Air Canada New Loyalty program launch postponed until Q4 2020

New program launch Award chart Points value New partners

Conclusion Air Canada Press Release

This morning, following the announcement of the first-quarter results, during earnings call, Air Canada indicated that:

the launch of its new loyalty program will take place later this year
this program will be essential to revive the company after COVID-19

Here’s more information Air Canada shared to us:

New program launch

The program was originally scheduled to launch in the third quarter. This launch is postponed to the 4th quarter.

However, by the end of the summer, new details on the program will be announced.

Award chart

As previously shared,this program will have a dynamic redemption structure. However, there will also be a published chart for Partner flights.

In addition, Air Canada reiterates its intention to bring back the ability for multiple stopovers(a faculty removed in September 2019, when it migrates to the new Amadeus booking management program).

The dynamic pricing structure has almost become the norm in airline loyalty programs, particularly in North America.

Let’s hope that the published chart for Partner and Star Alliance flights remains advantageous, as it is today. Like for booking business class or first class flights.

Points value

Aeroplan Miles will be honoured in the new program at a 1:1 ratio.

Don’t forget: you can get an Altitude Status from home right now until May 31.

Aeroplan Miles will be honoured at 1:1. The problem is to know what will be the value of a mile in the new program. We’ll know more when the redemption chart will be published!

New partners

Air Canada is working to have additional partners in the program.

We hope that a large grocery store, pharmacy or gas station chain will join the program.

These are opportunities to earn miles every day, which we no longer have on Aeroplan’s side.

air canada – classe affaires – yul – gru-69

Conclusion

In practical terms, little new information has leaked about the program since our discussion with Mark Nasr, the head of the new program at the launch of the Air Canada A220.

Given the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic in the airline industry, it was clear that the launch of Air Canada’s new loyalty program could not be done on time.

So it’s now acted. This news gives you some time to take advantage of the current program, which allows you to book flights up to 355 days in advance! For example, at least from August 2020, you can book flights until mid-summer 2021!

Enough to schedule your next vacation in advance and enjoy the many Aeroplan miles that you surely currently have in your account!

Air Canada Press Release

Here is the press release sent to us by Air Canada:

With the ever-changing developments with COVID-19, we have had to determine its impact on our timelines. With our original timelines, we would have had to be in market very soon and Aeroplan and its partners didn’t think this was the appropriate time to launch the program given the circumstances.

We are on plan to deliver the program but we’ve decided to move out the date to launch in Q4 but will share details of the new program well in advance of the launch.

We are very confident in the program and as Mark has mentioned previously:

We’ll have a dynamic redemption structure but also a published chart for partner flights;
We’ll bring back the ability for multiple stop overs;
We will continue to work with our FI partners (TD, CIBC and AMEX);
All existing miles will be honored 1:1 in the new program;
We’ll have additional partners in the program.

So you can be confident we’re launching an amazing program with incredible value.