Just open an account (it’s like Aeroplan, you’ll get a free card)
then you can search with their Search Engine. They won’t offer different or more flights (you get the same Star Alliance flight options) But their website is much easier to use and much faster than Aeroplan’s. And it won’t offer silly connections unless you click “Connecting Flights”.

One small catch, when you have 0 points in the ANA account you can’t search for Star Alliance flights directly (it will be greyed out). First search for an Air Nippon flight (i.e. NRT - BKK) then when you get the results, at the bottom of the screen there will be a “use Star Alliance Partners” and you can search all you want.

If you want to avoid this extra step, either fly 1 X with AC or StarAlliance and credit the points to ANA. Or do like I did, answer a simple survey and get 100 points.

Note: I’m not suggesting anyone switch to ANA from Aeroplan, I’m suggesting you use their website to do your searches, then use the Aeroplan website to book or call an Aeroplan agent.

What I love about Aeroplan is the fact that you can book up to 16 flights on 1 reward with 3 official stopovers (all the other stops have to be less than 24 hours). Business *WAS* slightly more than Economy and first *WAS* a bit more.

The problem now is 2 fold, Aeroplan has changed their rewards chart. For example, we like Canada - Asia 1 (Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Vietnam) First use to be 120K points per person and now it’s 175K.

Ok you’re still flying first and it’s only 50% more… well on top of that as of NOV 2011, Aeroplan now charges fuel Surcharges on Partner flights. That’s a HUGE problem.

Here’s an actual example:

We booked this before the points increase and before the Partner fuel surcharges:
Vancouver - Germany - Korea - Japan - Thailand - Vietnam - Thailand - Hong Kong - Germany - Vancouver

It cost us each 120K point for First (all the legs are First except Vietnam-Thailand) and about $220 in fees.

Now I was looking at making changes (Longer stopovers and possibly change cities) With the New Fuel Surcharge (on partner airlines) It will cost me $750 per person for the Surcharges + $90 Change Fee

So now I’m seriously considering moving over to British Airways.

Countless times, I have tried to book convenient flights only to give up in frustration and disbelief and end up buying the flight instead. They really have no appreciation for their client base and are the crappy behomoth that the better points programs refer to when they advertise more flights and flexibility.

I’m looking into ways to migrate my points away from Aeroplan. I pay for the privilege of using a Gold card to collect and yet am the lowest of the low when being considered for available flights. They suck.

I’ve gone to Australia and Peru on my BF’s points. This summer I flew my sister, her husband and two kids across the country so they could come visit me.

There are seats available but you do have to plan ahead. I booked in February for June travel.

If you can’t pay your credit card balance in full each month or can’t plan ahead then this might not be for you. It’s worked great for me and I look forward to my next trip.

Basically I collected for YEARS.. now have enough to fly my family to South America and back (3 of us) Executive Class..

Well I book the flights, but they only have Aeroplan Executive Class seats available on the way back.. fine so be it… BUT… they charge you the FULL EXECUTIVE RATE…. So I’m paying (in points) for a full executive trip, but only getting half.

The only advice from the CSR Drones: “Cancel and go econonmy”… buh by Aeroplan…

I am flying Montreal to Melbourne, Australia and their website was showing nothing available across many days I was checking. Tio # 1 - call on a weekend afternoon, early morning - 9:00AM+, or late late evening. When I spoke to them ( tip #2 - do the “voice print” thing - and just keep saying “book a flight” or some other gibberish. It will pass you through to an agent quicker ) the phone agent was easily able to find an itinerary. Could care less about the $30 “phone agent fee”. Ridiculous, but efficient. Flight was 75,000 miles. I upgraded part of the trip to Business class for a 100,000 mile cost, and got business class MTL - LA.

Here’s the biggest surprise. I called to see if I could modify the 15 hour to Melbourne and they found me an alternate route - ALL business class, and didn’t charge me any more miles?? Love it! Not sure how that could happen because if you search on business class flights, it should bost a half millions miles to go business class ( seriously ).

Another tip - although I paid a $90 “change itineray” fee, I came out even because I was NOT flying AC to LA, but rather United. You see, AC still charges a much fuel surcharge ( robbery ) that they simple pocket. United charges way less. I was refunded on the “service fees etc”. So the tip is to use other Star Alliance airlines and avoid AC routes.

Final tip - just keep calling them. You never know what will open up, and every agent is different. Some try harder than others, but most are very pleasant to talk to. Costs nothing to keep calling if you have the time.

Believe me, I was ready to tear up my card and go for ANY other one. Now I have a return flight to Australia in business class that cost me about a little over 2 years worth of credit card purchases, and lots of gas I buy only at Esso.!!

Good luck!