Going to California & AIRMiles woes

When I used to work at TD Canada Trust a couple years back I always pushed our travel Visa card over all the other cards in the industry. I didn't just do it because I had to, I did it because I believed it. I especially made fun of those worthless AIR Miles cards. I mean who wants a card that blacks out dates, and that is so limited in travel.

Then I quit the bank, and when I applied for a Visa with them, they told me I didn't make enough money for the one I want (min $100,000/year in household). So, needless to say, I went over to BMO and got their AIR Miles card. I mean I shop at safeway alot, so I collect them anyway, and anything is better than nothing. I even paid for premium points.

Well I have collected over 1500 AIR Miles in the last 6 months. And was pretty happy.
Then I got.... the Letter.

I was informed that the special offer on my card was going to be discontinued. The offer was that I could fly anywhere in N.A. for a maximum 1600 AIR Miles. And the best part... it was ending the next day.

So I phoned AIR Miles the next day (the last day) and waited on hold 4 seperate times (was hung up on once, and disconnected once, and once I just asked for information). A total time on hold of... 6 hours. And during the actual talking time I found out that though WestJet flies everyday, only 'some' flights are for AIR Miles users. And since they only book ONE YEAR in advance, every flight is booked to the popular destination points.

Well, eventually I had to work (I was shooting a wedding that night), so my lovely wife called them instead. She managed to find two tickets to LA in January. Not quite where or when I wanted (Orlando in March)
but it would do.

So yeah, AIR Miles suck, and I am going to California in Jan!