Aeroplan vent

[Lorajo]

I just need to complain.

I had booked our trip that we are taking with aeroplan..

Me and my little girl were on aeroplan. However, I had to book my husband on a different flight. There was no way to get me on the same AC flights as him(even using extra points or paying extra) so I eventually cancelled my aeroplan, paid $90 each ticket because i was too nervous that my hubby would make it to florida on his awesome intinerary and I would get stuck at O'hara with my 40 minute layover.

So, that's fine. I rebook, got a great deal ($149 one way witch AC and got on a decent continental flight on the way home.)

So I still have points. We decide to do 5 nights in May the three of us. I look on Aeroplan and find some nice flights for the days i want to travel. So then I rent some DVC points at the boardwalk. I can't book the aeroplan until I get comfirmation that DVC ressie has been made in case I need to move my dates around.

I get the confirmation within 24 hours.

What do you know? The aeroplan availability is gone. I will continue to check everyday but I am so frustrated. I still might not get to use my points an will end up driving to the states to get there.

We accumulate the points quickly, but man, this system is so NOT flexible. I want to switch to avion but it takes more points to do anything....

 

[Gigi22]

Do you have an Air Miles collector card? I haven't used them myself for air travel, but they do offer another option.

 

[aristocat65]

Do you have an Air Miles collector card? I haven't used them myself for air travel, but they do offer another option.

I wouldn't recommend Airmiles program for air travel at all. I appreciate that many on this board have had great success with it, but their cancellation poilicies are worse than Aeroplan. I needed to cancel an Airmiles flight and lost the 2000 miles I had used and the taxes and fees ($132.) that I had paid. I knew that could happen beforehand, so I accept that, and I also know that they offer insurance that I declined. Their insurance would not have covered my reason for cancelling anyway. I had sort of forgotten that I had the Airmiles, so I wasn't too broken up about it, but I certainly wouldn't recommend their program for flights.

As bad as Aeroplan is, at least with the airline programs (my favorite is Alaska's) you can cancel and you don't lose your miles, or taxes paid-even if you do need to pay a fee.

 

[stefanospops]

Like you I accumulate those Aeroplan miles quickly. I have found that the best use of those miles is for renting a car. I find too many restrictions in place to get optimal use of miles on flights. SO I now book all my flights through Buffalo and use my miles for car rental.

 

[MikeyNS]

It does take some planning to get the best out of Aeroplan. We book out at the ~355 day limit and make sure we get the flights we want.. short term can be hit or miss. I was able to find a last minute Xmas week tickets to New York for my BIL 3 days before he wanted to go.. I always treat Orlando as a very busy destination for Aeroplanners, so I also try to see if Tampa is available too.

 

[Lorajo]

we aren't renting a car for this trip so I need the airport to be Orlando so that I can do magical express. Otherwise I would look at other airport destinations.

No, I didn't lose my points. It could be worse. I am just disapointed that I probably have to pay for flights for the second trip in a row when i have points.

 

[ChisJo]

Keep checking...don't give up. We took a trip to California and we all wanted to use our aeroplan points. We couldn't book until we had confirmation of everyones time off. We started looking like 10 months ahead at approximate dates, and the flights were always there. When it was time to actually book, all the flights were gone. We looked for like a week and were becoming a little worried as we didn't factor in the cost of a flight. Well, 2 months before we were supposed to leave, all the flights returned. Just be diligent and keep checking. I would be incredibly surprised if more flights didn't show up. You aren't going at a peak time (like Christmas), so more flights should become available.

 

[Lorajo]

Tks,

Now it is just a delicate balance of waiting on Aeroplan but not letting the Southwest flights out of MHT get sold out in case I end up needing to go that route....

 

[Tower]

Like you I accumulate those Aeroplan miles quickly. I have found that the best use of those miles is for renting a car. I find too many restrictions in place to get optimal use of miles on flights. SO I now book all my flights through Buffalo and use my miles for car rental.

We're the same way. I've tried a few times to get some family flights, but with 5 of us (3 kids under 10) it's too many points to have us travel together. I've used my points for rentals, the odd hotel stay and Future Shop certificates.

 

[lady_bug_888]

Basically from the experiences of my friends/family, I have decided to use Airmiles/Aeroplan miles exclusively for things like attraction tickets, car rentals and gift cards. The only flights I will use Airmiles for are West Jet flights to Vancouver (from AB) when I don't care when I fly.

I WISH I could save the Aeroplan miles as efficiently as I can get Airmiles. You can get La Nouba tickets with Aeorplan miles!!!

Sucks that you're having difficulties. I hope you have some great luck soon and everything works out.

 

[mtmbyck]

I think I would have booked the flight before making the DVC rental reservation. This will not be flexible so guessing your committed to the dates. Good luck.

 

[minnie56]

Aeroplan takes some planning as another has mentioned here...I booked flights for DH and I for this May to Munich and return ..booked last May! Got 2 nice executive class seats. Being flexible is a huge plus...and planning pretty far out. Last minute can be tricky...though I have often lucked out there as well. Another tip..call them...they often find something when there appears to be nothing on the website...

 

[mbb]

Like others have said, availability can change pretty quick.

I'm heading to Edmonton for a week, then onto Vancouver for a week.
Booked points.
Lovely.
Then decided to take our two boys with me.

I could get one more seat, but not two at regular reward value.
So, booked the other seat, and paid for the other ticket.

Next morning, I'm searching for another trip, and for funzies, tried my dates again...for the 3rd ticket that not 12 hours ago, I paid cash for.

Yep, there's availability.

We have avion as well...only thing that I'm not crazy about is that you have to call to book. I like the online bookability of aeroplan...well, when there are flights!! LOL!