OT Rant - Air Canada Aeroplan Miles Suck

[bavaria]

It seems that every week I receive at least one email from Aeroplan with earning opportunites. Today I see that Costco is offering up to 3,750 miles with select purchases and 1,000 miles for membership.

I don't shop at Costco so I have no idea what the 'select purchases' are, but this is another example of how one can earn miles.

Last night I transferred another 2,000 Amex miles into my Aeroplan account. I have a no fee Amex and there is no charge to transfer the points

 

[AndyMcV]

I must be missing something - what other way of collecting points in an airline's loyalty program are you looking for? You collect points through flights with ac and it's partners, with car rentals, hotel stays, credit cards, gas purchases, at various times they have partnered with retailers such as future shop, just what are you looking for AndyMcV. Tell us what manner you expect to collect points in an airline's loyalty program that is currently not available.

So... with the 3 partnerships you sited, tell me how much money do you actually have to spend at Esso, Home Hardware and what the heck FutureShop to actually accumulate 25,000 points for a trip to Florida. I can tell you with Esso it's $75,000. Yes that's 75 thousand dollars. How long will it take you to spend $75,000 on gas? For me it's probably about 15 years at $100 a week. Oh.. I forgot aeroplan points expire after 7 years now.

I'm not arguing at all that if I fly more I'd accumulate a lot more points. I get that. I'm talking about the average family who flies once in a while and how hard it is to accumulate points OTHER than a CIBC Visa.

... you do realize I'm just doing this for fun right?

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Hmmm... I bet most of your points are accumulated with your CIBC Visa card which has an annual fee of $120+. Umm... ok, you must spend a LOT of money on gasoline. Honestly other than the CIBC Visa or fights, there seems to be no other realistic way to accumulate points.

You are wrong on both accounts. There is nothing like speculation and conjecture to end up being completely wrong.

I drive a Toyota Yaris hatchback and put in about $40 worth of gasoline every 8 days on average. You are correct that the regular promotion with Esso has been 1 point for every $3 in gasoline, but lately it has been 2 points for every $3. Nice bonus.

I'm a Lutheran minister. I don't have a lot of money to pay large credit card bills, so I don't accumulate large credit card bills to pay off. Just regular spending on a few different credit cards.

I posted how I have accumulated my points this year in a previous post. Lots of points with Tropicana and Quaker Oats and 2000 bonus car rental points.

As I have already pointed out, the $120 CIBC Aerogold card annual fee is quite worth it when the rental car insurance perk is figured in. I was charged nearly $300 for a stone chip in the windshield of a rental car from my summer vacation. That charge automatically went on my CIBC Aerogold Visa. (points accumulated!!) I filled out the necessary paperwork and received a cheque in the mail about 2 weeks later for the full amount. The $120 annual fee was more than paid back with car rental insurance premiums I have not had to pay over the years in both Canada and the United States.

There really seems to be no satisfying the OP. Nobody is going to force the OP to collect Aeroplan points -- but more than a few of us have pointed out very realistic ways in which we have earned points with Aeroplan. Of the over 17,000 points I earned this year, only 800 or so points were earned due to flying with Air Canada.

 

[FayeW]

I am forced to collect aeroplan miles through a loyalty program with one of our suppliers at work. When I send business to them, they reward me with 1000 aeroplan miles. In the last year and a half I have collected 50,000. I am not happy about this reward program as they replaced an awesome program with this crap and I was really, really unhappy about it. Sent complaints to the Powers That Be and all. I am, however, stuck with it so I will make the best of it. My husband had also collected them as he was a frequent flyer for work and I think he has 40,000 or so.

I will not use them for passes or gift cards as I don't think that reflects value for my points. I will also not use them for US travel as, like the OP, I can't understand why anyone living as close to the border as those of us in Ottawa (or Toronto) do would use points AND cash to pay for a flight that we could get out of NY for just the cost of the cash itself.

I will use the points for flights within Canada, or perhaps treat myself to a flight to England to see my friend.

 

[bavaria]

... you do realize I'm just doing this for fun right?

Andy (may I call you Andy? ), I enjoy a good debate. But this thread doesn't really interest me any more, and let me gently tell you why.

You had a concern, which you expressed, and which you are definitely entitled to share with the community.

Several of us made suggestions and gave real life examples.

Yet every time, you have disputed the facts that we give. The only thing that we haven't yet done is cut and paste the entire list of Aeroplan partners into this thread for you to show you all the earning opportunities.

I would like to continue to participate, but frankly this thread reads to me like 'yes, it is' - 'no, it isn't' - 'yes, it is'. I have more productive ways to spend my time than to go back and forth debating something which is simply fact. (the 'fact' is that Aeroplan provides the average consumer with a variety of ways to earn miles)

I hope that in the end you find a solution which works for you - whether that is a way to accumulate Aeorplan miles more quickly, or to choose to fly a different carrier.

Best of luck.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I will also not use them for US travel as, like the OP, I can't understand why anyone living as close to the border as those of us in Ottawa (or Toronto) do would use points AND cash to pay for a flight that we could get out of NY for just the cost of the cash itself.

Are you able to get a flight that costs $3000 in Canada for $75 from an airport in upstate New York?

I did just that using 40,000 Aeroplan points and found myself enjoying Executive First class on an Air Canada flight to Los Angeles and returned to Toronto from San Francisco. The $75 was the tax and departure fees I paid on that flight.

 

[AndyMcV]

Andy (may I call you Andy? ), I enjoy a good debate. But this thread doesn't really interest me any more... I would like to continue to participate, but frankly this thread reads to me like 'yes, it is' - 'no, it isn't' - 'yes, it is'....=

Hi bavaria, RoyalCanadian and CalgaryGary

Yes you can call me Andy.

I agree with you. Ok, ok... and perhaps I'm starting to bend after all the brow beating I'll admit after your very well stated points I'll stop being lazy and check out the Aeroplan website for the list of partners. Perhaps I could find myself accumulating points a lot faster that I have been. Yes I did say that.

With that I thank you for your very informed and passionate input.

Cheers,
Andy

 

[RoyalCanadian]

So... with the 3 partnerships you sited, tell me how much money do you actually have to spend at Esso, Home Hardware and what the heck FutureShop to actually accumulate 25,000 points for a trip to Florida. I can tell you with Esso it's $75,000. Yes that's 75 thousand dollars. How long will it take you to spend $75,000 on gas? For me it's probably about 15 years at $100 a week. Oh.. I forgot aeroplan points expire after 7 years now.

I'm not arguing at all that if I fly more I'd accumulate a lot more points. I get that. I'm talking about the average family who flies once in a while and how hard it is to accumulate points OTHER than a CIBC Visa.

... you do realize I'm just doing this for fun right?

Yes -- you would have to spend $75,000 on gasoline at Esso to get those 25,000 Aeroplan Miles.

I won't. I would only have to spend $13637 to get the same 25,000 points. I get 1 Aeroplan Miles for each $3 I spend on gasoline @ Esso.

That's 4545 Aeroplan Miles for spending $13636 at Esso.

Then I get 1.5 Aeroplan Miles for each $1 I spend on gasoline on my CIBC Aerogold Visa card -- that's 20455 Aeroplan Miles for spending $13637 on gasoline.

Of course, I'm not just buying gasoline @ Esso. I'm talking on the telephone through Bell Canada; enjoying freshly squeezed Tropicana orange juice; eating Cap'n Crunch breakfast cereal; staying @ Best Western, Choice Hotels, and Holiday Inn; renting cars through Avis and Hertz; and buying home renovation products at Home Hardware.

So, while bavaria, CalgaryGary and I are enjoying complimentary beverages in the Maple Leaf Lounge because we've managed to accumulate enough Aeroplan Miles to fly in business class, we'll toast you , AndyMcV and have a good laugh because you're not going anywhere anytime soon. We have shown you real-life examples of easy ways to accumulate Aeroplan Miles and yet you ask us to tell you real-life examples of easy ways to accumulate Aeroplan Miles.

You have become a troll AndyMcV -- hardly worth the bandwidth to continue the discussion any further.

 

[AndyMcV]

So, while bavaria, CalgaryGary and I are enjoying complimentary beverages in the Maple Leaf Lounge because we've managed to accumulate enough Aeroplan Miles to fly in business class, we'll toast you , AndyMcV and have a good laugh because you're not going anywhere anytime soon. We have shown you real-life examples of easy ways to accumulate Aeroplan Miles and yet you ask us to tell you real-life examples of easy ways to accumulate Aeroplan Miles.

You have become a troll AndyMcV -- hardly worth the bandwidth to continue the discussion any further.

You just missed my last post Neil. I was only having a little fun and did not mean any bad feelings at all. Sorry you took it that way.

 

[minnie56]

I have more than 200,000 Aeroplan miles. Most (90%) of them earned with Aerogold and American Express Platinum where I get 1.5 miles for every dollar I spend. I am just dilligent in being an avid collector! I use my card (s) for fuel, groceries, all shopping and travel expenditures and on and on. I collect almost 450 a month just with Bell, ING and fuel apart from anything else. I work with Cruise Ship Centers so of course all of my vacations are booked though there (!!) and I get more there as we are in partnership w/Aeroplan. Is it always easy to redeem the miles, nope..but when it works, it works!

BTW--You can also go into the Maple Leaf Lounge now by adding it on to Aerogold and it comes with the Platinum Amex. I note that you can also purchase with most flts now for $25..no big whoop. Of course, I think the MLL is unimpressive anyways!

 

[calgarygary]

You just missed my last post Neil. I was only having a little fun and did not mean any bad feelings at all. Sorry you took it that way.

Andy, I appreciate that you were just having a little fun but many people visit the Dis, and other similar sites to educate themselves. That is certainly what first brought me here - learning how to get the most out of my WDW vacations. As education is one of the primary motives behind this site, many of us are diligent about correcting misinformation. My days of being an Aeroplan collector are long behind me so it is not out of loyalty to Aeroplan or AC that caused me to jump into the fray. Certainly there is nothing wrong with having fun on the Dis - we should all enjoy our time here. I only suggest that in having fun, we don't mislead those that came to learn.

 

[AndyMcV]

Andy, I appreciate that you were just having a little fun but many people visit the Dis, and other similar sites to educate themselves. That is certainly what first brought me here - learning how to get the most out of my WDW vacations. As education is one of the primary motives behind this site, many of us are diligent about correcting misinformation. My days of being an Aeroplan collector are long behind me so it is not out of loyalty to Aeroplan or AC that caused me to jump into the fray. Certainly there is nothing wrong with having fun on the Dis - we should all enjoy our time here. I only suggest that in having fun, we don't mislead those that came to learn.

Hi CalgaryGary

Well said and thank you for your input on the previous posts. I wasn't trying to mislead anyone as I was looking for infomation too. Infact you did correct some of my misinformation in which I changed my post and I'm thankful for that.

Andy

 

[FayeW]

Are you able to get a flight that costs $3000 in Canada for $75 from an airport in upstate New York?

I did just that using 40,000 Aeroplan points and found myself enjoying Executive First class on an Air Canada flight to Los Angeles and returned to Toronto from San Francisco. The $75 was the tax and departure fees I paid on that flight.

I know that I can fly my family of 4 roundtrip from Syracuse to Orlando for about $760 if I wait for a seatsale on Jetblue.

I just priced out return flights from Ottawa to Orlando and found a seat sale next week for $99. each way. I also found flights from Syracuse on Jetblue for $99 each way. To fly from Canada would cost $272.84 more, all tax and service fees. Now, if I was actually planning a trip for next week, I would jump at those prices from Air Canada, as it would save my 3.5 hours driving each way, a tank of gas, and at least one night in hotel so I would pretty much break even. HOWEVER, my experience has been, when I have been planning trips, that I never get those kind of prices for flights originating in Canada. The price I typically see is $2000+ (figures, they have great prices when I am NOT travelling ). I am going to add another $150 to the difference of $272.84 for the tax on that extra $1000, so now I am at $422.84 in taxes, that I assume I would have to pay anyway if I booked with aeroplan for the actual seats themselves. I might as well pay the extra $350 and save my 100,000 miles (I think that is what I would need for 4 round trip tickets to Orlando) and use them for a trip within Canada that I don't have an option to use a US origination.

The way I see it is that my 100000 miles would only have a value of the $350 + travel costs to Syracuse (lets say $200. in case we stop for a meal). $550. for 100000 doesn't seem like very good value, when I could use those same points to travel from Ottawa to St John's in stead, a trip that would cost us $1765.84 with $509.84 in taxes. Again, assuming I would have to pay the full cost of all of the taxes my 100,000 miles have more than doubled in "value" to save me $1256.

I have never used my aeroplan miles and may have this all wrong. I might be making assumptions about paying taxes, etc that are totally false. Please correct me if I am wrong. I would love to know how to make the best use out of them, since it appears I am stuck with them.

 

[amw]

I have never used my aeroplan miles and may have this all wrong. I might be making assumptions about paying taxes, etc that are totally false. Please correct me if I am wrong. I would love to know how to make the best use out of them, since it appears I am stuck with them.

Just for the sake of educating .... I booked 4 tickets to Orlando with aeroplan. Cost - 100, 000 aeroplan points. The flight is out of Pearson, so additional "airport taxes, charges and fees" for 4 tickets is $495.28 Cdn.

There's no way it would be worth my while to drive 3 hours to Buffalo, pay for a hotel overnight, and purchase 4 tickets on a basic carrier -- that certainly would total over $500, nevermind the time and hassle.

I agree that if you fly within Canada, it would be better to use the points then as those flights tend to be more costly.

I just wanted to reiterate that anyone flying out of Pearson are subject to those airport fees & charges regardless of whether the tickets are "free" or not and that has nothing to do with aeroplan.

 

[FayeW]

I just wanted to reiterate that anyone flying out of Pearson are subject to those airport fees & charges regardless of whether the tickets are "free" or not and that has nothing to do with aeroplan.

That's what I thought. It sounds like you pay whatever the taxes/a'irport service charges are for the tickets, even though the tickets themselves are free.

You and I obviously look at things differently as I believe you could absolutely get some sweet deals out of Buffalo in that $500 range (particularily with a DING on SouthWest). At that point the 100,000 miles you would spend to fly out of Pearson become worth whatever the additional cost over and above the $500 (you would pay in taxes to fly from Canada). So, if you were going to spend $500 in taxes and to fly from Buffalo would cost you $1000 (including gas, hotel, parking,etc; but this is a very high estimate!) your aeroplan points' value is now $500.

Spending an extra $500 and saving 100,000 for future travel (upgrading to first class, travelling to Europe or elsewhere in the world, etc) seems to be a much better use of travel miles, to me.

 

[bavaria]

I routinely use my Aeroplan miles for a business class long haul ticket on Lufthansa which would cost about $5,000-7000. The 'cost' to me is 80,000 miles and about $75 in taxes and fees.

Well worth it to fly 15 hours or more in business class with a lie flat bed and start my vacation refreshed

 

[drag n' fly]

I think this calls for a

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Well worth it to fly 15 hours or more in business class with a lie flat bed and start my vacation refreshed

Are they giving out anything for free in 1st class on Lufthansa?

I had a good friend who was among the elite of the elite with Northwest Airlines (he was affectionately known as Air God to the Northwest frequent flyer telephone operators.) He used his NW super elite status for the upgrades to 1st class on KLM and filled curio cabinets with the Delft houses they gave away. He had entire sets of glasses from airlines. Several years ago I was at a party at his condo and noticed that all liquor was served in glasses from a variety of now defunct airlines.

Towels in the guest washroom at his condominium were imprinted with a variety of airline logos. Chairs were accented by the head rest covers from more airlines and the "Around the World" certificate he earned from Pan American Airlines held a place of honour on the wall of the condo.

All of this airline imprinted ephemera was given to him by the cabin crew of the airlines with which he flew -- none of it ever stolen.

That 1st class cabin sounds very comfortable on Lufthansa. Only 38,000 more Aeroplan Miles to earn. Good thing I'm shopping at Home Hardware tomorrow. That $14.99 head lamp will get me 7 more Aeroplan Miles + another 17 Aeroplan Miles earned if I charge it to my CIBC Aerogold Visa.

 

[FayeW]

I routinely use my Aeroplan miles for a business class long haul ticket on Lufthansa which would cost about $5,000-7000. The 'cost' to me is 80,000 miles and about $75 in taxes and fees.

Well worth it to fly 15 hours or more in business class with a lie flat bed and start my vacation refreshed

What airport do you usually fly out of, to only be charged $75? The taxes on the YOW-MCO flights were $109.(return. This includes approx. $35. in US fees for entering/departing the US.) I am trying to figure out why these flights would cost me $109. (some of which is GST, don't remember if there was also PST) yet you only pay $75. for a much more expensive flight. On a $5K flight, shouldn't the GST alone be $300.???

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

 

[bavaria]

Are they giving out anything for free in 1st class on Lufthansa?
.

I usually fly the A340 on my long haul routes, which has ONLY Business and Economy, no First. The goodies change in Business class; the amenity kit is usually similar items each time. The 'special' gift varies - the only one I think that I kept was the one from World Cup last summer. I don't recall anything on my India flights over the summer, but that may be because I was rather tired from all the flying (and rerouting all across India due to monsoons). All that I wanted was a lie flat bed and some German coffee and real Nutella for breakfast!

(oh, I DID book that trip during World Cup ie PEAK demand time from Canada to MUC 3 days before the flight on Aeroplan points, flying Lufthansa business class longhaul.... )

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.