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It’s back, Air Canada’s offer to buy Altitude Status for 2019. Every year, several Air Canada members fall just short of making the status tier and this is Air Canada’s solution for them. In their words, they want to help you reach the status level, without any additional travel. The offers are targeted towards members that have achieved at least 80-85% of the requirements. The prices for the buy-up vary accordingly.
Air Canada: Buy Altitude Status
The offer allows Altitude members to pay a fixed amount and enjoy the next level of status until February 28, 2020! Note that members can only pay to upgrade one level of status. Those that received the offer have until January 15, 2019 to decide. Below is a sample email to buy-up Prestige 25K status;
Hat-tip: Stanislav for sharing his email
Clicking on the buy now button reveals the price for the offer. If your account was not targeted for the offer, and you click through, expect to see the following error message;
Based on the information being shared in several forums, I have complied the following price list for this year’s offer – YMMV;
[table id=32 /]
Source: AC FlyerTalk thread
A quick glance at the qualification requirement to reach Altitude status:
Take Away:
Is it worth it? In most cases, no. Depending on how far away you are from qualifying, it maybe easier to do a cheaper mileage run. A simple search on google flights should spill several cheaper options to meet missing AQM/AQS/AQD. If you absolutely cannot travel in December anymore, this offer to buy altitude status maybe your best option.
Are you considering taking up AC’s offer to buy-up status? Please share with a comment below.
3 comments
I think it’s insulting to the best customers to allow this, but a great option for others. It definitely devalues the top status. I guess they’ll use million mile status to try to sniff out their best customers.
Do you know if you can purchase a flight, check in online, but still get the AQS without boarding the plane? I’m one segment short of 50K. Thanks!
That wont work, you will have to take the flight. The scan of the boarding pass when you board is what determines if you took the flight. Simply checking in and not boarding will flag you as ‘no show’. 50k status is worth that segment run and the $$ spent.