Air Miles Rewards

[Keebler Elf]

I've noticed I'm getting an increasing amount of Air Miles promotional offers, mostly tied to using a credit card for X amount of dollars in a given time period to receive Y amount of bonus Air Miles. They've always had this but it seems like I'm getting more than in the past. Which has me wondering if Air Miles is starting to struggle as a result of their botched plans to expire Air Miles.

I don't really care either way; I've moved my points cards to dividend cards and only occasionally earn Air Miles at Shell or certain supermarkets. Even when they canceled their plans, they still upped the reward costs so I never went back. I've pretty much given up on Air Miles and I'm starting to think a LOT of other people have too.

Has your Air Miles collecting changed over the past year as a result of their screw up?

 

[dirkd101]

I gave up on collecting Air Miles years ago, as the rewards just weren't there. They're just a means to collect consumer info on the shopping habits of people and how they can be led to buy things they don't need, just for the sake of a reward. It's the old carrot and the stick routine, but updated.

 

[jcpro]

I don't use it, either. Just regular Visa for everyday purchases- $1200 to $1500 cash back per year. Not much, but better than nothing.

 

[oldjones]

Air Miles = Green Stamps = Just another way of bribing customers to be 'loyal', but using their own money to do it. Instead of the merchant, lowering prices or improving product and services to bring you back, they pretend to reward you, with points, stamps, miles, or whatever.

But who pays for those rewards? The cost is built into every single price, so they go up long before you ever take off. And if the 'rewards' are attractive enough, service can even decline and customers will still be enticed to buy the same gasoline from the company offering dreams of attentive stewardesses and luxury travel.

That's if you can ever book a seat, and the airline doesn't drag you down the aisle by your ankles and chuck you overboard so they can get a new pilot to a planeful of people sweating on a runway somewhere.

 

[shakenbake]

Over the last four years, i have booked at least three trips with my air miles, and saved a bundle.

If you join more than one loyalty program, your efforts are diluted, as was the case with a friend of ours who, for one of the flights with air miles, spent about $400 more per ticket.

For me, air miles work. However, it depends on how many youearn and what you are looking for.

 

[explorerzip]

Over the last four years, i have booked at least three trips with my air miles, and saved a bundle.

If you join more than one loyalty program, your efforts are diluted, as was the case with a friend of ours who, for one of the flights with air miles, spent about $400 more per ticket.

For me, air miles work. However, it depends on how many youearn and what you are looking for.

You're lucky since you're a frequent collector and spender of Air Miles. A lot of people were saving for many years for that one special trip only to see their miles about to expire.

 

[shack]

Never joined air miles.
Never watched the Sopranos
Never joined Facebook
Never saw Rocky Horror Picture Show (even at the Roxy on a Friday night)
Never joined TERB

One of these statements is false.

 

[shakenbake]

You're lucky since you're a frequent collector and spender of Air Miles. A lot of people were saving for many years for that one special trip only to see their miles about to expire.

Airmiles don't expire. There was a push from airmiles to expire old points, but they decided against it due to a sever backlash from collectors.

 

[shakenbake]

I find it pretty disappointing how few air miles you get with purchases. Right now there's a promotion if you get the Airmiles Amex you get 500 bonus miles if you spend $500 in 3 months, and a possible 500 more bonus miles in 100 mile increments for making an online purchase of any amount at places like Amazon.ca Indigo.ca Staples.Ca and a few other places. I've been collecting for years and find it's almost useless, high season flights June 1-Sept 15 seem to be a minimum of 1300 miles to go anywhere regardless of distance.

I know Aeroplan is separating from Air Canada in January so I'm just rather disappointed in both of them and going to spend the points as soon as I can for travel.

It depends on the credit card you have.

 

[rgkv]

Air miles has paid all inclusive, Dominican Republic and Cuba, Air Miles has paid my flights to Costa Rica, Peru and Calgary two times, also my daughter once, I have a coffee maker and toaster from them, paid for my daughter and her friends weekend in Niagara Falls, I am going again in the next month or so to Calgary again and Air Miles is paying,,,,renting me a care too......

 

[Velvets]

Airmiles don't expire. There was a push from airmiles to expire old points, but they decided against it due to a sever backlash from collectors.

They did not "decide against it". Ontario introduced legislation making it illegal to expire loyalty rewards.

I took advantage of my be of their "special offers" and got a very nice Citizen watch for 800 points. A really great deal.

 

[Brotherman]

Air Miles Gold Collector here. Well worth it. Paid for my flights a few times however you need a credit card to get the benefits. Hope this helps.

 

[rgkv]

They did not "decide against it". Ontario introduced legislation making it illegal to expire loyalty rewards.

I took advantage of my be of their "special offers" and got a very nice Citizen watch for 800 points. A really great deal.

What deal... I never got that offer...

 

[rgkv]

Air Miles Gold Collector here. Well worth it. Paid for my flights a few times however you need a credit card to get the benefits. Hope this helps.

Yes.. this is the way to go,, Airmiles credit card, aim miles regular card,,, double dippin at air miles sponsors, play the game and pick up the bonus miles too

 

[Keebler Elf]

I used to be a Gold collector but have since dumped it. I'd rather have cash, at least it doesn't de-value the way Air Miles do whenever they feel like upping the cost to redeem them.