Home / Archive: May 2008

Chance to Win a Million Aeroplan® Miles

Posted May 13, 2008 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Points & Rewards 

What would you do with 1,000,000 extra Aeroplan® Miles?

Aeroplan is running their Be a Miles Millionaire contest between May 12 and June 20, 2008, in which one mile equals one contest entry.

Prizes include:

  • Grand Prize of 1,000,000 Aeroplan Miles
  • One of 160 prizes of 25,000 Aeroplan Miles

The following companies and products have special offers to help you increase your chances with bonus Aeroplan miles.

  • Primus Wireless
  • Home Hardware
  • Esso
  • Tropicana-Quaker
  • Rogers Magazine Service

Think I’ll start drinking orange juice… :-)

Popularity: 87% [?]

 

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On My Way: Air Canada Finds Another Way to Make Money

Posted May 10, 2008 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under News 

A WingThis has certainly been a lucrative week for Air Canada.

First they announce new reduced baggage allowances wherein you’ll pay $25 a leg to take that second bag if you’re flying in steerage.

Yesterday they announced a fuel surcharge that will cost you up to $120 more per round-trip flight.

And, in the middle of all that, I found an email from Air Canada that introduces their new insurance plan, called On My Way.

For just $25 on short-haul flights (1,000 kms or less) and $35 for long-haul flights, (one-way) you’ll enjoy the peace of mind knowing that if your flight is delayed or disrupted due to weather, airport or air traffic delays, Air Canada’s new travel assistance service will help you arrange complimentary hotel accommodations, car rental or other ground transportation, and meals.

Better yet, you will get automatic flight information updates sent to you by SMS and email. Woohoo!

Hmmm… you might think that means that they won’t fork over the cost of a hotel anymore when their flight arrives late and you miss your connection.. unless of course you spend $50 to $70 more per ticket.

But if you read the On My Way benefit chart, you’ll see that they DO offer limited hotel, ground transportation and meal assistance for overnight delays (within North Amercia) without the need to purchase On My Way.

Air Canada specifically states that “On My Way is not a replacement for travel insurance or the services your travel agent may provide” and that the service is “uniquely designed to minimize your worries”.

In the almost 5 decades that I’ve been travelling on commercial flights, I’ve only been stranded overnight once (in Edmonton) and Air Canada handled all the hotel, ground transportation and meals quite nicely, thank you.

Ergo, I’m NOT worried and I’m NOT buying it.

Popularity: 79% [?]

Fuel Surcharges: Air Canada Ticket Prices Jump by up to $120

Posted May 10, 2008 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under News 

A WingAir Canada annouced yesterday that it will add a fuel surchage that will raise the price of tickets by up to $120 per round-trip flight.

Fees of $20, $40 and $60 will be added to each one-way ticket depending on the flight’s distance.

$20 will be applied to short flights of up to 482 kilometres, $40 to mid-range flights of up to 1,609 kilometres and $60 to flights of 1,610 kilometres miles and more.

As there is no regulation that requires airlines to disclose the fee as part of the advertised price of a flight, many travelers will be shocked to see that the final cost of a ticket may be twice the advertised price and more.

How do YOU feel about this latest increase in the price of airline travel?

Popularity: 76% [?]

New Baggage Allowances: Travel Costs Just Went Up

Posted May 7, 2008 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Luggage, Travel Tips 

If you purchase a ticket from Air Canada on or after May 15, 2008 for travel on or after July 15, 2008, you should know about the new baggage allowance rules in place.

If you are travelling Tango, Tango Plus, or on a reward ticket through Aeroplan or Air Miles, you are permitted only ONE bag. A second bag can be checked for $25 per flight.

So, if you’re planning a round trip (which most of us do) that second ‘extra’ bag is going to cost you an ‘extra’ $50 bucks.

Maximum allowable weight on your single bag is 50 pounds or 23 kilograms.

It’s already bad enough having to wait at the check-in line behind people who don’t know the 50 pound rule, and end up riffling through their bags to see what can be dumped into their carry-on bags so they won’t have to pay the extra.

Now, imagine how the check-in line waits will get longer as uninformed travelers show up with their usual 2 bags. First, they’ll whine or argue with the agent about the new rules, then decide to take the 2nd bag as carry-on.

By result, the security waits will get even longer as more bags need to be scanned and perhaps searched.

Of course, the gate agents will never notice that the carry-on rules are being broken.

They never do.

I just hope that Air Canada plans to re-inforce the overhead bins in anticipation of all that extra weight.

Of course, a better option than waiting for that to happen is to pack lighter. Not only will it save you money, you’ll enjoy your trip more when you don’t lug a heavy suitcase around or pull a muscle pulling that bag.

For starters, check out this ultra-light 22″ Hovercraft Rolling Upright from Eagle Creek which weighs only 7.25 pounds (3.34 kg) empty.

Made of 210D Mini Diamond Helix Nylon, 500D Tough Weave, 915D HP Cordura®, the dimensions are 14 x 22 x 10 / 36 x 56 x 25cm. Capacity empty is 2925 cu in / 48 L and 3400 cu in / 56 L when expanded.

The next thing to do is get an airline rewards card that give you access to the Executive or First Class check-in queues. Those passengers are allowed up to 4 bags, and doubtful that they’ll cause delays if and when they’re assessed extra baggage charges.

Popularity: 94% [?]

Would You Redeem Airline Rewards Points to Buy Carbon Offsets?

Posted May 6, 2008 by Rosalind Gardner · Filed Under Adventures, Points & Rewards, Travel Tips 

 forestLet’s face it, flying adds carbon dioxide CO2 to the atmosphere which contributes to climate change.

In addition to reducing the number of times we fly every year, Ed and I also like the option of being able to reduce our footprint by purchasing and/or redeeming Aeroplan rewards points for carbon offsets.

Partnering with ZeroFootprint, Air Canada launched its carbon offset program in May 2007.

Since then, Air Canada reports their customers have “made a meaningful contribution to the fight against climate change by contributing thousands of dollars to a forest restoration project in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.”

Furthemore, they report that as of April 14th, 2008, the $126,425.00 contributed to their program has resulted in an offset of 7901 tonnes of CO2 and 1580 trees planted, which is equivalent to taking 2582 cars off the road for a year.

We think it’s a worthwhile program and hope more Air Canada customers will participate by redeeming their airline rewards points for carbon offsets.

So… would you redeem your points to buy carbon offsets when you travel?

Popularity: 100% [?]