Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
With the launch of the Chase Aeroplan credit card, there are now more ways than ever to earn Air Canada Aeroplan points.
Air Canada
Air Canada’s Aeroplan loyalty program offers good value for award flights if you know where to look.
You can earn and use points on Air Canada flights as well as on partner airlines like United.
The Aeroplan® Credit Card earns points directly, or you can transfer flexible points to Aeroplan.
Read Insider’s guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.
To non-Canadians, Air Canada’s Aeroplan points might not sound terribly useful. Why invest in a loyalty program with an airline that you’ve never flown with before — and perhaps never will?
In fact, Air Canada Aeroplan is one of the most useful airline points available. You can get many thousands of dollars in value from Aeroplan points even if you never step foot on an Air Canada plane. Aeroplan offers excellent sweet spots on its partner airlines such as United Airlines, Lufthansa, and ANA.
Aeroplan points are also remarkably easy to earn, as it’s a transfer partner of multiple flexible credit card rewards currencies. Here’s everything you need to know about earning and redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan points.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
How to earn Aeroplan points
Under the new scheme, Aeroplan members can earn points in a number of ways. Here are some of the best.
Earn Aeroplan points with credit cards and points transfers
The Aeroplan® Credit Card is the only US credit card that earns Aeroplan points directly. However, Aeroplan also partners with several major transferable credit card points programs.
Chase Aeroplan Credit Card
Chase’s Aeroplan® Credit Card launched in December 2021, and it’s a good pick even if you don’t fly Air Canada frequently. New cardholders can earn Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card. The welcome bonus can be used to book flights on Air Canada or any of its 45 partners, including United Airlines, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines.
New cardholders also receive automatic Aeroplan 25K Elite Status for the remainder of the first calendar year, plus the following calendar year.
The card offers a free first checked bag on Air Canada flights for the primary cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation, the ability to re-earn (or step-up) elite status by hitting spending thresholds, and up to $100 reimbursement for the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee every four years.
Starting in 2022, cardholders will have the option to redeem up to 50,000 Aeroplan points per year toward any eligible travel purchase through Chase Pay Yourself Back. When you redeem points this way, they’re worth 1.25 cents each — and qualifying travel includes airfare, car rentals, hotels, rideshares, and much more.
American Express Membership Rewards
Aeroplan has long been an Amex transfer partner. If you carry a card that earns Membership Rewards points, you can convert them to Aeroplan points at a 1:1 ratio. Here are some of the best American Express cards to consider.
American Express card
Welcome bonus offer
Review
Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
American Express® Gold Card
American Express® Gold Card
American Express® Green Card
American Express® Green Card
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Amex Business Platinum card review
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Amex Blue Business Plus card review
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card
Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express
Amex EveryDay Preferred card review
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express
Capital One Miles
If you have a card that earns Capital One Miles, you can transfer them to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Here are five cards that can help you along the way.
Capital One card
Welcome bonus
Review
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X card review
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardCapital One Venture card review
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture vs VentureOne — which travel rewards credit card is right for you?
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Capital One Spark Miles for BusinessCapital One Spark Miles for Business card review
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for BusinessThe best Capital One credit cards of 2021
Chase Ultimate Rewards
With the addition of Air Canada as a Chase Ultimate Rewards® partner, cardholders can move points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio with instant transfers.
Only some cards — like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card — have to ability to transfer points to partners. However, if you have one of these cards, you can combine points from other no-annual-fee Chase cards, like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, then transfer them to airline and hotel partners.
Chase card
Welcome bonusLearn more
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred card review
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve card review
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Ink Business Preferred® Credit CardInk Business Preferred card review
Marriott Bonvoy points
Marriott Bonvoy® points transfer to Aeroplan points at a ratio of 3:1. But when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at a time, you get a 5,000-mile airline bonus. So if you transferred 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’d end up with 20,000 Aeroplan points, plus a 5,000-point bonus for a total of 25,000 Aeroplan points.
While that’s not the most phenomenal deal, it’s still worth taking advantage of in some cases. Both Chase and Amex issue Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.
Marriott cardWelcome bonusLearn more
Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy Bold card review
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy Boundless card review
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® CardMarriott Bonvoy Bevy card review
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ CardMarriott Bonvoy Bountiful card review
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® CardMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant card review
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® CardMarriott Bonvoy Business card review
Earn Aeroplan points flying Air Canada
The next easiest way to rack up Aeroplan points is by actually flying Air Canada, but the earning formula is going to change in 2023.
For now, passengers are awarded points based on the fare code of the ticket they purchase, the distance flown, and the region in which they are traveling. If it sounds confusing, it is. You can check this earning chart for specifics, but the gist is this:
Basic fares within Canada earn 10% award points based on mileage flown, and no elite-qualifying pointsBasic fares between Canada and the US earn 25% award points, and no elite-qualifying points.Basic fares between Canada and other international destinations as well as Standard fares within Canada earn 25% of the miles flown as award and elite-qualifying pointsStandard fares between Canada and the US or other international destinations earn 50% award and elite points based on mileage flownFlex fares earn 100% award and elite points based on mileage flownComfort fares earn 115% award and elite points based on flight mileageLatitude and Premium Economy fares earn 125% award and elite pointsBusiness class fares earn 150% award and elite points
Pay special attention to your regions of travel, flight distances, and most importantly, the fare class of your ticket to calculate just how many points you’ll earn.
But here’s the monkey wrench: Beginning in 2023, flyers will begin to earn Aeroplan points based on spending and elite status rather than flight distance. Originally, this change was planned for late 2021, but it’s been postponed.
Qualifying spending includes airfare and carrier surcharges, but not taxes. This is sort of like how you earn miles with American, Delta, and United these days. As far as we know, it will look like this:
Basic fares: Earn 2x points per (Canadian) dollarStandard fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarFlex/Comfort fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarLatitude fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarPremium economy fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollarBusiness fares: Earn 3x points per (Canadian) dollar
Essentially, everything but basic economy fares will earn 3x per dollar.
Boost your earnings with elite status
We won’t get into the details of achieving elite status. But if you do hit one of these tiers, you’ll accumulate even more award points per (Canadian) dollar once the new system goes into effect. Here’s how many more each level will accrue.
25K status: 1x extra per dollar35K status: 1x extra per dollar50K status: 2x extra per dollar75K status: 3x extra per dollarSuper Elite status (yes, this is actually the name): 4x extra per dollar
So you can really up your earning potential depending on your tier. With 75K status, you’re basically doubling your return on spending, and Super Elites do even better.
Inflight purchases
It’s also worth noting that you’ll earn Aeroplan points for onboard food and beverage purchases. You earn 25 points for spending between CAD $10 and $19.99, and 50 Aeroplan points for purchases of CAD $20 or above.
Earn points flying Air Canada’s airline partners
Air Canada also has more than 45 Star Alliance and non-alliance airline partners on whom you can earn and redeem points, including recently added partners Oman Air and Air Mauritius. Here’s the full list:
Air Canada partner airlines
Aegean AirlinesAer LingusAeromarAir ChinaAir CreebecAir DolomitiAir IndiaAir MauritiusAir New ZealandAir SerbiaAll Nippon Airways (ANA)AsianaAustrian AirlinesAviancaAzul Brazilian AirlinesBrussels AirlinesCalm AirCanadian NorthCathay PacificCentral Mountain AirCopa AirlinesCroatia AirlinesEgyptairEthiopian AirlinesEtihad AirwaysEurowingsEurowings DiscoverEVA AirGOLGulf AirJuneyao AirlinesLOT Polish AirlinesLufthansaMiddle East AirlinesOlympic AirOman AirScandinavian AirlinesShenzhen AirlinesSingapore AirlinesSouth African AirwaysSriLankan AirlinesSWISSTAP Air PortugalTHAITurkish AirlinesUnitedVirgin AustraliaVistara
The number of points you’ll earn on its partners will depend on the fare you purchase and the distance you fly. For instance, United flights earn between 25% and 150% points and elite-qualifying miles based on mileage flown, while Air New Zealand flights earn between 70% and 125%.
Family sharing
Aeroplan is one of the few airline frequent flyer programs that allow members to pool points among friends and family. With Aeroplan Family Sharing, up to eight members can link accounts, and any points earned are shared among all and can be used by all. If any of the family members have elite status or an Air Canada co-branded credit card, any associated benefits, such as discounted award flights, will also be applied to the pool of points.
Other partners: Hotels, car rentals, vacation packages
You can also earn Aeroplan points with a variety of other travel partners. For example, you can earn 250 Aeroplan points per qualifying stay with Best Western and Choice Hotels, and 500 points per stay with Coast Hotels and Shangri-La.
Additionally, you can transfer points from certain hotel loyalty programs into Aeroplan points. For example, ALL – Accor Live Limitless points convert at a 2:1 ratio, and Hilton Honors or Radisson Rewards at a 10:1 rate. You can also opt to earn 2x Aeroplan points per dollar spent with Wyndham or Marriott Bonvoy.
As for transport partners, including car rentals, you can save money and earn bonus points with Avis, Budget, Payless, and Park ‘N Fly. Some Air Canada Vacations packages also earn bonus points – usually a fixed amount like 5,000 to 7,000 points per reservation that depends on the destination.
Retail partners
Through the Aeroplan eStore, the loyalty program’s online shopping portal, members can either earn bonus points or redeem points for purchases with nearly 250 retailers including Apple and Sephora. These tend to be modest — usually around 1x to 4x bonus points per dollar, but can still add up.
Buy or transfer points
Purchasing airline miles or points is never a great deal, so in general, try to avoid it. However, if you only need to top up your account with a few thousand for an upcoming award, it can be worth it, especially if there are any discounts or bonuses to take advantage of.
Normally, though, Aeroplan points cost CAD $0.03 apiece to purchase, and CAD $0.02 to transfer between accounts.
The best ways to redeem Aeroplan points
Redeem Aeroplan points for flights
As with a lot of frequent flyer programs, you typically get the most value from your points or miles by redeeming them for flights, either with the airline or its partners.
Some programs base their award prices on the regions of travel and partners you fly. Others use distance-based formulas which price seats based on how far you fly. Still others, such as Southwest and JetBlue, peg the value of their points to (nearly) fixed values that correlate to airfare — so the more expensive the ticket you want to redeem for, the more points you need.
Aeroplan has opted for a complex hybrid award system that blends region- and distance-based charts, and will price Air Canada’s own flights dynamically according to availability, meaning there will be a range of mileage prices depending on the zone, cabin, and airfares. Here’s how it works.
There are four major regions into which the world is divided:
North America (including the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean)Atlantic (including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and even India)Pacific (including most of Asia, Oceania, Australia, and New Zealand)South America (speaks for itself)
Then, within each region and between regions, the number of Aeroplan points required for a flight will depend on the distance flown and, for Air Canada’s own flights, the type of award availability there is (saver, standard, etc.). The good news is, there’s now last-seat availability on Air Canada flights — you’ll just need a lot more points to book that last seat.
Air Canada Aeroplan points are worth, on average, 1.5 cents apiece based on Insider’s points and miles valuations — but the exact value you’ll get depends on how and when you redeem your rewards.
All told, Aeroplan now publishes 10 separate award charts to keep straight. If that sounds like too much work, you can simply input your origin and destination into the airline’s Points Predictor tool and price out the miles you need based on the cabin you want to fly and whether you’re going to take Air Canada or partners.
As a quick example, let’s say you’re based in the US. For flights within North America (and remember, we’re including Central America and the Caribbean here), Air Canada economy awards cost between 6,000 and 25,000 points each way based on distance, while those on partners cost 6,000 to 22,500 points.
In business class, Air Canada flights will price out between 15,000 and 70,000 points, while partner tickets will require 15,000 to 35,000 points.
From North America to destinations in the Atlantic Zone (including Europe and Africa), you could be paying 35,000 to 100,000 points for an economy ticket on Air Canada (35,000 to 70,000 on partners), or 60,000 to 220,000 in business class on Air Canada (60,000 to 100,000 on partners).
The key to using these charts effectively will be to shop around and know which awards will price out better according to the new system than using miles from a partner program like United MileagePlus.
Aeroplan award sweet spots
Let’s look at a few Aeroplan award chart sweet spots. In general, you’ll want to keep your routing as short as possible so as not to be charged higher mileage prices since they are now based on distance.
Aeroplan will let you add one stopover on one-way award tickets, or two on round-trips, for 5,000 extra points each. However, there are some rules to be aware of, like you cannot add them in Canada or the US — and you can’t “backtrack” through an airport you’ve already traveled to or transited. Still, this can be a great way to wrap two trips up in one without paying for two separate award tickets.
With that out of the way, here are a few examples of when you might want to use Aeroplan points:
Short flights within North America cost between 6,000 and 10,000 points for an economy ticket on flights under 500 miles, or 10,000 to 15,000 points for flights between 501 and 1,500 miles.Fly United business class from the West Coast to Hawaii for 25,000 points each way.Fly Seattle or Vancouver to Tokyo on All Nippon Airways for just 55,000 points each way in business class.Fly from most of the US to Frankfurt in Lufthansa first class for 90,000 to 100,000 points each way.
Points + Cash awards
Aeroplan allows you to book award tickets using a mix of points and cash. You can use points to pay the tax portion of a ticket, for instance, or to shave up to a few hundred dollars off your fare. Rather than a sliding scale that lets you select the exact amount of points you want to redeem, though, you’re stuck to preset increments.
From a few sample bookings, this tends to yield a value of about CAD $0.01 to $0.014 per point. That’s decent, but you probably only want to use this option if you don’t have quite enough points in your account to book the award outright.
Upgrades and inflight Wi-Fi
Among two of the more interesting ways to redeem your points are upgrades on Air Canada flights and inflight Wi-Fi purchases.
For upgrades, you’ll need to log into your specific reservation and bid on an upgrade offer using points, so your value may vary. For the Wi-Fi, just log into the network on your next flight and choose a plan that has points pricing to select that option instead of paying cash.
Lower fees and partner charges
One bright spot in all these changes is that Aeroplan has removed carrier-imposed surcharges from its award tickets. These would add up to hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars on some flights, making it pointless to redeem rewards.
What made them even more confusing was that they only applied to certain airlines. Now, however, Aeroplan is charging a flat CAD $39 partner booking fee for tickets on other airlines, and no such surcharges on Air Canada’s own flights (though you still have to pay taxes and third-party fees like airport charges).
Priority Rewards
Aeroplan has introduced a rather unique benefit for elite members called Priority Rewards. These are vouchers good for 50% off the price in points of a flight reward. Now, you have to hit some pretty high spending requirements to earn vouchers — you get one at CAD $4,000, $7,000, $10,000, and $15,000 then for every $5,000 above that up to $50,000 maximum per calendar year. (Note these are all in Canadian dollars, so the range in USD is $3,190 to $39,877 based on exchange rates at the time of post writing).
There are also some complicated limitations to how you can apply these. For example, if you have 25K or 35K status, you can only apply your Priority Rewards to economy flights within the US or Canada. If you have 75K status, you can use yours worldwide on tickets in economy and premium economy, but not higher. So it takes some strategy, but depending on how you apply these, shaving half off the points price of your ticket can amount to tens of thousands of points in savings.
Other travel and retail partners
As with earning, you can cash in your Aeroplan points with other travel and retail partners. In general, this is not the way to go since you can usually squeeze a lot more value from points when booking flights.
But if you have an Aeroplan stash and nothing to do with the points, you can now use them to book stays at over 300,000 hotels, reservations at over 11,000 car rental locations, entire Air Canada Vacations packages, directly for merchandise or gift cards via the Aeroplan eStore, and for activities and travel experiences.
From various searches, the value you tend to get is just around CAD $0.007 to $0.012 per point with any of these options, so it might be best to avoid them.
Bottom line
There are many great ways to reap value from both earning and redeeming Aeroplan points.
US customers have recently gained more options for earning these points, as well, thanks to its partnership with Chase and the launch of the Aeroplan® Credit Card.