If any of you have ever tried to redeem AirMiles points for travel you will be able to relate to this story.
Recently, I called to book flights for two from Vancouver to Edmonton on AirMiles. The flight was on a Saturday returning on a Sunday.
AirMiles quoted me 1900 points plus $270 taxes. I thought the taxes were high, so I asked what the actual flights cost and was told, $690 for the two of us, of which $270 was taxes which AirMiles doesn't cover, and $420 which was the 1900 points. ( a dollar is worth 4.5 points)
This didn't sit well so I checked on the WestJet website only to find that the same flights cost $490.00 for the two of us with $180 of that being taxes. BIG DIFFERENCE. This is a sale price, the regular price would be what AirMiles quoted.
So the point is, AirMiles will not give you the same deal that the airline offers AND AirMiles won't pay the taxes.
Contrast this with the flight we both took recently to Phoenix on America West which we booked through my TD Visa Travel card. Having checked first for flights and deals on America West, I contacted TD Visa Travel and received the same flights WITH the sale price INCLUDING all taxes.
AirMiles are a ripoff on the price. Not only that, but they only fly to certain cities at inconvenient times and have only a couple of seats available on any flight...so the odds of getting what you want, to where you want, when you want, at a good price is pretty much impossible.
A Comparison |
| AirMiles |
TD Visa Travel |
AirMiles will NOT let you take advantage of any special deals offered by the airlines
AirMiles will NOT pay the taxes with points
AirMiles does NOT use any airline
AirMiles does NOT fly to all cities
AirMiles does NOT fly at convenient times
AirMiles requires a Saturday night stay
AirMiles will NOT refund or change flights
AirMiles points are worth 22 cents each
A irMiles is an American company |
TD Visa WILL let you take advantage of any special deals offered by the airlines
TD Visa WILL pay the taxes with points
TD Visa WILL let you use any airline
TD Visa WILL fly to all cities
TD Visa WILL fly anytime
TD Visa doesn't require a Sat. night stay
TD Visa WILL change flights for a fee
TD Visa points are worth $1.50 each
TD Visa is a Canadian company |
The Bottom Line: Using AirMiles for travel is a waste of time and money. Use your points to redeem for goods...although one wonders how much they inflate the price on the goods.
IF you have the same problem with this as I do, feel free to email: Straight Forward and we'll add your comments on this page.
Feel free to write, email or phone Airmiles as well.
www.airmiles.ca
Just my opinion,
Courtney Smith
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So, in light of the useless AirMiles Travel Rewards, my partner suggested I use my points to buy consumer items, and what better than her Christmas gift.
Well thank you AirMiles for saving me the trouble of having to wrap it because it DIDN'T get delivered in time for Christmas!
Despite their purchase receipt saying it would be sent out by UPS within 2 to 4 weeks or sooner. Just to be on the safe side I phoned AirMiles a week ago to find out when it went out and what the UPS waybill number was. And surprise, surprise, they won't give you the waybill number.
So I asked if it was being shipped from the U.S. and the operator said no, it was shipped from within Canada. WTF. How long does it take to process and order and ship it across Canada? 4 weeks? I don't think so.
But hey, I'm not surprised. AirMiles gives the least amount of any loyalty program to maximize profits for themselves and their American masters.
NOTE: The item I purchased is available from the manufacturer for $189.95 so at 1600 AirMiles points, each point is worth 12 cents!
I really get a kick out the fact that the parent company of AirMiles is LoyaltyOne Inc. of Dallas, Texas. They have a shitload of overpaid executives who grind away making AirMiles the biggest, most successful and least useful loyalty program around
News Flash
Have you noticed how Capital One and American Express have hopped on the travel bonus loyalty card business?
Heavy advertising going down and it's all modeled on the TD VISA
format of "any airline," "any deal," "anytime."
So you KNOW that any day now AirMiles is going to have to suck it up and modify their program to be competitive. The people may be slow but they're not stupid.
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