[Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
[Profile/Gallery]
, Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:31:27
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
There are 2 main systems (at least in Canada): points collected based on $ spent (eg Air Miles) and points collected based on miles traveled (eg Aeroplan). Now you can also get credit cards that collect Aeroplan points based on $ spent on other things as well (this is how you really rack up points: all purchases, especially house renos, on the gold card, I have friends who racked up hundreds of thousands of points quickly that way, but usually with an annual fee)...
It used to be that Aeroplan would accumulate miles on any travel based solely on distance traveled and nothing else (eg the price you paid for the ticket was irrelevant unless you put it on a credit card that also accumulated points). I racked up a decent number of points on cheap standby flights as a student. I also got a free flight in North America (25000 miles) mostly from one flight to Australia. Cool eh?
Now (iirc) Air Canada has introduced a range of mileage accumulation restrictions based on pricing "level". They also have separated the taxes, so your free flight is free, except you'll pay a couple hundred $ in taxes and service charges. Oh, and they have 2 (or more?) tiers on points needed for flights + associate greater restrictions on the lower tier. There are also now "use them or lose them" policies. Check the websites for details.
I fly less nowadays + find the benefits to me are reduced. Basically, my strategy now is to just get the cheapest flights, collect points when I can, and not worry about it too much. If you haven't joined, either program is free, so you can do both if you want... I find Air Miles is pretty useless - ok for free movie tickets I guess. I've never redeemed any...
Oh, and in case you didn't know, the point programs are really just data collection programs... they make their money selling this information for consumer marketing purposes... I'm not bothered by that, but some people are...
James...
posted by 69.63.6...
, Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:31:27, Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:54:26
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
