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Yes, miles in Aeroplan, Air Canada's frequent flier program expire if the Aeroplan Member has not accumulated or redeemed Aeroplan Miles for a period of 12 consecutive months. There are, however, several easy ways to prevent your miles from expiring. It is critical to keep in mind that the 12-month period is not a calendar year, but rather 12 consecutive months from the date of your last transaction. So, if your last transaction was in April of a given year, all your miles will be valid until the same date in April the following year.
How To Prevent Your Miles From Expiring
- Earn Miles
- Fill up at an Esso station and show/swipe your Aeroplan card
- Purchase something with your Aeroplan-affiliated credit card
- Shop at any Aeroplan partner and show or swipe your Aeroplan card
- Enter your Aeroplan number and shop at any of the 120+ online partners via the Aeroplan eStore
- Credit miles earned from an Air Canada or Star Alliance flight
- Transfer points from an Aeroplan hotel partner like Marriott Rewards
- Redeem Miles
- Donate your miles to a charity
- Transfer your Aeroplan miles to another member
- Redeem your miles for flight or other non-flight activities
Exceptions to the Mileage Expiration Policy
The mileage expiry policy is waived under certain circumstances. These include:
- Aeroplan Accounts belonging to minors (under 18 years of age)
- Members of the Air Canada loyalty program who have Altitude Status
- Primary cardmembers of the following credit cards: TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite, TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum, TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege, TD® Aeroplan® Visa Business, CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite, CIBC Aerogold Visa, CIBC Aerogold for Small Business and CIBC Aero Classic Visa cardholders.
Miles Already Expired? You Can Reinstate Miles
Aeroplan does let you reinstate miles at a price of $.01 per mile and a $30 administrative fee. To reinstate your miles you'll want to call the Aeroplan Contact Center at 1-800-361-5373.
Don't Forget
Aeroplan is a great program, with plenty of excellent value in their redemption sweet spots. With proper planning, you can avoid dreaded fuel surcharges on award tickets. The program is active and regularly offers different promotions, however in the long run things may not be as rosy, once Air Canada breaks off and establishes its own rewards program.
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It is difficult to establish Aeroplan as a preferred program knowing that AirCanada will leave it.
I love the Aeroplan program as they are a star alliance partner. However, I will say that the flights tend to cost 2500 – 5000 more miles for the same leg booked through United.
but United doesn’t charge any fuel/carrier-imposed fees on Award tickets. A huge value.
MiniRTW is one of the best option with Aeroplan. if you really have to fly Air Canada then get the Amex rewards which transfers to Aeroplan 1:1 and redeem for MiniRTW. Other wise better to stick with United to credit the miles as a star alliance member.
I’ve got some Aeroplan miles to use up.
Very interesting about the exception for minors and credit card holders. I don’t know if other plans have that, who have an expiration on the miles. Plus letting you reinstate…very interesting. Is the phone number that’s published and well known? Or is this something that you guys found?
The phone number is publicly available on Aeroplan’s website.
They are not the easiest to use miles for upgrades
To keep Aeroplan account alive we can answer some survey to get points for free.
What survey precludes A miles from expiring?
Did not know about the exception to minors. Great tip
Aeroplan is basically MileagePlus Minus
Kinda, but not really. Prices with Aeroplan can really beat MileagePlus on redemptions, especially if you can avoid surcharges.
What is mini RTW?
RTW = Round The World — e.g. a trip that has you flying completely around the planet.
I have 60,000 miles which I am going to lose very soon, if I do not keep my account active.
If I donate a portion, say 5000 mile to an aeroplan charity does this count and the balance of 55,000 miles is safe for another year.
As the post says, yes.
My Aeroplan miles are expiring. I went on the site to spend some reward miles, and the system shut down when I was in the middle of purchasing saying they’re doing maintenance and come back tomorrow at 10:00 am. My concern is my deadline is at 10:00 am tomorrow morning, and I’m afraid I’m going to lose all of my miles???
If you have Amex Membership Rewards or Capital One points, you can transfer to Aeroplan to reset your expiration instantly.
Why is it advertised that 25,000 points is worth $625 at Cosco but when I get onto the aeroplan site it shows 67,500 points for a $500 cash card?
Where are you seeing this information? I’m not sure what you’re referencing.
Have my aeroplane miles expired and if not when do they do so
How can I get them back
You should check your Aeroplan account. You usually can’t get them back, but it never hurts to call and ask for an exception.
My wife and I reside in the UK and are both Aeroplan members. Can anyone please advise me, is there is anywhere in the UK where we can collect Aeroplan points
A loyalty program that shows its members no loyalty.
Have been a loyal customer of Aéroplan for over 35 years and lost close to 200,000 miles due to a technicality. The notification email went to my spam. Inform them of the issue and they would do nothing about it except telling me that I can purchase them back for 1 cent a mile. You know what it’s not worth it. I would spent $2000 in buying them back but I would not get $2000 worth of marchandise. Their ad says a mile is worth 2.5 cents is bullshit. Each mile is worth at best a penny. Air Canada have just lost a loyal customer for life.
Does RTW or mini-RTW literally you have to travel around the world in one direction to return to your original departure point? Or is it just a trip to multiple countries in any direction?
Usually, there are some backtracking restrictions prohibiting you from crossing the same ocean or going east, west, then east.
Aeroplan no longer offers RTW awards (see our post on recent Aeroplan changes)
I’d consider hiring a booking service if you don’t have time to dig into all the rules.
I can tell you what a disappointment today, when I called Areoplan and found out that for real my 80,000 vanished as they do not honour dormant accounts if no activity over a one year period. My heart is just aching right now. Through my ups and down over the last few years, I was hoping that maybe this could eventually help us to take a trip. Unforgiving they are!
@Mary @Roger
If you guys have an avis car rental from before the expiration it can generate activity and reinstate your account for free. If you don’t have there are forums on the web where people sell them also.
Good luck guys!
I was notified by an aeroplan agent that I need to use my points or they will expire–in trying to get back to the caller, I cannot reconnect. Please help! at 250-386-9063
Thank you,, B Marilyn Ferguson
Please contact Aeroplan representatives to get it resolved. We at AwardWallet are not related or affiliated with the programs we support.
I have been calling for days to speak with customer service… I have spent HOURS waiting to talk with someone. This is unnacceptable.
Please contact me right away as this is a barbaric way to conduct business nevermind treat your customers. Hire more phone reps!!!