For frugal flyers in the true north, the unthinkable has happened. After years of being the official frequent flyer program of Air Canada, Aeroplan will no longer provide points to the Canadian flag carrier as of 2020. Instead, the carrier will opt to create their own program, leaving their long-standing agreement with Aimia, which was once part of the Montreal-based airline.
Until the day when Air Canada takes off with their own loyalty program to compliment Altitude, everything remains the same. The sky will not fall and travelers will not experience difficulties if they attempt to cash in their Aeroplan miles for travel on Air Canada. But the next two years will provide some interesting changes, as both companies prepare to evolve.
So what does this all mean for travelers on both sides of the border collecting Aeroplan miles? Aeroplan is one of the more flexible alternate loyalty programs, which can be more rewarding for those who fly across Canada and around the world aboard Air Canada. While the changes are still developing, there are preparations everyone can make.
Today: Nothing Changes
Although both Air Canada and Aimia announced the program would come to an end, nothing changes for frugal travelers today. For flights on Air Canada and other Star Alliance partners, travelers can still earn and use Aeroplan points, alongside miles towards Altitude status. Additionally, travelers can also earn points through other methods as well, including shopping at Aeroplan partners and holding Aeroplan credit cards available to Canadian flyers.
As we have also discussed before, there are plenty of great ways to use Aeroplan miles for discounted flights around the world. In addition, many partners allows their points to transform into Aeroplan miles, including American Express Membership Rewards (earned on cards including the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express) and several hotel programs.
Tomorrow: Transitions Between Programs
In the near future, transitions will begin to develop between the two programs. One of the most noted is how Aeroplan miles will be handled after the June 30, 2020 deadline. After that time, the Toronto Sun reports travelers will no longer be allowed to use Aeroplan miles for redemption across Star Alliance partners. However, Aimia announced they are investigating other partners to bring into the program for future redemptions, so there is opportunity to still use those miles for flights in the future.
Until further clarity is offered between the programs, travelers who want to prepare themselves to collect points for use on Air Canada should consider their application plan for future credit cards. As the Air Canada rewards program matures, a credit card provider is sure to develop. Consider all options before deciding on the Air Canada program, Aeroplan, or a combination of the two.
After 2020: Two Programs, Two Rewards
When the deadline comes, the two programs will be completely separated, offering two different rewards. Depending on what travelers value, each program will offer different levels of rewards.
Currently, Aeroplan is positioning to become an all-around rewards program, offering redemptions for rental cars and hotel stays. Meanwhile, the Air Canada plan will revolve around collecting points for flights on the carrier and across Star Alliance. When the time comes, travelers will have the opportunity to decide which matters to them more and collect the corresponding points.
When frequent flyer programs are disrupted, there is no need to begin panicking and worry about the future of the game. By planning instead, travelers can make the most of their favorite programs now and in the future.
Are you concerned about the changes to Aeroplan? How do you plan to adjust as the deadline draws near? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Written by Frugal Travel Guy @ http://www.frugaltravelguy.com
Written by Frugal Travel Guy @ http://www.frugaltravelguy.com