How to find Aeroplan flights

[am0985]

There is also an extra stop in the second option.

Both have the same amount of stops?

Unless I'm missing something both stop in SIN and IST only, for the second option the stop in SIN is on the same flight number as it's a refuelling stop but that's about it.

 

[FlyingFiona]

Both have the same amount of stops?

Unless I'm missing something both stop in SIN and IST only, for the second option the stop in SIN is on the same flight number as it's a refuelling stop but that's about it.

You're right, sorry. I saw the two icons in the flight line and assumed two stops (because that is what it would mean on other booking platforms.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Did you book these flights as a multi-city or did you book it as a stopover? It would seem to me that you booked it as the former so it will calculate the points required for each sector separately. In which case you would have a within Pacific zone flight followed by a separate Pacific to North America Zone flight. For the second one that looks like a Pacific to Atlantic zone flight followed by an Atlantic zone to North America zone flight. Had you booked this as a stopover then they would’ve computed the flight pricing as Pacific zone to North America zone trip even though you have a stopover of a day or more in the Atlantic or Pacific zones.

One additional thought, if you are able to find those itineraries, you should in theory be able to call up Air Canada to make the booking, reading out the flights you have in mind. Since they involve a connection of under 24 hours that would be considered a connecting flight rather than a stopover. If they try to charge you a phone booking fee, reminded them that this itinerary cannot be booked online, and thus the fee needs to be waived.

Agree… this needs to be booked through the call centre to take advantage of the through price.

I have done a few complex itineraries in the last couple of years… the phone fee has not been waived. Given it took the agent up to an hour to book them, i can’t blame them. The savings in miles and the desired routing available via the call centre are well worth the small booking fee.

For something very simple I’ve had the fee waived.

 

[I love to travel]

I got JFK ZRH SIN SYD

And just on booking fees, mine was waived yesterday without asking.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Agree… this needs to be booked through the call centre to take advantage of the through price.

The correct pricing in terms of points is 115,000 per the Aeroplan award chart:

https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/loyalty-content/documents/flight-rewards-chart-en.pdf

The other thing he must keep in mind is the maximum permitted mileage which can be no more than double the as the crow flies direct distance between their origin and destination. Sydney to New York is 9,950 direct so in theory up to 19,900 miles is permissible. In practice from me working with Aeroplan before that number could be a little bit less.SYD-SIN-IST-JFK works out to 14,301 miles whereas SYD-IST-JFK works out to 14,300 miles to both should be fine for booking.

I have done a few complex itineraries in the last couple of years… the phone fee has not been waived. Given it took the agent up to an hour to book them, i can’t blame them. The savings in miles and the desired routing available via the call centre are well worth the small booking fee.

For something very simple I’ve had the fee waived.

It’ll depend on the agent. In silver instances I had to pay, in others I didn’t. For instance flying Canadian North to Iqaluit that could only be booked over tour phone and I had to pay the fee. However given the agent had to make a separate call to the airline to check availability and make the booking a process that took an hour I cannot blame them. However, I’ve also done changes (and paid a fee there) where the agent had pity on me and waived the phone fee. I’m any event it never hurts to ask

 

[am0985]

Did you book these flights as a multi-city or did you book it as a stopover? It would seem to me that you booked it as the former so it will calculate the points required for each sector separately. In which case you would have a within Pacific zone flight followed by a separate Pacific to North America Zone flight. For the second one that looks like a Pacific to Atlantic zone flight followed by an Atlantic zone to North America zone flight. Had you booked this as a stopover then they would’ve computed the flight pricing as Pacific zone to North America zone trip even though you have a stopover of a day or more in the Atlantic or Pacific zones.

One additional thought, if you are able to find those itineraries, you should in theory be able to call up Air Canada to make the booking, reading out the flights you have in mind. Since they involve a connection of under 24 hours that would be considered a connecting flight rather than a stopover. If they try to charge you a phone booking fee, reminded them that this itinerary cannot be booked online, and thus the fee needs to be waived.

Haven't booked yet - just looking at options for a future redemption I'll want to do beyond the calendar.

Will bear this in mind and call up when I see availability!

 

[auriga]

Does anyone know why these two SYD - SIN - IST - JFK options have different pricings in points?

Both of them have less than 24h stopovers, the main difference is that SQ are doing the SYD - SIN leg.

wow, the fees are rather high!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

wow, the fees are rather high!

No no. i think it’s only the CAD215 that will be applicable. The other options are for part cash, part miles. Aeroplan doesn’t pass on fuel surcharges… except in the case of Emirates where the substantially higher number of miles required equates to EK’s exorbitant fuel surcharges.

 

[zsw]

Does anyone know why these two SYD - SIN - IST - JFK options have different pricings in points?

Both of them have less than 24h stopovers, the main difference is that SQ are doing the SYD - SIN leg.

If you put the search in as SYD - JFK online (not as a multi-city SYD - IST; IST - JFK) then it will price up as the expected 115,000 - just note that Air Canda seems to default now as the actual points + taxes as the second right most option (I feel it used to offer 3 options - all of them with taxes included and a rolling component of points paid with cash).

 

[LA10]

Does anyone know if it's possible to book TK Mel-Sin then at a later date, add a SQ flight to that award? I know there's a change fee involved but hoping SQ/TK can be combined. Thanks.

 

[DJTravels]

Does anyone know if it's possible to book TK Mel-Sin then at a later date, add a SQ flight to that award? I know there's a change fee involved but hoping SQ/TK can be combined. Thanks.

Should be able to. Haven't tried this specific combo, but when you change the booking online, it allows you to change origin and destination, so it should work. E.g. have been able to modify from SYD to SIN to CBR to SIN adding on a first leg on VA.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Does anyone know if it's possible to book TK Mel-Sin then at a later date, add a SQ flight to that award? I know there's a change fee involved but hoping SQ/TK can be combined. Thanks.

I can comment on this matter as I have done this twice with Aeroplan. In my case I wanted to fly Sydney to Toronto with a 2 week stopover in Zurich followed by LA to Sydney with a couple day stopover in Seoul. I managed to initially find and book SYD > ZRH and LAX > ICN in business. Later, when ZRH > YYZ and ICN > SYD became available I called up Aeroplan to get them to add those legs on.

There are two things to keep in mind here:

1. You may have to pay a change fee to add the segment later on. If you booked the flight as a Business Flexible award there shouldn't be any fees, but the normal business award will attract a fee of around $100 CAD IIRC
2. When you make that change, Air Canada will have to reprice the cost of the ticket as the award chart (at least for partners like Turkish and Singapore) use a distance based chart to determine how many points are required.

With all of that being said, if you do find availability on a partner like Turkish in business, don't hesitate and pull the trigger. Availability can change rapidly and I cannot tell you the number of times I missed out on an opportunity because I waited a few hours or a day.

One last point, if you are looking to do the stopover option (i.e. fly MEL - SIN, stopover in SIN then fly onwards) you can do all of this online for free. Here is an article on how to make that booking:

Aeroplan Stopovers: Book an Extra Stop for 5,000 Points | Prince of Travel

Aeroplan's stopover rules permit travellers to squeeze in an extended stay on a one-way trip to most places in the world for only 5,000 extra points.

princeoftravel.com

 

[I love to travel]

Great post @kangarooflyer88 thanks was thinking this same question today

 

[jase05]

Does anyone know if it's possible to book TK Mel-Sin then at a later date, add a SQ flight to that award? I know there's a change fee involved but hoping SQ/TK can be combined. Thanks.

Pretty sure TK aren’t selling the MEL-SIN fifth freedom flights so you wouldn’t be able to book that flight as an award flight either.

 

[RB001]

Pretty sure TK aren’t selling the MEL-SIN fifth freedom flights so you wouldn’t be able to book that flight as an award flight either.

MEL-SIN, yes (only speaking for revenue at least, not award). SYD-KUL, definitely not.

 

[elanshin]

Pretty sure TK aren’t selling the MEL-SIN fifth freedom flights so you wouldn’t be able to book that flight as an award flight either.

MEL - SIN is available for 5th freedom (best way to complete TK status match from Aus) but SYD - KUL isnt.

Also quite price competitive even as a one way. Good option now for day flight from SIN that isn't SQ now that EK is pulling out.

 

[zsw]

Pretty sure TK aren’t selling the MEL-SIN fifth freedom flights so you wouldn’t be able to book that flight as an award flight either.

Can confirm fifth freedom is available as an award, flying it next week SIN - MEL.

 

[jase05]

Can confirm fifth freedom is available as an award, flying it next week SIN - MEL.

Nice, that’s excellent news

 

[LA10]

Thanks all of the above.

 

[LA10]

I can comment on this matter as I have done this twice with Aeroplan. In my case I wanted to fly Sydney to Toronto with a 2 week stopover in Zurich followed by LA to Sydney with a couple day stopover in Seoul. I managed to initially find and book SYD > ZRH and LAX > ICN in business. Later, when ZRH > YYZ and ICN > SYD became available I called up Aeroplan to get them to add those legs on.

There are two things to keep in mind here:

1. You may have to pay a change fee to add the segment later on. If you booked the flight as a Business Flexible award there shouldn't be any fees, but the normal business award will attract a fee of around $100 CAD IIRC
2. When you make that change, Air Canada will have to reprice the cost of the ticket as the award chart (at least for partners like Turkish and Singapore) use a distance based chart to determine how many points are required.

With all of that being said, if you do find availability on a partner like Turkish in business, don't hesitate and pull the trigger. Availability can change rapidly and I cannot tell you the number of times I missed out on an opportunity because I waited a few hours or a day.

One last point, if you are looking to do the stopover option (i.e. fly MEL - SIN, stopover in SIN then fly onwards) you can do all of this online for free. Here is an article on how to make that booking:

Aeroplan Stopovers: Book an Extra Stop for 5,000 Points | Prince of Travel

Aeroplan's stopover rules permit travellers to squeeze in an extended stay on a one-way trip to most places in the world for only 5,000 extra points.

princeoftravel.com

Thank you very much!