Get your Air Canada / Aeroplan Questions Answered!
In light of the new changes coming to Aeroplan, along with the new twist of a potential Air Canada buyout of Aimia, we are being given an opportunity to interview Aimia’s CEO Jeremy Rabe.
Please submit your questions in the comment section below and we will get as many of them answered as possible.
Below is a summary of the changes to Aeroplan that was going to come into effect in June 2020.
- Have the ability to transfer points to around 20 frequent flyer programs. What is missing is the transfer ratios and the names of the airline partners.
- Have the option of redeeming cash and miles reward flights.
- Have the ability to purchase airlines tickets directly with Aeroplan and earn miles on that booking.
- Have the ability to redeem reward flight with any airline, any seat, any time, anywhere. In other words, we should not be seeing blackout dates.
It appears that market fare redemptions will also continue to be available. But terms of a fixed reward economy reward flight, it will cost:
- 15,000 miles – North American short-haul
- 25,000 miles – North American long-haul
- 40,000 miles – Mexico and Caribbean
- 60,000 miles – Europe
- 75,000 miles – Asia
But if Air Canada, TD, CIBC and Visa plan to acquire Aimia, the above changes may be a moot point.
For now, please submit your questions below if you would like Jeremy Rabe to answer them!
Note that you have until Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at 11:59pm PST to submit your questions.
How true are the rumors (published in Financial Post) that AIMIA/Aeroplan intend to charger flights, redeemable for miles?
This is not that far from starting another airline, something that I wholeheartedly support.
How will the « new Aeroplan » differ from such existing programs as Airmiles ?
The ability to transfer/convert AP points to airline FF programs is a very welcome announcement. Have they considered looking at the possibility of transferring/converting points to hotel partners?
Why haven’t we seen a national grocery chain as an Aeroplan partner?
Will Aeroplan continue their partnership with American Express? It doesn’t look like Amex is one of the partners bidding for Aimia.
There is no real benefit for Diamond status.
Can we expect perks like
Free cancellations within a 2-3 week window?
Free changes at Airport for earlier/later flight
No charge for rebooking dates and itinerary
Free companion fare
Free Maple lounge access
As I said when Air Canada first announced the parting of ways, many things can happen in that amount of time leading up to implementation.
Let him know that Aeroplan gets alot of bashing in social media etc, but that there are those of us who have nothing but great things to say about Aeroplan. Aeroplan Rocks!
(nice to get some positive feedback too, right??!!??)
What will the fixed reward requirements be for business and first class?
I would like him to name some FF partners, or at least a date by which they will.
CanadaPointsGuy hit it on the nose. The benefits of Aeroplan, whether it’s Black or Diamond status are not that great. Status with Aeroplan basically requires you to spend more $ to use the benefit. For example, the flight reward discount is based on Market Fare reward, which is double the normal rate of a flight. How about changing the benefit and allowing elite members to redeem a certain number of flights each year at the standard rate. You can give Black members 3 flights that they can redeem for 12.5K one-way in North America if that flight is currently not available.
Addditionally, the Fairmont benefit is a complete waste. Since it’s a code you have to enter, you can’t combine with other codes. I live in Alberta and can use the Alberta rate at Fairmont Banff or use the Costco ski rate at Lake Louise during the winter for big savings, but can’t use my Fairmont rate because that is the standard rate. It does get you free breakfast and $25 credit, but it’s a worse deal since the other 2 rates have a much greater savings.
Can you offer a discount or tiered discount to non-Diamond members on award cancellation fees to members who request the cancellation online ?
Oh yeah, please ask him why they insist on charging a booking fee for phone award reservations even if we can’t book the award online. Makes things worse that Aeroplan only shows a fraction of flight availability vs United.
When will truly practical changes come to Aeroplan:
1) the ability to book a free stopover on a 1-way flight, like Alaska Airlines permits?
2) discounted low season fixed rewards like Delta and others offer?
3) fixed taxes/service charges rewards like BA offers within Europe? I get that there is no control over airport fees and govt imposed air traffic and security fees, but airlines are now including more and more “surcharges” that are 100% in their control and Aimia should make a point of prioritizing those airlines with the lowest such surcharges as primary partners and listing them first in results and trying to squeeze surcharge discounts (as BA provides on short haul euro flights).
4) a website that allows you to book an overseas trip with 2 stopovers, so that you don’t have to call the customer contact centre and pay the booking fee?
5) a website that truly lists every avail flight on all partners and not one that just limits results to the top 15 (which happens when there is lots of availability) results, when you are looking for flight options later in the day that don’t make the first 15 flights?