Air Canada goes revenue based

[RooFlyer]

Air Canada 'Altitude'# is the latest FF program to go dollars-spent based for status.

For me, a couple of TPAC J class return rides should see the $$ component easily met (at least for E75K level), but I can be well short on the miles component, as I will be this year.

Interestingly, they will count the $$ of a flight on AC metal, but marketed/code shared to another airline.

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[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]IQUOTE]INTRODUCING ALTITUDE QUALIFYING DOLLARS
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[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Altitude Qualifying Dollars (AQD) represent the monetary value associated with an eligible ticket and, when combined with the number of Altitude Qualifying Miles (AQM) or Altitude Qualifying Segments (AQS) you fly, will determine your Altitude status in 2017.

This new qualification requirement, which takes into account your spend on eligible Air Canada flights, will be tracked as of January 1, 2016, and will be used to qualify you into Altitude in 2017. The introduction of Altitude Qualifying Dollars (AQD) will replace the Minimum Air Canada Flight Requirement.

These changes reflect similar requirements in other global frequent flyer programs and will ensure that we continue to better recognize our most valued customers.
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# 'Altitude' is the status/upgrades component of Air Canada's program. The points bit is done via Aeroplan.









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[Mattg]

Not another program.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Not another program.

Agreed.

I think the term Frequent FLYER is redundant now.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Air Canada has one of the worst Airline loyalty programs in Star Alliance, most Canadians I know Avoid the airline's loyalty program like the plague.

 

[clazman]

Think AC has taken to many puck's to the head, never was it a good program and this only makes it worse

 

[RooFlyer]

Air Canada has one of the worst Airline loyalty programs in Star Alliance, most Canadians I know Avoid the airline's loyalty program like the plague.

Think AC has taken to many puck's to the head, never was it a good program and this only makes it worse

I agree - although if you do a lot of domestic Canadian flying, their upgrade system is good. # Also, Air Canada a few years back started to reclaim their FF program off Aeroplan by introducing 'Altitude'. I have looked to switching to UA a couple of times and decided against it :shock:. I'm not saying Altitude/Aeroplan is a good program, but in my situation - fly J TPAC a couple of times a year, then whY domestically, it suits.

BTW Qantas FF is tracking exactly to becoming another Aeroplan - just another points program, where flying is just one of many activities.

# You get a stock of 'free' up-grade certificates which you can use to upgrade and if you are 75K or above they almost always come through. Because status pax know they will come through, no-one buys J tickets much, so there's plenty of space for upgrades to come through ... a feedback loop that amazingly benefits the customer :shock:

 

[JohnK]

This is not a good trend.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

I agree - although if you do a lot of domestic Canadian flying, their upgrade system is good. # Also, Air Canada a few years back started to reclaim their FF program off Aeroplan by introducing 'Altitude'. I have looked to switching to UA a couple of times and decided against it :shock:. I'm not saying Altitude/Aeroplan is a good program, but in my situation - fly J TPAC a couple of times a year, then whY domestically, it suits.

BTW Qantas FF is tracking exactly to becoming another Aeroplan - just another points program, where flying is just one of many activities.

# You get a stock of 'free' up-grade certificates which you can use to upgrade and if you are 75K or above they almost always come through. Because status pax know they will come through, no-one buys J tickets much, so there's plenty of space for upgrades to come through ... a feedback loop that amazingly benefits the customer :shock:

Good points made.... I see where you coming from

 

[incumbent]

This is not a good trend.

It's the only way to go for those opposed to people "scamming" status. Whether it will keep people engaged or not is a separate issue.

Air NZ has a singularly unappealing program, but I'm not sure it bothers them all that much.

 

[serfty]

...

Air NZ has a singularly unappealing program, but I'm not sure it bothers them all that much.

NZ basically have a "captive audience" - at one time I was thinking Airpoints was a program they had just so they had a program - it was pretty bad, but upgrade bennies were sufficient for me to pursue *Elite with them for 5 years ... until they made the program even worse (especially for non NZ residents).

 

[Mattg]

A quick question for the experts... If you were a Canadian resident and status was not a consideration, which Star Alliance program would you use?