One of many extra distinctive partnerships that Aeroplan has established up to now few years is with its one-of-a-kind journey accomplice: Rocky Mountaineer.
Rocky Mountaineer is a rail tour firm primarily based in Western Canada that provides luxurious prepare providers all through British Columbia and Alberta, in addition to a route in the US.
By 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 direction of Rocky Mountaineer present playing cards or excursions.
What Is Rocky Mountaineer?
Rocky Mountaineer operates luxurious rail tour providers all through the Rocky Mountains. As of now, the corporate gives rail excursions on 4 separate routes:
- First Passage to the West: Vancouver – Kamloops – Banff / Lake Louise
- Journey By the Clouds: Vancouver – Kamloops – Jasper
- Rainforest to Gold Rush: Vancouver – Whistler – Quesnel – Jasper
- Rockies to the Crimson Rocks: Moab – Glenwood Springs – Denver
Every route gives a number of totally different tour packages of various period throughout two totally 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 in the course of the daytime, permitting you to absorb the spectacular vistas of Western Canada or the American Southwest by way of the panoramic glass-dome coaches.
All Rocky Mountaineer packages include resort nights included, usually at upscale to high-end accommodations, such because the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
As you’ll be able to 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 individual, whereas longer packages within the GoldLeaf class of service can attain upwards of US$7,521 ($9,886 CAD) per individual.
The best way to Earn Aeroplan Factors on Rocky Mountaineer Excursions
In case you’re curious about splurging on a Rocky Mountaineer getaway, Aeroplan’s partnership lets you earn a piece of Aeroplan factors in change in 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 may also 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 individual. Since we worth Aeroplan factors at 2.1 cents per level (cpp), the minimal 1,629 Aeroplan factors earned could be price $34, which is a reasonably customary earn charge.
Moreover, the premium Aeroplan co-branded bank cards additionally supply an elevated incomes charge on Rocky Mountaineer bookings of 2 Aeroplan factors per greenback spent. This 2x incomes charge is instead of, not along with, the common incomes charge for journey purchases.
By paying with a premium Aeroplan co-branded bank card, Aeroplan members can subsequently 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 Provide | Worth | |
|---|---|---|---|
115,000 Aeroplan factors $599 annual payment |
115,000 Aeroplan factors | $1,942 |
Apply Now |
115,000 Aeroplan factors $599 annual payment |
115,000 Aeroplan factors | $1,921 |
Apply Now |
105,000 Aeroplan factors $599 annual payment |
105,000 Aeroplan factors | $1,869 |
Apply Now |
As much as 75,000 Aeroplan factors $599 annual payment |
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 could be made by calling Rocky Mountaineer at 1-800-875-9149, on Rocky Mountaineer’s web site, or by way of a journey agent.
Aeroplan Elite Standing & Premium Credit score Card Advantages with Rocky Mountaineer
Aeroplan has extra 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 resort room class improve on the primary and final nights of a Rocky Mountaineer bundle.
- 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 bundle for themselves and one different traveller on the identical reservation.
Each of those advantages should be requested on the time of reserving, slightly than being routinely or retroactively utilized. Each are at present 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 take pleasure in an elevated onboard product with a bi-level coach automobile, outsized home windows and bigger viewing platforms, and a premium gourmand menu in comparison with the SilverLeaf product (suppose Eggs Benedict as a substitute of omelettes for breakfast).
Successfully, for those who’re curious 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 payment of a premium Aeroplan co-branded bank card pays for itself.
In the meantime, the resort class improve is a bit much less thrilling:
- It’s solely an improve to a better room class, slightly than to a set
- It’s solely relevant on the primary and final nights of your journey
- It’s a profit that may be replicated fairly simply by way of different means (for instance, at Fairmont accommodations, by holding Fairmont Gold Standing by way of inventory possession or an Ibis enterprise card)
Nonetheless, it’s nice to see Aeroplan enjoying round with artistic 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 inside the Rocky Mountaineer partnership and in future partnerships too.
The best way to 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 your complete price of a Rocky Mountaineer bundle. Redemptions are dealt with by way of the RewardOps portal.
Mounted-value eVouchers could be redeemed at a worth of 1.25 cents per level, which is larger than the “customary” redemption charge towards different present playing cards and experiences, though nonetheless not an amazing 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’ll fetch a a lot larger worth (we suggest aiming for two.1 cents/level).
In the meantime, redeeming Aeroplan factors instantly for a Rocky Mountaineer bundle can fetch a barely larger worth, although it’s nonetheless not ultimate. You possibly can count on to redeem factors for bundle excursions at a charge of round 1.6cpp, which continues to be under our goal worth of two.1cpp.
Once more, for those who 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 added advantages on their Rocky Mountaineer excursions.
Whereas the worth level of a Rocky Mountaineer bundle may be prohibitive for a lot of travellers, I’m positive there are some Aeroplan members who may be swayed by this partnership into making an attempt out a scenic prepare journey for the primary time.
Essentially 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 effectively.
