Travel

Air Miles flight availability decreasing?

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  • Mar 1st, 2015 11:24 am
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Member
Dec 23, 2009
402 posts
46 upvotes

Air Miles flight availability decreasing?

Is it just me or has the availability for Air Miles flights been slashed on certain routes. I used to be able to book a flight a couple of weeks in advance on any East Coast route with little trouble, now I can't even book 5-6 weeks in advance with anything, and I noticed they upped the reward mile requirement and seemingly upped the taxes/fees as well? If availability is decreased I have a feeling it's because of the Tango Plus ticket class that AC introduced. Anyone else noticing this? Thoughts?
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Aug 13, 2009
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East Coast!
I noticed this also when trying to redeem airmiles for a westjet flight.
From what I heard, it's because they moved alot of the flights to onyx members.. i'm currently gold.
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Jul 20, 2002
1608 posts
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Air Miles has been declining for years, that's why they are dying.
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Aug 19, 2010
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delavoie wrote: I noticed this also when trying to redeem airmiles for a westjet flight.
From what I heard, it's because they moved alot of the flights to onyx members.. i'm currently gold.
What is onyx?
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Aug 13, 2009
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sandy_beach wrote: What is onyx?
it's a new level, before the top level was Gold (1000points/year), now they also have Onyx (6000points/year)
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Dec 23, 2009
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delavoie wrote: it's a new level, before the top level was Gold (1000points/year), now they also have Onyx (6000points/year)
News to me. It's already been a frustrating process trying to redeem my miles for the past year or more. I have 7000 right now and tried to book an east coast short haul route and there was nothing available until after easter weekend. And I only have gold status. What's the point in 7000 miles if you can't even use them?
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keano wrote: News to me. It's already been a frustrating process trying to redeem my miles for the past year or more. I have 7000 right now and tried to book an east coast short haul route and there was nothing available until after easter weekend. And I only have gold status. What's the point in 7000 miles if you can't even use them?
We have booked flights to Cancun yearly on airmiles for the last 3 years now.. some years i'll look for flights and it shows none available.
I just keep on checking weekly and seats on the flight I want, eventually show up. It's like they play games, add seats, remove them, add seats, remove them.
Deal Fanatic
Apr 24, 2006
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Toronto
10 years ago having Gold status on Airmiles meant you got all the perks, now it's pretty well meaningless and Onyx is royalty.

That being said, I've also noticed changes in the flights.
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May 28, 2012
12484 posts
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Saskatoon
They've been doing this for years...unless you pick slow season, going to Timbuktu, then don't expect any available seats...at least not at the lower fare bucket, there seems to always be availability if you are willing to pay with extra miles. I only collect them when shopping at Safeway and through my MC...switched to the Avion card a while back.
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Feb 19, 2010
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cwb27 wrote: 10 years ago having Gold status on Airmiles meant you got all the perks, now it's pretty well meaningless and Onyx is royalty.

That being said, I've also noticed changes in the flights.
The advent of Onyx for AirMiles isn't all it's cracked up to be by any stretch and I certainly wouldn't go so far as to peg it as "royalty". Flight availability isn't guaranteed with Onyx either and I, too, have noticed diminishing returns. Not too different than Aeroplan as far as devaluation of the program.
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Oct 13, 2003
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I have Onyx and even with that there aren't that many options.
Sr. Member
Feb 5, 2009
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Devaluation in June made everything more expensive. Most likely they reduced availability for base level and give you more options at the higher more expensive tier.

I've stopped collecting air miles because of this.
Member
Dec 23, 2009
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blai4754 wrote:
I've stopped collecting air miles because of this.
What are you collecting now if you don't mind me asking? I'm strongly considering switching cards.
Sr. Member
Feb 5, 2009
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keano wrote: What are you collecting now if you don't mind me asking? I'm strongly considering switching cards.
Nothing. I use my travel rewards cards. Collecting air miles often make you spend more, buying things you don't usually buy to get bonus miles. That was the case shopping at Safeway. My groceries bill has dropped by 50% shopping at the nearest grocery store.
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Feb 10, 2007
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Calgary, AB
I have noticed more availability, even to book four flights with onyx access.
Jr. Member
Apr 22, 2012
155 posts
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Quebec
I've noticed more flights available, but often only with the higher number of points required (Onyx)
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Jan 29, 2009
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I've found it you change your preferred flight time (morning, afternoon, evening) the flight options will change and often don't even reflect the preferred time you wanted. I wanted to book an early morning flight to chicago and they only way I could get it to pop up is if I selected evening as my preferred time. So odd.

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