OT Rant - Air Canada Aeroplan Miles Suck

[bavaria]

Clearly, there is something fundamental I don't understand about aeroplan. What am I missing? How do I get $75. return flights???

The taxes and fees depend on all airports not just departure airport. And it depends on the airline. For instance, if I fly AC to MCO I would have to transit via the dreaded YYZ. That would cost me about $105 in taxes and fees. (and the headache of Toronto, even though I have preclearance)

If I fly UA to MCO I transit via DEN or ORD, and pay about $70 in taxes and fees.

My Lufthansa flights are via FRA to MUC and the taxes and fees come up to about $75 or a little less.

I'm on the road about 300 days a year, so I don't always go on vacation from my 'home' airport - I may just go from a work destination. But the fees I quoted above are the average

 

[bavaria]

Clearly, there is something fundamental I don't understand about aeroplan. What am I missing? How do I get $75. return flights???

I just did a dummy booking

July 2008 YOW-MCO via either ORD or IAD, on United

Taxes and fees: $43.82

 

[RoyalCanadian]

But the Business product is definitely worth 'only' 20,000 miles more than the Economy service. Lufthansa longhaul economy is similar to AC economy in terms of seat pitch and those uncomfortable card board like seats.

This discussion got me to thinking this morning where I could fly with Lufthansa on the points I'm accumulating, and I recalled an offer to be pastor for 2 weeks in Wittenberg-Lutherstadt with the Wittengberg English Ministry I considered a few years ago.

So today I get to the office and the phone rings -- it's the director of the Wittenberg English Ministry asking me if I'd like to consider the 2 week pastorate again. The director had tracked me down from the congregation I was serving then to where I'm serving now.

The spirit moves in wonderful ways -- and apparently likes flying Lufthansa too!

 

[bavaria]

So today I get to the office and the phone rings -- it's the director of the Wittenberg English Ministry asking me if I'd like to consider the 2 week pastorate again. The director had tracked me down from the congregation I was serving then to where I'm serving now.

The spirit moves in wonderful ways -- and apparently likes flying Lufthansa too!

Or, the director reads the DISboards! Have a great time!