Using Aeroplan points for car rentals Tip

[wdwchamp]

I thought I should pass on a tip regarding car rentals. I have a significant amount of Aeroplans which is almost impossible to redeem for a decent flight. Since they have change their policy, if you don't use them you lose them, I have started using them for Car Rentals at MCO. The points required for 1 week rental is around 20,000 depending on the car type and rental company. The points pays for the car rentals, and all the extra costs (i.e. concession fees, taxes). For example a car rental at National Car Rental at the car center would have cost me about $300 when taking all the extras.

 

[CDNmouse]

I thought I should pass on a tip regarding car rentals. I have a significant amount of Aeroplans which is almost impossible to redeem for a decent flight. Since they have change their policy, if you don't use them you lose them, I have started using them for Car Rentals at MCO. The points required for 1 week rental is around 20,000 depending on the car type and rental company. The points pays for the car rentals, and all the extra costs (i.e. concession fees, taxes). For example a car rental at National Car Rental at the car center would have cost me about $300 when taking all the extras.

I have aeroplan with my CIBC Visa. What policy changes were made?

Gary

 

[SaskDisNut]

I have aeroplan with my CIBC Visa. What policy changes were made?

Gary

Gary, I think wdwchamp was referring to the policy change that went into affect last year where your points will expire if your account is inactive for a year or points will expire 7 years after they were accumulated.

Here is a link to the aeroplan help on this topic: http://www.aeroplan.com/help/topic.do?id=2007

 

[FantasticFour]

I know that with the CIBC Aerogold Visa the points don't expire. One of the few reasons to have the card as it is so hard to find a flight using points-- especially to US destinations. The regular points do expire. I also personally hate the flight combinations put together by AC that give you unrealistic connections (I have never made the 1.5 hrs in Toronto to go through customs and change airports. Really).

Thank you for the tip about rental cars.

 

[SaskDisNut]

I know that with the CIBC Aerogold Visa the points don't expire..

Just for clarification, I hadn't heard about CIBC Aerogold Aeroplan points not expiring, which would be awesome, so I checked CIBC's website and found this:

Aeroplan rules require at least one transaction each year in an Aeroplan account or the Aeroplan Miles will expire. CIBC has ensured that this doesn’t happen to Aerogold, Aerogold Card for Business, or Aero Classic cardholders in good standing. Please note, however, that Aeroplan Miles will expire if they are not redeemed within 7 years from when they were earned (or by Dec. 31, 2013, for Miles earned before 2007).​

So if you don't accumulate points for a year, your points won't expire if you have the CIBC Aerogold card but the 7 year expiration rule does apply if you don't use points by the time they turn 7 years old.