Aeroplan to Reduce Minimum Miles on Short Flights

After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter @twinship.

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Beginning on August 1, members of the Aeroplan program will earn fewer miles for short-haul flights on Air Canada and other Star Alliance carriers.

The change affects the minimum mile rule. Currently, members earn a minimum of 500 miles, even for shorter flights. Post-change, the minimum will be just 250 miles. So a 100-mile flight will earn the new minimum, 250 miles, while a 300-mile flight will earn the actual number of flown miles, rather than the current minimum of 500 miles.

The new policy will not apply to the following:

Air Canada Super Elite, Elite and Prestige members
Aeroplan members flying Rapidair between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montreal or Ottawa, or between Toronto City Airport and Montreal

Like many such modest loyalty program devaluations, this change isn’t serious enough to be a difference-maker. If Aeroplan works for you today, it will probably still meet your needs on and after August 1.

But it’s a reminder that the rules of the game—and the value of your frequent flyer miles—can (and will) change at any time, likely for the worse, at the whim of the program operator.

Death by a thousand cuts is still death.

Reader Reality Check

Will this change impede your mileage earning? If so, is it enough to affect your participation in Aeroplan?

This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.

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