Aeroplan Questions

[WalkingintheFog]

Having trouble finding availability for my flights....
Wonder if anyone knows if there's an optimal time to check the website?
ie if seats open up due to AC making more avail, is there a standard time they do so?
and
ie if seats are cancelled, are they released to inventory right away?

 

[casper_jj11]

I'm not sure if this is still accurate or not but several years ago we were trying to use aeroplan points to fly into Deer Lake. We were told that there are only two aeroplan seats on each flight flying into and out of NL so they go fast. I've tried almost every visit home and there have never been flights available for us (at least for a reasonable amount of points). That said, my parents use them all the time to fly here for Christmas but they book a year in advance so maybe they luck into the two seats... just a thought as to why you can't find flights... St Johns may be different

 

[WalkingintheFog]

I'm not sure if this is still accurate or not but several years ago we were trying to use aeroplan points to fly into Deer Lake. We were told that there are only two aeroplan seats on each flight flying into and out of NL so they go fast.

Whoa! That was a quick response! Nice!

But, no, that's not it.... I've been playing around with other destinations and/or dates, all starting/ending with St. John's, for as many as 8 passengers, and there's availability.

Granted, prime flights will go fast, but no, it's not that Aeroplan gives only 2 seats per flight to NL.

editted to say: it could be so for flights to/from Deer Lake, as that may be a small aircraft with less than 40 seats on it, as opposed to something flying out of St. John's (aircraft usually 90 seats or more! ....lol: I know! HUGE!!! lol!)

 

[casper_jj11]

LOL Well I'm glad to hear that has changed... or at least its not for the full province. We have five in our family and I've never lucked into seats to fly home but then again, I can't book one year out like my parents do...

 

[dis_guy]

I'll just say up front that I've never booked an Aeroplan (just getting enough points to use now) flight but I've checked for flights a lot, mostly from Edmonton to Orlando.

I've noticed that peak times are very hard to find availability for, even looking as soon as the seats come into the system. For non peak times, booking as early as possible definitely gives you the best choices. There can also be a decent selection for non peak, last minute (a few days to a week or two) bookings, or not.

Just a few of my observations. Good luck!

 

[hcortesis]

ie if seats open up due to AC making more avail, is there a standard time they do so?
and
ie if seats are cancelled, are they released to inventory right away?

Typically, they are opened up at midnight. And yes, sometimes they do release more seats after their normal 2 per flight. And sometimes they don't release their initial 2 until well past their normal 356 days in advance of the date.

 

[ChisJo]

We were going to book to San Francisco a couple of years ago with aeroplan. One day there was nothing, the next week there was lots. It went on like that for a few months (we were at this point just deciding if we wanted to go for sure with a group of people). When it came time to booking, there was nothing. We ended up getting a seat sale that was amazing, and cost us just a little more than the taxes and fees would've cost us with aeroplan. Our friends ended up using aeroplan, flew on an american carrier, had to pay the taxes and fees, and then they had to pay for bags to be checked. In the end, they paid the same amount we did on Westjet.

We were thinking of using our aeroplan points for a flight to Orlando next year, but again, a good friend of mine just got a flight for $398, return from Edmonton. If we can get a deal like that, we'll just save our aeroplan for a flight that we can never find on sale (Ie: New York).

 

[Susie63]

I always use Aeroplan to fly back east to Nova Scotia.It is hard to get three of us out of small market Grande Prairie but if I book right at the one year mark or shortly after I have pretty good luck.I booked in September for our trip in August this year at a cost of $147 per person return.
I won't use Aeroplan to fly to Disneyland though as I can get pretty good seat sale out of YEG.
My advice is to check everyday in the afternoon and late at night.