Future Shop signs up as Aeroplan partner

[Blastor]

Future Shop signs up as Aeroplan partner

By Brent Jang
Thursday, September 2, 2004 - Page B11

Air Canada's Aeroplan loyalty program has signed up electronics retailer Future Shop Ltd. as a partner. Aeroplan said yesterday that Future Shop, which previously took part in special promotions with the airline rewards program, has become a full partner.

Aeroplan members will be able to collect and redeem points on certain Future Shop products and services. Redeeming Aeroplan miles for Future Shop merchandise takes effect immediately while collecting the points through store purchases starts this fall.

Future Shop of Burnaby, B.C., has more than 100 outlets across Canada. Yesterday's partnership deal doesn't include Best Buy Canada Ltd.'s 22 Canadian outlets -- Future Shop and Best Buy Canada are owned by Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co. Inc.

Air Canada's frequent-flyer program signed up BCE Inc.'s Bell Canada as a partner on Aug. 19, kicking off a series of partnership announcements to expand Aeroplan. Shares in Montreal-based Air Canada, which will emerge from bankruptcy protection at the end of September, ceased trading Aug. 25 on the Toronto Stock Exchange

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