Aeroplan (Air Canada) is now selling points

[jase05]

Does anyone know how to or if I can transfer Aeroplan points to Virgin Australia Velocity program?

You can’t

 

[drmatte]

Does anyone know how to or if I can transfer Aeroplan points to Virgin Australia Velocity program?

You can’t.

 

[aaa99]

As above, however, you can use Aeroplan points to book Virgin australia flights if that is what you are looking to do.

 

[blacksultan]

Does anyone know how to or if I can transfer Aeroplan points to Virgin Australia Velocity program?

No . Can only do with krisflyer . Possibly only 2 airlines that allow this .

 

[andye]

No . Can only do with krisflyer . Possibly only 2 airlines that allow this .

BA IB QR & EI (and soon AY) can all interchange points despite having separate programmes
AF KL & HV share a programme
VA & SQ are the only ones I know that have different points-currencies and an exchange rate

 

[Grrr]

Is anyone seeing more than 85% bonus with the current offer ?

 

[Ecco]

Mine says 85%. I didn’t even know the offer was on. I struggle to use my Aeroplan miles due to their expensive change and cancellation fees.

 

[Grrr]

Mine says 85%. I didn’t even know the offer was on. I struggle to use my Aeroplan miles due to their expensive change and cancellation fees.

Hmmm

I thought they were one of the better programs due to flight availability and no fuel/carrier surcharges…

 

[Ecco]

Hmmm

I thought they were one of the better programs due to flight availability and no fuel/carrier surcharges…

They have some good award space but you have to have definite plans. I just had to cancel three flights due to adult kids not being able to travel. And it cost $450 Cad . Also last year I was trying to get through to their call centre and I was trying for days. On a par with air nz call centre wait times.. to be honest I prefer paying a bit more for miles and using UA and AS. They have no change and cancellation fees.

 

[luxury-lizard]

I'm still considering buying some (more) - may want to travel to YYZ on short notice - but availability on AC (and other *A) to Canada at short notice is OK but not great - often with long layovers in LAX/SFO or can only get as far as YVR then need to purchase tix. Also - when relying on close-in awards - getting the return award can be very dicy.

I do find AC awards to Asia pretty available - then buying tix to your final destination not a bad option. EG currently - quite way to get SYD-SIN return as an award then purchase SIN-TPE-YYZ return for $A5800 in J - longer trip but allows a stopover in SIN.

Agree on issue of change and cancel fees.

 

[Grrr]

Ok as someone starting from scratch, looking largely at traveling to Asia and Europe (and maybe Canada), is Aeroplan a sensible program to dump points from cards into ?

I have the free 50k points from HSBC SA offer, which is why I was going to stick with Aeroplan (and potentially buy more points for a trip to Europe), but now wondering if I should accumulate in Krisflyer or even Velocity (given unique things like family status pooling and easier ability to earn via Flybuys and other cards)…

 

[luxury-lizard]

Welcome to AFF @Grrr - there are a number of considerations here - Velocity are the easiest to accumulate (e.g. credit cards, Flybuys, ...) but buying points in both Krisflyer (KF) and Velocity is never a good option (i.e. too expensive).

Both KF and Velocity require more points for an award than AC but of course it all depends on how you value these points - Velocity also has quite high surcharges. You should do some "what if" searches on each program for some specific itineraries which are of interest to you and compare the points and charges.

Here's my strategy for each program (I use all 3):

1. AC - I value AC points at $A0.025 each (as I really only acquire them by purchasing during promos) - I earn some by flying paid fares but not sufficient to make a real difference). You can also buy a percentage of the required points when redeeming an award - which I find very useful - less need to sit on large balances. AC awards to most Asian ports costs 45,000 one-way in J - great value - better than KF and Velocity.
2. KF - was my go to program - points gained via transfer from AmEx - but AmEx's devaluation last year (3 AmEx points to 1 KF) kind of put an end to this.
3. Velocity - is my third tier program - points gained from Flybuys and transfer from an ANZ Visa card (at 2:1) - has taken years to build up sufficient balance for one trip to Europe in J.

I don't chase status but do like family pooling (e.g. Velocity) - AC had family pooling but suspended new members last year due to fraud - this could change (I guess).

 

[Grrr]

Welcome to AFF @Grrr - there are a number of considerations here - Velocity are the easiest to accumulate (e.g. credit cards, Flybuys, ...) but buying points in both Krisflyer (KF) and Velocity is never a good option (i.e. too expensive).

Both KF and Velocity require more points for an award than AC but of course it all depends on how you value these points - Velocity also has quite high surcharges. You should do some "what if" searches on each program for some specific itineraries which are of interest to you and compare the points and charges.

Here's my strategy for each program (I use all 3):

1. AC - I value AC points at $A0.025 each (as I really only acquire them by purchasing during promos) - I earn some by flying paid fares but not sufficient to make a real difference). You can also buy a percentage of the required points when redeeming an award - which I find very useful - less need to sit on large balances. AC awards to most Asian ports costs 45,000 one-way in J - great value - better than KF and Velocity.
2. KF - was my go to program - points gained via transfer from AmEx - but AmEx's devaluation last year (3 AmEx points to 1 KF) kind of put an end to this.
3. Velocity - is my third tier program - points gained from Flybuys and transfer from an ANZ Visa card (at 2:1) - has taken years to build up sufficient balance for one trip to Europe in J.

I don't chase status but do like family pooling (e.g. Velocity) - AC had family pooling but suspended new members last year due to fraud - this could change (I guess).

Thanks @luxury-lizard that's very helpful

I think I'll use AC, and keep an eye out for the next 100-110% bonus offer; current one appears to be 85% max

 

[Ecco]

Ok as someone starting from scratch, looking largely at traveling to Asia and Europe (and maybe Canada), is Aeroplan a sensible program to dump points from cards into ?

I have the free 50k points from HSBC SA offer, which is why I was going to stick with Aeroplan (and potentially buy more points for a trip to Europe), but now wondering if I should accumulate in Krisflyer or even Velocity (given unique things like family status pooling and easier ability to earn via Flybuys and other cards)…

You should have a look into the avios route with BA and QR. You can get from Oz/NZ-EUR on QR J for 90k, it stops over in DOH. You can also transfer Amex MR over to QR 2:1, at least with the AU amex MR cards. Unfortunately NZ amex is 3:1. Matt's Planet Youtube channel has some helpful Avios/QR/BA videos. You could also get a BA subscription and slowly build up some avios.

 

[Grrr]

You should have a look into the avios route

It looks like earning Avios in Aus is limited to Amex -> Bonvoy -> Avios ??

 

[luxury-lizard]

It looks like earning Avios in Aus is limited to Amex -> Bonvoy -> Avios ??

You can transfer AmEX to QR (Avios) 2:1 which can then be transferred 1:1 to BA if desired

 

[burmans]

You should have a look into the avios route with BA and QR. You can get from Oz/NZ-EUR on QR J for 90k, it stops over in DOH.

Not trying to put people off avios as I’m a fan but this 90k redemption has been a bit of a unicorn recently. I’d be checking before transferring if this what you are aiming for.

 

[GeoffBeaumont]

Can round world tickets be booked with Aeroplan and if so where are the conditions specified?

 

[T Davies]

I have a query related to Matt’s article on “

How to Buy & Redeem Air Canada Aeroplan Points”. When l search for how many points for bus class return for 1 in January ( a popular ski time ) from BNE to Kelowna ( via Vancouver ) the AC site says l need 465,000 aero miles plus $93. If 500k points cost just under $20k ( based on Matt’s article ), how is that good value? What am l missing?​

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a query related to Matt’s article on “

​ How to Buy & Redeem Air Canada Aeroplan Points”. When l search for how many points for bus class return for 1 in January ( a popular ski time ) from BNE to Kelowna ( via Vancouver ) the AC site says l need 465,000 aero miles plus $93. If 500k points cost just under $20k ( based on Matt’s article ), how is that good value? What am l missing?​

You are looking at Air canada flights and their dynamic pricing. This puts any seat on the aircraft as available for point, but at the retail price.

What you need to find are the base awards. It’s similar to the distinction between Qantas classic rewards and points+pay.

You need the equivalent of the air canada classic award.