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Canadian Government Backs Off Supporting Airlines Who Stick It To Customers On Refunds

by Gary Leff on April 23, 2020

Apr 23 2020

The U.S. government is clear that airlines must refund passengers whose flights are cancelled. The European Union is clear on this too but airlines have ignored their rules. In fact, European airlines have offered refunds to Americans (or where itineraries touch the U.S.) but not for Europeans (travel that doesn’t touch the U.S.).

Canada had been clear that airlines do not have to refund passengers for cancelled flights. Fortunately they are backtracking from that position.

Air Canada: All Points Earned Or Transferred In Count Towards Elite Status & Other Bonuses

by Gary Leff on April 20, 2020

Apr 20 2020

Frequent flyer programs have done an amazing job of turning marketing from an expense into a profit center. But without travel, members are less engaged in the programs. And that means less spend with credit card partners, too.

It takes creative effort to get members continuing to earn in the program when they aren’t likely to redeem right away. But that earning means cash now – and is even more valuable than ever both because of the premium on cash for struggling businesses and because the redemption expenses won’t come until later.

Air Canada Extends Elite Status And Makes It Easy To Keep Earning – And Gifting – Status

by Gary Leff on April 6, 2020

Apr 06 2020

Air Canada has come up with a couple of interesting things to make it worth continuing to earn status and make it even easier to do so even while doing something good during the current crisis.

Travel To Australia From $360 Roundtrip From All Over The U.S. This Fall Or Winter

by Gary Leff on April 2, 2020

Apr 02 2020

You can fly to Australia from all across the U.S. this fall and winter starting at just $360 roundtrip.

Airlines are waiving change fees for travel booked now, so if you do have to change your planes you’ll at least get a full travel credit without penalty to use on a future trip. Hopefully this is far enough out that we can travel again without worry!

Air Canada Signature Suite Vancouver Review

by Gary Leff on March 17, 2020

Mar 17 2020

The Air Canada Signature Suite Vancouver is now open, and like its counterpart in Toronto is one of the best business class lounges in the world.

At the end of 2017 Air Canada unveiled their international business class Signature Suite lounge in Toronto. In my experience it is the best business class lounge in North America, and perhaps the best lounge in North America. Dining there is genuinely fantastic. It is open only to paid business class passengers on Air Canada, not to Star Alliance customers, award passengers, or upgrades.

Aeroplan Temporarily Waiving Infant Charges On Award Tickets

by Gary Leff on February 7, 2020

Feb 07 2020

Bringing a child under 2 years old on a plane with you is free for domestic flights if you don’t buy them a seat. However when you travel internationally an infant without a seat needs a ticket, and those can be expensive even when you’re redeeming miles for your own flight.

When you book an award and add a lap infant, some programs charge you 10% of a paid ticket. That’s standard for United, Delta and American. If you redeem miles for a $6000 business class ticket, the lap infant costs you $600 plus taxes.

Aeroplan Will Allow Mileage Redemption For Taxes and Fuel Surcharges

by Gary Leff on December 19, 2019

Dec 19 2019

We know that in 2020 Air Canada plans to re-launch their frequent flyer program. We don’t know a lot about the new program yet, other than that they will keep an award chart for long haul and partner travel and that domestic flight pricing will be dynamic.

We now know they’ll be continuing to add surcharges onto (at least some) redemptions.

Lawyer: Canadians Should Flush Their Pot in the Lavatory Before a Flight Diverts to the U.S.

by Gary Leff on November 9, 2019

Nov 09 2019

Air Canada flight AC125 from Toronto to Vancouver was forced to divert to Seattle last Sunday due to fog and two failed landing attempts. The plan was to refuel and make another attempt. However passengers got stuck in Seattle when the 787 went out of service for maintenance. Everyone was given hotel rooms for the night.

Some passengers on board began to worry over what would happen to their pot?

Air Canada Banning Flight Attendants From Referring to Gender of Passengers

by Gary Leff on October 13, 2019

Oct 13 2019

We’re a long way from back when United Airlines used to offer men-only flights. This year U.S. airlines started offering new gender options to passengers when booking their tickets.

Stinky Fruit Forces Air Canada to Make Emergency Landing

by Gary Leff on October 7, 2019

Oct 07 2019

If you’ve spent much time in Southeast Asia you’ve come across Durian, sometimes referred to as “stinky fruit.” You’ll see hotels and buses with “No Durian” signs because while delicious, some people think it smells like sewage, and the odor lasts.

There wasn’t a ‘no durian’ sign September 17th on Air Canada Rouge flight 1566 from Montreal – Vancouver that was forced to make an emergency landing due to the smell of durian.