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One of many extra distinctive partnerships that Aeroplan has established prior to now few years is with its one-of-a-kind journey companion: Rocky Mountaineer.
Rocky Mountaineer is a rail tour firm primarily based in Western Canada that provides luxurious prepare companies all through British Columbia and Alberta, in addition to a route in the USA.
By means of the partnership, Aeroplan members can earn factors when reserving Rocky Mountaineer excursions, leverage their Aeroplan Elite Standing or premium Aeroplan bank card for Rocky Mountaineer upgrades, and redeem Aeroplan factors in the direction of Rocky Mountaineer present playing cards or excursions.
What Is Rocky Mountaineer?
Rocky Mountaineer operates luxurious rail tour companies all through the Rocky Mountains. As of now, the corporate affords rail excursions on 4 separate routes:
- First Passage to the West: Vancouver – Kamloops – Banff / Lake Louise
- Journey By means of the Clouds: Vancouver – Kamloops – Jasper
- Rainforest to Gold Rush: Vancouver – Whistler – Quesnel – Jasper
- Rockies to the Purple Rocks: Moab – Glenwood Springs – Denver
Every route affords a number of completely different tour packages of various period throughout two completely different courses of service: SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf.
GoldLeaf is a step above SilverLeaf by way of high quality, with a bi-level glass dome coach as a substitute of a single-level coach, bigger home windows and viewing platforms, and higher onboard catering.
Rocky Mountaineer’s trains solely function through the daytime, permitting you to soak up the spectacular vistas of Western Canada or the American Southwest via the panoramic glass-dome coaches.
All Rocky Mountaineer packages include lodge nights included, sometimes at upscale to high-end lodges, such because the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
As you may think about, Rocky Mountaineer’s luxurious rail excursions don’t come low cost. A two-day SilverLeaf journey between Vancouver and Banff or Lake Louise will run you US$1,421 ($1,867 CAD) per particular person, whereas longer packages within the GoldLeaf class of service can attain upwards of US$7,521 ($9,886 CAD) per particular person.
How one can Earn Aeroplan Factors on Rocky Mountaineer Excursions
Should you’re thinking about splurging on a Rocky Mountaineer getaway, Aeroplan’s partnership means that you can earn a bit of Aeroplan factors in alternate on your spending.
- For journey in 2022 and 2023, Aeroplan members will earn 2 Aeroplan factors per greenback (CAD) spent on GoldLeaf bookings and 1 Aeroplan level per greenback (CAD) spent on SilverLeaf bookings.
- Aeroplan premium bank card holders can even earn as much as a further 2 Aeroplan factors per greenback spent (CAD)
The most cost effective two-day SilverLeaf journey is priced at US$1,240 ($1,629 CAD) per particular person. Since we worth Aeroplan factors at 2.1 cents per level (cpp), the minimal 1,629 Aeroplan factors earned can be price $34, which is a reasonably commonplace earn price.
Moreover, the premium Aeroplan co-branded bank cards additionally supply an elevated incomes price on Rocky Mountaineer bookings of 2 Aeroplan factors per greenback spent. This 2x incomes price is rather than, not along with, the common incomes price for journey purchases.
By paying with a premium Aeroplan co-branded bank card, Aeroplan members can due to this fact earn a complete of 4 Aeroplan factors per greenback spent on GoldLeaf bookings and 3 Aeroplan factors per greenback spent on SilverLeaf bookings, utilizing their journeys alongside the rails to get nearer to their subsequent journey within the sky.
Premium Aeroplan Credit score Playing cards
| Credit score Card | Greatest Supply | Worth | |
|---|---|---|---|
115,000 Aeroplan factors $599 annual charge |
115,000 Aeroplan factors | $1,942 |
Apply Now |
115,000 Aeroplan factors $599 annual charge |
115,000 Aeroplan factors | $1,921 |
Apply Now |
105,000 Aeroplan factors $599 annual charge |
105,000 Aeroplan factors | $1,869 |
Apply Now |
As much as 75,000 Aeroplan factors $599 annual charge |
As much as 75,000 Aeroplan factors | $425 |
Apply Now |
To be eligible for these factors bonuses, members merely want to connect their Aeroplan quantity once they make a reserving. Bookings may be made by calling Rocky Mountaineer at 1-800-875-9149, on Rocky Mountaineer’s web site, or via a journey agent.
Aeroplan Elite Standing & Premium Credit score Card Advantages with Rocky Mountaineer
Aeroplan has further advantages for his or her elite members and premium bank card holders as a part of the Rocky Mountaineer partnership:
- Aeroplan 25K members and above, in addition to premium bank card holders, will obtain a lodge room class improve on the primary and final nights of a Rocky Mountaineer package deal.
- Aeroplan 50K members and above, in addition to premium bank card holders, will obtain a complimentary improve from SilverLeaf to GoldLeaf on any Rocky Mountaineer package deal for themselves and one different traveller on the identical reservation.
Each of those advantages have to be requested on the time of reserving, reasonably than being robotically or retroactively utilized. Each are at the moment accessible solely on Canadian routes (excluding the Moab–Denver US route) for bookings made by October 30, 2023.
The complimentary improve from SilverLeaf to GoldLeaf is unquestionably the stronger profit right here, as you’ll get pleasure from an elevated onboard product with a bi-level coach automobile, outsized home windows and bigger viewing platforms, and a premium connoisseur menu in comparison with the SilverLeaf product (suppose Eggs Benedict as a substitute of omelettes for breakfast).
Successfully, in the event you’re thinking about travelling with Rocky Mountaineer and may profit from the price financial savings within the complimentary improve from SilverLeaf to GoldLeaf, then the $599 annual charge of a premium Aeroplan co-branded bank card will pay for itself.
In the meantime, the lodge class improve is a bit much less thrilling:
- It’s solely an improve to the next room class, reasonably than to a collection
- It’s solely relevant on the primary and final nights of your journey
- It’s a profit that may be replicated fairly simply via different means (for instance, at Fairmont lodges, by holding Fairmont Gold Standing via inventory possession or an Ibis enterprise card)
Nonetheless, it’s nice to see Aeroplan enjoying round with inventive advantages for his or her most valued Elite Standing members and premium cardholders. Certainly, it’s an idea that I’d like to see expanded throughout the Rocky Mountaineer partnership and in future partnerships too.
How one can Redeem Aeroplan Factors on Rocky Mountaineer
Lastly, Aeroplan members even have the flexibility to redeem factors for Rocky Mountaineer eVouchers beginning at $50, or to cowl the whole value of a Rocky Mountaineer package deal. Redemptions are dealt with by way of the RewardOps portal.
Mounted-value eVouchers may be redeemed at a price of 1.25 cents per level, which is increased than the “commonplace” redemption price towards different present playing cards and experiences, though nonetheless not a terrific worth at which you’ll be able to redeem Aeroplan factors.
You’d be higher off saving your Aeroplan factors for flights, the place they will fetch a a lot increased worth (we advocate aiming for two.1 cents/level).
In the meantime, redeeming Aeroplan factors immediately for a Rocky Mountaineer package deal can fetch a barely increased worth, although it’s nonetheless not superb. You’ll be able to anticipate to redeem factors for package deal excursions at a price of round 1.6cpp, which continues to be under our goal worth of two.1cpp.
Once more, in the event you like luxurious rail journey, you most likely additionally like luxurious flights, and also you’d be higher off redeeming Aeroplan factors for the latter and paying money for the previous.
Conclusion
Aeroplan’s partnership with Rocky Mountaineer permits members to earn and redeem factors for luxurious rail journey experiences. Some members can additional leverage their engagement with the Aeroplan program for extra advantages on their Rocky Mountaineer excursions.
Whereas the value level of a Rocky Mountaineer package deal could be prohibitive for a lot of travellers, I’m positive there are some Aeroplan members who could be swayed by this partnership into making an attempt out a scenic prepare journey for the primary time.
Probably the most thrilling element to this partnership is the complimentary improve from SilverLeaf to GoldLeaf for Aeroplan Elite Standing members and premium cardholders, and I’d like to see this idea being utilized to Aeroplan’s future partnerships as properly.
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