While there's rarely a dull moment around here, sometimes the nuances of searching award space or booking flights with miles aren't that interesting for a broader audience. Especially now that the US Airways Dividend Miles Comedy Hour is a thing of the past. When we come across something interesting though, we do our best to…
Continue reading: Extra Air Canada Award Space For Aeroplan Members (And Less For Everyone Else)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I've heard it claimed that this exists, but had never ever seen an example of it. Thanks, Tiffany!
You make it sound pretty rare, but many Airlines are the case that partners can't book certain saver awards
SQ, BR, CX, KE, IB, VS, AF, and others.
More and more airlines are practicing this.
I love how $335 is "whopping" during a week where OMAAT has been suggesting that readers spend thousands of dollars on Avianca LifeMiles to accumulate miles in that program, and that outright buying business or first class (for considerably more than $335 if it is longhaul) is a reason why airline loyalty is overrated these days.
Yes, the point is well taken but $335 (plus 5k miles back) for a nonstop out of Toronto instead of a stop in Europe isn't totally ridiculous if you are in Toronto. It is a fairly modest premium in the scheme of things.
Interesting, I've done the same search and seen the same result but never went to book so just assumed it could be called in. I've even seen it on domestic segments, like YYZ-YXU-ORD will show up in Aeroplan results but not on United.
Yeah, I'm with eponymous on this one. If you have a pile of Amex miles burning a hole, transferring to Aeroplan and spending ~$400 on fuel surcharges on an 14hr flight is, IMO, a pretty good deal, especially since it's a brand-new plane with a reverse herringbone product.
It's not the best option, sure, but it's nothing like the $1000+ surcharges on BA for JFK-LHR, a much shorter flight with a mediocre business product..
@ eponymous coward @ BigDaddyJ -- Sure, in this case given that the flight isn't bookable by partners it's a reasonable tradeoff, and one I'd probably make personally. But the point was more that if you have the option to book an Air Canada flight with Aeroplan or partner miles, a partner that doesn't levy YQ is going to be less costly.
YYZ to FCO return....110,00 aeroplan points plus another 1000 in fuel surcharges
same business class ticket for purchase is 2900 so actually 1900 when compared to rewards and between credit card points and miles, it actually make sense to buy the ticket and use points to fly east where the fuel surcharges are nominal
You'll also find that AC aeroplan will attempt to show availability on their metal only, or a connection requiring a flight on AC metal - thus having to pay fuel surcharges - when other *A reward tickets are available with no/little fuel surcharges to be paid. Be aware! Search carefully!
Was the client an AC Super Elite (100k)? AC regularly opens up more availability for their elites. 50K members get this at 2X the normal points and 100Ks at the normal rate (commonly known as IKK on flyertalk). Also, the YQ surcharges are waived on North America AC metal flights for their elites. 100Ks also have the fees waived on international AC metal flights.