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Usually no, but you are talking about $120 x 2% = $2.40 so it isn't going to be a big difference either way.Originally Posted by actng
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Feb 6th, 2012 09:27 AM #3241Deal Guru
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yea that is why i'm plotting it all out on a spreadsheet to see what works for me. i find i don't agree with most of the analysis on this site and the Aeroplan bashing, but as JWL mentioned, it's not a factual right/wrong thing, it's a personal habit/preference thing.
for me, none of the drawbacks of aerogold affect me to the same degree. the trips I take are all overseas where the cost of the ticket is at least 3x what you were saying it costs for you to goto the US or your daughter to fly home. plus i don't plan on taking the two cheapest aircanada tickets (tango or tango plus)... I will probably take M class for upgrades.
having said all that, there is an element of racking up points for the sake of racking up points because I would never redeem the points for tickets because that reward ticket won't get me any points for status for next year. so i find myself paying AC to give me status for next year for the potential to upgrade to business class. so all in all, i end up paying $1800 for business class on a 15hr flight that would otherwise cost $5000.
the points that i accrue then would be used for family to fly. which in some ways doesn't benefit me at all personally, so that is where the breakdown is... whether i care to send my parents on a "free" trip or whether i want to be selfish and save money for myself.
if selfish, the aspire card works better, since i still earn aeroplan status miles on reward flights from CO.
btw, when traveling out of canada, avoiding AC metal only makes sense if you are able to get there on a direct flight. the minute you have to transit, the $500 surcharge is worth paying for. i used to save ~$500 flying United to Asia via Chicago. I end up losing 10 hours in transit and additional flight time each way. that's pretty much half a day gone... two meals and an afternoon activity I could have otherwise spent with family/friends. not to mention additional variable for delays and lost baggage. well worth the $500 imo.Last edited by actng; Feb 6th, 2012 at 09:30 AM.
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Feb 6th, 2012 10:04 AM #3242Deal Fanatic
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Feb 6th, 2012 10:12 AM #3243Deal Fanatic
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You also mentioned this preference. The CapOne card will allow you to redeem your rewards more often by splitting the charge or splitting tickets. Originally Posted by actng
At this point it seems like you understand the math and just have to weigh the other factors important to you._______________
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Feb 6th, 2012 10:23 AM #3244
actng - you are definately hitting the sweet spot for AP with the oversees and M class. Do you also do a lot of business flying during the year so you get status and significant non credit card points?
I hardly fly for business anymore - been there done that, 7 weeks of travel per year down to 1 trip per year!, so my main source is credit card points, which lets me look at other cards more closely.
For economy, I don't agree with the non-AC metal unless it is a direct flight. AC metal or not, AP usually has a transfer or two routing for economy, so going AC does not usually give me a better route. I am flying with my spouse, so we are looking at $800+ saving with non-AC metal. For that $$ I can do a transfer if it works. From what I have checked into, in my cheapo economy world flying AC doesn't get usually get you a better route.
I haven't done it, but Montreal is close to me, so that is a feasible drive if there is a good routing. 2.5 hours extra to save $850 works for me. Reply With Quote
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Feb 6th, 2012 12:32 PM #3245I find that for me personally, Aeroplan is great if: Originally Posted by actng
1. I redeem for overseas flights (i.e. no shorthaul, no North American even)
2. I redeem for business class tickets (value of econ vs biz ticket is about 1:4, whereas the redemption level is about 1:2)
3. I plan well in advance (8+ months out, since reward seats are very limited for folks with no status like me) AND
4. I check seatguru to ensure I get a pod seat that fully reclines and not just a wider/roomier regular seat that doesn't recline all the way (route and schedule-specific)
So for me, it's do-able but it's quite a bit of work to book vacation (since it's not always possible/realistic to book time off so far in advance: plans/people change
). That was the main reason I am moving away from Aeroplan (just spending now, not earning) and towards a travel credit card so I have more flexibility. Plus now I can redeem against hotel + rental car too (with AP you can do it too but horrible redemption rates).
As for the topic of avoid AC metal I agree with ACTNG... depends on your destination and route/transfers you may not save money. Star Alliance reward flights out of YVR to Asia is mostly AC/codeshared with AC (to avoid AC you are most likely flying to SFO first then to Asia on United which adds to your total travel time, potential for delayed/lost luggage for monetary savings) And if you're heading the other way to Europe it's kind of same story: fly AC and you connect through Toronto/Montreal and if you want non-AC you connect through ORD and most likely fly Lufthansa. One plus for flying AC especially on your way home is that once you're back in Canada you have more flight choices to another Canadian city so if your original flight out of Europe was delayed you might be able to catch a later flight home from Toronto/Montreal.
LOL such a long rambling post I guess I'm just bored at work on a Monday morning
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Feb 6th, 2012 03:04 PM #3246
Cancelled the Aspire card today. I haven`t able to redeem travels at 2% without efforts. I prefer the MBNA Travel Rewards at straight 2% cashback. The SPG Amex is still my prefer card which gives me 3-4% return.
The only advantage of this Aspire card over other Travel cards is its travel insurance, but redemption sucks in my perspective. Reply With Quote
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Feb 6th, 2012 03:23 PM #3247Hi @artificialard – It’s Andrew from Capital One. Thanks for sharing this feedback. It sounds like there was a misunderstanding on our part. I'll be sure to share your feedback with our team so they can learn from your experience. Originally Posted by artificialard
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Feb 6th, 2012 03:25 PM #3248Care to elaborate? Originally Posted by cko64
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Feb 9th, 2012 12:30 PM #3249
Got my card a few days ago, and my PIN yesterday. WOW at reading that PIN.. impossible.. never seen something like that before. Guy on the phone basically told me what 2 of the 4 digits were cause I couldn't read em.
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Feb 9th, 2012 06:38 PM #3250You did peel the plastic tab off first before attempting to read the numbers, right? Originally Posted by twoplustwo
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Feb 9th, 2012 07:10 PM #3251Yes smarta$$ Originally Posted by Sauerkraut
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Feb 9th, 2012 07:25 PM #3252Member
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+1. I destroyed the first one they sent me, couldn't tell at all what it was, had to have them send me another which worked better. Originally Posted by twoplustwo
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Feb 10th, 2012 03:25 PM #3253Hi @twoplustwo - It's Andrew from Capital One. Sorry about the legibility of the pin. I'm glad to hear everything was sorted out. Originally Posted by twoplustwo
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Feb 11th, 2012 01:58 AM #3254
Hey all I am back.
Sorry for the hiatus for the last 3 months.
No I still haven't received my card and my $1500 overpayment
Is Laurel still around? Reply With Quote
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Feb 11th, 2012 12:56 PM #3255
How difficult is it go get approval for this card, as a student? Now that the MBNA World MC SC is dead, Ill need a replacement.
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