> >Air Canada - Aeroplan Revises Top Tier Benefits, Maintains Lead as One of >the World's Best Value Loyalty Programs > > > > > > MONTREAL, Jan. 30 /CNW/ - Air Canada's frequent flyer program, Aeroplan, >today confirmed 2002 program benefits for its top-tier Super Elite, Elite and >Prestige members effective March 1, 2002. Aeroplan has listened closely to >comments made by members and has revised its planned changes in two areas that >are particularly valued by the airline's most frequent travellers: upgrade >policy and special access to additional Aeroplan reward seats. In addition, >mileage accumulation on discounted tickets has been revised for all members. > "Aeroplan is one of the best value airline loyalty programs in the world. >The program revisions are being undertaken for two reasons: to preserve access >to revenue seats for our best customers and to assist in returning Air Canada >to profitability. The revision of benefits awarded to Air Canada's most loyal >customers is not something we undertake lightly, but it is both necessary and >financially responsible," said Rupert Duchesne, President and CEO of Aeroplan. >"Due to the financial pressure facing Air Canada and the airline industry as a >whole, Aeroplan has had to fine tune a number of its top-tier benefits. We >have brought them more closely in line with the rest of the North American >industry, but we have at the same time been able to maintain our leadership >position as the most attractive program." > "I have received and personally responded to many of the e-mails and >faxes sent by our members questioning the reasons for modifying some top-tier >benefits. We have listened and that is why we have decided today to announce a >revised 2002 program for top-tier members reflecting some of this feedback. We >are constantly striving to make improvements that set us at the leading edge >of customer loyalty programs. We are committed to ensuring long term that >Aeroplan remains a world leader in its class," concluded Mr. Duchesne. > > HIGHLIGHTS OF CHANGES TO TOP-TIER BENEFITS EFFECTIVE WITH THE 2002 > PROGRAM: > > Upgrade Policy > -------------- > Effective February 1st for 2002 upgrade certificates, Super Elite members >will now be able to request upgrades to Executive and Executive First seven >days prior to travel. Elite and Prestige members may confirm upgrades at 72 >and 48 hours, respectively, rather than 48 and 24 hours as previously >reported. To ensure that top-tier members who book travel closer to departure >have access both to paid Executive Class and Executive First seats and >upgrades, we will no longer accept the discounted "V" class fares as upgrade- >eligible. These policies remain competitive with the North American industry. > > Special access to Aeroplan reward seats > --------------------------------------- > Effective March 1st, Super Elite and Elite members will continue to have >special access to Air Canada seats that would not otherwise be available for >Aeroplan rewards. However, due to the significant cost in providing this >benefit, Elite members and those flying with them will now be required, >following the practice of U.S. airlines, to pay double reward miles, subject >to availability of Hospitality Class seats. > > Maple Leaf Lounge access > ------------------------ > Eligible Aeroplan fliers will continue to have complimentary lounge >access, including drinks and snacks for the member, unlike U.S. airlines which >charge upwards of USD$300 for annual lounge access privileges and require >payment for drinks and snacks. However, in order to avoid overcrowding and >offer a quiet retreat for which the lounges are intended, lounge access for >members' guests will be provided on the following basis: Super Elite and Elite >members may invite their immediate family (spouse and children) whenever they >travel; in addition, Super Elites may invite one guest whenever they travel >and Elites may invite one guest whenever they travel on intercontinental >flights. All other guests will be required to pay CAD$20 each. Super Elites >will also receive two complimentary guest passes per year. > > Bonus Status Miles for first flights between January 1st and > ------------------------------------------------------------ > March 31st, 2002 > ---------------- > To kick-start the new year, Super Elite, Elite and Prestige members will >earn 1,000 Bonus Status Miles for each of their first flights of the year >within Canada, between Canada and the continental United States, and >internationally. Members can thus accumulate up to 3,000 Bonus Status Miles >towards their 2003 status. > > POSITIVE CHANGES AFFECTING ALL AEROPLAN MEMBERS FOR 2002: > > Reward mile accrual on discounted tickets > ----------------------------------------- > Effective January 1st, to better reward those members flying on some >discounted tickets, instead of all discounted ticket holders receiving 50% of >miles travelled, customers paying higher fares (M, B, T, H, V) will be >eligible for 75% of miles travelled. Also effective February 1, deeply- >discounted fares, including travel on Tango by Air Canada flights, will be >eligible for 50% of miles flown, rather than the 35% as previously indicated. > > Specially-lowered thresholds to achieve top-tier status for 2002 > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > In recognition of the impact that reduced overall travel after >September 11, 2001 would have on members' ability to achieve top-tier status, >Aeroplan has reduced the required status-mile qualification thresholds to >achieve top tier status for 2002 only as follows: Super Elite 88,000 (normally >100,000), Elite 33,000 (normally 35,000) and Prestige 17,000 (normally >18,000). > > New integrated Star Alliance Reward Chart > ----------------------------------------- > Since January 1st 2002, all Aeroplan members can take advantage of the >new integrated Star Alliance Reward Chart to travel to more than 800 airports >around the world. Members can now combine Air Canada and other Star Alliance >airlines on a single ticket often for a substantial saving in miles compared >to 2001. > > Simpler and faster reservations for reward travel with Star Alliance > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > The introduction of the Starnet booking system enables Aeroplan agents to >confirm bookings on most Star Alliance airlines as fast as those on Air >Canada. > > WHY IS AEROPLAN ONE OF THE BEST VALUE LOYALTY PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD: > > - Air Canada guarantees to make a minimum of 10% of the airline's seats > per month on each route available for reward travel. Air Canada redeems > a higher proportion of reward seats for its frequent flyer members than > most major North American airlines. > > - Aeroplan is the only frequent flyer program in North America to allow a > specially reduced redemption option of only 15,000 miles for short-haul > domestic reward travel, unlike domestic reward travel on U.S. carriers > that typically begins at 25,000 miles. > > - Members can achieve Elite and Prestige status in the program for 35,000 > and 18,000 miles, respectively, rather than the 50,000 and 25,000 miles > typical in U.S. airline programs. > > - Aeroplan has one of the most generous lounge accessibility policies > offering free access to fliers, unlike the standard fee-based system of > U.S. carriers. > > - Aeroplan has the most comprehensive financial card partnerships of any > loyalty program in Canada offering members the benefits of CIBC > Aerogold VISA, Canada's most popular gold card, and the Diner's Club > Aeroplan suite of cards for travel and entertainment expenses. > > Complete details of Aeroplan program member benefits for 2002 will be >mailed soon to members with their 2002 program package; however, full program >details are now available on the Air Canada website at ><http://www.aircanada.ca/aeroplan>www.aircanada.ca/aeroplan . > The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com ICQ: ICQ # 15836110 ICQ Pager: mailto:15836110@pager.icq.com escape email #!1 mailto:ejames@escape.ca yahoo email #2: mailto:triniroj@yahoo.com Yahoo Pager: triniroj Caribbean Brass & Soca Connection Group on Yahoo: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribsocabrass Caribbean Brass & Soca Connection Club Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeansocabrassconnection/ ******************************************************* Steel Expressions Orch http://www.escape.ca/~ejames/se/ email #1: mailto:steelexpressions@yahoo.com email #2: mailto:steelexpressions@home.com ******************************************************* The Trinbago Site of the Week: (Revellers Mas Band) http://www.revellers.com/ (Trini Revellers Mas Band) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://195.224.187.36/ *********************************************************