Air Miles or Aeroplan?

[Skarbro]

Which is better and why?

[Wild Weasel]

Is there any place at all that gives out both, where you'd have to make a choice?

Generally, don't places deal with either one or the other? So collect both and get whichever they're giving, right?

[rktsci]

Aeroplan really doesn't work with too many retailers in comparison to Air Miles. I personally use Aeroplan since I typically fly Air Canada/Star Alliance for business and generally accumulate my points that way and not through purchases.

[Wild Weasel]

I collect Air Miles because I'm a mindless marketing tool. :(

I've been collecting them since the mid-90's and have never claimed anything. Every now and then I look at the catalog and think "Hmm... I could get that..." and never do.

[WildEmu]

I believe Aeroplan is better for booking flights/travelling

Air Miles is better for redeeming merchandise

[howitts_done]

You get far more aeroplan miles for your money. I started in the spring with the free 15,000 miles and now have 28,000 miles or enough for a free round trip in NA. I know friends that have collected airmiles for years and still don't have enough to go anywhere.

[Wild Weasel]

I've always joked that some day I'll have earned enough for a flight to Pearson from the island. :chuckle

Of course, I'd have to take a cab back...

[jaguar]

They're both a gimmick. I read on the newspaper over a month ago some guy redeemed two return tickets from TO to HK with his airmiles. It took him 20 yrs to collect those points and he pays roughly over $100/yr annual fee for his credit card to increase airmile points accumulation.
So lets see $120/yr x 20 = $2400. Thats almost the same price my parents are paying to go to HK in February for 2 tickets! So why wait 20 yrs when you can just pay the same price and go now?

[Wild Weasel]

It sounds like that guy might just be stupid. I mean... it's his own fault for paying for a fee-based card to increase his accumulation when the annual accumulation is clearly worth less than the fee. That's just common sense and has nothing to do with the air miles program.

[///M]

I've been collecting Airmiles for years (doesn't it work out to be something like $20 for 1 mile?) and I haven't been able to redeem anything worthwhile. Aeroplan miles rack up a lot faster, especially if you're a frequent flyer. Within a year or so I have earned enough for ~$100 gift.

[OnkelHans]

I collect both but find the air miles best for getting stuff and the aeroplan best for travel.
I don't pay to collect the air miles but I do pay for a gold aeroplan card ($120 I think) because I travel a lot for work and use it for my expenses - with the bonus I've raked up 80000 this year - I think that's worth a flight.

[Thunder 3]

I do both but focus on Airmiles...mostly because I prefer to fly WestJet. Airmiles are also easier to collect...I got an Airmiles chargecard last year and I already have enough to fly return anywhere WestJet flies with more to spare.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

I have collected Airmiles since ~1998

I use it to get free movies or free groceries, I have used it to pay for one of our flights to Italy, 2 flights to Vancouver and most recently 2 flights to Florida (this January)

I haven't really changed the way I shop, nor do I drive by 3 gas stations to get to the one that offers airmiles... I just use my Mastercard when possible and pay it off each month.

Never collected Aeroplan, only because I don't fly that much, although they also have a few vendors that offer miles for each purchase.

[3Remix]

cant u cash in aeroplan miles for goods?
I collected a few from some random purchases

[SilentJay]

Aeroplan is associated with HBC and Esso I believe.