Aeroplan Rewards: The Complete Guide to Air Canada’s Loyalty Program

Jack Prenter, Founder of Dollarwise

November 29, 2023

Aeroplan Points are the currency of the Air Canada loyalty program. If you’re wondering how they work, what they are worth, or how many Aeroplan points you need to fly, you’ve come to the right place.

Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program. Aeroplan Points can be redeemed for flights with Air Canada or any of the 50+ partner airlines. Also, you can redeem them for various products, discounts, merchandise, gift cards, and vacation packages. 

How do you earn Aeroplan points?

You can earn Aeroplan points by flying with Air Canada, buying merchandise from the Aeroplan store, spending on an Aeroplan credit card or by spending with Aeroplan partners.

At its core, Aeroplan is a way for you to earn loyalty with Air Canada. Every seat on Air Canada flights can be redeemed using Aeroplan points, and they can also be used with more than 50 partner airlines.

Flying Air Canada

Flying with Air Canada offers ample opportunities to earn Aeroplan Points. By booking flights with the airline, individuals can accumulate points based on the distance traveled and fare type. Air Canada’s status levels also grant bonus points, privileges, and lounge access.

An easy way to understand just how many points you can earn is this handy info table below:

SQM = Status Qualifying Miles

You’ll only earn Aeroplan Points if you book your flights with cash, through the Air Canada website or app. This limitation also applies to choosing the airline as you can only earn points by booking flights with Aeroplan-partnered airlines. 

Using Aeroplan credit cards

Aeroplan credit cards facilitate rapid point accumulation for everyday purchases. These cards provide bonus points for specific spending categories, such as groceries, gas, or travel-related expenses. Moreover, many cards offer a welcome bonus, accelerating the number of Aeroplan Points you receive upon sign-up and meeting spending requirements.

You can expect to earn 1 point for every eligible $1 you spend on Air Canada vacations, gas, and grocery purchases. Similarly, you’ll earn 1 point for every $1.50 spent on other eligible purchases. 

Here’s a list of co-branded credit cards that can earn you Aeroplan Points:

• American Express Aeroplan Card
• American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
• American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
• TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card
• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Credit Card
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card

Transferring points from other loyalty programs

Maximize your Aeroplan Points by transferring rewards from various loyalty programs. Several partners allow point conversions to Aeroplan at specific ratios, broadening the avenues to accumulate points and diversify earning potential.

Here’s a list of supported loyalty program points transfers:

• American Express Membership Rewards – 1:1 ratio
• Coast Rewards Points – 1:1 ratio
• Shangri-La Golden Circle Award Points – 1:1 ratio
• Accor Live Limitless Points – 2:1 ratio
• Marriott Bonvoy – 3:1 ratio
• Choice Privileges Points – 5:1 ratio
• IHG Rewards Club Points – 5:1 ratio
• Wyndham Rewards Points – 5:1 ratio
• Hilton Honors Points – 10:1 ratio

Buying from Aeroplan retail partners

Utilize Aeroplan’s extensive network of retail partners to earn points on purchases. Partnering with multiple retailers, Aeroplan enables point accumulation on everyday spending, transforming routine shopping into a means of acquiring additional points.

Here are a couple of the most popular Aeroplan retail partners:

• Etsy
• Apple
• Starbucks
• Uber
• UPS Store
• LCBO (Liquid Control Board of Ontario)

There are over 200 Aeroplan retail partners which means you won’t have trouble choosing where to earn some points. Most retailers will net you 1 point for each $1 spent but you can earn anywhere between 1 and 10 points for every $1 spent, depending on the retailer. 

You can easily check how many points you’ll earn by accessing the Aeroplan eStore and navigating to the ‘Featured Retailers’ section.

You’ll also notice that you’ll earn more points during certain promotional periods, such as Black Friday so definitely keep an eye out for those. 

Buying from the Aeroplan eStore

The Aeroplan eStore functions as a gateway to earn extra points while shopping online. Users can access a multitude of retailers (more than 200) through the eStore platform, receiving points for purchases made from popular brands across diverse categories.

Promotions & special offers

Stay updated on Aeroplan’s promotions and special offers to capitalize on point-boosting opportunities. Periodic promotions, bonus point campaigns, and limited-time offers present chances to increase your points balance with relative ease.

Hotels & car rentals

Expanding beyond flights, Aeroplan Points can be earned through hotel stays and car rentals. Partnering with various accommodation providers and two car rental agencies (Avis and Budget), Aeroplan offers additional avenues to gather points during travel.

Here we wanted to take a look at what sort of accommodations Air Canada Vacations would offer in Paris and there were a whopping 169 available hotels! It’s clear that there are plenty of accommodation providers to choose from and earn points. 

Purchase points

Supplement your Aeroplan Points by purchasing them directly from the program. Buying points serves as a convenient method to bridge the gap for specific redemptions or to boost points for an intended reward.

There are a few caveats with this method that usually don’t make it worth it. For instance, the cost of the points may be higher than the base value of the points. These purchases also don’t impact your Aeroplan status or your progress in the Air Canada Altitude Program. 

Lastly, there’s a limit of 1,000,000 points that you can purchase each calendar year. Our advice is to wait for promotional sales when the points go for sale with a discount. 

Ask a friend to gift you points

Explore the option of receiving Aeroplan Points as gifts from friends or family. Aeroplan allows the transfer of points between members, enabling the pooling of points for more substantial redemptions or travel aspirations.

Points can be gifted at a rate of 2 cents per point. The minimum number of points that can be gifted is 1,000 ($20) while the maximum is 250,000 ($5,000)

How to redeem Aeroplan points?

There are two ways with which you can redeem your Aeroplan Points – on the Air Canada website or through the Air Canada App. If you’re logged in, you’ll be able to see your current Aeroplan Points balance. 

When you start searching for your travel destination, you’ll be presented with an option to use your Aeroplan Points (to cover the full amount or part of it and pay the rest with cash). 

Flights

Redeeming Aeroplan Points for flights is a very common choice among Air Canada flyers. With various redemption options, travelers can utilize their points for flights with Air Canada and its partner airlines, allowing for destination choices worldwide. Different flight classes and itineraries present diverse point redemption opportunities. 

Check out the 50+ Aeroplan partner airlines.

Hotels

Aeroplan’s redemption options extend beyond flights to include hotel stays. Members can use their accumulated points to book accommodations through partner hotels, providing a range of choices and price points across numerous destinations, whether for business or leisure travel.

You can use the Aeroplan dedicated travel portal to book accommodations and redeem your points. 

Car rental

You can also redeem your Aeroplan Points for car rentals, enhancing travel experiences beyond flights and accommodations. With partnering car rental agencies (Avis and Budget), members can redeem points to rent vehicles suitable for different travel needs, ensuring convenience during trips.

Gift cards

Aeroplan offers the exchange of points for gift cards from a variety of retailers, including Amazon, Uber, Sephora, LCBO, Rocky Mountaineer, Mastermind Toys, etc. Members can choose from a selection of brands spanning different categories such as entertainment, retail, and more. 

Some of the most common rates for redeeming points are:

• 7,000 points for a $50 gift card.
• 14,000 points for a $100 gift card.
• 35,000 points for a $250 gift card.

Merchandise

Explore the Aeroplan eStore’s array of merchandise options. From electronics to fashion, home goods, and beyond, members can use their accumulated points to shop for a diverse range of products offered by various renowned brands.

Donations for charity

Engage in philanthropy by donating Aeroplan Points to charitable causes. Members have the option to contribute their points to partner charities (300+), supporting various initiatives and making a positive impact through their loyalty program participation.

The Aeroplan Member Donation Program has raised more than 1.6 billion points for more than 1,470 charitable causes since its inception in 2006. This equals around $2.5 billion based on the points valuation that we’ve calculated (more on that later). 

Upgrades & extras

Elevate your travel experience by using Aeroplan Points for upgrades and additional services. Enjoy upgrades to higher travel classes, access to airport lounges, priority services, or other travel-related extras, enhancing comfort and convenience during trips. 

The value of Aeroplan points

Since it’s not possible to produce an exact value for Aeroplan Points due to dynamic pricing, we are only able to produce an approximation. However, the overall point value shouldn’t differ too much no matter when you decide to redeem them. 

Here’s how we calculate and determine the average Aeroplan point value: 

(Ticket Price – Taxes) x 100 / Aeroplan Points required for redemption = Cost per Point

To make it easier to understand, we’ve also prepared a few examples to showcase these costs.

Paris, CDG <-> Montréal, YUL (Round Trip):

• Economy (CA $278)
• Premium Economy (CA $822)
• Business Class (CA $2,215)

Now let’s see how many points are required for redeeming a seat for each of the classes:

• Economy (32.7K points + CA $89)
• Premium Economy (56K points + CA $89)
• Business Class (56.7K + CA $172)

For the purposes of using our calculation to determine points value, we’ll add the additional $89 and $172 (added cost when redeeming points) to the cash totals. Also, the taxes on transborder flights originating from Canada equate to $12.10. 

Economy: ($278 + $89 – $12.10) x 100 / 32.7K = ~1.08 cents in value

Premium Economy: ($822 + $89 – $12.10) x 100 / 56K = ~1.6 cents in value

Business Class: ($2,215 + $172 – $12.10) x 100 / 56.7K = ~4.2 cents in value

This shows us that higher classes provide better point values across the board so you’ll get the most value out of the business class. 

Not every flight can be booked using Aeroplan Points. Similarly, some flights will only allow you to use Aeroplan Points for a specific class.

Toronto, YYZ <-> New York, JFK (Round Trip):

• Economy (CA $242)
• Business Class (CA $383)

• Economy (5.7K + CA $110)
• Business Class (15K + CA $110)

We chose the lowest price flight ticket to see how the points value changes in this specific case. 

Economy: ($242 + $110 – $12.10) x 100 / 5.7K = ~5.9 cents in value

Business Class: ($383 + $110 – $12.10) x 100 / 15K = ~3.2 cents in value

The reason there’s such a difference in value here is that the Business Class ticket is just 37% more expensive than Economy Class (for cash payments) but 62% more expensive when it comes to Aeroplan Points.

What are Aeroplan points worth?

Aeroplan points are worth 1.87 cents each.

We’ve conducted an in-depth analysis of 28 flight itineraries and have calculated the average point value for each:

Economy Class: Economy tickets bought with points have an average point value of 1.56 cents.

Business Class: Business tickets bought with points have an average point value of 2.19 cents. 

Based on these two averages, the average Aeroplan point is worth 1.87 cents.

Essentially, the overall value you get from your Aeroplan Points depends on the type of airline, number of available flights, date, class choice, and more. You can always use the formula we provided to check the value yourself. 

Maximizing Aeroplan point value

Using effective strategies to maximize your point value is important for getting the most out of the Aeroplan Loyalty Program. 

• Aim for Optimal Point Value – You can safely skip any offers where the calculated point value is below 1.7 cents. This is the minimum you should aim for when it comes to Economy Class. As for Business Class, aim for more than 3 cents in value.
  
• Get Your Tickets from Partner Airlines – Partner airlines generally don’t change the required number of points to redeem tickets which can help in improving the value of your Aeroplan Points.
  
• Use the Aeroplan Chart – The Aeroplan travel program is designed to increase the required number of points based on certain factors, such as distance and which ‘zone’ the destination belongs to. There are a couple of sweet sports that provide the best value for your points.
  
• Get Business Class – In most cases, Business Class tickets will provide more value so if you have the means, try to redeem your points for Business Class.
  
• Keep Earning Points – The best way to maximize the efficiency of earning Aeroplan Points is by getting a co-branded Aeroplan credit card with which you can earn additional rewards. The more points you have, the better the offers. 

Always refer the Air Canada (Aeroplan) Flight Reward Chart to find the sweet spots. To clarify, sweet spots are flights that are close to (but not a part of) a different, more ‘expensive’ zone. 

For instance, if your destination is 1,450 miles away, you’ll have to redeem 20,000 points for a Business Class flight. But just 51 miles further and that number increases to 25,000. A few miles can make all the difference so plan accordingly. 

How many Aeroplan Points do you need to fly?

You generally won’t find any offers below 5K points (unless there’s a major price reduction happening) for the shortest flights (think Canada to Northern US). You can still fly with less, but you’ll have to make up the difference with cash. 

As for Transatlantic and Transpacific flights, you’ll have to have more points in storage to redeem for flights. 

Take a look at the complete overview below to understand how many points you’ll earn for which type of flight:

Within North America:

Between North America and Atlantic Zones:

Between North America and Pacific Zones

Between North and South America

Within Atlantic Zone (Partner Airlines)

Within Pacific Zone (Partner Airlines)

Between Atlantic and Pacific Zones

Within South America

Between Atlantic and South America Zones

Between Pacific and South America Zones

Aeroplan family sharing

Aeroplan Family Sharing is a very useful feature of the Aeroplan Loyalty Program. With it, you and up to 7 family members share a points pool. Each family member has their own Aeroplan account but they don’t earn points individually. All points earned go into the shared points pool. 

This feature makes it easier for everyone involved to qualify for larger point redemptions and is a much quicker way to earn points than going solo. We know that the value of points is at its highest when you redeem more expensive items so having 8 people gather points together is easier, not to mention more valuable in the long run. 

Aeroplan Elite Status

Aeroplan’s most frequent flyers enjoy bespoke and unique benefits through Aeroplan’s Elite Status Program can become part of the Elite Status Program by flying as much as they can with Air Canada. 

The more you fly, the better the rewards. The Aeroplan Elite Status is divided into tiers, with each subsequent tier providing travel benefits:

• Aeroplan 25K – Earn 25,000 SQM/25 SQS/100,000 EDQ + $3,000 SQD
  
• Aeroplan 35K – Earn 35,000 SQM/35 SQS + $4,000 SQD
  
• Aeroplan 50K – Earn 50,000 SQM/50 SQS + $6,000 SQD
  
• Aeroplan 75K – Earn 75,000 SQM/75 SQS + $9,000 SQD
  
• Aeroplan Super Elite (100K) – Earn 100,000 SQM/100 SQS + $20,000 SQD

SQM (Status Qualifying Miles): Earned as a flight distance percentage.
SQS (Status Qualifying Segments): Earned for every flight segment.
SQD (Status Qualifying Dollars): Earned for all eligible dollars spent on flight passes, tickets, Air Canada vacations, and eUpgrade add-ons.
EDQ (Everyday Status Qualification): Earned for all eligible dollars spent on everyday purchases.

Be mindful of the fact that all of these (SQM, SQS, SQD, and EDQ) are independent from the Aeroplan Points system. They are only used and accumulated while in the Elite Status Program. 

Lastly, you’re probably wondering about the tiered benefits that you’ll get as you progress through the Elite Status Program. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Priority seat selection
• Priority waitlist for reservations
• Priority check-in
• Priority baggage handling
• Priority security clearance
• Priority rewards
• Priority boarding
• Free bag checking
• Free handling of sports equipment
• Complimentary preferred seats
• Guest lounge pass
• Airport lounge pass
• eUpgrade credits for upgrading to higher seat classes
• Partner offers
• More points earned on car rentals, hotel stays, and purchases in the Aeroplan eStore

Comparing Aeroplan to Air Miles

Air Miles is another popular travel rewards program in Canada that is a valuable alternative to Aeroplan in certain situations. You can get co-branded Air Miles credit cards, and access online shopping & travel portals, similarly to Aeroplan. 

Air Miles are not affiliated with any airlines but this makes them more direct, providing flyers access to more redemption opportunities. 

But the biggest difference between the two is that you can collect your Air Miles rewards as cash miles, which are redeemable for cash rewards. Alternatively, you can collect the rewards as dream miles that can be put toward flights, rental cars, hotels, merchandise, and a lot more. 

The most impactful drawback of Air Miles is the lack of transfer options; you cannot transfer, donate, or gift your Air Miles to other flight and travel loyalty programs. 

What are the Best Ways to Earn Aeroplan Points Without Flying?

While the primary purpose of the Aeroplan Loyalty Program is to reward frequent flyers, flying isn’t the only way of earning Aeroplan Points. About half of the points-earning methods don’t include flying and they are: 

• Using Aeroplan Credit Cards for everyday purchases
• Purchasing from Retail Partners 
• Using the Aeroplan eStore for various purchases
• Purchasing Points when there are sales
• Asking a Friend to Donate their points at a rate of 2 cents per point

Combining all of these methods can earn you a hefty sum of points every once in a while, especially if you want to earn them without flying.