Is there a point calculator for Aeroplan?
I'm trying to workout the points between Aeroplan and Kris flyer in J before pulling the trigger.
Krisflyer is 128k on SQ but Aeroplan is 460-480k ? Without looking at air india 110k
The Aeroplan award chart is here:
https://www.aircanada.com/content/d...content/documents/flight-rewards-chart-en.pdf
The KrisFlyer award chart is here:
https://www.singaporeair.com/conten...-WayAdvantageSaverAwardChartupdated1Nov25.pdf
The issue with Aeroplan is that travel on Air Canada and "Select Partners" (defined on the chart itself) is dynamically priced, i.e. it has a lowest price that it
could be but otherwise it rises according to demand or whatever is left. Any Air Canada partner that isn't in "Select Partners" is a fixed number of points (which is thankfully many of the Star Alliance partners).
The problem with deciding based on which points to accept is largely based on where you would like to fly (your goal(s)) and your longer term strategy, amongst other things to consider. Assuming you are starting absolutely cold, i.e. zero points in either programme, then let's say you set a goal for J from Australia to Asia or vice versa (but only one way).
For Aeroplan, it will cost 45k points for a J award one-way within the Pacific zone between 2001 - 5000 miles. That covers quite a bit, including, say, SYD-TYO. Most partners on these routes are not a "Select Partner" so the cost will be fixed.
For KrisFlyer, it will cost 72k points for a J Saver award one-way between East Australia and SIN on SQ. I think Star Alliance partners are around the same cost. As you go further afield, it will cost a few more thousand points (e.g. Philippines, Hong Kong) up to a total of 108.5k to Japan.
You can join either programme and do some dummy searches on both to get an idea on prices (try dates far int he future as the near future isn't likely to have any availability).
Remember, though, you will obviously get some extra miles by using the credit card, which you can add onto your total bonuses (assuming you also go for the full 50k by spending the $48,000 in a year). Had you had existing balances, or if you are willing to look at other ways to add onto your respective balances, your assessment can change.
Considerations for Aeroplan:
- Can buy points (there are decent promotions at least twice a year) to supplement balance
- Certain partners are dynamically priced awards (but thankfully not the majority)
- Points don't expire so long as you have activity (I think the activity period is 18 months)
- Aeroplan has good availability, but don't rely on being able to get any SQ awards with it (except for intra-Asia)
Considerations for KrisFlyer:
- Can supplement through Amex Rewards and a couple of other credit cards (HSBC Star Alliance is not the only way), of which some have signup bonuses, too
- Can supplement by converting Velocity points (1.55 Velocity = 1 KrisFlyer) - can be steep, but Velocity points are nominally easier to obtain and less valuable than KrisFlyer miles
- Points have a hard 3 year expiry, so if you're going for an ambitious award goal, you can't dawdle (e.g. getting an F award that may cost at least 200k points, you'd better have ideas in mind to get that before three years is up)
- KrisFlyer Saver awards are rare, especially for the most coveted routes and cabins (e.g. First/Suites). If you can't get Saver, you'll be forced to consider the more expensive Advantage awards (and they aren't plentiful either). Advantage awards aren't dynamically priced, but they are more expensive than Saver - e.g. SYD-SIN J Advantage is 103.5k points.
- KrisFlyer is the only assured way to access SQ award inventory - other partners are either locked out or access a pithy subset. Useful to think about if SQ is your carrier of choice.
For both, you can introduce a stopover into award redemptions to make them a bit more dynamic and useful. Note though that KrisFlyer only permits a stopover on a one-way itinerary at Advantage pricing (i.e. Saver one-way itineraries have no stopover entitlement).
That above is basic analysis, but hope it gives you food for thought.
