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Air Canada Aeroplan Rewards Program

Learn all about the Air Canada Aeroplan Rewards program and find out how it can benefit you.

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Claire Horwood

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Chelsey Hurst
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Find out more about the Aeroplan rewards program and explore the ways that you can earn Aeroplan points when you book travel or shop with an Aeroplan credit card. Get the lowdown on how much your points are worth and what you can redeem them for, and learn what common Aeroplan mistakes to avoid so you can get the most out of your membership.

What is the Aeroplan rewards program?

The Aeroplan rewards program (owned by Air Canada) is one of the most popular frequent flyer programs in Canada. It has a wide network of travel and retail partners in addition to 5 million active members across the country. This makes it easy to earn Air Canada rewards at some of Canada’s most popular stores and redeem them for a wide array of travel and merchandise.

Aeroplan works just like any other frequent flyer program. You get a membership card and a membership number, which is linked to any Aeroplan credit card you have. You can then shop for daily purchases with your membership and credit card, or make online purchases through the Aeroplan eStore.

Who are Aeroplan’s partners?

Aeroplan works with 3 main categories of partners:

  1. Financial. Aeroplan’s main credit card partners are TD Canada Trust and CIBC (two of Canada’s Big Five banks). You can also sign up for a line of Aeroplan credit cards through American Express.
  2. Travel. Aeroplan is owned by Air Canada and works with over 40 other airlines to help you earn Aeroplan flight rewards. It also offers the chance to earn Aeroplan rewards with hotels and car rental agencies. Find out more about Aeroplan’s travel partners.
  3. Retail. You can earn Aeroplan rewards with over 150 brand-name retailers when you make online purchases through Aeroplan’s eStore. You can also earn points with in-store retailers such as Home Hardware, AmeriSpec Inspection Services, UPS and Starbucks.

How much are Aeroplan points worth?

The value of each individual Aeroplan Point is a subject of hot debate, with estimates ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 cents per point. That said, it’s very difficult to provide an exact estimate because your points will typically be worth different amounts based on the Aeroplan rewards you want to redeem them for.

As a rule of thumb, you’ll usually get a much higher value if you redeem your points for flights and other travel-related purchases. Your points will typically be worth less when you redeem them for items from the Aeroplan rewards catalogue such as merchandise or gift cards. Find out how many points you’ll need to use for flights with Aeroplan’s Points Predictor Tool.

What perks can I get with the Aeroplan Elite Status program?

Elite Status members get a ton of extra perks with Aeroplan. These include priority reservation services, VIP treatment at the airport, cabin upgrades, free checked bags and lounge access. Elite members will also earn more points for flights than the average traveler and they can share all of their perks with family members. Based on miles flown, they can also earn up to 11 travel vouchers each year to get as much as 50% off booked flights.

Which providers offer Aeroplan credit cards?

You can sign up for a selection of basic and premium Aeroplan credit cards with CIBC, TD or American Express. Available cards include the following:

CIBC Aeroplan credit cardsTD Aeroplan credit cardsAmerican Express Aeroplan credit cards
Premium cards
  • CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
  • CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
  • TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
  • TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
  • American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
Basic cards
  • CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card
  • CIBC Aeroplan Visa for Students
  • TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card
  • American Express Aeroplan Card
Business cards
  • CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card
  • CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Plus Card
  • TD Aeroplan Visa Business Card
  • American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card

    Compare and apply for Aeroplan credit cards

    Name Product Welcome Offer Rewards Purchase Interest Rate Annual Fee Min. Credit Score Description
    American Express Aeroplan Card
    American Express Aeroplan Card
    40,000 points
    Up to 2x points
    30% annual interest rate applies to balances not paid in full each month
    $120
    Apply now
    More Info
    Min. recommended credit score: 700
    Earn up to a total of 40,000 welcome bonus Aeroplan points and a bonus Buddy Pass. New Cardmembers can earn up to $1,200 in value within the first year.
    American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
    Finder Award
    American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
    90,000 points
    Up to 3x points
    19.99%
    $599
    Apply now
    More Info
    Min. recommended credit score: 700
    Earn up to a total of 90,000 welcome bonus Aeroplan points and a bonus Buddy Pass. New Cardmembers can earn up to $3,000 in value within your first year. Plus, receive up to $100 in statement credits every four years when a NEXUS application or renewal fee is charged to your card.
    American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
    American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
    90,000 points
    Up to 3x points
    16.99%
    $599
    Apply now
    More Info
    Min. recommended credit score: 700
    Earn up to 90,000 Aeroplan points and a bonus Buddy Pass.
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    Compare up to 4 providers

    How to get Aeroplan points?

    The number of points you can earn depends on where you spend your money, and whether you have an Aeroplan credit card. You’ll get one Aeroplan Point for every dollar you spend with partners on top of the points you earn when you pay with your Aeroplan credit card. You’ll also get a return of between 0.5 and 1.5 Aeroplan points for every dollar you spend on your credit card at non-partner stores.

    So how does this translate to real dollars? Let’s say you want to collect 25,000 points to redeem for a long-haul flight from Toronto to California. You’ll have to spend $25,000 with partner stores to earn this amount with your membership alone. If you have an Aeroplan credit card, you’ll only have to spend $12,500 with partners, or between $16,000 and $25,000 with non-partner stores.

    What promotions does Aeroplan offer?

    You can earn points faster if you take advantage of Aeroplan promotions. These include the following:

    • Aeroplan partner deals. Many of Aeroplan’s partners offer special promotions and surge deals throughout the year. You’ll just need to keep an eye on in-store flyers or monitor Aeroplan’s official promotions page to earn Aeroplan flight rewards.
    • Aeroplan eStore purchases. Aeroplan is well-known for offering a larger number of Aeroplan rewards through its online store. If you time it right, you could earn up to 10x the points when you spend money online.
    • Loyalty points transfers. You may be able to earn extra Air Canada rewards if you convert your loyalty rewards into Aeroplan points. You just need to choose a conversion partner and follow its online instructions to convert your points.

    How to earn Aeroplan Miles fast?

    Happy couple on vacation looking at a laptop with a bank cardThere are a number of ways to maximize the number of points you can earn if you want to make the Air Canada rewards program worth your while.

    • Find the best Aeroplan credit card for you. Find the credit card that gives you the highest return on Air Canada rewards in combination with the best mix of benefits.
    • Track down the best welcome offer. Look for a credit card that offers a generous welcome bonus to get a decent baseline of points right off the bat.
    • Pay more for a premium credit card. Earn more points on everyday purchases and get comprehensive benefits with a premium card.
    • Shop at partner stores. Make purchases with partner stores to earn double the Air Canada rewards or take advantage of special promotions on select purchases.
    • Shop at the Aeroplan eStore. Earn up to 10x the Aeroplan points when you shop at the Aeroplan estore.
    • Order additional cards. Grab a couple of extra cards for your family members to use so they can help you earn points faster.
    • Redeem your points for travel. Use your Air Canada rewards to book travel to get the highest value for each point.

    How can I redeem my Aeroplan points?

    Once you bank a decent number of points, you can redeem them for travel and merchandise through the Aeroplan rewards catalogue. All you need to do is sign into Aeroplan by entering your nine-digit membership number and password. You can redeem your Aeroplan points in two ways:

    1. Flights and other travel. Log in and hover over “Book travel” to redeem your points for Air Canada rewards such as flights, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages. From there, you’ll be redirected to aircanadavacations.com to make your booking.
    2. Merchandise. Redeem your points for merchandise or gift cards through Aeroplan’s eStore (which doubles as an online store as well as the Aeroplan rewards catalogue).

    Aeroplan reward charts and flight redemption

    Aeroplan reward charts are kind of like “cheat sheets” made by Aeroplan to help you figure out how many Aeroplan flight rewards you’ll have to redeem to fly on popular routes. These charts split Aeroplan travel destinations into 4 different zones: North America, Atlantic, Pacific and South America.

    Each zone has its own Aeroplan rewards chart to outline points redemption rates for that zone. The number of points you’ll have to redeem to purchase an Aeroplan flight in that zone will be based on your flight distance and seat class. The charts for each zone are shown in the tables below and can give you a rough idea of how many Aeroplan flight rewards you’ll need to collect before you’re eligible to fly to certain destinations.


    Picture not described

    The map of Aeroplan zones above is from the Aeroplan website.

    This zone includes any Aeroplan flights within Canada, to the US, to Mexico and to countries in Central America and the Caribbean. The number of Aeroplan points you’ll need to redeem for this zone range from 6,000 to 25,000 points for a one-way economy ticket.
    AirlineEconomy (pts)Business (pts)
    0 – 500 milesAir Canada6,000 – 10,00015,000 – 25,000
    Partner6,00015,000
    501 – 1,500 milesAir Canada10,000 – 15,00020,000 – 35,000
    Partner10,00020,000
    1,501 – 2,750 milesAir Canada12,500 – 17,50025,000 – 60,000
    Partner12,50025,000
    2,751+ milesAir Canada17,500 – 25,00035,000 – 70,000
    Partner22,50035,000

    The Atlantic Zones include countries in Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent and Africa. The number of Aeroplan points you’ll have to hand over for flights within this zone range from 35,000 to 100,000 points for a one-way economy ticket.

    AirlineEconomy (pts)Business (pts)First (pts)
    0 – 4,000 milesAir Canada35,000 – 60,00060,000 – 160,00090,000 – 180,000
    Partner35,00060,00090,000
    4,001 – 6,000 milesAir Canada40,000 – 70,00070,000 – 180,000100,000 – 200,000
    Partner40,00070,000100,000
    6,001 – 8,000 milesAir Canada55,000 – 80,00085,000 – 200,000120,000 – 225,000
    Partner55,00085,000120,000
    8,001+ milesAir Canada70,000 – 100,000100,000 – 220,000130,000 – 250,000
    Partner70,000100,000130,000

    The Pacific Zone includes countries in Central and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The average number of Aeroplan points you’ll have to redeem in this zone ranges from 35,000 to 110,000 points for a one-way economy Aeroplan flight.

    AirlineEconomy (pts)Business (pts)First (pts)
    0 – 5,000 milesAir Canada35,000 – 65,00055,000 – 150,00090,000 – 200,000
    Partner35,00055,00090,000
    5,001 – 7,500 milesAir Canada45,000 – 80,00075,000 – 175,000110,000 – 250,000
    Partner50,00075,000110,000
    7,501 – 11,000 milesAir Canada50,000 – 90,00085,000 – 200,000130,000 – 300,000
    Partner60,00085,000130,000
    11,001+ milesAir Canada65,000 – 110,000105,000 – 250,000140,000 – 350,000
    Partner75,000105,000140,000

    The South America zone includes all countries in South America (but it doesn’t include Central American countries such as Panama, Costa Rica or Nicaragua). The number of points you’ll have to hand over for Aeroplan flights within this zone ranges between 30,000 and 70,000 points for a one-way economy fare.

    AirlineEconomy (pts)Business (pts)First (pts)
    0 – 4,500 milesAir Canada30,000 – 60,00050,000 – 175,00080,000 – 200,000
    Partner30,00050,00080,000
    4,501+ milesAir Canada40,000 – 70,00060,000 – 200,000100,000 – 250,000
    Partner40,00060,000100,000
    The points outlined in the tables above for each destination are only a rough estimate and are typical for normal times of the year. If you’re looking to travel in a high-demand period, the cost of your trip could be higher.

    How to use Aeroplan rewards charts

    Aeroplan has a number of different destinations you can fly to based on how many Aeroplan flight rewards you’ve collected. Follow these 6 steps to use an Aeroplan rewards chart to trade in your points for your next vacation:

    1. Decide which destination you want to visit.
    2. Find the distance (in miles) of that destination from your location in Canada using a tool like Google Maps.
    3. Decide if you want to book an economy, premium economy, business or first class Aeroplan flight.
    4. With all this information at hand, check the map above to find out which zone your destination is in.
    5. Consult the tables above to determine how many points you’ll need to hand over based on the distance of your destination and the class of flight you want. Be sure to keep in mind that you’ll need to multiply the number of points required by two if you plan to book a return Aeroplan flight.

      What is Aeroplan travel insurance?

      Aeroplan doesn’t offer travel insurance directly, but it does allow you to book insurance quickly and easily through Air Canada’s third-party carrier, RBC Insurance. It’s not possible to redeem your Aeroplan rewards to get this insurance, but you’ll be able to pay a reasonable fee to lock in multiple forms of coverage.

      This coverage isn’t explicitly linked to Aeroplan, but is offered to Air Canada passengers at a discounted rate. You can choose from essential emergency medical, travel accident, baggage or flight delay and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. You can also purchase other forms of travel coverage – like car rental insurance – through Aeroplan’s main page.

      It may also be useful to note that if you have an Aeroplan credit card, you might already get comprehensive travel insurance as an integrated benefit. Be sure to check whether or not you’re already covered before you spend money to get additional insurance with RBC.

      How can I purchase Aeroplan travel insurance?

      It’s easy to purchase Aeroplan travel insurance when you book with Air Canada. The most common way to do so is by indicating what type of insurance you’d like to book when you cash your points in or pay for your flight online at Aeroplan.com. You can also call Aeroplan directly using its toll-free number if you would like to add travel insurance to your flight after it’s booked.

      Benefits and drawbacks of the Air Canada rewards program

      Benefits

      • Book flexible flights. Enjoy no flight or date restrictions when booking flights.
      • Avoid carrier surcharges. There are no carrier fees with Aeroplan flights (though you may have to pay taxes and third-party fees).
      • Get reliable pricing information. Get an estimate of how many points you’ll need with Aeroplan’s Points Predictor tool.
      • Pay with a combination of points and cash. Use points to cover part of your fare and use cash to pay for the rest, as you please.
      • Share points with your family. You can combine the points you earn with up to eight family members.
      • Enjoy non-flight reward options. Use your points for travel perks such as cabin upgrades and onboard WiFi.
      • Take advantage of perks with Aeroplan Elite Status. Earn more Aeroplan rewards and get priority perks with Aeroplan Elite status.
      • Earn points faster with an Aeroplan credit card. Earn at least double the points with an Aeroplan credit card and enjoy travel insurance and extra perks with more premium Aeroplan cards.

      Drawbacks

      • Partner flights come with a booking fee of $39. You’ll have to pay a small fee to book with partner airlines but you can book with Air Canada for free.
      • You’ll have to redeem a high number of points to book flights. You’ll need at least 24,000 points to book a return flight to an international destination from Canada.
      • You won’t earn many points for cheap flights. You’ll earn less points for cheap economy flights than you will for more expensive flights booked in business or first-class.
      • Stopovers cost 5,000 points each. Aeroplan charges 5,000 points for every stopover you make and you can’t add stopovers to any flights within or between Canada and the US.
      • Points are worth less for non-travel redemptions. You’ll get a lower value for your points if you cash them in for items from the Aeroplan rewards catalogue such as merchandise or gift cards.

      What are some of the most common Aeroplan mistakes?

      These are 7 of the most common mistakes you’ll want to avoid in order to get the most out of your Aeroplan rewards:

      1. Not signing up for an Aeroplan credit card. If you don’t have an Aeroplan credit card, you’ll only earn one point for every dollar you spend at partner stores and you won’t earn the maximum number of Aeroplan rewards when you shop for everyday purchases.
      2. Not comparing Aeroplan credit cards. If you don’t take the time to compare credit cards, you could end up with a card that gives you the minimum return on points, has benefits that aren’t useful or comes with an annual fee that’s too high for your budget.
      3. Failing to check for Aeroplan promotions. You could lose out on Aeroplan rewards if you don’t keep an eye out for special promotions. For example, you could earn 10x the points when you shop online at the Aeroplan eStore.
      4. Letting your points expire. Aeroplan rules for expiry dates state that your points can expire if you haven’t earned, redeemed, donated or transferred any points in 18 consecutive months.
      5. Not shopping at the Aeroplan eStore. You could be losing points when you choose to shop for products in-store instead of through Aeroplan’s eStore. Find out which retailers participate in the online eStore and what types of products you can buy here.
      6. Booking flights with fuel surcharges. Fuel surcharges can add hundreds of dollars to your Aeroplan flights. Find out more about how to avoid fuel surcharges when you book flights using your Aeroplan rewards.
      7. Exchanging points for low-value rewards. You’ll usually get a much higher value if you redeem your Aeroplan rewards for flights and other travel-related purchases. Your points will typically be worth less when you redeem them for merchandise and gift cards using the Aeroplan rewards catalogue.

      Bottom line

      The Air Canada rewards program lets you earn and redeem points with an Aeroplan membership and a suite of Aeroplan credit cards. Find out more about how you can make the most out of your Air Canada Aeroplan membership and affiliated credit card with this comprehensive guide.

      Frequently asked questions about the Air Canada rewards program

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