This will be a new feature on Rewards Canada where we reach out to our subscriber and viewer base to tell us their stories of reward program redemption. We want to hear good stories, bad stories and of course plain old ugly ones! We will compile a few of the stories together and post them right here on our blog. For our first post we might as well go with Canada's longest running frequent flyer program, Aeroplan.
If you want to share your Aeroplan Redemption story with the rest of Canada whether it is good, bad or ugly, please email us at info@rewardscanada.ca. You can send us a couple of sentences, a whole story or feel free to submit a video! Watch for the first Redemption Stories on Aeroplan to be posted within the next few weeks.
OK here we go with the Aeroplan bashing again.
ReplyDeleteOverall I've had good experiences with Aeroplan including 7 trips to Europe, 3 to Mexico, 3 to San Francisco, 3 to New York, 1 to Costa Rica (never again), about 6 Vancouver to Toronto. My main complaint is about hidden charges, what else is new. Right now we don't book on Aeroplan to Europe or AC for that matter because of the horrendous fuel surcharge. Other than that they have been way better than most others including WestJet and Alaska Air. They at least have choices. You get what you pay for, seems to true all the time.
I have no problem with Aeroplan itself, but I think the "reward" value is misconstrued. Advertisements for travel reward programs all tout "free airfare", yet when you come right down to it, there is no such thing as a free airline ticket. It is nearly impossible to collect enough points for a reasonable redemption with regular (not business) purchases unless one also holds a premium credit card; even then, it will generally take more than a year to collect enough points for an average couple to book a flight. Once the cost of the card ($125 per year) plus taxes, plus fuel surcharges are factored in, the ticket price can easily surpass what one would pay during a seat sale. Convenience must also be considered -- point redemption requires planning, and there is also the extra protection (insurance = more $$$) that can be purchased lest one's points be lost if a cancellation occurs. All in all, it may not be as good a deal as one would think.
ReplyDeleteI redeeem Aeroplan points about once every year or two for flights from Ottawa Vancouver and have never had any issues. Always helpful phone staff, and will make suggestions regarding other options for flights that don't always show on the website. We recently travlled business class Ottawa to Phoenix, and Aeroplan allows access to AirCanada lounges which was a plus. I wasn't impressed with the US Airways and American Airlines, for level of service for business class.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are fees/surcharges/etc but I would be paying those even if I booked seat sale prices.
I have been Aeroplan Elite with Air Canada for over 20 years. The only Aeroplan miles I collect is when I fly to retain my status because they are just too difficult to redeem. Also, with credit cards such as Aventura, when I redeem my points for a flight I receive Aeroplan Miles on the flight - unlike Aeroplan tickets (even though Aeroplan and Air Canada are quick to point out they are two separate companies). I can also pick any airline with no blackout dates and in the rare occasion I do find a flight on Aeroplan, I can always convert my Aventura points to Aeroplan on a 1 to 1 basis. (Same with Amex Platinum).
ReplyDeleteWe collect Aeroplan points primarily through credit cards, which we use for everything We have been to South America this year, China and Singapore last year and to Europe several times before that all Business Class all at basic points. It's an incredible value - flights that would literally have cost tens of thousands of dollars for a few hundred. You do have to be flexible and patient, however...
ReplyDeleteCleaned out the account with a 90,000 point J redemption on CO for very low (comparative taxes) after lucking out with dates. Had grown disillusioned with the program long ago when the much-vaunted short haul system went wonky and decided to turn YOW-YYZ flights into epic YOW-YUL-YYZ flights that took longer than a VIA rail train. Now proud user of RBC Avion Infinite (former Aerogold customer) and Aegean (booked to hit *G by end April), after abandoning Aeroplan in December. That will make it 25,000 miles in a shade under 5 months this year - only 6k on Air Canada. Should hit Aeroplans new *G threshold (50k miles) later this year. Just not with Aeroplan. For me, its a fail.
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago, I was sitting on 200,000+ Aeroplan points. I wanted to book my family (4 tickets) to Orlando and back. I was flexible: any time in the next year. Didn't care. The search came back showing NOTHING was available. I got really mad, went online and redeemed all my points in about 3 minutes acquiring random merchandise - patio heaters, exercise equipment, etc... it all arrived in literally a few days. Their merchandise arrives faster than the Air Canada planes.
ReplyDeleteTrue, we have been able to redeem Aeroplan points for flights, but in all cases we were booking5-6 months in advance. What I object to is going on the Aeroplan website, seeing flights are available, but being told I can't book a portion of the flight. All this means I have to call, and pay their agent for booking the flights I should have been able to book online. Another beef is the limited access to partner airlines often having to fly on very inconvenient Air Canada flights when a partner airline would have given me a a more direct and shorter duration flight. I plan to use up my remaining points and switch to another bank card.
ReplyDeleteI don't generate a lot of miles as I only have my credit card to earn miles. I have tried for a number of years to book flights at the regular rate but always find they aren't available and then have to use 1.5 times the miles. Even when I tried booking 355 days before the flight, I couldn't get the regular rate - which tells me that certain flights aren't offering seats at the regular mileage. I gave up and switched credit cards and don't collect Aeroplan anymore except at the gas station.
ReplyDeleteI used to use my aeroplan points for flights but it doesnt really make sense with $ 200+ per ticket for redemption fee, tax, etc. I cashed them all out for gift cards and bought the kids beds, tv, ipods, etc. Easier and just use a cash back credit card now.
ReplyDeleteAeroplan Elite or SE with CIBC Aerogold. Collect about 250K per year in miles (flights plus CIBC card). If it were not for buying my retired inlaws flights across the country to visit us twice a year, I don't know how I would ever use the miles. Inlaws very flexible (hey free flight up front), but as far as booking for my family forget it. Phone staff is great, on line basically is depressing - never anything available unless you want to fly for 18 hours with stopovers (in laws will do it, my five year old would not). I know there are seats, but AC won't release them. Once the inlaws don't want to travel as much, cancelling CIBC card, and AC will see less of me...
ReplyDeleteI have about 150K Aeroplan points that I plan to get rid off over next 12 months by travelling to California and Hawaii. I used to have Amex Aeroplan card which I have now cancelled, replaced by free Amex Costco. In 1986, when you would redeem aeroplan points, they would put you in first class if there was room on the plane ... Times have changed. Surcharges to Europe + taxes are several hundred dollars ...
ReplyDeleteI was going to use my points for a return flight, Toronto to Lisbon. 60,000 points and $500 in fees, over $300 of that the fuel surcharge. I had to route through Frankfurt. I found a direct flight on Air Transat for $686 including all fees and taxes. I'm going to use up my points on North America flights where the fuel surcharge is much lower. I've already switched credit cards and if I fly Air Canada, I earn points in one of their partner airlines. My 20 years of active membership in Aeroplan is coming to an end.
ReplyDeleteif aeroplan did not charge the fuel surcharge on Air Canada flights and charged 50% of the miles on one way flights like other airlines it would be great. On united mileage plus you can book Air Canada flights without the fuel surcharge. I find this a bit ridiculous as Air Canada owns Aeroplan and it charges its loyal customers more money.
ReplyDeleteAir Canada spun off Aeroplan several years ago as a stand alone publicly traded company. Nonetheless, given Aeroplan's continued alliance with Air Canada, your point is well taken.
DeleteI had a CIBC Aerogold for years but cancelled it when I finally came to my senses. We now collect via CIBC Aventura and we can actually USE our miles during peak periods and on short notice. The selection via Aeroplan is so limited unless you're willing to pony up 75,000 for a short-haul domestic flight! I had lots of success booking on Aeroplan many years ago (over 7-8) but now that I don't fly overseas very much, there is significantly less value derived from the points.
ReplyDeleteI think aeroplan can be an excellent program if you have the means to accumulate a large number of points, if you can plan well in advance, if you want to travel in J/C, if you are flexible and if you have SE status. We have redeemed trips without SE status, but those trips were booked almost a year in advance. If you don't accumulate many points and you can only redeem in economy I don't think that the product is necessarily worth it - unless it's on a very expensive route - the taxes and fees on some routes are more than the fares and this doesn't seem like good value. I actually find the starwood program more beneficial, not for flights, but for hotels. Anyone can join, you can easily earn and use points and I have found that you can get excellent value.
ReplyDeleteI have several hundred aeroplan points and as soon as I use them up, I will be dropping my CIBC credit card in favor of another program. I used to fly a lot for work, maintained elite membership and amassed a considerable number of points. Traveling on points used not to be a problem. I find now, however, that since Air Canada introduced their "Classic Plus" awards there are never any awards at the Classic level available and this includes being totally flexible and booking almost a year in advance. Aeroplan used to be a great program and maybe it still is at the elite and super elite level, but for those of us who fly less after retiring, the program is a disappointment. Just when we are flexible and can/will fly anytime, the program lets us down. Air Canada may want our loyalty, but they sure don't show any to us.
ReplyDeleteDUMPED AEROPLAN after many years just too hard to get a flight and fuel surcharge is onerous do not fly AIR CANADA at all never again bulleys staff has been disrespectful staff underpaid CEP overpaid good riddance AIR CAN dusan
ReplyDeleteCurrently booking a roundtrip flight from Japan with Aeroplan miles and the fuel charges and taxes are absurd. $750 for a "free" flight, $605 of which is fuel surcharges. I call BS.
ReplyDelete