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It is October, prime time to start thinking about your winter escape! Last winter was one of the coldest I’ve experienced in my hometown of Ottawa, so I’m already looking ahead to my next escape somewhere warm and sunny.
Aeroplan
Aeroplan is a fantastic program when it comes to booking flights to the Caribbean (and beyond), with economy flights generally costing 12,000-20,000 points one-way per person. Much of the Caribbean falls into the awkward length where you want to fly in business class, but the flights are operated on narrow-body aircraft and/or business class prices are very high.
As Air Canada does observe dynamic pricing, you’ll want to keep an eye on prices and book as soon as it’s reasonable. United will also have lots of options with a connection.
In the above example, I’d take the 25,000-point business class flight for sure (though there is a 24h layover in Washington D.C.).
My main recommendation is to start your search now; don’t wait until two months out when everyone starts booking winter getaways, as prices jump dramatically.
The first flight is operated on an A330-300 on mainline Air Canada with lie-flat business class seats. While I wouldn’t pay 86,000 points, I’d try to be flexible with dates and book when there is reasonable premium economy pricing, then apply my eUpgrades.
WestJet via Air France KLM Flying Blue
WestJet is another option for direct flights to sunny destinations, and the best way to book them is through Air France KLM Flying Blue. Delta Skymiles is another option for booking WestJet flights, but Skymiles prices increase dramatically outside the U.S. and Canada.
For example, a flight from Toronto to Cancun costs 15,000 Flying Blue miles per passenger, while Delta SkyMiles charges 31,000 miles.
Flying Blue also offers 25% off the points price for kids 11 and under, so in the example above, kids would cost just 11,250 Flying Blue miles. Last month, Amex also improved the transfer ratio to Flying Blue from 1:0.75 to 1:1, making Flying Blue redemptions more attractive than ever.
Porter via Atmos Rewards
I’ve already extolled the value of Atmos Rewards, and one of their best use cases is flying Porter Airlines. Specifically, redeeming for Porter Reserve, where the premium over standard economy is minimal. As a reminder, Porter is now flying to Nassau, Grand Cayman, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and even to Costa Rica.
Take this direct flight from Ottawa to Liberia, Costa Rica; it’s nearly 6 hours of flying, and paying an extra 5,000 points for Reserve is a sweet spot.
From the West Coast with Finnair Avios
You might have noticed that most of this article focuses on flights departing from Eastern Canada. In reality, award availability tends to be better from this side of the country. Travellers departing from Western Canada may face more connections or higher redemption costs due to longer flight distances.
The above tactics still apply, like booking Aeroplan far in advance when dynamic pricing is reasonable and booking WestJet via Flying Blue.
One particular sweet spot I want to highlight: booking American Airlines business class for just 25,000 Finnair Avios one-way between Canada and the Caribbean.
As the Finnair Avios award chart is regional, flying from the West Coast is a better value. A friend of mine booked Vancouver – Dallas – Cancun entirely on American Airlines business class for just 25,000 Avios per person. The same price should apply for AA’s entire Caribbean network, and I am eyeing a redemption from Toronto to Sint Maarten (SXM) via Chicago, Philadelphia, or Miami.
You’ll want to search for award space using the Alaska or British Airways website, then call Finnair to book.
Acquiring Finnair Avios
Search for award space on the American Airlines or British Airways websites and then call Finnair to make this booking.
You can transfer Avios between flavours (that is, between British Airways, Finnair, Qatar, and more) online at Avios.com. Therefore, you can transfer your Amex MR or RBC Avion points to British Airways (even better when there is a 30% transfer bonus) and then move them to Finnair once you confirm award space.
Takeaway
Sun destination vacations over peak winter periods can be expensive, but for good reason – how much I’m willing to pay to escape southern Ontario does increase in proportion with the snow levels on my driveway.
But with some finagling and a little finesse, you can save a big chunk of vacation costs by booking flights on points. A highlight reel of good redemption options includes Aeroplan for Air Canada and United, Air France KLM Flying Blue for WestJet, Atmos Rewards for Porter, or Finnair Avios on American Airlines.
