Airmiles Armchair Chatter

[tinkerone]

Wonder if the Redtag.ca use of AM's will work for last minute bookings as well. There some really good last minute stuff out there.

 

[juniorbugman]

I decorate my house (even though I have no kids ) I still love it. I had more kids than last year and had to resort to giving away some of the granola bars and pringles chips. I make up bags and this year I made up 55 and had about 60 plus kids so next year I will make up 75 bags. Only stuff I like goes into the bags. Here are my pumpkin friends and my inflatables.

 

[bababear_50]

Welllllll I am ANGRY!!!
They lied to me and I just got off the phone and told them that they can take back the travel certificates ($1000.00 worth) and give me back my airmiles.
After alot of blah blah blah they are going to get back to me.
I have been trying to get another 1,000.00 before next Spring.
What a mess.
Many people having been saving these darn certificates for once in a lifetime trips.
Not Happy Airmiles!!!
Why did they lie and say the were going to get a travel site up and running themselves and then go to Redtag.ca? Very misleading information!


Mel
no hugs today!

 

[Donald - my hero]

The Duck is so far behind she thinks she is in first place I just realized i haven't even looked at the flyers myself never mind updating the links in the first post

When i read the information about the travel vouchers I was in a bit of a sleep-deprived stupor and my heart sank since we're nowhere near ready to book a holiday even if December 2019 was open. We won't be sure how much money we have available to top up the AM vouchers until long after the end of the year. I'm REALLY happy i decided to just let the miles sit in the account and grow and feel terrible for those of you who have been cashing out gradually.

I thought i would look at the site for booking hubby's trip to Ottawa in January and i can't get the stupid site to show me flights from Pearson, only Billy Bishop which isn't convenient to get to from our house -- gotta add about an extra 90 minutes AT LEAST for the commute. I'm able to get the right airport if i go at it thru Redtag directly but that doesn't earn the miles. ALSO no indication of what class ticket I'm buying and he'll need at least a carry-on (not included in Porter's bare bones fare)

I did look at the last minute options on their site and happy to see they have the Sandals resorts but really, really, REALLY not happy about booking that level of trip thru a bare-bones service. I have no idea what I'm doing and was hoping I'd have a travel agent to fall back on if things go sideways.

***ETA I see your frustration Mel, you popped up in my mind IMMEDIATELY over this

 

[bababear_50]

The Duck is so far behind she thinks she is in first place I just realized i haven't even looked at the flyers myself never mind updating the links in the first post

When i read the information about the travel vouchers I was in a bit of a sleep-deprived stupor and my heart sank since we're nowhere near ready to book a holiday even if December 2019 was open. We won't be sure how much money we have available to top up the AM vouchers until long after the end of the year. I'm REALLY happy i decided to just let the miles sit in the account and grow and feel terrible for those of you who have been cashing out gradually.

I thought i would look at the site for booking hubby's trip to Ottawa in January and i can't get the stupid site to show me flights from Pearson, only Billy Bishop which isn't convenient to get to from our house -- gotta add about an extra 90 minutes AT LEAST for the commute. I'm able to get the right airport if i go at it thru Redtag directly but that doesn't earn the miles. ALSO no indication of what class ticket I'm buying and he'll need at least a carry-on (not included in Porter's bare bones fare)

I did look at the last minute options on their site and happy to see they have the Sandals resorts but really, really, REALLY not happy about booking that level of trip thru a bare-bones service. I have no idea what I'm doing and was hoping I'd have a travel agent to fall back on if things go sideways.

***ETA I see your frustration Mel, you popped up in my mind IMMEDIATELY over this

I told the Rep straight up....
I want someone who knows what they are talking about and exactly how I want things resolved. I feel duped into bad situation.
Definition of duped:
*deceive, trick, hoodwink, hoax, swindle, defraud, cheat, double-cross*
There is no way Ryan can go on a trip with just 1,000.00.
I was hoping to get him another 1,000.00 in certificates by next Spring.
I have only 5-6 thousand airmiles in my account right now (lots of Christmas redemptions) and no way to get to 10 thousand by the deadline.
The certificates are almost useless now.Goodbye 9090 airmiles...........................
Mel

 

[Pumpkin1172]

Welllllll I am ANGRY!!!

I'm REALLY happy i decided to just let the miles sit in the account and grow and feel terrible for those of you who have been cashing out gradually.

I'm glad the daughter's travel agent was upfront and told us to cash out if we wanted to take advantage of being able to use them towards our vacation. Our daughter specifically used marlin travel so that families could use their AM towards their packages. It just sucks we are not going to be able to put much more onto our package even though we have until March to make our final payment.

I don't know if AM was truthful to the travel agencies or if information wasn't passed down the lines. But shame on anyone who led people to believe that they would be able to use vouchers after the new year...knowing full well that they could not use them. It kind of a repeat of the " expiring " AM and people rushing out to cash in their AM instead of loosing them. My father inlaw had booked hotels that he never got to use. Shame on them for the miscommunication to their customers.

 

[kerreyn]

I told the Rep straight up....
I want someone who knows what they are talking about and exactly how I want things resolved. I feel duped into bad situation.
Definition of duped:
*deceive, trick, hoodwink, hoax, swindle, defraud, cheat, double-cross*
There is no way Ryan can go on a trip with just 1,000.00.
I was hoping to get him another 1,000.00 in certificates by next Spring.
I have only 5-6 thousand airmiles in my account right now (lots of Christmas redemptions) and no way to get to 10 thousand by the deadline.
The certificates are almost useless now.Goodbye 9090 airmiles...........................
Mel

Did the agent you spoke to say if we can use the travel certificates online on red tag.ca?

 

[youngdeb12]

I'm not super impressed with redtag so far. I thought maybe I would be pleasantly surprised with whatever they ended up rolling out, but so far I'm seriously reconsidering using AirMiles as our primary form of vacation rewards... Why did they have to change it? The previous system was way better. Call someone up, they find the package, book it and convert your miles to cash.

 

[bababear_50]

Did the agent you spoke to say if we can use the travel certificates online on red tag.ca?

She told me NO they can not be used at Redtag.ca. The travel certificates I have cannot be used in conjunction with the new Redtag.ca program.

sorry
Hugs Mel

 

[bababear_50]

I'm glad the daughter's travel agent was upfront and told us to cash out if we wanted to take advantage of being able to use them towards our vacation. Our daughter specifically used marlin travel so that families could use their AM towards their packages. It just sucks we are not going to be able to put much more onto our package even though we have until March to make our final payment.

I don't know if AM was truthful to the travel agencies or if information wasn't passed down the lines. But shame on anyone who led people to believe that they would be able to use vouchers after the new year...knowing full well that they could not use them. It kind of a repeat of the " expiring " AM and people rushing out to cash in their AM instead of loosing them. My father inlaw had booked hotels that he never got to use. Shame on them for the miscommunication to their customers.

Hi Hon
You can use them but you can not collect anymore so if you were redeeming points and collecting these voucher for a big trip you are stuck with what you have accumulated up to Dec 31st. After this date you can no longer collect them and they can not be combined with the Redtag.ca program.
Hugs Mel

 

[Pumpkin1172]

Hi Hon
You can use them but you can not collect anymore so if you were redeeming points and collecting these voucher for a big trip you are stuck with what you have accumulated up to Dec 31st. After this date you can no longer collect them and they can not be combined with the Redtag.ca program.
Hugs Mel

I cashed in all the miles we had in September when we got a call from the travel agent so that we could put them towards our package we had purchased. I had enough miles to save 1600.00 I have enough for another 400.00. Now the hubby and I will have to decide if we want to cash those in and what ever I can collect between now and mid December and cash those in...or just save towards something to use off redtag. We wouldn't be doing a package from there anyways, as we have the westjet mc as well. And want to be able to take advantage of the companion flights they offer with the card.

I'm truly sorry that they were NOT honest with you about how you would be able to use them in the future. You and probably many other people who use these reward programs to the best of their abilities to make their travel a little easier on their bank accounts with our low dollar and high priced flights, have been again " tricked" much like when Am were going to expire and they wanted people to use their points instead of sitting on them and saving for big ticket items like trips. This will NOT go down well and AM will take another hit in the news again from upset customers. Honestly...I would be taking to FB and Twitter to post how they have mislead you into using your miles to something that you can't use and had specifically asked if you would be able to use them they way you were.

 

[ottawamom]

I can’t recall , was it 7 offers get 2000 airmiles last year as well ? I think it was but I don’t keep track.

It was 7 to get 2000AM last year

 

[Aladora]

Oh my gosh that is low. I thought our courtyard was low but a neighbour said she counts every year and it was higher than last. Last time I talked with her last night it was around 60 kids.

What were your non-food treats?

I had:
mini play doh
glow sticks
bubble stuff
mini yoyos
Hallowe'en themed mardi gras necklaces
Plastic spider rings

I have a teal/blue plastic pumpkin that I keep all the non-food items in and I print out a new Teal Pumpkin Project sign each year.

 

[CanadianKrista]

Did I read there was a coupon book you needed or something for STB last year? Of so, where do you get it?

 

[Donald - my hero]

Well ... this whole stupid travel voucher poop-storm (wonder if that phrase will make it thru the language filter or not!) has left me with a very sour taste in my mouth for AM once again! I consider this group very savvy when it comes to the ins & outs and we are usually on top of things, but this? It came right out of left field and knocked some of us on our butts. They still have this wording on their website and it's a straight up LIE now!!!

• In 2018, together with Transat Distribution Canada, we will be introducing a new PVC website, enabling you to use your Miles immediately for PVC bookings online, 24/7 with participating partners.

I don't trust Redtag for a big-ticket vacation, but maybe I'm just too old? On their website they say the following BUT what happens if you run into trouble DURING your vacation?????

• Our agents are always just a phone call away and will be anxious to answer any questions or concerns you may have, before or after your vacation.

Massive sigh, question for all of you, do you want me to get ready to maintain a thread dedicated to Shopping the Block when the time comes? I enjoy the interaction and figure that i might as well put all the information i keep for myself out for others to use as well. I think it helps to keep things in one place when we start to hunt.

 

[Disney Addicted]

Rumour alert: Someone is posting on RFD that Shop the Block will be Nov 15 - Dec 27. Top award (because lets face it that's what we'll all go for) 7 coupons get 2000AM. I can't remember what all the others levels will get. They mention in their post that this is preliminary and may change before the promotion starts.

I can’t recall , was it 7 offers get 2000 airmiles last year as well ? I think it was but I don’t keep track.

It was 7 to get 2000AM last year

Did I read there was a coupon book you needed or something for STB last year? Of so, where do you get it?

Last year it was use 7 coupons get 2,000 air miles. Also 5 coupons and 3 coupons but I forget what those amounts were for. I always go for the highest.

The coupon booklets can be picked up at the participating stores. I got mine from Foodland last year. Some places offer the booklets a couple of days before hand. Some don't.

 

[ottawamom]

With all the Red Tag talk. Are we still going to be able to book a flight with Airmiles after December 31 and use our airmiles to pay for it? Is the RedTag site just for Packages?

Yes Donald, we need your leadership to keep us all informed and on track with Shop the Block.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Did I read there was a coupon book you needed or something for STB last year? Of so, where do you get it?

Yes, there will be coupon books available in partner stores once the promo goes live. You'll want to pick up several so you can have extra coupons to staple to your receipts for potential follow-ups. There will also be coupons online that are in addition to the booklets.

Here's the link from last year's promo if you want to get a little better feel for what happens

Shop the Block from 2017

 

[marchingstar]

Will I be able to use my Dream Miles towards Cruise bookings?

At the time of launch on January 8, 2019, you will not be able to use your Dream Miles towards Cruise bookings through redtag.ca. We will be working hard to have this implemented so that you may do so later in 2019.[/Q

mel: I’m really sorry this change is causing you so much stress and frustration. I would be upset in your shoes too, and i really hope you can find a solution that will work for you

For me personally, I am happy with a move to a web-based service, but that’s because I prefer to make our own plans and book ourselves. The quote above is what concerns me a bit, because we’ve agreed that my miles are going to be used for a disney cruise. i hope that cruises are offered soon. i also did a test to see what the cruises would cost, and the prices are t even showing. here’s hoping they sort things out soon.

 

[Donald - my hero]

With all the Red Tag talk. Are we still going to be able to book a flight with Airmiles after December 31 and use our airmiles to pay for it? Is the RedTag site just for Packages?

Yes Donald, we need your leadership to keep us all informed and on track with Shop the Block.

Aww CRAP, i hadn't even considered that potential wrinkle!!! Redtag has vacations, flights, hotels, rental cars, last minute & cruise listed on their website. HOWEVER, i can't figure out how exactly it's working, tried to pick a flight for hubby and i can only select economy or business class with no other choice allowed. All 3 "big" carriers in Canada now have about 8 categories to book now

Thanks for the boost of confidence I already have my information gathering on my desk