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In a joint press release today, World of Hyatt and Air Canada Aeroplan announced they are joining forces to offer their members more ways to earn and redeem points. While some airlines and hotels have had surface-level partnerships in the past, this new venture seems like one designed around better experiences both in the air and on the ground.
From points transferability and discounts to fast tracks to elite status with both programs, this new announcement marks a shift in the direction loyalty programs are heading.
As two of the most popular and beloved airline and hotel loyalty programs out there, Hyatt and Air Canada have a chance to create something special, rewarding elite and non-elite members alike with new ways to earn points and redeem them for free hotel stays, with a large focus on the underserved Canadian credit card market.
Reciprocal Benefits Between Aeroplan and World of Hyatt
Aeroplan and World of Hyatt elite members who link their accounts will have the ability to fast-track their journeys to higher elite status in both loyalty programs.
Benefits for Aeroplan members
Up until now, our neighbors to the north had very few ways to earn Hyatt points beyond their hotel stays. But starting with this new World of Hyatt and Air Canada Aeroplan collab, Aeroplan members will be able to redeem their points toward World of Hyatt free-night awards for both Category 1-4 and Category 1-7 certificates.
Redemptions for free night awards will start at 25,000 Aeroplan points for the Category 1-4, while Category 1-7 free night awards will set you back 75,000 points. Free night awards are good for any participating World of Hyatt property worldwide.
If you're an Aeroplan member and want to earn Aeroplan points in lieu of earning World of Hyatt points, you can now earn 500 points per stay. This is valid for World of Hyatt members also looking to beef up their Aeroplan balances.
Aeroplan members with elite status — as well as premium credit cardholders of Canada-issued Aeroplan cards — can unlock World of Hyatt elite status faster via a 90-day status challenge up to once per year, as follows:
- 4 nights to reach Discoverist
- 10 nights to earn Explorist
- 20 nights to reach top-tier Globalist
Aeroplan premium credit card holders are also extended a suite of World of Hyatt benefits just for holding the card:
- Complimentary Discoverist status
- 5 tier-qualifying night credits each calendar year
- Two tries at the World of Hyatt 90-day elite status challenge
- The ability to earn points in both Aeroplan and World of Hyatt programs on eligible Hyatt stays
It's worth noting that these benefits are only available through Canadian-issued Aeroplan cobranded credit cards, and it excludes those cards issued in the U.S.
Benefits for World of Hyatt members
As of today, World of Hyatt members have the ability to use 50,000 of their points to redeem for a 30,000-point Aeroplan flight reward certificate. These flight reward certificates are good for redemptions on Air Canada as well as all Aeroplan partner airlines, in any cabin class. Taxes, partner booking fees, and other charges may apply.
You can use this flight reward certificate for redemptions higher than 30,000 points and supplement the cost with points you have in your Aeroplan account, even if you've transferred them in from other credit cards or loyalty programs.
TJ Abrams, Vice President of Global Partnerships and Wellbeing at Hyatt, adds:
“Some of my favorite travel memories are when everything feels connected; the flight, the stay, and the benefits that make the journey easier and more rewarding. That's what makes our collaboration with Air Canada's Aeroplan so exciting. By bringing together two world class loyalty programs, we're giving members more flexibility, more ways to earn and redeem, and more value throughout their trip. We're thrilled to welcome Aeroplan members to World of Hyatt and give our members even more ways to feel cared for every step of the way.”
World of Hyatt members are also getting a planeload of benefits, and the great news is that even those based in the U.S. can benefit from them. To take advantage of these reciprocal benefits, all you have to do is link your accounts.
- Discoverist, Explorist, and Globalist members will receive a $20 CAD flight credit for use on Air Canada annually.
- Explorist and Globalist members will be able to register for annual fast-track challenges to shortcut their way to Aeroplan elite status (coming later in 2026).
Converting Aeroplan points to World of Hyatt (and vice versa)
Members can now convert World of Hyatt points into Air Canada Aeroplan points in increments of 1,000 at a 2-to-1 ratio, starting with a 5,000-point minimum transfer.
Conversely, Aeroplan elite status members can convert their points into World of Hyatt points at a 2-to-1 ratio, starting with a 500-point minimum. Conversion caps at 100,000 per day or 250,000 per week.
We should note that the 2-to-1 ratio isn't terribly exciting, as there are plenty of credit card programs in the U.S. that offer 1 to 1 transfers into both programs. With that said, if you don't have credit cards that earn both, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Bilt Palladium Card, having the ability to top off either account could have some fringe uses.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on gas and EV charging
- 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Canadians Unlock More with Aeroplan + World of Hyatt
If you're an Aeroplan Credit Cardholder in Canada, the benefits get even better. Once you link your account, those eligible cardholders earn even more, just by virtue of having a credit card. The bonus that you'll receive varies with each of the different Canadian cards.
Aeroplan Premium Credit Cardholders: Earn 2 World of Hyatt Bonus Points + 2 Aeroplan points per eligible $1 CAD spent at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts.
- American Express Aeroplan Reserve card
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card
- CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Aeroplan Premium Business Credit Cardholders: Earn 2 World of Hyatt Bonus Points + 2.5 Aeroplan points per eligible $1 CAD spent at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts.
- American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve card
Aeroplan Core Business Cardholders: Earn 1 World of Hyatt Bonus Point + 2 Aeroplan points per eligible $1 CAD spent at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts.
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Business
- CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Business Card
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Plus
Aeroplan Core Cardholders: Earn 1 World of Hyatt Bonus Point + 1.5 Aeroplan points per eligible $1 CAD spent at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts.
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite
- American Express Aeroplan Card
- CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card
This represents a huge earning potential for premium credit cardholders, as you'll now earn both Aeroplan and World of Hyatt points when spending at participating Hyatt hotels.
Bottom Line
While on the surface this may seem like a partnership made mostly with Canadians in mind, I see a lot of value here for Canadians and non-Canadians alike. The opportunity for elite members in the World of Hyatt program to enjoy extra benefits with Air Canada is real, and those elite members in the Air Canada Aeroplan program can now use their points to have even better stays on the ground with Hyatt.
Although the transfer rates may not seem ideal at first, this opens a new path for members of both programs to swap currencies for whatever makes more sense in the moment, and I believe more options are always best. I'd personally love to see more hotels and airlines partner together, like Air Canada and Hyatt are, to make the travel experience more seamless for travelers around the world.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees)
