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UPDATE: The booking window for this promo is now closed
Air Canada has taken some of the most aggressive and innovative steps to keep its loyalty members engaged during the lockdown. We've seen the airline offer flexible change and cancelation policies, the ability to buy Aeroplan miles at 1¢ a piece, the ability to earn 10X miles on Uber Eats orders, and the opportunity to earn elite status from home simply by transferring miles—all while continuing to roll out its partnership with Etihad as planned.
Well, Aeroplan still has some tricks up its sleeve. Aeroplan just announced that certain domestic and trans-border award redemptions will be eligible for a 50% mileage refund—effectively halving the award price:
Key Terms
- Offer valid on new bookings made by July 1, 2020 for travel between July 1, 2020 and October 15, 2020
- Award redemptions for travel within Canada or between Canada and the U.S. can receive 50% of the miles back
- Flights must be operated by Air Canada to be eligible
- Aeroplan miles will be credited back within three weeks after the qualifying flights are completed
- Applies to one-way or round-trip fixed mileage and market fare flight rewards; not applicable on Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, AC Bid upgrades, or when using miles to pay for the taxes, fees and surcharges associated with a flight reward
Half-Priced Award Tickets
Aeroplan's award chart lumps Canadian domestic flights together with trans-border flights to or from the continental U.S., further breaking down the award price into ‘Short-Haul' and ‘Long-Haul'.
Here is what the standard Air Canada award chart looks like for domestic and trans-border flights:
And here is how much the same awards will effectively cost (after the refund) if booked during the promotional period:
One of the most popular Air Canada short-haul routes is the 370-mile hop from New York (LGA) to Toronto (YYZ). Under this promotion, members can score a one-way economy ticket for just 3,750 miles, or a business class ticket for only 7,500 miles.
In my opinion, it's the long-haul options that present an even better value. Air Canada utilizes wide-body aircraft fitted with comfortable long-haul business class seats on some of these North American itineraries.
For example, take this one-way itinerary from Vancouver (YVR) to Toronto (YYZ). Air Canada operates a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on some of these segments, featuring its Signature Business Class product. Cash rates are often around $700 one-way. But under this award promotion, you can book this flight for just 12,500 Aeroplan miles after the 50% refund. That's an incredible deal!
Getting Aeroplan Miles
Want to take advantage of this deal but don't have Aeroplan miles yet? Don't worry! Aeroplan is a transfer partner of:
- American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio, immediate transfer)
- Capital One Miles (4:3 transfer ratio, immediate transfer)
- Marriott Bonvoy points (3:1 transfer ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for transferring 60,000 points, 4-5 day transfer)
Final Thoughts
Air Canada continues to impress with its ability to pivot and innovate to continue providing value to its customers. While limiting this promotion to domestic and trans-border routes restricts the number of people who will find this valuable, it's still a very compelling price if you were planning a trip like this anyway.
Are you booking Air Canada award flights with a 50% mileage rebate?
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
It is a good deal which should stimulate some demand for travel. But it isn’t easy to book travel these days with the ever evolving quarantine requirements and border restrictions in place.
With the borders continued to be closed I think it is a nice distraction and a motivator to book flights. But somehow it still hasn’t moved me to do something. I think it is the whole aspect of, go ahead and book, we’ll rebate you later. I feel like he rebate should be upfront – and just build your system to clawback if it’s cancelled.
A great deal. But I think it´s early to travel.
This blog post makes interested in revisting Aeroplan again . It sounds like a really good deal . Will have to look in to flights to SFO.
It’s not a bad deal but we should wait these pandemic days fade-away
Hopefully we can travel soon and use this promotion
This is a great deal for those who can take advantage. One of the problems is that it is not truly 50% off. You actually have to have the full amount of points for the initial booking. If you don’t, you can still take advantage by transferring Amex points or some other transferrable currency, and then you will get the refund, but then you are left with using those Aeroplan points. They are no longer in the transferrable currency. But good for those who actually have the points to use.
I live in Canada and I want to fly in early October but despite this sale Aeroplan has no award seats to Regina on the nonstop flights, which is annoying considering it’s not a hot destination and COVID.
Air Canada associated with Etihad, I can’t wait to spend my airplane miles.
Getting a 50% mileage refund is one of the best promotions I saw in this pandemic. Bravo Air Canada.
Can we even travel between the US and Canada now? I had read that the border was closed.
If you are a US citizen and don’t have an immediate family member who is a Canadian citizen, the border is closed until at least July 21st.
Sounds like a good offer, but do you really want to go in quarantine for 14 days before entering Canada???
hope it gets dropped before your trip or just travel within canada
Let’s keep our hopes up that a vaccine will soon come out.
It’s great that they are trying to boost flying with this promo!
booked one of these already yyz-yvr and back for 12,500 mile is a great deal 🙂