Redeeming Aeroplan Miles For Hotels/Gift Cards

[FayeW]

Let me preface this by saying that the likelihood of ever using my aeroplan miles to fly AirCanada is virtually nil. With that said, I am looking for other ways to use my 49K miles.

Park Hopper tickets don't seem like very good value, but I am intrigued by the notion of using the points to pay for some nights at a Disney hotel. Never stayed onsite before because I don't think it is good value (can get much nicer accomodations elsewhere for less money). However, if it was free, then it would be excellent value!

Has anyone used Aeroplan points for their hotel stay? If so, what additional costs or fees can I expect to pay out of pocket? I am assuming that I would have to pay the tax separate, but having never redeemed points for anything, I have no idea what to expect.

Would I be better off to use my points for Esso or Future Shop gift cards?

I just don't want the points to expire, the way my husband's 60000 aeroplan miles did.

 

[iluvwesties]

Has anyone used Aeroplan points for their hotel stay? If so, what additional costs or fees can I expect to pay out of pocket? I am assuming that I would have to pay the tax separate, but having never redeemed points for anything, I have no idea what to expect.

I wasn't able to save enough Aeroplan points for a flight, BUT I did use them for a Hotel Stay (Delta Victoria, in Victoria BC on July 1, 2007)

The hotel was lovely, and they put us in concierge, where we had access to the private lounge and balcony with a view of the harbour.

At 10pm we had front row seats on the balcony to watch the Canada Day fireworks and had free drinks and snacks.

It was well worth trading in the points for this as it made our trip

All we had to pay was $14 for the hotel parking.

Didn't have to pay any taxes or other fee's.

By the way, 49K would buy you a round trip ticket to MCO?
In fact, I think you can purchase the extra 1000 Aeroplan miles to make your total up to 50K and have enough for 2 round trip tickets.

Hope this Helps?

iluvwesties (aka Carol)

 

[FayeW]

I double checked my account, and I actually have 53K points. It turns out my husband can buy back the points that expired for .01 per mile, so that would be about $500 (I thought he had nearly 60K at one point, but some of them expired).

The fees for the 4 of us to fly roundtrip from Ottawa to MCO would be about $562. + the $500 to get his points back ($1062). Not a bad deal, if I was going to fly from Ottawa anyway, but I can fly from Syracuse on JetBlue for less than that and use my aeroplan miles for something else. I see that I can rent a car for our stay using 28000 miles, so that's an option, but I kinda feel like using them for something I ordinarily wouldn't pay cash for (like staying onsite!).

I am glad to see that there weren't any additional fees for your hotel stay.

ETA: Does it seem wrong to anybody else that you can collect aeroplan miles (for YEARS, in my husband's case) and then not have a transaction for 12 months and lose them all???? They say right on the website that you have 7 yrs to redeem them so why would they just disappear just because you haven't done anything for awhile?

 

[damo]

I double checked my account, and I actually have 53K points. It turns out my husband can buy back the points that expired for .01 per mile, so that would be about $500 (I thought he had nearly 60K at one point, but some of them expired).

The fees for the 4 of us to fly roundtrip from Ottawa to MCO would be about $562. + the $500 to get his points back ($1062). Not a bad deal, if I was going to fly from Ottawa anyway, but I can fly from Syracuse on JetBlue for less than that and use my aeroplan miles for something else. I see that I can rent a car for our stay using 28000 miles, so that's an option, but I kinda feel like using them for something I ordinarily wouldn't pay cash for (like staying onsite!).

I am glad to see that there weren't any additional fees for your hotel stay.

ETA: Does it seem wrong to anybody else that you can collect aeroplan miles (for YEARS, in my husband's case) and then not have a transaction for 12 months and lose them all???? They say right on the website that you have 7 yrs to redeem them so why would they just disappear just because you haven't done anything for awhile?

It says that you have to remain active. It sucks but it is stated on their website quite clearly. That's why we make sure to use the aeroplan visa card to keep active. Many reward programs work this way.

 

[FayeW]

It says that you have to remain active. It sucks but it is stated on their website quite clearly. That's why we make sure to use the aeroplan visa card to keep active. Many reward programs work this way.

Well, that does make the assumption that one ever visited the website, which we didn't. I joined involuntarily, as that was a reward program set up by one of our suppliers. I registered my extreme displeasure over that one, as others must have because it's been discontinued.

I sent them a scathing email with my thoughts on their "inactive" policy. I am sure it won't do me one bit of good but it did make me feel better. I am going to redeem the miles I have for something useful before they steal mine, too.

What totally sucks is that we had given some thought to the Cibc Aeroplan Visa but that will never happen now. I sincerely doubt we will ever fly Air Canada again, either, just out of principle. The WestJet Mosaic MasterCard, on the other hand, is starting to look like a real option.

 

[FirstTimeDisneyDad]

Not that it makes yu feel any better, but Aeroplan did engage in a rather large, long term communication program about the policy going into effect. There was a ton of articles, news stories and I believe there was a direct mail sent to every Aeroplan member - I know I got mine. It's too bad that you didn't realize in time for your husband's points.

The 7 years applies to any accumulation going forward.

Try going to Esso once per year, or buying Tropicana OJ to remain active.

It's a challenge that all reward programs have...the Miles/points whatever that are out there and available to be used are basically an open accounts payable - a liablity that would never expire in other words. That would be a problem for the financial folks...

 

[braddillman]

I keep comparing the value of what I'd get if I cashed in my points. I think flights are the best deal (no surprise to me). For example, a car rental was around 23,500 last time I checked. But I can rent a car for < $200. A flight from Halifax -> MCO is 25,000 points or $550 (the cheapest price I can find for a flight from any airline). I could drive to Bangor, ME and get a flight for $300, but that's 7 hours and I live 5 minutes from the Halifax airport.

Anyone know of a better way to spend points than flights? I don't expect there is one, but I'm always looking.

 

[amw]

Try going to Esso once per year...

That's a very easy method to remain active ... aeroplan gives you a card that you just need to swipe before your gas purchase. Yes, you only receive a tiny amount of aeroplan points for the transaction, but it does keep your account current.

The same "inactivity" policy is in effect for many bonus programs ... for example, my Sears points disappear if not used. The system is meant to reward Frequent flyers.