AA releases schedule for the new Calgary/Vancouver - Chicago routes

From Airline Route Updates:

American Airlines has loaded the schedules for its planned Chicago - Calgary (eff 05APR10) and Chicago - Vancouver (eff 10JUN10) service in Summer 2010.

Schedules are:
Chicago - Calgary
AA3733 ORD1515 - 2012YYC CR7 D
AA3734 YYC0805 - 1220ORD CR7 D 06APR10-

Chicago - Vancouver
AA2397 ORD0910 - 1135YVR 738 D
AA2398 YVR1230 - 1830ORD 738 D

Porter Airlines increases New York and Boston frequencies

From the press release

"Porter Airlines is enhancing its New York and Boston schedules to better connect these two critical markets with Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA), beginning Nov. 15.

New York flights via Newark Liberty International Airport increase to eight daily roundtrips from seven, while Boston moves to four daily roundtrips from three. Weekend service also increases in New York."

Earn Aeroplan Miles at Thrifty foods in British Columbia

Aeroplan announced that it is expanding its partnership with Sobeys Inc. to now include its Thrifty Foods stores in British Columbia.

Starting today, Aeroplan Members can earn miles at more than 20 Thrifty Foods stores by joining Club Thrifty Foods and auto-converting their Club Thrifty Foods points into Aeroplan Miles. Similar to the Club Sobeys model, for every 2 Club Thrifty Foods points that members convert, they'll receive 1 Aeroplan Mile. Each week additional miles can be earned through in-store "bonus points" offers.

Press Release

Special 15% off discount code for between US/Canada & TLV

From Air Canada's Andrew Yiu on Flyertalk, AC is offering the following to celebrate 15 years of service to Tel Aviv

15% off (all fares) when you book your flights between Canada/USA and TLV.

Travel must be completed by Dec 15. Enter discount code 4CKJ8PA1

The promo is valid until further notice from Air Canada

US Airways Accelerated Elite Status

US Airways is offering accelerated Elite Status earning when you fly with them between Oct 1 and Dec 25, 09. Flights on US Airways and US Airways express count and the following shows the mileage/segment requirements to reach the various status levels

• Fly 7,500 miles or 10 segments and earn Silver Preferred status
• Fly 15,000 miles or 20 segments and earn Gold Preferred status
• Fly 22,500 miles or 30 segments and earn Platinum Preferred status
• Fly 30,000 miles or 40 segments and earn Chairman’s Preferred status

Find the full details on the US Airways website

American Airlines to add Vancouver/Calgary-Chicago route

American Airlines is slated to offer mainline service between Vancouver and Chicago starting in Spring/Summer of 2010 and offer American Eagle service between Calgary and Chicago starting in the same period

Source AA Press Release

Air Canada offers expanded Maple Leaf Lounge Access

In attempts to continue to grow ancillary revenue, Air Canada has now expanded the single pay per use access to its Maple Leaf lounges to passengers traveling on Tango Fares. Prior to this only Tango Plus and Latitude customers could buy the passes at the time of purchasing their tickets online through Air Canada. Of course for Tango customers the $45 entrance fee is higher then for the $35 for T+ and $30 for Latitude.

Some of Air Canada's elite flyers are already showing their disillusion to this change because to them this is a further dilution of the top tier elite benefits where they get access for free to what should be a pleasant experience. Their fear is that some MLL's (Maple Leaf lounge) are already at or over capacity at certain airports and/or certain time and that this will make them even more crowded.

For Air Canada (and most other airlines) these alternate sources of revenue have been the route to follow as airfares stay low and they look for ways to make a profit. The ancillary revenue market for airlines is now exceeding $10 billion per year worldwide and Air Canada has been a major player in this market with alternate money making streams such as offering Maple Leaf Lounge access to select ticket buyers and now by offering it to the masses.

Petro Points now offers 20 points per $ on convenience store and car wash purchases

Previously you could earn 10 Petro Points per dollar spent on convenience store and car wash purchases, now with this latest change that has doubled to 20 points per dollar. Gas purchases remain at 10 points per dollar and that is where most people do earn their Petro Points, so while this change does not seem too significant, the 20 points does equate to 2 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles per dollar spent. Nowadays there are not too many retail places where you can earn 2 Major Airline miles per dollar, usually it is only .5 to 1.5.

Rexall now offering Aeroplan miles

As of Sep 12, Rexall in Western Canada began offering Aeroplan miles for all purchases made including prescriptions. The regular earning is 1 Aeroplan Miles per $1 spent. Stores in Ontario are not included and will continue to offer AIR MILES Rewards Miles.
The Aeroplan website does not have any more details on the partnership as their link to Rexall is broken. Apparently the official launch of the partnership will be in October with full announcements and possible promotions.

Air Canada Rapidair: Triple Aeroplan Miles and free same-day standby

In what looks to be a response to WestJet's Eastern Triangle pass, Air Canada is offering triple Aeroplan miles for Rapidair flights between Toronto and Montreal or Ottawa. As well if you are flying on a Tango Plus fare or higher you standby for free at the airport for same day flights. The Triple Aeroplan mile offer runs until Dec 31 and requires registration. See the link below for more details.

Rapidair info

Aeroplan Triple Miles registration