Air Canada has just started selling passes for unlimited monthly flying within Canada, and that sure is interesting... Airlines around the globe are in a cash crunch and have a lot of empty seats on planes, so are trying to get innovative. That's where Air Canada's latest promotion comes into play... Air Canada has just…
Continue reading: Air Canada Now Selling Unlimited Flight Pass
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"it’s definitely intriguing, for those who are flying a lot within Canada anyway."
Only if those are Canadian citizens (since only Canadian citizens can buy the passes).
Actually it looks like you earn a set amount of AQMs, not per flight taken as you wrote, so this makes the pass even less lucrative for MRs:
Altitude Qualifying Miles
The purchaser earns a fixed amount of Altitude Qualifying Miles per month for the duration of the validity period of 1 month, regardless of the distance flown. The activity date of Altitude Qualifying Miles earned is the same as the date of each monthly payment.
The amount of Altitude Qualifying Miles awarded with Unlimited Passes purchased at the Latitude fare is 15,000 Altitude Qualifying Miles per month. Altitude Qualifying Miles will be credited to the purchaser's Aeroplan account within 3 weeks from date of purchase or upon successful payment.
No Altitude Qualifying Segments and no other Altitude Qualifying Miles, Aeroplan Miles or other airline frequent flyer / loyalty program miles will be awarded in conjunction with Unlimited Flight Passes
If 50K gives you Star Gold it could be a fun way to fly around Canada in business class for a month to earn it. You'd only need one or two more flights to get to $6K.
CAD 5,650 is USD 4,291. I'd pay that much to United to fly around the country up front for a month and come out with Star Gold at the end.
This version is new but they've had unlimited North America and others for a monthly fee for years...
There is no citizenship requirement. All legal residents of Canada, temporary or permanent, are eligible to purchase this.
Air Canada has been selling unlimited flight passes for decades. What's new here?
Not sure where you saw it, but you don't have the pay the taxes or fees on the flights you book. Flight passes are all-inclusive and there are no other taxes or fees payable to book a flight. Some passes have fees for changes or cancellations, but none have fees for booking.
They're not the first airline to do it.
Wonder if it is profitable enough for the airline or if it just beats flying empty.
Crooks who won’t even refund a ticket when the airline itself cancels your flight. I wouldn’t trust them with ANY purchase.
Bought a pass when they had them issues back in 2006. I'd fly from Calgary to Montreal for a Shawarma.. I flew all over north america (houston, LA, new York, chicago -- couldn't get to Vegas as no dates were open).
But now is not the right time to travel, and air Canada shouldn't be encouraging unnecessary travel. Buying and keeping access for later would be a better solution I think.
Also, Etihad had/has a similar scheme with travel across it's zones. Maybe that finished.