The situation unfolding in Venezuela fascinates me. There you have a state on the verge of failure with hyperinflation and a government suffering from a foreign currency crunch. The result: airlines are not getting paid for their service and...
Air Canada Suspends Service to the Failing State of Venezuela
Air Canada is halting its thrice-weekly service between Toronto and Caracas as hyperinflation and violence continue to engulf Venezuela. In a statement, Air Canada said– Due to ongoing civil unrest in Venezuela, Air Canada can no longer ensure the...
Reminder: New Aeroplan Award Chart Takes Effect on 01/01/14
Aeroplan is updating its award chart on January 01, 2014 and the changes are both good and bad. The Good: One-way awards at half the round-trip cost Right now Aeroplan charges 67% of the r/t price for a one-way...
Israeli President Flies Air Canada over El-Al
If you are flying with oxygen, you might want to stay away from El-Al, the national carrier of Israel. Israel’s national airline has apologized to President Shimon Peres after attempting to charge him nearly $5,000 to bring an oxygen...
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan on Air Canada, bmi, Lufthansa
I love adventures. From Iraq to Belarus, from Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus to the West Bank, from remote Bolivia to Iran, my sense of adventure has taken me to fascinating places around the world—and now I depart for a previously...
Phantom Lufthansa First Class Award Space on StarNet
I became excited today while working on a client award request when some first class availability popped up on Lufthansa–it has been very rare lately, especially more than a few days before travel. One client was using Air Canada...
Not a Glitch! Aeroplan Premium Cabin Awards on Sale
Last Friday I reported that Aeroplan, Air Canada’s mileage program, was pricing out business class awards at economy class prices and first class awards at business class prices. I speculated that some sort of IT glitch was behind the...
Discounted Aeroplan Premium Cabin Awards Available Now – Book Fast!
UPDATE: Aeroplan confirmed that this promotion is running for select destination for a short period of time. May end at anytime so book now! While I generally do not like to kick someone while they are down, in this...
The Long Way Back to Frankfurt (via YVR, HKG, IST)
After a refreshing week away from the office, I am on my way back to Frankfurt today. To spice things up a bit and to take advantage of a great deal Turkish Airlines ran earlier this year on their...
More Fuel Surcharges Coming to Aeroplan
Just days after tacking on fuel surcharges to Lufthansa flights, Aeroplan has decided to share the love: Fuel surcharges to flight rewards on the following Star Alliance airlines will be effective as of the dates noted below: November 30th,...
Aeroplan Adds Fuel Surcharges to Lufthansa Awards Without Notice
The hits keep on coming for Aeroplan members. First, a devaluation of the award chart in June. That was followed by a recent decision to discontinue booking the domestic legs of business class tickets in first class. Now, arguably...
Aeroplan Points Devalued: No More Domestic First on Business Class Awards
Effective 06 September, two-cabin flights coded as “first class [O]” require three-cabin first class redemption rates when using Air Canada Aeroplan miles. I discovered the new policy while attempting to book a relatively straightforward award trip for a client...
Air Canada to Launch Low-Cost Subsidiary
After the failures of Song and Ted just a few years after their inception, I did not expect another North American legacy carrier to gamble with a low-cost division. Yet Air Canada announced ambitious plans today for their own...
Up to 25% Off Air Canada Flights (originating from Canada)
Save an extra 25% off Air Canada Tango Plus fares (mid-range economy fares) for travel to Asia, the Caribbean, and Mexico from Canada. Book by tomorrow night (12/12) at aircanda.com using promo code FXMZXN71. Travel must be completed by June...
Why I Won’t Credit Any More Flights to British Midland
The news that Air Canada is restricting elite status to those who fly at least 10,000 miles on Air Canada metal got me thinking about my habit of crediting 38K miles each year to British Midland (bmi). Even before...
Air Canada’s Aeroplan Restricts Elite Qualification
As Nick blogged about earlier today, Air Canada and Aeroplan have modified their elite qualification requirements. Starting next year, travelers crediting to Aeroplan need to fly at least 10,000 miles or five segments on Air Canada metal in order...
Air Canada, WestJet to Levy Second Checked Bag Fee
Frankly, I was surprised to hear that Air Canada and WestJet held out so long. Fees have been such a cash cow for the airline industry the last few years that it comes as a shock, albeit a pleasant...
Benjamin Button Busted on an Air Canada Flight
For those who have not seen or read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I realize my title may be confusing. Button was a fictitious character who was born elderly and grew younger in appearance as...
Emirates Airlines Dispute Costs Canada a Seat on the UN Security Council?
Canadians are up in arms today that Portugal edged out Canada for a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council. Politics was no doubt at play, and it seems that a dispute between Canadian and UAE authorities over landing...
My Recent Experience Booking an Aeroplan Award
I assisted a client in procuring two award tickets from Sydney to New York earlier this week and thought I’d give you a run-down of how booking though Aeroplan (Air Canada’s frequent flyer program) compared to my numerous telephone...
