New top tier program comes into effect today

MONTREAL, March 1, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada's re-branded Top Tier frequent flyer recognition program, "Altitude", came into effect today, the carrier announced. Specifically designed to recognize and reward Air Canada's most frequent flyers, Altitude offers members a wide range of travel privileges, rewards and additional status levels. Improved benefits include enhanced priority travel services such as a complimentary checked baggage allowance, higher upgrade priority for higher status members, exclusive partner offers and new incentives such as tier status gifts, as well as the creation of a new dedicated website altitude.aircanada.com. Altitude members continue to enjoy travel privileges with over 25 Star Alliance^TM member airlines.

'We have renamed our Top Tier program Air Canada Altitude and re-designed it to better recognize and reward our most frequent flyers. These changes are the most significant made to the program since we launched Air Canada Super Elite status over 15 years ago," said Craig Landry Air Canada's Vice President, Marketing. "After sharing new developments with members over the past year, we're pleased to mark this day when Altitude's wide range of additional benefits and exclusive perks come into effect. Altitude stands out as one of the leading frequent flyer recognition programs in the world, re-designed to offer Air Canada customers the privileges that are best aligned with their travel frequency and needs."

Altitude Status Levels
Concurrent with the introduction of a number of enhanced benefits, Air Canada Altitude includes two additional status levels for a total of five. Members reach Air Canada Altitude status based on the number of Altitude Qualifying Miles or Altitude Qualifying Segments earned on eligible flights operated by Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners.

Altitude privileges

• Priority Contacts: Eligible Altitude members have priority access to Air Canada and Aeroplan call centres with new and improved reservation benefits such as complimentary access to Preferred Seats and guaranteed reservations in Economy class.
• Priority Airport Services: Altitude members enjoy priority check-in and a complimentary checked baggage allowance including waived handling fees for sports equipment. Higher status members such as Super Elite 100K members enjoy exclusive access to Air Canada's personalized Concierge service.
• Lounge Access:  Eligible Altitude members benefit from Air Canada's network of Maple Leaf Lounges offering several complimentary services including business centers, conference rooms, snacks, beverages and free WiFi. For more information visit: www.aircanada.com/lounge
• eUpgrades:  Altitude members have access to the comfort and premium service of Air Canada's Executive Class (North America) and Executive First (international) cabins with complimentary eUpgrade Credits, featuring a more generous international upgrade eligibility than other frequent flyer recognition programs. Higher status members will now also be able to upgrade Air Canada Vacations reservations as well as Aeroplan ClassicFlight Rewards when traveling in North America.
• Select Privileges:  Altitude members can choose the combination of perks that best suits their travel needs by selecting the privileges they value most including: Bonus Aeroplan® Miles, eUpgrade Credits, access to Air Canada's network of Maple Leaf Lounges, Altitude status for a friend and much more.
• Threshold Gifts:  Altitude Elite 50K members and higher are now able to choose from a range of exclusive gifts as they reach specific Altitude Qualifying Mile thresholds - ranging from Bonus Aeroplan Miles and gift certificates to free hotel stays and high-end electronics.
• Star Alliance Recognition:  Altitude members also benefit from priority services when traveling with over 25 Star Alliance^TM airlines around the world, including access to hundreds of airport lounges worldwide for Altitude members identified as Star Alliance Gold.
• Exclusive Partner Offers:  Altitude members are further rewarded by official partners with perks such as accelerated status recognition with major hotel chains and car rental companies, plus exclusive discounts and Bonus Aeroplan Miles.

Air Canada Altitude and Aeroplan
Air Canada Altitude is designed to recognize Air Canada's most frequent flyers with a wide range of premium products and services, such as priority airport services, lounge access and upgrades.

Air Canada Altitude members remain Aeroplan members identified by their Aeroplan Number. They also benefit from Air Canada's partnership with Aeroplan, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program offering a wide range of ways to earn and redeem Aeroplan Miles with over 150 partners.

Previously referred to as 'Status Miles,' Altitude Qualifying Miles are earned and redeemed on eligible Air Canada and Star Alliance member airlines flights, and are used for tracking towards a higher Altitude status. Altitude Qualifying Miles earned on eligible flights are also redeemable Aeroplan Miles, which can be used for Flight Rewards to over 1,000 destinations worldwide.

altitude.aircanada.com
Altitude members enjoy for the first time the convenience of their own website featuring an easy-to-use dashboard for selecting and managing their privileges, choosing exclusive gifts and partner offers, as well as tracking their status at all times. For more details visit: altitude.aircanada.com

Members will continue to book flights at aircanada.com, and can use their Aeroplan Miles to book flight rewards at aeroplan.com.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 175 destinations on five continents.  Canada's flag carrier is the 15th largest commercial airline in the world and in 2012 served close to 35 million customers.  Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 59 Canadian cities, 55 destinations in the United States and 64 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,329 destinations in 194 countries.  Air Canada rewards its most loyal customers through its top tier recognition program, Altitude, that offers frequent flyers a range of priority travel services, lounge access and upgrades to Executive Class, complementing their membership in Aeroplan, Canada's premier loyalty program, which provides numerous ways to earn and redeem Aeroplan Miles with over 150 travel and retail partners.

Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax. In 2012, Air Canada was ranked for a third consecutive year "Best International Airline in North America" in a worldwide survey of more than 18 million airline passengers conducted by Skytrax.  According to the 2012 Canadian Business Travel Survey conducted by Ipsos Reid, Air Canada was the preferred airline for more than 79 percent of frequent business travellers in Canada.  In 2012, readers of Global Traveler magazine voted Air Canada "Best Airline in North America," the readers of Business Traveler voted Air Canada "Best North American Airline for International Travel" and "Best In-Flight Services in North America," and the readers of Premier Traveler voted Air Canada "Best North American Airline for Business Class Service," "Best North American Airline for International Travel" and "Best Flight Attendants in North America." For more information on Air Canada visit aircanada.com and follow @AirCanada on Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE: AIR CANADA