Comments on: Getting the most out of Aeroplan

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:39:48 +0000

Some of these comments really crack me up! I am a miles/points “collector”, and have learned how to use them to my advantage, usualyl for Business or First class on international trips. But some of these comments are crazy! You want to fly to NYC for New Years eve? Fly to Rome for Easter week? Fly overseas on business class on 3-4 weeks planning? Forget it, you are dreaming. I realize not everyone likes to plan (or can plan) a year ahead. But if you are trying to book last minute (60 days or less), or booking peak times when all the flights are full (New Years in NYC!), then you are sadly off base. The few “free” seats that were available on those peak-time flights are gone! Want to go to Rome? Go in April or October. Avoid the peak season, and plan between 3 and 12 months ahead; and you will typically get flights that are very workable. AND BE Flexible!! If you only have a window of 1-2 days each way, it’s not going to work. I have been to Sydney, Auckland, Rome, Singapore, Rio, Buenos Aires and more, all in First or Business class for FREE (miles). Don’t want your Aeroplan miles?? Give them to me please!! I need a few more. Good luck all! Hope you find a good way to use those miles.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:12:35 +0000

just cancelled my CIBC Aerogold found I could book the same flight on line and save $100 and not use 120,000 aero miles seeya aeroplan they have certainly changed in the last 7 years

By: jt

jt — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 01:41:24 +0000

Is there any place to get a list of hotels, where you can redeem aeroplan points versus picking the location and then seeing if it has a hotel nearby where you can redeem aeroplan points?

By: David

David — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:32:43 +0000

and for those of you that have problems booking flights, try the
ANA Tool (Air Nippon) at ana.co.jp

Just open an account (it’s like Aeroplan, you’ll get a free card)
then you can search with their Search Engine. They won’t offer different or more flights (you get the same Star Alliance flight options) But their website is much easier to use and much faster than Aeroplan’s. And it won’t offer silly connections unless you click “Connecting Flights”.

One small catch, when you have 0 points in the ANA account you can’t search for Star Alliance flights directly (it will be greyed out). First search for an Air Nippon flight (i.e. NRT - BKK) then when you get the results, at the bottom of the screen there will be a “use Star Alliance Partners” and you can search all you want.

If you want to avoid this extra step, either fly 1 X with AC or StarAlliance and credit the points to ANA. Or do like I did, answer a simple survey and get 100 points.

Note: I’m not suggesting anyone switch to ANA from Aeroplan, I’m suggesting you use their website to do your searches, then use the Aeroplan website to book or call an Aeroplan agent.

By: David

David — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:26:07 +0000

I used to love Aeroplan, now I’m in not so much. My wife and I like to travel in first class. Not because we are rich but because we play the points game (get a credit card bonus, cancel, repeat after 6 months)

What I love about Aeroplan is the fact that you can book up to 16 flights on 1 reward with 3 official stopovers (all the other stops have to be less than 24 hours). Business *WAS* slightly more than Economy and first *WAS* a bit more.

The problem now is 2 fold, Aeroplan has changed their rewards chart. For example, we like Canada - Asia 1 (Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Vietnam) First use to be 120K points per person and now it’s 175K.

Ok you’re still flying first and it’s only 50% more… well on top of that as of NOV 2011, Aeroplan now charges fuel Surcharges on Partner flights. That’s a HUGE problem.

Here’s an actual example:

We booked this before the points increase and before the Partner fuel surcharges:
Vancouver - Germany - Korea - Japan - Thailand - Vietnam - Thailand - Hong Kong - Germany - Vancouver

It cost us each 120K point for First (all the legs are First except Vietnam-Thailand) and about $220 in fees.

Now I was looking at making changes (Longer stopovers and possibly change cities) With the New Fuel Surcharge (on partner airlines) It will cost me $750 per person for the Surcharges + $90 Change Fee

So now I’m seriously considering moving over to British Airways.

By: Vince R.

Vince R. — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:44:37 +0000

I have tried many times (that means over 20 times) for about 3-4 years to book a flight from Montreal to Hong Kong and never succeded. I’m even ready to book Business class, but only the Montreal-Toronto leg is Business, and Toronto-Hong Kong is economy. What a scam!

By: Business Class transfers

Business Class transfers — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 05:23:13 +0000

It is a great post

By: Ricki

Ricki — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 03:25:03 +0000

God, Aeroplan sucks!!! Yes I tried to book a flight to Miami, forget it they booked me from Toronto Canada, to washington, to philli, to texas I mean really?/?/
I ended up cancelling and buying my ticket. Does anyone know who has the best mile plan?

By: Ricki

Ricki — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 03:25:03 +0000

By: Frustrated Flier

Frustrated Flier — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:16:18 +0000

Michelle, I’m glad your trip planning went so well but sadly the truth is AC reserves very few seats for Aeroplan economy travel and booking 6 months in advance is a pipe dream in most cases if you want to travel at normal times (weekend to weekend for example).

Countless times, I have tried to book convenient flights only to give up in frustration and disbelief and end up buying the flight instead. They really have no appreciation for their client base and are the crappy behomoth that the better points programs refer to when they advertise more flights and flexibility.

I’m looking into ways to migrate my points away from Aeroplan. I pay for the privilege of using a Gold card to collect and yet am the lowest of the low when being considered for available flights. They suck.