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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 give you any special deals offered by the airlines
|
AirMiles
will NOT pay the taxes with points
|
AirMiles
does NOT use any airline
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AirMiles
does NOT fly to all cities
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AirMiles
does NOT fly at convenient times
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AirMiles
requires a Saturday night stay
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AirMiles
will NOT refund or change flights
|
AirMiles
points are worth 22 cents each
|
AirMiles
contact email doesn't work
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AirMiles
is an American company
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TD
Visa WILL give you any special deals offered by the airlines
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TD
Visa WILL pay the taxes with points
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TD
Visa WILL use any airline
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TD
Visa WILL fly to all cities
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TD
Visa WILL fly anytime
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TD
Visa doesn't require a Sa.t night stay
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TD
Visa WILL change flights for a fee
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TD
Visa points are worth $1.50 each
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TD
Visa contact email does work
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TD
Visa is a Canadian company
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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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| If you
use Airmiles to book a flight, make sure you buy flight insurance.
If for ANY REASON the flight is cancelled, due to weather, or
the whims of the airline, Airmiles will NOT honor the flight
and give you a make good. Nice eh? |
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