Using Aeroplan miles to book a flight. Nothing available??

[dazz]

Every time I try to pick a location, it says that air canada doesn't fly there. WTF!! Then it says Star Alliance fly there and asks me to start a new search. I start a new search and I get the same damn thing. Am I missing something?
Also, Can I book flights offf Air Canada or Star Alliance websites directly? I just hate that system. It's taking forever to check for flights...just so I can get disappointed.

[Tifosi]

Just a thought, but have you tried calling them?

[Pete_Coach]

The Aeroplan booking site sucks. They want you to call so they can charge you money. When you call, all these options open up, surprisingly?

[tweetie]

The Aeroplan booking site sucks. They want you to call so they can charge you money. When you call, all these options open up, surprisingly?

Agreed - I find that the site is a PITA. If you want to book an open jaw, in theory the website should allow it but it doesn't, so you get stuck calling and they can charge you the service centre fee. Ditto with flights that aren't directly an AC flight - ie) I was tryng to book an Osaka flight but since AC does not actually fly there, but Star Alliance does, the website said that nothing was available even though there was.

[HighFlyer]

The AP site is only useful if you want to get from YYZ to YVR with 6 stopovers/change of planes :cheesygri .

[dazz]

I called them to see if there's a flight to India. The guy said AC doesn't fly there and told me that I should use the website to see if there are ANY flights available.
Then I went on aircanada.com just to make sure they don't fly to India. Behold...I see AC flights to there available for any day. WTF. Are they trying to scam us?

[Pete_Coach]

I called them to see if there's a flight to India. The guy said AC doesn't fly there and told me that I should use the website to see if there are ANY flights available.
Then I went on aircanada.com just to make sure they don't fly to India. Behold...I see AC flights to there available for any day. WTF. Are they trying to scam us?

Sounds ike a personal problem to me. If you have this info, get back on the phone with them. What can RFD do for you? Nothing.

[nalababe]

Air Canada and the Star Alliance are not the same thing. Air Canada is a member, but the redemption rules are different. So, yes, you can book Air Canada via the website, but for Star Alliance, you have to call in....

As an example of a major difference: Toronto to Australia First Class/Business Class. With Air Canada, our son, who was 6 months at the time and sitting on our lap, was 10% of points. But since we had to book with United via LAX, for our son to sit on our lab was 10% of full fare Money or about 2000+ tax. So we ended up going coach.

As for availability of flights, there are only so many reward seats...then you have to pay more points for the classic seats. Normally, I find that Business Class is often available and as such have flown to New York or Montreal to use up points.

Just call them, they are very helpful.

[nalababe]

The AP site is only useful if you want to get from YYZ to YVR with 6 stopovers/change of planes :cheesygri .

I call BS. I have never had this problem. I have used points for Montreal, New York, Bahamas, Heathrow, Geneva....and through SA, Sydney.

I just pulled up YYZ to YVR for next Friday and had a whole page of non stop return flights available to me....

[valuep]

I called them to see if there's a flight to India. The guy said AC doesn't fly there and told me that I should use the website to see if there are ANY flights available.
Then I went on aircanada.com just to make sure they don't fly to India. Behold...I see AC flights to there available for any day. WTF. Are they trying to scam us?

Air Canada stopped flying to India sometime back. However they have a codeshare arrangement with Jet Airways which flys from Toronto-Delhi. Jet Airways is a an excellent airline although their air fare tends to be on the higher side.

[redbridge]

yup,
Air Canada stopped flying INdia as of May 1, 2007

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/182469

Jetairways starts flying from Toronto to INdia on Aug 23, 2007

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/204218

Air Canada joined Jet Aiways (non star-alliance) via codeshare agreement on Feb, 2008

http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1602287154&view=13213-0&Start=0

Air Canada still flies INdia via staralliance airlines Lufthansa and Swiss

[yaldaren]

I call BS. I have never had this problem. I have used points for Montreal, New York, Bahamas, Heathrow, Geneva....and through SA, Sydney.

I just pulled up YYZ to YVR for next Friday and had a whole page of non stop return flights available to me....

Did you miss the :cheesygri or did you just get up on the wrong side of the bed?