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If you have an Air Canada Flight Reward Certificate sitting in your Aeroplan account, you may be wondering exactly how to use it. These certificates can help offset the points cost of an award flight, but the redemption process isn't always obvious if you've never used one before.
In this guide, we'll explain what an Air Canada Flight Reward Certificate is, how members typically earn one, and walk through how to redeem it step by step so you can put your certificate to use before it expires.
What Is an Air Canada Flight Reward Certificate?
An Air Canada Flight Reward Certificate is essentially a credit that reduces the number of Aeroplan points required for the base fare of one eligible award ticket. Each certificate has a specified points value and can be applied to a new booking for a single passenger.
For example, if I wanted to book a flight that costs 12,500 points, a 5,000-point certificate applied to this booking would reduce the points cost to 7,500, plus the applicable taxes and fees.
The credit works on both Air Canada-operated flights and eligible partner award bookings, making it useful regardless of which airline you're redeeming Aeroplan points for.
How Do You Earn a Flight Reward Certificate?
Unlike Aeroplan points, Air Canada Flight Reward Certificates aren't something you can earn through everyday flying or by reaching Aeroplan Elite Status. Instead, they're typically distributed through limited-time promotions.
Historically, Flight Reward Certificates have been offered as part of select Aeroplan credit card welcome bonuses and targeted promotions from Air Canada and its financial partners.
For example, in 2025, Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers who registered for a limited-time promotion received a 5,000-point Flight Reward Certificate. That's how I received the certificate used throughout this guide.
Air Canada has also partnered with World of Hyatt to offer another way to obtain a Flight Reward Certificate. Eligible World of Hyatt members with linked Aeroplan accounts can redeem 50,000 Hyatt points for a Flight Reward Certificate worth up to 30,000 Aeroplan points.
How Do You Redeem a Certificate?
There are two ways to apply a Flight Reward Certificate. You can begin from the certificate in your Aeroplan account or simply search for an award flight and apply it during the booking process. Both methods ultimately lead to the same redemption flow.
Step 1: Find your Flight Reward Certificate
Log in to your Air Canada account and select “My Aeroplan.” From there, open the “Benefits” tab.
Your available benefits will appear on this page, including the value of your Flight Reward Certificate and its expiration date. Select “Redeem” beneath the certificate to begin searching for an eligible flight.
Step 2: Search for an award flight
After selecting “Redeem,” search for your desired itinerary using Aeroplan points.
Alternatively, you can simply search for an award flight as you normally would, without navigating through the benefits page. If you have an eligible Flight Reward Certificate in your account, a blue notification bar will appear at the bottom of the search results indicating that you have credits or discounts available.
Step 3: Apply your Flight Reward Certificate
Click the blue notification bar to open the “Credits and discounts” window. Check the box next to the Flight Reward Certificate you’d like to use. Then, click “Apply 1 reward,” as seen below.
Note: Flight Reward Certificates can only be applied to bookings for a single passenger, so you'll only see this option when searching for one traveler.
Step 4: Choose your flight
Select the itinerary and fare option you'd like to book.
Don't be surprised that the award prices in the search results don't change after applying the certificate. Air Canada doesn't display the reduced points cost until the next step.
Step 5: Review the updated points price
On the fare review page, you'll see a confirmation that your Flight Reward Certificate has been applied. This page also reflects the updated number of Aeroplan points required after the certificate has been deducted from the base fare.
Review the final points price, taxes, and fees before completing your booking.
What Should You Know Before Using a Flight Reward Certificate?
Flight Reward Certificates are valid for one year from the date they're deposited into your Aeroplan account, so be sure to check the expiration date before planning a redemption. If you earned your certificate through the limited-time Chase Sapphire Reserve® promotion in August 2025 — like I did — it's likely approaching its expiration date.
To make sure a certificate doesn't go unused, you can use AwardWallet to track your Aeroplan Flight Reward Certificates and their expiration dates alongside your other loyalty program benefits. AwardWallet can also alert you when an expiration date is approaching, giving you time to put the certificate to use.
Here are a few other important things to keep in mind:
- It can only be applied to new award bookings for one passenger, so you’ll have to book other passengers separately.
- You can use the certificate to book travel for someone else, but it can't be transferred to another Aeroplan account.
- If your certificate is worth more than your award, the unused value is generally forfeited once travel begins. However, if you change or upgrade the itinerary before travel begins, the remaining certificate value can be applied toward the revised award.
- You cannot combine the certificate with another Flight Reward discount certificate, such as an Aeroplan Priority Reward.
- You can't use the Points + Cash payment option when redeeming a Flight Reward Certificate.
Bottom Line
An Air Canada Flight Reward Certificate is a simple way to reduce the number of Aeroplan points needed for an award flight, but the redemption process isn't always intuitive the first time around. Fortunately, once you know where to find your certificate and how to apply it during the booking process, redeeming it takes just a few extra clicks.
Before booking, check your certificate's expiration date and review the key terms to ensure you get the most value from it. With a little planning, a Flight Reward Certificate can help stretch your Aeroplan points even further on your next award redemption.
