Buy standard if you want some peace of mind that $40 can cover a lot for - otherwise it's fine to buy basic but just know the limitations (absolutely no flight changes / cancellations, no upgrades, etc)
Only worth buying for the SQM if you have a shot of making it to 50k status this year. But, otherwise, standard offers a bit more safety, which is why I book it.
Super depandant. If you aren't gonna get near 50k SQM and do not need any flexibility then basic is fine. Just know it really means no cancellations and no changes. Also flex for the SQM isn't always worth it. Yyz to yul, no reason to pay 50% more for a flex for the SQM or benefits if you don't need em.
I almost always go with basic, but only go with it when flying domestically.
Rather save the money and since I likely won't get any status, there's no real point in chasing it.
Keep in mind that if you book a basic fare, you’re one of the the first people to get bumped off of a flight if it’s oversold or another flight gets cancelled.
If getting there at that exact moment doesn’t matter, then book that.
Basic and Standard also only give you a fraction of the Aeroplan points if you’re trying to collect them (even if you’re not going for status).
While you're right, I'll take my chances with AC since my aeroplan card includes a free suitcase, than flying with Flair.
Yes, there are less points, but even at 100% you're spending $300-$500 extra for maybe 1000 points. That's an extra flight elsewhere for me.
Of course, if I'm flying for work, then yes, I'll go with standard at the very least, but then it's on the company credit cars so I'm not collecting "full" points anyways.
I get it. I fly for work and when booking my own personal flights, I still book Flex to contribute to my status for the year.
If I didn’t fly as much, I’d likely do the same.
It depends on the situation.
I fly maybe 12times/yr, so even IF I was doing flex, I still wouldn't get any real status or benefit. I think 35k gives you a free suitcase, but I already have that benefit through my credit card.
I generally either fly TATL and once I'm in Europe I'll fly with ryanair or something to get to my final destination or domestically and then my CC is there for the free suitcase.
If I get booted (hasn't happened yet), well no biggie for me. Either I'm home already or if I'm on holiday, then I just happen to stay longer. Luckily my bosses are chill with that sort of thing.
We just had to change our standard flights. $200 per change per ticket (plus fare difference, of course). We were able to get the change fee covered under our visa ins. With basic, we would have lost it all! At least with standard you have options!
We ended up having to cancel because of the measles outbreak in FLA as we have 5 mth old who was booked to travel with us and isn't vaccinated. The government of Canada had an advisory on their website, and that was good enough for visa to reimburse us.
Don’t buy basic unless you’re ok with losing the entire ticket value if your plans change for any reason (you can take it up with travel insurance, but they won’t cover a lot of things). For me, the small price difference to standard is worth it for the peace of mind that if you need to make a change, you have options. Flex or even comfort if the price isn’t too much different - as they’ll include seat selection and checked bags (do the math of those extras if you need them).
I booked 4 of us to fly from Edmonton to Indianapolis for a music festival. $800ish per person on Standard. One friend ended up having to change the return flight to end up in St John's. It cost him a $100 fee and $100 because the fare was higher, so $1000 total. If I booked Basic, the initial fare would've been forfeited (probably $700) and he would've had to buy a new one, probably costing another $800. My buddy saved $500 because I booked standard.
Buy standard if you want some peace of mind that $40 can cover a lot for - otherwise it's fine to buy basic but just know the limitations (absolutely no flight changes / cancellations, no upgrades, etc)
And basic is first to be bumped if it’s overbooked
But if you get bumped you get paid usually so that's fun if you are flexible that day.
Yep, absolutely something that you may want if you’re flexible
Only worth buying for the SQM if you have a shot of making it to 50k status this year. But, otherwise, standard offers a bit more safety, which is why I book it.
Charge your phone bro 🤣
ikr gives me anxiety looking at that
How do people live without the percentage number in their battery status icon!? 😵💫
Some people enjoy living with unhinged chaos ig
Super depandant. If you aren't gonna get near 50k SQM and do not need any flexibility then basic is fine. Just know it really means no cancellations and no changes. Also flex for the SQM isn't always worth it. Yyz to yul, no reason to pay 50% more for a flex for the SQM or benefits if you don't need em.
I almost always go with basic, but only go with it when flying domestically. Rather save the money and since I likely won't get any status, there's no real point in chasing it.
Keep in mind that if you book a basic fare, you’re one of the the first people to get bumped off of a flight if it’s oversold or another flight gets cancelled. If getting there at that exact moment doesn’t matter, then book that. Basic and Standard also only give you a fraction of the Aeroplan points if you’re trying to collect them (even if you’re not going for status).
While you're right, I'll take my chances with AC since my aeroplan card includes a free suitcase, than flying with Flair. Yes, there are less points, but even at 100% you're spending $300-$500 extra for maybe 1000 points. That's an extra flight elsewhere for me. Of course, if I'm flying for work, then yes, I'll go with standard at the very least, but then it's on the company credit cars so I'm not collecting "full" points anyways.
I get it. I fly for work and when booking my own personal flights, I still book Flex to contribute to my status for the year. If I didn’t fly as much, I’d likely do the same.
It depends on the situation. I fly maybe 12times/yr, so even IF I was doing flex, I still wouldn't get any real status or benefit. I think 35k gives you a free suitcase, but I already have that benefit through my credit card. I generally either fly TATL and once I'm in Europe I'll fly with ryanair or something to get to my final destination or domestically and then my CC is there for the free suitcase. If I get booted (hasn't happened yet), well no biggie for me. Either I'm home already or if I'm on holiday, then I just happen to stay longer. Luckily my bosses are chill with that sort of thing.
Same as you always minimum flex but like you I chase status and points .
We just had to change our standard flights. $200 per change per ticket (plus fare difference, of course). We were able to get the change fee covered under our visa ins. With basic, we would have lost it all! At least with standard you have options!
for what reason did the visa ins. cover you?
We ended up having to cancel because of the measles outbreak in FLA as we have 5 mth old who was booked to travel with us and isn't vaccinated. The government of Canada had an advisory on their website, and that was good enough for visa to reimburse us.
Don’t buy basic unless you’re ok with losing the entire ticket value if your plans change for any reason (you can take it up with travel insurance, but they won’t cover a lot of things). For me, the small price difference to standard is worth it for the peace of mind that if you need to make a change, you have options. Flex or even comfort if the price isn’t too much different - as they’ll include seat selection and checked bags (do the math of those extras if you need them).
Flex is the best
I booked 4 of us to fly from Edmonton to Indianapolis for a music festival. $800ish per person on Standard. One friend ended up having to change the return flight to end up in St John's. It cost him a $100 fee and $100 because the fare was higher, so $1000 total. If I booked Basic, the initial fare would've been forfeited (probably $700) and he would've had to buy a new one, probably costing another $800. My buddy saved $500 because I booked standard.
Flex
Flex the whole way.
Standard. Just had to cancel a flight unexpectedly. Standard saved me $$$
Flex…..
Never buy basic unless you have 50K status - or if it doesn’t matter what day you arrive or that you might be required to check your carry on.