Big changes, most of them not good are coming the Air Canada’s Elite Program Altitude. Yesterday they released the details of the 2015 program. You can find all the details on the Air Canada website including a FAQ for the changes. The biggest reason for the changes as stated by Air Canada is:
” These changes are being introduced following a thorough benchmarking exercise in order
to competitively position Air Canada alongside the world’s leading
carriers.”
Devaluing a program to position yourself competitively just doesn’t make sense. I can see some of the reasoning for the changes, in particular the minimum Air Canada Flight Requirement to weed out not so frequent Air Canada flyers but the eUpgrade changes are hitting loyal AC flyers below the belt.
The changes are as follows:
Minimum Air Canada Flight RequirementThe Minimum Air Canada Flight Requirement needed to reach Altitude
status for 2016 is increasing. The Minimum Air Canada Flight
Requirement refers to the minimum number of Altitude Qualifying Miles
and Altitude Qualifying Segments that must be flown on flights operated
by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada rouge in order to
reach any Altitude status level.
As you can see you now need to fly at least half of your qualifying flights on actual Air Canada metal. Not a huge deal for the Altitude flyers who fly mostly within Canada or are already flying lots on Air Canada but definitely a huge issue if you fly lots on United, Lufthansa or other Star Alliance airlines. This is moving against the grain in the whole alliance attitude we have seen develop over the past 2+ decades. Airlines typically garner more revenue with people flying on their own metal is one factor for this change as well as trying to weed out those who don’t even fly Air Canada but credit flights to Aeroplan to earn status sooner than other programs.
500 Mile Minimum
The 500 Mile Minimum privilege will no longer be in effect. For travel from March 1, 2015 onwards, miles earned will be based on the distance flown and the fare option purchased for flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Air Canada rouge and Star Alliance™ member airlines.
Not a game changer but still for someone who flies a lot of short haul routes you may stand to lose out on miles.
eUpgrades to Business Class
For eUpgrade requests made on or after March 1,
2015, the number of eUpgrade Credits required to upgrade will be
increasing. Furthermore, the number of eUpgrade Credits Altitude
members can earn through Threshold eUpgrades is changing.
 |
| North America |
 |
| Sun Destinations |
 |
| Europe, Middle East, South America |
 |
| Asia & Australia |
This is a game changer. And it isn’t good. With some increases over 50%
on International flights, those of you Altitude members looking to
upgrade on long haul flights are going to be fuming! This is the biggest
devaluation of the program
Introducing eUpgrades to Premium Economy
In early 2015, Altitude members will be able
to access the comfort of Premium Economy using eUpgrade Credits when
travelling on an eligible fare. eUpgrade Add-ons will not apply for
these upgrades. Stay tuned for more information regarding eUpgrades to
Premium Economy later this year.
This is a welcome benefit
eUpgrade Nominees
Effective March 1, 2015, Altitude Super Elite™ 100K members will be entitled to share their eUpgrade privilege with one eUpgrade Nominee, while maintaining their ability to share their privileges with Travel Companions.
Not a welcome change to this benefit as it has gone from 4 to 2 to 1 now.
Priority Boarding
In early 2015, a new streamlined boarding
process will be introduced to ensure that Altitude members get even
more out of their Priority Boarding privilege.
A good change? Hopefully! Not sure how this will be implemented but I’m guessing Elite members have complained as Priority Boarding is not very priority when you have TD credit card holders and others getting access to Priority Boarding. Will the process be Altitude members followed by Star Alliance Gold, Business Class ticket holders and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege cardholders?
Complimentary access to International Maple Leaf Lounges and Star Alliance Business Lounges
Altitude Elite™ 35K members will no longer have the option to choose complimentary access to International Maple Leaf™
Lounges and Star Alliance Business Lounges as part of their Select
Privileges. Instead, members will be able to select a 50% discount on
any Maple Leaf Club membership. As part of their Core Privileges, they
will continue to enjoy the comfort and amenities of select Air Canada
Maple Leaf Lounges located in the domestic and trans-border departures zones of Canadian airports, along with those in Los Angeles and New York
Good and bad news. Bad news for the 35K members to lose out on access to International lounges. Good news for all other members as this may curb some of the crowding found in some lounges.
Preferred Seats
Altitude Elite 50K members will not only enjoy
complimentary access to more Preferred Seats with the purchase of a
Flex fare for travel within North America, but will also receive a 50%
discount on the Preferred Seat fee with the purchase of a Flex fare
booked for travel from Canada to an international destination. The
expanded access to Preferred Seats is currently available. More details.Altitude Elite 35K and Altitude Prestige™
25K members will enjoy access to more Preferred Seats at a 50%
discount on the Preferred Seat fee with the purchase of a Flex fare for
travel originating in Canada. The expanded access to Preferred Seats is
currently available. More details.
Some savings to be had here. This is one good benefit for being loyal.
Introducing Flight Rewards for Premium Economy
In early 2015, Aeroplan® and
Altitude members will be able to redeem their Aeroplan Miles for seats
in the Premium Economy cabin on Air Canada. Details will be coming soon.
Air Canada only recently started adding Premium Economy seats to select aircraft so it makes sense to offer redemptions for them.
Fuel Surcharge on Flight Rewards
For ClassicFlight Rewards made as of March 1,
2015, the flight reward fuel surcharges for travel within Canada and
between Canada and the U.S. will be waived for Altitude members. This
is applicable on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and
Air Canada rouge.
Furthermore, at the same time, the ClassicFlight
Rewards fuel surcharges for travel between Canada and other
international destinations will be waived for Super Elite 100K members
on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada
rouge.
Great news for Altitude members. Super Elite 100Ks will see lots of savings on Aeroplan award tickets while all Altitude members will save around $30 on Canadian and U.S. redemptions.
Flight Reward change fee waivers
Aeroplan® Flight Reward change fee waivers for Super Elite 100K members will be no longer be available for changes made on or after March 1, 2015.
This may seem minor but really, charging change fees to your top customers? But then again Super Elites could be the biggest ‘abusers’ of booking, changing, cancelling, booking again etc. It is just like the new fees for baggage within Canada. Air Canada could have chose to not charge the fee like WestJet but they would be foregoing tons of revenue. Same with these change fees, they are foregoing a good chunk of revenue.
Priority Rewards
Priority Rewards will be limited to ten (10)
reservations per eligible Altitude member, per benefit period beginning
March 1, 2015. Super Elite 100K members are able to book a combined
total of ten reservations in both Economy and Business Class. In the
event that Aeroplan ClassicFlight® Reward seats are
completely booked, Priority Rewards offer access to additional seats on
flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada
rouge.
Another limitation but not a huge deciding factor in limiting the 2x miles Priority Rewards.
That’s it. That’s all she wrote. What do you think of the changes for the 2015 Air Canada Altitude program. Are they going to change your travel habits? Your loyalty? Are you going to switch programs? Let us know! To see what some major AC flyers think of the changes read this FlyerTalk thread.