Airmiles Armchair Chatter

[ottawamom]

My interpretation is if you are currently ONYX until March 2019 that will change to December 31,2018.(in other words we lose 3 months) When you reach 6000AM during calendar year 2018 (say by May 2018) your ONYX status expiry will be until December 31,2019 (right now it would be March 2020). Then in 2019 you get 6000AM by September, your ONYX status expiry will bump out to December 31,2020 (current rules it would be March 2021)

It's not really any different than the way they do it now. Airmiles is just aligning the expiry date with the end of the year instead of March. (likely an accounting thing, blame the bean counters)

 

[mab2012]

My interpretation is if you are currently ONYX until March 2019 that will change to December 31,2018.(in other words we lose 3 months) When you reach 6000AM during calendar year 2018 (say by May 2018) your ONYX status expiry will be until December 31,2019 (right now it would be March 2020). Then in 2019 you get 6000AM by September, your ONYX status expiry will bump out to December 31,2020 (current rules it would be March 2021)

It's not really any different than the way they do it now. Airmiles is just aligning the expiry date with the end of the year instead of March. (likely an accounting thing, blame the bean counters)

I think you're almost right, except that the change is effective January 2018. So qualification in 2017 for 2018 / early 2019 shouldn't be impacted at all. New qualifications in 2018 (for 2019) will end at the end of the 2019 calendar year, rather than March 2020.

So going forward (2019 and beyond), those who don't requalify in consecutive years will see their status expire 3 months sooner than they would have under the current system.

 

[kitntrip]

Can anyone tell me if the staples shop the block offer is in store only? There's an item I want that is only available online but the shop the block offer doesn't say how to go through the website with it, just a barcode to scan in store.

 

[Eveningsong]

Use code 78528 it is under the bar code on the back of the coupon. Staples is a air miles shop store, so you can make your purchase from the air miles site for extra air miles.
Log into Air Miles Shop, make sure you are logged in, your name will show at the top, click on the Staples store and make your purchase there
is a box during the check out process that asks for coupon codes. Enter the coupon code before completing your transaction.

 

[damo]

I think you're almost right, except that the change is effective January 2018. So qualification in 2017 for 2018 / early 2019 shouldn't be impacted at all. New qualifications in 2018 (for 2019) will end at the end of the 2019 calendar year, rather than March 2020.

So going forward (2019 and beyond), those who don't requalify in consecutive years will see their status expire 3 months sooner than they would have under the current system.

Question....so when does the new earning period begin?

For example, let's say that I earn my 6000 points on April 1, 2025 and become Onyx until Dec. 31 2026. Do I then start a new earning period on April 2, 2025 or do I start a new earning period on Jan 1, 2027?

 

[ottawamom]

My understanding is that you will become ONYX as soon as those points are posted so within a week of April 2,2025. Which is I believe how it works now, at least it did with me.

When I made ONYX part way through the year my status was updated within two weeks to the new higher status and my "expiry date" moved out one more year.

Mis read your post. Your new earning year is the Calendar year. What you earn in 2025 goes towards your status in 2026, what you earn in January 1,2026- Dec 31,2026 will go towards your 2027 status.

In your example your new earning year will begin January of each year, this is how it is done right now (no change)

 

[damo]

My understanding is that you will become ONYX as soon as those points are posted so within a week of April 2,2025. Which is I believe how it works now, at least it did with me.

When I made ONYX part way through the year my status was updated within two weeks to the new higher status and my "expiry date" moved out one more year.

Mis read your post. Your new earning year is the Calendar year. What you earn in 2025 goes towards your status in 2026, what you earn in January 1,2026- Dec 31,2026 will go towards your 2027 status.

In your example your new earning year will begin January of each year, this is how it is done right now (no change)

Okay. So realistically, none of us will ever be bumped down because you basically have a whole year buffer. I had never paid any attention to how it worked because I haven't really gotten any benefits from being Onyx, so it didn't matter.

 

[mort1331]

Okay. So realistically, none of us will ever be bumped down because you basically have a whole year buffer. I had never paid any attention to how it worked because I haven't really gotten any benefits from being Onyx, so it didn't matter.

Correct. Actually this way you could be Oynx for close to 2 years. ie. if pickle power is Jan 2020, collect 6000am you are good till Dec 2021. But to your collection for the rest of 2020 would still count as your calendar year. Come Jan 1 2021, you would now start collecting for that year and have 12months to collect 6000am. You would stay Onyx for the whole 2021, but once you collect 6000am in 2021, You will then be good till the end of 2022. and so on and so on.
This is one reason I like the STB points for me going into my account of 2018, Gives us a jump start for 2018 collecting.

 

[kitntrip]

Use code 78528 it is under the bar code on the back of the coupon. Staples is a air miles shop store, so you can make your purchase from the air miles site for extra air miles.
Log into Air Miles Shop, make sure you are logged in, your name will show at the top, click on the Staples store and make your purchase there
is a box during the check out process that asks for coupon codes. Enter the coupon code before completing your transaction.

Thanks!

 

[Days In the Sun]

Thanks!

ebates has a one day staples spend $75 get $20 back deal, doesn't work with STB coupon but may want to consider it as an alternative.

 

[elaine amj]

I think you're almost right, except that the change is effective January 2018. So qualification in 2017 for 2018 / early 2019 shouldn't be impacted at all. New qualifications in 2018 (for 2019) will end at the end of the 2019 calendar year, rather than March 2020.

So going forward (2019 and beyond), those who don't requalify in consecutive years will see their status expire 3 months sooner than they would have under the current system.

Makes sense but I guess in simplifying we end up losing out on 3 months of Onyx?

Correct. Actually this way you could be Oynx for close to 2 years. ie. if pickle power is Jan 2020, collect 6000am you are good till Dec 2021. But to your collection for the rest of 2020 would still count as your calendar year. Come Jan 1 2021, you would now start collecting for that year and have 12months to collect 6000am. You would stay Onyx for the whole 2021, but once you collect 6000am in 2021, You will then be good till the end of 2022. and so on and so on.
This is one reason I like the STB points for me going into my account of 2018, Gives us a jump start for 2018 collecting.

So basically we have 2 chances to requalify for Onyx before it expires? In your scenario, we have the calendar year of 2020 and the calendar year of 2021 to requalify?

 

[marchingstar]

Makes sense but I guess in simplifying we end up losing out on 3 months of Onyx?

I'm not certain I understand the 'simplification' either, but if I'm getting it, it actually means having Onyx for an added 9 months. If you meet the 6000 miles right now (December 2017), your status lasts until March of 2018. In the new system, I think you'll keep your status until December 2018. So for the current and next calendar year.

Then, you'll need to get 6000 in 2018 to maintain your status for all of 2019.

Anyone want to correct me if I'm misunderstanding?

 

[elaine amj]

I'm not certain I understand the 'simplification' either, but if I'm getting it, it actually means having Onyx for an added 9 months. If you meet the 6000 miles right now (December 2017), your status lasts until March of 2018. In the new system, I think you'll keep your status until December 2018. So for the current and next calendar year.

Then, you'll need to get 6000 in 2018 to maintain your status for all of 2019.

Anyone want to correct me if I'm misunderstanding?

I just made Onyx and have status until March of 2019 (not 2018). So in future, I would have status for less time.

 

[marchingstar]

I just checked my account and it looks like the miles I was missing from some Black Friday airmilesshops purchases are posting.

I did almost all of my shopping, made 200 miles, expecting another 150 for meeting a Shop the Block coupon, and one step closer to that cool 2000 for STB.

 

[marchingstar]

I just made Onyx and have status until March of 2019 (not 2018). So in future, I would have status for less time.

Oh my mistake. My understanding is it'll last until December 2019 instead of March. An extra 9 months.

 

[mab2012]

Makes sense but I guess in simplifying we end up losing out on 3 months of Onyx?

I think if I try to answer that question directly it's just going to cause more confusion, so I'll give specific scenarios instead.

If you qualified last year for 2017 Onyx status, and do not qualify this year for 2018 status, your Onyx status will end in March 2018 (nothing changes).

If you have already qualified this year for 2018 Onyx status, or do so before the end of 2017, and do not qualify next year for 2019 status, your Onyx status will end in March 2019. Those who have already qualified for 2018 status can see this end date in their accounts now, and I don't believe there is any intent to change that.

If sometime in 2018 you qualify for 2019 Onyx status, your end date will be December 31, 2019, not March 2020. That's the change.

So yes, unless you a) re-qualify forever, or b) stop playing the game now, you will eventually lose 3 months compared to the current program. But it only impacts new qualifications starting next year for 2019. It will not have any impact on existing expiry dates.

Does that make sense?

 

[ottawamom]

That's a very clear explanation. The good old example method. Like it.

 

[Days In the Sun]

I think if I try to answer that question directly it's just going to cause more confusion, so I'll give specific scenarios instead.

If you qualified last year for 2017 Onyx status, and do not qualify this year for 2018 status, your Onyx status will end in March 2018 (nothing changes).

If you have already qualified this year for 2018 Onyx status, or do so before the end of 2017, and do not qualify next year for 2019 status, your Onyx status will end in March 2019. Those who have already qualified for 2018 status can see this end date in their accounts now, and I don't believe there is any intent to change that.

If sometime in 2018 you qualify for 2019 Onyx status, your end date will be December 31, 2019, not March 2020. That's the change.

So yes, unless you a) re-qualify forever, or b) stop playing the game now, you will eventually lose 3 months compared to the current program. But it only impacts new qualifications starting next year for 2019. It will not have any impact on existing expiry dates.

Does that make sense?

Yes, agree, this is how I read it as well.



Qualified in April 2017, end date March 2019.

New time period:

Qualify in April 2018, end date December 2019 (not March 2020, loss of three months).

 

[marchingstar]

I think if I try to answer that question directly it's just going to cause more confusion, so I'll give specific scenarios instead.

If you qualified last year for 2017 Onyx status, and do not qualify this year for 2018 status, your Onyx status will end in March 2018 (nothing changes).

If you have already qualified this year for 2018 Onyx status, or do so before the end of 2017, and do not qualify next year for 2019 status, your Onyx status will end in March 2019. Those who have already qualified for 2018 status can see this end date in their accounts now, and I don't believe there is any intent to change that.

If sometime in 2018 you qualify for 2019 Onyx status, your end date will be December 31, 2019, not March 2020. That's the change.

So yes, unless you a) re-qualify forever, or b) stop playing the game now, you will eventually lose 3 months compared to the current program. But it only impacts new qualifications starting next year for 2019. It will not have any impact on existing expiry dates.

Does that make sense?

Thanks for this! Makes total sense, I was completely wrong in my interpretation. I guess the take-home message is keep qualifying! hah

 

[pigletto]

Ok so I sent DH to the Foodland by his work to do 3 of the STB offers on his card, and to buy the $150 gift card for 150 points. He was only able to do 2 of the STB offers (no Tia Rosa kits). We are finished STB on my card, and have 6 of his done. We will do his last one when we fill up at Shell.

I’ll use my 150 gift card to do my shopping at FreshCo this weekend and a few items from Sobeys, including my Christmas tree. We like to cut our own, but this is much closer and cheaper and I might as well tick one more item off the list.