More Air Miles Required for Disney Tickets

[disneyfreak89]

So when did this happen? I've been slowing achieving my goal to get 1 measly ticket, I was so close, and they raised the amount 700-1000 more Air Miles for a 5 and 7 day Basic Ticket?!!!

Air miles is making it near to impossible for the average collector to achieve anything worth collecting for.

I am so frustrated right now. Instead of getting the 1 ticket and working on the 2nd one before our trip next

year, we may barely achieve 1 ticket by then now!!!

 

[bgula]

Yeah, I noticed it too. It happened some time in the last couple of months as I just redeemed 2500 airmiles for a child 7-day ticket. Now it's 3200 for the same ticket! That's a 28% increase in the airmiles required. I sent them a message asking why the big increase and how they could justify it, but just got back the usual gobbledegook.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

Yeah, not too impressed with AM lately. I keep meaning to research other cards to get better rewards.

We found using them for Marlin Travel gift cards to put on our package worked best for us, however if you aren't staying onsite that doesn't work. Last time we used them for car rental.

For flights, I found it was almost the same price to fly out of the US as it was to pay for taxes and fees and baggage using the AM. Plus no 6 - 9 hr stop overs.

Sure wish we could get Southwest Visas... lol

 

[smashing]

Errr, I figured that would happen. Aeroplan went up like 12,000 when the tickets went up in February. It's frustrating that a $5-$10 increase can make them jump so drastically in points.

 

[disneyfreak89]

I was wondering if it was because of the exchange rate? I thought of emailing them too but figured why bother?

I saw they offer Marlin Travel gift certificates, but we don't buy packages. If they sold Disney tickets or gift cards, I wonder if I could use them for that? The website was pretty vague but I'm guessing probably not.

We could use our Airmiles for hotel rooms but I'm pretty sure most of them are non-refundable and you have to pay the taxes. Just doesn't seem worth it.

 

[Nora03]

That is so, so maddening! I just checked the site on Monday or Tuesday this week and it was still 2500 for a five day adult ticket and 2675 for a seven day adult ticket. I was only 650 A/M away from two five day tickets and was sure I'd get them in time for our trip next March. I use all the bonus coupons I can get every week. The five day ticket is now 3200 and the seven day is 3400 a/m. I'd be more understanding if it was 200 or 300 more a/m, but this is too much. I wish I'd ordered one seven day ticket and then saved for the other one. I'm not sure I'm going to be so "loyal" any more.

 

[Susie63]

I had 2673 am and I was waiting for my bonus miles to come from Safeway. Why didn't I just buy the 2 am?Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh........grrrrrrrrrrr

 

[modegard]

Sooo frustrating! Will cost me 4200 more miles now for the six of us to go to Disneyland for five days. That is huge! A 700 mile increase per tickets is a bit ridiculous. I knew I should have ordered some sooner. Kicking myself now. I could have gotten four of the six tickets at least. Oh boy.

 

[DbleTheFun]

I think it was tied to when the price increase happened a few months back.... it takes them a while to clear their old inventory- but as soon as they started to ship out the new inventory tickets that were valued at a higher cost based on the price increase, they raised the number of points required. This happens almost every time there is a price hike by Disney.

 

[keltiesmom]

We switched banks to BMO and use MC or AMEX almost always. Between sign up bonus' and using those cards we earned over 6000 airmiles last year. This year we will probably get half that because we dont have any bonus'.

I also wanted to suggest that it is a good idea to consider buying a 5 day ticket rather than a 7 day, the price difference is only $22 to upgrade while you are there which is minimal compared to the AM price of the tickets which is 200 AM. if you think it could be close to getting 2, 5 day tickets rather than just 1 7 day ticket it would save you more in the long run.

 

[BLAZEY]

I had a feeling this was going to happen, if they ran out of tickets they "bought" at last years rate. I just managed to get our last ticket before the rate increase. I agree it's a huge increase in AM verses the actual $$ amount. I though I would redeem for fewer days and then add days when there just to make sure I had the tickets in hand.

 

[isabellea]

I had the feeling they would do that so as soon as I had enough miles to buy one ticket, I bought it then the second one 4 months later. Last week I was telling DH how Disney tickets were a great deal on Airmiles compared to other rewards (last year I got a new Canon lens for my DSLR with my airmiles and the value was not as good per mile as the tickets). I guess it's not the case anymore!

I also think we have to factor in the fall of the Canadian dollar in the increase, not only the price hike from Disney. Still, 700 extra airmiles is difficult to accept.

 

[EastCoastCdn]

Another 700 AM for a 5 day base ticket seems a bit excessive, IMO. Thankfully, I only need one more ticket, but it's going to be an extra couple of months before I earn the needed AM.

 

[disneyfreak89]

I had 2673 am and I was waiting for my bonus miles to come from Safeway. Why didn't I just buy the 2 am?Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh........grrrrrrrrrrr

Oh my I feel your pain!

 

[ILovePixieDust]

This is so disappointing. Have been such a fan of collecting Airmiles for Disney tickets. Now doesnt seem like a deal at all.

 

[Misha72683]

I think the exchange rate is likely part of it, as well as Disney price increases. I noticed it too and it really sucks.

 

[karatstravels]

Same thing happened to me, I had already bought one and was just waiting for some miles to post when they jumped-I knew it was coming, but I thought I was going to make it. Bought 24 packages of toilet paper last night at Safeway- $155 worth of toilet paper is going to last us forever, but I got the additional 600 air miles I needed

 

[Nora03]

That's so funny Karatstravels - love it! I search for, and use every bonus coupon that I find. Five extra A/M for radishes - get it. Five more for some fruit - get it. 100 bonus A/M if you spend $100. I only buy the things we need and use, but my pantry is pretty full. You can certainly use toilet paper, but where will you store it? We're all obsessed, aren't we? I guess it's kind of fun too. It's a challenge, but a shame they had to raise them so much. We'll just keep shopping and saving. I did get my flights for next year with A/M, and "paid" too much, but less than if I had to use cash. It was a toss up, but when it came to booking and paying, it still saved me money.

 

[ILovePixieDust]

Well done on the 600 miles!

 

[modegard]

Same thing happened to me, I had already bought one and was just waiting for some miles to post when they jumped-I knew it was coming, but I thought I was going to make it. Bought 24 packages of toilet paper last night at Safeway- $155 worth of toilet paper is going to last us forever, but I got the additional 600 air miles I needed

LOL I have a closet full of toilet paper as well.