimes you can book through partner airlines that don't come up on the website.

A lot probably depends on when you want to go. I just checked right now and chose a date in mid October. I could get 4 flights to LAX from YYZ no problem.

 

[snickerboo]

LAX seems to be the only airport in So Cal where we actually can book flights. I did try our American Airline miles and it seems we can redeem the American easily if we go mid-week. That might make sense. I see that you can get hotel GCs with aeroplan miles, and maybe that's the way to go.

It's not too bright of AC to do this with their aeroplan program. Pennywise, pound foolish. My dh has collected his miles through trips to China. Those are big-time $$$ tickets and you'd think those are the customers AC would want to keep.

When we go to Orlando, we never use miles and we never fly Air Canada: we go SW or AirTran from Detroit. Last time we went I priced out the trip and they gave me a price of $3200 to MCO from YYZ for four on Tango. We ended up going AirTran and the entire trip cost us less than flights on Tango.

 

[CanadianPaco]

I've only used Aeroplan for car rentals. It seems to be worth it for us (35 000 points, full size 10d) It would have cost us over $500 easy!

 

[maddiel]

We just got back from a trip (for 4) to California on Aeroplan points. We booked about 10 months out. We tried to book at 11 months out but there was very limited availability, although there were still 25K choices. It was much more flexible at 10 months - there were a lot more flights that opened up.

The fees were depressing though - I think it was @$175 per ticket, but that was before they dropped the fuel surcharge

M.

 

[minnie56]

Book WAAAY ahead-all I can say.
Sometimes..you can 'luck out' ..a few weeks ago I used miles to got o New York City..booked a week ahead..but that was rare. If it's somewhere popular time is of the essence.

I am using my RBC-AVION more and more....and sitting on 400,000 Aeroplan miles that I want to use but just don't plan that far out?

 

[damo]

Book WAAAY ahead-all I can say.
Sometimes..you can 'luck out' ..a few weeks ago I used miles to got o New York City..booked a week ahead..but that was rare. If it's somewhere popular time is of the essence.

I am using my RBC-AVION more and more....and sitting on 400,000 Aeroplan miles that I want to use but just don't plan that far out?

The problem with Avion is that they require more points.

 

[minnie56]

I know..but not significantly more..and if it gets me the seat!!!!!!!

Only thing is there aren't as many promotions..and extra points!