Post by n***@public.gmane.orgPost by m***@public.gmane.orgHaving accumulated 10,000 points, I'd like your advice on the
1. Round trip for two to Quebec City, Economy or Business.
2. One-way trip for two to Edmonton, Economy, Section or
Bedroom, (fly home)
If possible, I'd like to know the nitty-gritty details regarding
points redemption zones, Corridor vs Canadian redemption, whether
the points cost of sleeper is worth it, impact of using points
during 50% off sales, and any other considerations that come to
mind for the above two scenarios.
The winter often brings "sales" in redemption levels. For example
a 40% off promotion for sleeper classes was offered last winter,
and a 20% off promotion for sleeper was again offered a couple
of months ago. I'd like to think this will be offered again in
the new year.
One trip I know off the top of my head is Toronto - Vancouver
in sleeper is 13,000 points.
That 40% off winter deal was also offered two years ago. Like
Matt, I'm hoping it will reappear this winter. It'll probably
be announced in January, if it happens at all. Last year it
was valid for travel until April 30, though the booking
deadline might have been earlier.
Discount offers for points redemption, like the above, are
completely separate from sales on cash fares. When VIA runs a
50%-off sale for cash bookings, that doesn't change the number
of points required for a redemption booking.
Post by n***@public.gmane.orgThis would make a trip on the Canadian 7800 points and the
default accommodation is a roomette. I'd imagine they'd give
you a section if you wanted it also.
I think they'd give you an upper or lower berth, not the entire
section. There's no discount for a berth vs. a roomette, so
while I consider berths a better value for money when I'm paying
cash, I'd get a roomette if using points.
I've never booked for two people, but I think it would cost
twice as many points, and the default accommodation would be
a double bedroom.
Post by n***@public.gmane.orgUsing points for sleeper runs that include meals is by far
the best you can do with Preference points in my opinion.
Using points for a sleeper (without meals) for Winnipeg -
Churchill or for Jasper - Prince Rupert in touring class
are also very good deals.
Post by n***@public.gmane.orgCorridor trips vary but are based on time and distance and
each segment would be separate.
The cost in points depends on trip time; there are two different
"fares", for trips under 3 h 30 min vs 3 h 30 min or more. It's
not true that each segment is separate. You can go all the way
from Windsor to Quebec (three segments) for the same number of
points as Toronto - Ottawa or Toronto - Montreal, since all are
over 3 h 30. In Eric's case, Kingston - Quebec would be 1625
points in coach or 2425 points in business. Double those numbers
for a round trip, and double them again for a couple, and you get
6500 or 9700 points.
Two people can do that round trip in coach for $271.20, with the
escape fares now available ($60 per person per direction, plus
taxes), so I don't think using points is a good idea. I get
$861.06 in business class (though you might get a lower cash
fare by waiting for a sale), so points redemption is a better
option in business than in coach.
The Canadian route is divided into three zones, with the
boundaries at Winnipeg and Edmonton. Since a Toronto - Edmonton
trip starts and ends on zone boundaries, no clever tricks are
required -- you just look up the number of points required for
that trip (7500 in sleeper). That probably means 15,000 for
two, but if there's a 40% off sale like last winter, that would
drop to 9000. The cash fare for two in a bedroom next March
is $1975.24, so you can see Matt's point that sleeper trips
are a better use of your points than corridor trips (if you
have enough points and it's a trip you want to take).
Tricks are more useful if you're going beyond a zone boundary.
For example, Toronto - Jasper includes three zones and costs as
much on points as Toronto - Vancouver, so for such a trip you'd
probably be better off booking Toronto - Edmonton on points and
Edmonton - Jasper for cash.
Post by n***@public.gmane.orgTrips booked with points are fully refundable and exchangeable
any time before departure
Right, so you can go ahead and book, and if a great Express Deal
or some other sale comes up later, you can cancel your booking,
get all your points back, and rebook for the sale price.
Tom Box
tbox at ncf dot ca
Port Hope, ON, Canada