News and notes from around the interweb:
- With Air Canada severing ties with Aeroplan in 2020 the frequent flyer program’s parent Aimia has been raising cash and shedding liabilities. They sold off their interests in Canada’s Air Miles program and now they’ve sold the Nectar loyalty program. (HT: Points Hogger)
Copyright: ronniechua / 123RF Stock Photo - RouteHappy is being acquired by the Air Tariff Publishing Company
- Japan Airlines started adding fuel surcharges to Emirates awards again back in the fall. One passenger convinced them to refund those fees.
- UPS ordered 14 Boeing 747s. Long live the 747.
- Spirit, United, and Uber are among the country’s most hated companies — worse even than The Weinstein Company — but all lag behind Equifax.
- The Supreme Court is considering whether the government can search a rental car purely because you failed to get added as an authorized driver on the contract
- Will the last American Express Plenti partner please turn out the lights
Aimia – as per the official press release, selling Nectar involves a net cash LOSS of $175m. That is because they are handing over the value of the unredeemed points.
Aeroplan’s Starnet access has been on/off for weeks now. They’ll regularly go 8-10 hours without ability to book partner awards. I wonder if they’re trying to avoid incuring costs and doing it on purpose…
Interesting Fact: If you are able to book any award travel (including Emirates) commencing in Hong Kong, you will avoid fuel charges completely, due to their government prohibiting the charge. I’m guessing you could stretch this wonderful benefit to a return, open-jaw booking too, although I have not tried that one yet.