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Familiarizing yourself with an airline's loyalty program can be your one-way ticket to making each journey more comfortable and rewarding. But where do you start? And why do airlines make their programs so confusing? Let's cut through the chaos and take a bird's-eye view of one of the most formidable (and one of our favorite) loyalty programs: Air Canada Aeroplan.
Here's a comprehensive dive into the Air Canada Aeroplan program.
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Overview of the Air Canada Aeroplan Program
Air Canada is a storied airline with a history dating back to 1937, when it launched as Trans-Canada Air Lines. Sixty years later, Air Canada became one of the five founding members of Star Alliance. And now, in its current form, the Montréal-based carrier and its subsidiaries operate a combined fleet of 400+ aircraft to 200+ destinations across six continents.
The airline has hubs in Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), Montréal (YUL), and Calgary (YYC) and operates more than 1,500 scheduled flights daily.
Air Canada's Aeroplan loyalty program is a fan favorite courtesy of its highly versatile points that can be redeemed for travel on nearly 50 partner airlines. The program most recently underwent an overhaul on November 8, 2020.
Air Canada Aeroplan Program Rules
Anyone can join the Air Canada Aeroplan loyalty program for free by signing up on the airline's website or mobile app. The entire process for adults can be completed quickly online. Adults also can create an account for a child, provided the email address used on the account isn't associated with another active Aeroplan account.
Keeping your account active
Air Canada Aeroplan points will expire if you haven't accumulated or redeemed Aeroplan points in 18 consecutive months. However, Air Canada suspended all point expiration through November 30, 2025.
To restart the clock, you can transfer credit card currencies to Aeroplan, credit an Air Canada or Star Alliance flight to the program, shop through the airline's portal, and more.
Flight crediting
For flights credited to Aeroplan, travelers can only credit miles to their own accounts. You can't take a flight as a family and credit all family members' points to a single Aeroplan account. Each person needs to create an account and attach their own loyalty number to their ticket.
Family Sharing
In the past, Air Canada has permitted Family Sharing, where up to eight family members could pool the points earned in their individual accounts. Those with redemption privileges could redeem Aeroplan points for awards, using those shared points for free flights. However, Air Canada shut the program down due to rampant fraud. It's unknown if or when the program will return.
Related: Which Rewards Programs Let You Pool Points and Miles With Others for Free?
How To Earn Aeroplan Points
The most straightforward way to earn Aeroplan points is by flying on Air Canada or one of its many partner airlines. You also can increase your Aeroplan point balance in several ways, including spending on an Air Canada co-branded credit card, converting transferable credit card rewards to Aeroplan points, transferring hotel points to Aeroplan, earning through shopping portals, purchasing miles, and more.
Earning points by flying Air Canada
At the time of writing, Air Canada awards Aeroplan points and Status Qualifying Miles (SQMs) as a percentage of the actual miles flown. The earning rate depends on the fare class you purchase and your destination. The earning chart for flights operated by Air Canada is shown below:
| Fare | Aeroplan Points and Status Qualifying Miles (SQMs) Earned as a Percent of Mileage Flown |
|---|---|
| Business | 150% points and SQMs |
| Premium Economy | 125% points and SQMs |
| Latitude | 125% points and SQMs |
| Comfort | 115% points and SQMs |
| Flex | 100% points and SQMs |
| Standard between Canada and the U.S., and Canada and International | 50% points and SQMs |
| Standard within Canada | 25% points and 50% SQMs |
| Basic between Canada and International | 25% points and no SQMs |
| Basic between Canada and the U.S. | 25% points and no SQMs |
| Basic within Canada | 10% points and no SQMs |
Sometime in 2024, Air Canada will transition Aeroplan to a revenue-based program. Instead of earning points and SQMs based on the mileage flown, you'll earn based on the Canadian Dollars (CAD) spent on your ticket. Generally speaking, revenue-based programs make it harder to earn miles by flying, as will be the case with Aeroplan when the switch happens.
Air Canada has signaled it'll give Aeroplan members ample notice of when the changes will take effect, but the carrier has already tipped its hand and shared the proposed earning rates. Unfortunately, they're nothing short of lackluster.
| Fare | Earning Rate per $1 (base fare and carrier-imposed charges) |
|---|---|
| Business | 3x |
| Premium Economy | 3x |
| Latitude | 3x |
| Flex/Comfort | 3x |
| Standard | 3x |
| Basic | 2x |
Earning points by flying partner airlines
Like flights on its own metal, you'll earn Aeroplan points on partner flights as a percentage of the mileage flown. Air Canada has dozens of partners, each with a unique earning structure. It's worth checking each individual carrier's spotlight page to avoid any surprises when the points are posted to your account.
There's also a handful of airlines that you won't earn Status Qualifying Miles on. Again, always check before you book a partner flight — especially if you're considering a mileage run to earn elite status.
Air Canada co-branded cards
United States residents have one option for an Air Canada co-branded card: the Aeroplan® Credit Card. The nifty $95-annual-fee card can be a valuable wallet addition for those looking to earn a boatload of Aeroplan points. On everyday purchases, cardholders will earn 3x points for each dollar spent on grocery stores, dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services, and Air Canada directly and 1x points for each dollar spent on all other purchases..
If you're a new applicant for the Aeroplan Card, you can take advantage of a quality welcome offer worth 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points
- Earn 75K bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $95 Annual Fee
- Redeem points for both international and domestic flights with the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
- Fly to another continent and travel the world with the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
- Earn 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly. Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
- 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month - up to 1,500 points per month.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 3x points directly with Air Canada
- 3x points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- 3x points at grocery stores
- 1x point on all other purchases
The Aeroplan Card is issued by Chase, which means it's subject to the bank's 5/24 rule. Chase will generally not approve you for this or any other Chase-branded card if you've opened five or more card accounts in the previous 24 months.
Related: Aeroplan Card full review
Those residing in Canada will have a few more options for Air Canada co-branded credit cards, including, but not limited to:
- American Express® AeroplanPlus®* Platinum Card
- CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Card
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Business
Other credit cards that earn Aeroplan points
Aeroplan Card aside, you also can earn points by banking a welcome bonus and spending on credit cards that offer point transfers to Aeroplan. Four of the five currencies that convert to Aeroplan points are recognizable to most in the points and miles game. Even better, there are numerous credit cards you can apply for and spend on, so you can find a product that best fits your wallet.
Currently, 13 different credit cards earn American Express Membership Rewards, 11 earn Chase Ultimate Rewards, six earn Capital One miles, and one earns Bilt Rewards points. That's more than 30 unique credit cards that earn points you can transfer to Aeroplan.
Hotel partners
Air Canada partners with 12 hotel groups and one online travel agency that offers Aeroplan points after completing a qualifying stay, including — but not limited to — Best Western, Choice Hotels, Wyndham, and Marriott. To earn on stays, you'll need to follow specific directions for each hotel group outlined on the airline's travel partners page.
While it's not something we recommend, given poor transfer ratios, several hotels also offer the option to convert hotel points to Aeroplan points.
Earn Aeroplan points with Air Canada's travel partners
On travel, Air Canada offers points for rental car reservations, airport parking, and other travel purchases. Currently, the airline has seven partners that offer points on these types of purchases:
- Aéroports de Montréal
- Avis
- Budget
- Park & Jet Calgary
- Park'N Fly
- Payless
- Rocky Mountaineer
You also can earn a sum of points by purchasing a vacation package, reserving a hotel, cruise, and more through Air Canada's travel portal.
Air Canada Aeroplan shopping portal
Like most airlines these days, Air Canada has a shopping portal that awards points on purchases at select retailers. But a caveat: Merchandise can only be shipped to a Canadian address. The only exception appears to be gift cards, according to the portal's terms.
“Unless otherwise specified on the gift card description, gift cards may be shipped to Canada and U.S. to either a P.O. Box or a civic address. Digital gift cards are available for redemption internationally.”
If you're looking to purchase on Air Canada's portal, ensure you read the fine print before entering your credit card details.
Earn miles through Uber and Starbucks purchases
Air Canada partners with Uber and Starbucks, offering miles on rides and purchases at the iconic coffee chain. However, only those residing in Canada can complete the account linkage process and earn rewards.
Buying Aeroplan points
Aeroplan points are available for outright purchase through the airline's Points.com storefront. In the right circumstances, purchasing points can make a lot of sense. For example, when you're trying to top off your account for a redemption or when the points cost of a flight is less than the cash cost. But in other circumstances, you're better off holding on to your cash.
When the airline isn't running a bonus, you can purchase points for 3.5¢ CAD each, which equates to roughly 2.6¢ USD. Occasionally, Air Canada offers a bonus on points purchases, such as 75% or 100%, making the proposition to buy points much more lucrative.
The maximum number of points you can buy in one transaction is 250,000. Each calendar year, you can purchase 1,000,000 Aeroplan points.
Can you transfer Aeroplan points to other people?
Air Canada permits transfers from one Aeroplan member's account to another. You'll pay a fee of 2¢ CAD for each point you transfer, which equates to about 1.5¢ USD. At most, you can transfer 250,000 points per transaction and 500,000 annually.
Redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan Points
Here's everything you need to know (and then some) about redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan Points.
Value of Aeroplan points
In recent redemptions, AwardWallet users have obtained an average value of 1.85¢ per point when redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan points. However, Aeroplan points are more valuable for certain redemptions than others, as you'll see when looking at the average value by flight type below:
- Short-haul economy/premium economy: 1.21¢
- Short-haul business/first class: 2.56¢
- Long-haul economy/premium economy: 1.28¢
- Long-haul business/first class: 2.63¢
Air Canada partners and award charts
One of the best aspects of the Air Canada Aeroplan program is the sheer number of carriers that you can redeem points on for free or nearly free flights. At any given moment, you can put your miles towards award flights on nearly 50 airlines, which includes Star Alliance carriers and a couple of dozen non-alliance airlines.
In the 2020 program refresh, Aeroplan changed its award chart entirely. It shifted from a zone-based system to a hybrid zone-and-distance scheme. Aeroplan released 10 award charts (warning: PDF) to help travelers discern mileage costs between its four regions (shown below), and the carrier has maintained these ever since.
These ten charts have been combined into four tables, each showcasing a different region. Note that awards on Air Canada are priced dynamically, and partner awards are not. First, here's the Aeroplan award chart for flights starting in North America:
The chart for flights starting in the Atlantic zone:
For flights starting in South America:
And lastly, for flights starting in the Pacific zone:
Air Canada also has an eleventh award chart, specifically for travel on Emirates and FlyDubai. Like flights on its own metal, Emirates and FlyDubai awards are priced dynamically.
Related: Here's How Much You'll Pay When Redeeming Aeroplan Points for Emirates Flights
Preferred pricing
On Air Canada-operated flights, you can take advantage of preferred pricing on awards the more you engage with the Aeroplan program. Holding elite status or a co-branded credit card (or both) is an easy way to save on awards. In theory, the more you engage, the more you save. Not much has been discussed about this benefit publicly, but it exists nonetheless.
Points + Cash awards
If you're short on Aeroplan points or just don't want to use your entire balance, Air Canada offers an option to book with Points + Cash. There are two ways to do so, and a few ways you can cover the tax burden on either booking:
- Award tickets paid for completely with points: Applicable taxes, fees and surcharges may be paid wholly in points or cash.
- Award tickets paid for with a point and cash combination: Applicable taxes, fees and surcharges must be paid wholly in cash.
The rate you'll get for your points varies by route. It's worth crunching the numbers before picking a Points + Cash option to ensure you get the most out of your Aeroplan points. To save $46.50 CAD (~$34.50 USD), you'd pay another 4,650 points. You're getting 0.7 cents per point on that last bit, which isn't great.
How to search for Air Canada Aeroplan awards
The easiest way to search for Aeroplan awards is on aircanada.com or in the airline's mobile app. After logging into your account, navigate to the booking widget, and click “Book with points.” Enter your intended origin, destination, travel dates, and number of passengers, then click “Search flights.” You can filter results by the number of stops, carriers, connecting airports, and so on.
If you're after a specific partner award such as Turkish Airlines business class or Lufthansa first class, a reliable way to find them — or a bevy of other awards bookable with Aeroplan points — is to use Seats.aero. This tool offers a bird's eye view of bookable awards, which can expedite the award search process immensely. With Seats.aero in your back pocket, you won't need to scroll from date to date in search of a particular award; it'll show you what's available and when.
Separately, another way to find availability is to use tools offered by other Star Alliance carriers, such as United's award calendar — given that Aeroplan doesn't offer a 30-day view of award pricing. This way, you can expedite your award search before coming back to Air Canada and completing the booking.
For non-alliance partner bookings, it's worth the effort to look for available space on third-party tools and checking Aeroplan's website to see if the space has been furnished to Air Canada. Smaller, more obscure carriers like PAL Airlines might require some patience when booking, as award space is difficult to find and won't show up on other carriers' or third-party search tool websites.
Related: How To Find Partner Award Flight Availability
Booking fees and other rules
Award bookings can be made free of charge at aircanada.com or for a non-refundable fee of 30 CAD through the Aeroplan contact center. Air Canada will charge a 39 CAD fee per ticket for awards that include travel on a flight operated by a carrier other than Air Canada or its subsidiaries. Applicable taxes will come in addition to the 39 CAD fee.
In the program terms, Air Canada suggests that award flights might include a U.S. Tax Recovery fee, which covers the recognizable fees (such as security) that U.S. travelers have long been familiar with.
Aeroplan awards can be changed and canceled up to two hours before departure but often require a fee unless you booked a flexible award or hold an eligible tier of elite status. The change and cancelation fee structure is shown below:
Infant policy
Children under two are permitted to travel as lap infants but require their own tickets. There's no cost to ticket a lap infant on travel within Canada or between the United States and Canada. All other international travel requires paying a discounted fare of 25 CAD or 2,500 Aeroplan points per direction. Taxes and fees will also apply, depending on the route.
Children over the age of two are required to have their own seat and award reservation.
Stopovers
Air Canada permits the addition of stopovers, but there are rules to doing so:
- Aeroplan awards are priced by each one-way journey.
- You're allowed one stopover per direction of travel.
- Stopovers are only permitted for Aeroplan award travel outside of Canada and the United States.
- Stopovers are distinct from layovers, which can last up to 24 hours without needing to pay for a stopover (except in the U.S. and Canada, where most “maximum layover” times are 4 hours, unless there is no option for a shorter connection).
- The points charge for any and all stopovers is 5,000 Aeroplan points each.
- Stopovers cannot last more than 45 days.
Up to four segments are permitted, and it's easy to book stopovers online. However, if you're thinking of adding a fifth or sixth segment, you'll want to call Aeroplan to book your complex itinerary.
Related: You Can Now Book Aeroplan Stopovers Online
Best ways to redeem Air Canada Aeroplan points
With a bevy of partner airlines, there are thousands of potential awards you can book with Aeroplan points. And while this isn't an exhaustive list of every sweet spot, here are a few high-quality ways to redeem your hard-earned points:
- Fly Lufthansa First Class from New York (JFK) to Munich (MUC)
- Air New Zealand business class from the U.S. to Auckland (AKL)
- Oman Air first or business class from Asia to Europe
- Swiss business class from Los Angeles (LAX) to Zurich (ZRH)
- Short-haul U.S. domestic flights under 500 miles for 6,000 points
Related: The Secret Sweet Spots of Aeroplan Stopovers and Open Jaws
Other ways to redeem Aeroplan points
Outside of air travel, you can also redeem Aeroplan points for other things, such as hotels, gift cards, and more. Here's a look at some options:
- Reserve hotel nights on Aeroplan HotelSavers for 10,000 to 105,000 Aeroplan points per night.
- Rent cars through the Aeroplan travel portal.
- Book vacation packages through Air Canada Vacations.
- Redeem for merchandise, gift cards, and experiences on the Aeroplan eStore.
However, most non-flight redemptions present poor value for your Aeroplan points. In virtually every instance, points are worth more towards award flights.
How To Earn Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Status
Air Canada has five tiers of elite status that you can earn to elevate your travel experience: Aeroplan 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, and Super Elite.
Air Canada elite status qualification
Qualifying for Aeroplan elite status depends on a few factors:
- Status Qualifying Miles (SQMs)
- Status Qualifying Segments (SQSs)
- Status Qualifying Dollars (SQDs)
You can earn SQMs and SQSs by flying on Air Canada and its subsidiaries on all fares except basic economy. Additionally, you can earn your way to status by flying partner airlines and other Star Alliance carriers and purchasing Air Canada Vacation packages. You'll earn one SQS per segment flown and earn SQMs as a percentage of the miles flown.
Status Qualifying Dollars — SQDs — are a bit more convoluted. But as a general rule, you'll earn 1 SQD per dollar spent on base fares, carrier-imposed surcharges, flight passes, eUpgrades, and vacation packages.
With the metrics top of mind, here's the qualification requirements for each tier of Aeroplan status:
- Aeroplan 25K: 25,000 SQM or 25 SQS AND $3,000 SQD or 100,000 EDQ
- Aeroplan 35K: 35,000 SQM or 35 SQS AND $4,000 SQD
- Aeroplan 50K: 50,000 SQM or 50 SQS AND $6,000 SQD
- Aeroplan 75K: 75,000 SQM or 75 SQS AND $9,000 SQD
- Aeroplan Super Elite: 100,000 SQM or 100 SQS AND $20,000 SQD
If you noticed the EDQ option on Aeroplan 25K, that metric refers to what's known as Everyday Status Qualification dollars. You can earn EDQs without stepping foot on an airplane. For example, you can earn EDQs on eStore purchases, on all Air Canada flights, and bank one EDQ for every eligible point you earn on a co-branded card.
The Air Canada status qualification year runs between January 1 and December 31, leaving you the full calendar year to earn toward status that you'll enjoy through the end of the following year.
Air Canada Aeroplan elite status core benefits
Aeroplan elite status provides frequent fliers with a ton of core perks. From free checked bags to eUpgrades and bonus redeemable miles, earning Air Canada elite status can be well worth it. Here's a run-down of the benefits you'll enjoy as an Aeroplan elite.
Aeroplan elite status select benefits
After earning your way to an Aeroplan elite tier, you'll have an opportunity to choose rewards from a list of select benefits.
- Aeroplan 25K — choose two
- 25% bonus Aeroplan points on eligible flights
- 5 eUpgrade credits
- 2 one-time guest passes to Maple Leaf Lounges
- Aeroplan 35K — choose one
- 35% bonus Aeroplan points on eligible flights
- 15 eUpgrade credits
- Aeroplan 50K — choose two
- 50% bonus Aeroplan points on eligible flights
- 20 eUpgrade credits
- 5,000 SQMs and 5 SQSs
- 2 status passes (to treat someone to elite status for a trip)
- Aeroplan 75K — choose two
- 75% bonus Aeroplan points on eligible flights
- 35 eUpgrade credits
- 5,000 SQMs and 5 SQSs
- Aeroplan 35K status for a friend
- 12-month Aeroplan elite Wi-Fi plan
- 3 status passes
- Aeroplan Super Elite — choose two
- 100% bonus Aeroplan points on eligible flights
- 50 eUpgrade credits
- 5,000 SQMs and 5 SQSs
- Aeroplan 50K for a friend
- 12-month Aeroplan elite Wi-Fi plan
- 4 status passes
Air Canada lifetime status
The Air Canada Million Mile program offers lifetime Aeroplan elite status for loyalty members who eclipse over one million Lifetime Qualifying Miles (LQMs). You'll earn LQMs on eligible flights operated by Air Canada. Here's a look at the status and ancillary benefits you'll receive once you reach every level of Aeroplan's Million Mile tiers.
- One million miles: Earn Aeroplan 50K for life.
- Two million miles: Earn Aeroplan 75K for life, and nominate a friend for lifetime Aeroplan 50K.
- Three million miles: Earn Aeroplan Super Elite for life.
- Four million miles: Continue to enjoy Super Elite, plus upgrade your previously nominated friend to lifetime Aeroplan 75K.
Air Canada status match
In the past, Air Canada has offered status matches, but the program is currently on pause.
Related: Current Status Match and Fast-Track Opportunities for Airline Elite Status
Elite status requirements compared to other programs
Air Canada Aeroplan is a standout program — especially compared to major U.S. carriers' loyalty programs. Nowadays, few frequent flyer programs allow you to earn elite status from flying, as most prioritize credit card spending over qualifying travel activity. This makes Aeroplan's upper ranks even more valuable since you have to fly to earn them — keeping Air Canada's highest status levels reserved for those who travel the most and not just those who do a lot of online shopping.
Ultimately, if you fly a lot, Air Canada's elite requirements are reasonable. But if you're after status without hitting the road, you're limited to Aeroplan's lowest elite rank.
Related: How To Get Airline Elite Status Without Flying
Final Thoughts
For those looking for a comprehensively complete loyalty program, Air Canada Aeroplan is worth a look. With plenty of highly valuable ways to earn and redeem points, there's incredible value to be found with Aeroplan, even if you're an occasional Air Canada traveler. There's value in this program even for those who aren't going to Canada.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Aeroplan® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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