It probably comes as no surprise that the largest airline in Canada also has one of the biggest and best rewards programs: Aeroplan. This free loyalty program rewards frequent flyers with points they can spend on flights, hotels, car rentals, merchandise, and Maple Leaf Lounge passes.
Since Aeroplan is such a large program, it’s easy to accumulate points – especially if you use an Aeroplan credit card to rack them up on everyday purchases. Plus, if you use a card (or reach Elite Status in the program), your points never expire!
Before you head to the sign-up page, read through our guide for tips on how to maximize Aeroplan points so you get the best value.
Key Takeaways
- The Aeroplan rewards program is owned and operated by Air Canada.
- Aeroplan rewards include flights, gift cards, car rentals, vacation packages, hotels, and merchandise, with flights yielding 2 cents per point.
- Aeroplan reward flights must be booked on Air Canada, Air Emirates, or Star Alliance member airlines.
- The fastest way to earn Aeroplan points is to fly Air Canada, convert points from other rewards programs, sign up for Chexy, or shop with an Aeroplan credit card.
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What is Aeroplan?
Aeroplan is a rewards program owned and operated by Air Canada. Buying flights, flight-related services, and products through program partners (or with an Aeroplan credit card) earns you Aeroplan points to spend on 6 rewards categories. You can even pool points with up to 7 family members to buy a big vacation package!
Sign-up is free, but the best points-earning opportunities – and perks – are reserved for frequent flyers. Fortunately, Air Canada is the country’s largest airline and the founding member of the Star Alliance airline group, with routes between over 50 domestic and hundreds of destinations across 6 continents. If Air Canada can’t get you to your destination, it has a partner that can.
Aeroplan pros:
- 250+ financial, retail, and travel partners
- 50+ Canadian, 50+ US, and 80+ international airports in the Air Canada network
- 50+ airlines and 1,300+ global destinations in the Aeroplan partner network
- 13 Aeroplan credit cards with advanced points earning rates
- 6 rewards categories valued at up to 4 cents CAD per Aeroplan point
- 7 ways to earn Aeroplan points
- 5 Aeroplan Elite Status membership levels with perks including complimentary meals, Maple Leaf Lounge access, and priority airport services
Aeroplan cons:
- Aeroplan points don’t count towards flight charges, fees, surcharges, or taxes
- Best points earning rates are reserved for frequent flyers in premium flight classes
- Can’t transfer points for free
- Economy Basic fares don’t earn you Aeroplan points
- Flight rewards have no fixed value per Aeroplan point
- Rewards worth as little as 0.5 cents CAD per Aeroplan point
How much are Aeroplan points worth?
Like Air Miles, Aeroplan points aren’t worth a set amount. The value of each point depends on what reward you choose and when.
Cost of reward in $ / cost of reward in Aeroplan points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)
Flight rewards are at the top of the ladder. A ticket to a quiet destination during "shoulder" or “off” tourist seasons yields up to 4.0 CPP. By contrast, we found toys and games on the Aeroplan eStore – like Monopoly Classic – worth as little as 0.5 CPP.
From most to least valuable, here are the 6 Aeroplan rewards categories:
| Reward category | Average CPP | How to redeem |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | 2.0 | Book through the Air Canada website. Selecting a quiet destination during "off" and “shoulder” tourist seasons yields up to 4 CPP. |
| Car rentals | 0.90 | Book through the Air Canada website to rent a vehicle from over 11,000+ locations worldwide. |
| Vacation packages | 0.83 | Book through Air Canada Vacations to spend your points on cruises, hotels, tours, vacation packages, and flight and hotel bundles. |
| Hotels | 0.82 | Book through the Aeroplan HotelSavers website and save up to 30% in points with 16 luxury, 17 premium, and 13 economy accommodations partners. |
| Merchandise | 0.74 | Visit the Aeroplan eStore to shop for products in 17 categories from almost 350 brands. Point values vary so keep a calculator handy. |
| Gift cards | 0.71 | Visit the Aeroplan eStore to shop gift cards from A&W to Williams Sonoma. Prepaid credit cards yield the least CPP (0.61), while Air Canada gift cards yield the most (1.0). |
Because it’s the most valuable rewards category (and the most complicated to redeem), we’ve dedicated the next section to getting as much value as possible out of booking an Aeroplan reward flight.
How to redeem Aeroplan points for flights
Aeroplan points have the highest potential value when redeemed for flights – emphasis on potential. According to the Air Canada flight reward chart, the estimated cost of your Aeroplan reward flight depends on:
- The airline you choose: Flights with Air Canada may cost more than flights with a partner airline.
- The number of miles between your departure and destination airport: The further you fly, the more points it costs.
- Your flight class. Business Class flights cost more than Economy and Premium Economy flights.
- Your travel dates: Booking a flight next week costs more than booking several months in advance. Similarly, a flight during "off" and “shoulder” tourist seasons costs less.
- Your destination’s travel zone: Air Canada divides the world into 4 major travel zones: North America, South America, the Atlantic, and the Pacific. Flying between two zones costs more points than remaining within one zone.
Pro Tip: Rather than use a chart, try using the Air Canada Points Finder, which shows you where your Aeroplan Points can take you depending on your departing airport, travel dates, travel class, and points budget. Or the Points Predictor, which estimates the cost of flying between 2 airports in points.
To book your reward flight, it’s a simple matter of visiting the Aeroplan flight redemption platform:
- Select "Book with points Aeroplan"
- Search for a flight
- Choose the flight, class, and options you want
- Confirm whether you’ll pay in cash, Aeroplan points, or a mix of the two
- Enter your membership number, payment info, and traveller details.
Once you confirm the booking, there’s nothing left to do but mark it on your calendar.
How does Aeroplan work?
The Aeroplan program has 1 + 5 membership levels. All new members start at the free first level with zero points, bonuses, or benefits.
Buy enough flights, flight-related services, and qualifying purchases within a single calendar year (January 1 – December 31) and you’ll unlock the next 5 membership levels, becoming an Aeroplan Elite Status member.
All Elite Status members enjoy:
- 250 miles minimum counted toward Aeroplan points per flight, regardless of actual flight distance
- 20 eUpgrade credits
- 3 bonus Aeroplan points per $1 spent on partner hotels and rental cars
- 2 bonus Aeroplan points per $1 spent on the Aeroplan eStore
- Complimentary preferred seat selection on Standard or Flex fares
- Complimentary sports equipment handling
- Priority boarding, check-in, flight waitlisting, and standby on Air Canada flights
At higher membership levels, some benefits even apply to flights with any Star Alliance airline!
How to qualify for Aeroplan Elite Status
There are 5 levels of Aeroplan Elite Status membership. Each one is named after the number of miles you must fly to qualify:
- Elite Status 25K: EITHER earn 100,000 Aeroplan Points (not counting gifts, promotional bonuses, points transfers, or welcome bonuses) OR spend $3,000 on Air Canada or partner flights, upgrades, and surcharges PLUS fly 25,000 miles OR 25 Air Canada or partner flights
- Elite Status 35K: Spend $4,000 on qualifying flights PLUS fly 35,000 miles OR 35 qualifying flights
- Elite Status 50K: Spend $6,000 on qualifying flights PLUS fly 50,000 miles OR 50 qualifying flights
- Elite Status 75K: Spend $9,000 on qualifying flights PLUS fly 75,000 miles OR 75 qualifying flights
- Super Elite: Spend $20,000 on qualifying flights PLUS fly 100,000 miles OR 100+ qualifying flights
Once you qualify for any Elite Status membership level, you can pick and enjoy 1–2 Select Benefits (and your new membership benefits) for the rest of the year. The 7 Select Benefits range from bonus Aeroplan Points to Maple Leaf Lounge passes. You can even receive a giftable voucher for Elite Status benefits and treatment for the entirety of one journey!
As for the rest of the Aeroplan membership experience, it wouldn’t be a rewards program without some sweet perks and benefits:
| Benefit | 25K | 35K | 50K | 75K | Super Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complimentary checked bags | 2* | 3* | 3* | 3* | 3* |
| Complimentary standard seat selection | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Priority baggage handling | Yes | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* | |
| Priority security clearance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Air Canada Concierge Service | Yes | ||||
| Maple Leaf Lounge access | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* | ||
| Maple Leaf Lounge guest passes | 2* | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Star Alliance Gold Lounge access | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* | ||
| Non-Star Alliance lounge access | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Air Canada Café access | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Bonus Aeroplan points per flight | 25% | 35% | 50% | 75% | 100% |
| Bonus Aeroplan points | 2,500 | 2,500 | 20,000 | ||
| One-time SQM and SQS bonus | 5,000 SQM and 5 SQS | 5,000 SQM and 5 SQS | 5,000 SQM and 5 SQS |
* Benefit also applies to flights on Star Alliance member airlines
Aeroplan Super Elite members also get the following super-exclusive perks:
- Access to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) Arrivals lounge
- Complimentary in-flight alcoholic beverage and snack
- Free cancellations and changes on Aeroplan reward flights
Aeroplan One Million Miles program
If you fly at least 1,000,000 air miles in your lifetime with Air Canada or a partner airline, you’ll earn permanent Aeroplan Elite Status membership. Fly even more to boost your membership level and earn the same perks for someone else:
- 1 million miles: Permanent Aeroplan 50K Elite Status
- 2 million miles: Permanent Aeroplan 75K Elite Status, with Aeroplan 50K status for a single travelling companion
- 3 million miles: Permanent Aeroplan Super Elite Status
- 4 million miles: Permanent Aeroplan Super Elite Status, with Aeroplan 75K Super Elite Status for the same travelling companion
Plus, members in the Aeroplan One Million Miles club get a welcome package with an exclusive membership card and special luggage tags.
7 ways to earn Aeroplan points fast
We’ve already hinted at the many ways to earn Aeroplan points, from flying Air Canada to using a co-branded credit card. Officially, there are 7 ways for Aeroplan members to earn points:
- Buy flights and flight-related services from Air Canada or Star Alliance airlines
- Book hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages through Air Canada
- Convert points from other rewards programs
- Purchase Aeroplan points or Points Boosters
- Shop at the Aeroplan eStore and with retail partners
- Shop with an Aeroplan credit card
- Sign up and pay your bills with Chexy to earn Aeroplan points
Pro Tip: To earn points faster, try combining two or more of the above methods. For example, you could use the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card to book an international Business Class flight on Air Canada, then multiply the points with a Points Boost.
1. Buy flights and flight-related services
Buying a flight on Air Canada is the fastest way to earn Aeroplan points. Don’t forget that Aeroplan Elite Status members can earn up to twice the bonus points per flight, and all their flights count for a minimum of 250 miles!
Here are all the flight and flight-related purchases that qualify for Aeroplan points:
| Purchase | Points earn rate |
|---|---|
| Business fare | 1.5x number of miles flown |
| Premium Economy and Latitude fare | 1.25x number of miles flown |
| Comfort fare | 1.15x number of miles flown |
| Flex fare | 1x number of miles flown |
| Standard Air Canada flight from Canada to US or International | 0.5x number of miles flown |
| Standard domestic Air Canada flight, or basic flight from Canada to US or International | 0.25x number of miles flown |
| In-flight food or drink | * 25 points per $10–$19.99 purchase * 50 points per $20+ purchase |
| Airline partner flight | Depends on airline partner |
| Air Canada Duty Free Boutique | * 1.5 points per $1 per $49–$199 purchase * 2 points per $1 per $200 purchase |
| Air Canada In-Flight Duty Free Boutique | * 250 points per $100–$199 purchase * 500 points per $200+ purchase |
2. Book hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages
Air Canada’s booking website provides plenty of choices of where to sleep, what to drive, and what to do once you reach your flight destination. The Aeroplan program partners with:
- 20+ hotel and resort chains providing 250–10,000 Aeroplan points per stay, or up to 2 points per $1 USD spent
- 5 car rental agencies providing up to 199 Aeroplan points per rental, or up to 2 points per $1 USD spent
- Air Canada Vacations, which yield up to 1.5x Aeroplan points per mile travelled (on the flight portion of the package) plus 8,500–23,000 bonus points per traveller
You can stay with Fairmont or Hotel Express, drive with Avis or Budget, and get your first checked bag free, plus enjoy flexible payment plans and other perks through Air Canada Vacations.
It pays to keep an eye on vacation deals, too – at the time of writing, Aeroplan members can get up to 50% off their second vacation package.
3. Convert points from other rewards programs
Air Canada has 22 conversion program partners in Canada, giving you the option to transform the points in one rewards program into Aeroplan points.
Some of the eligible points you can convert include:
- American Express Membership Rewards at a rate of 1 Membership Reward Point to 1 Aeroplan Point
- Best Western Rewards at a rate of 5:1
- Hilton Honors at a rate of 10:1
- IHG One Rewards at a rate of 5:1
- Marriott Bonvoy at a rate of 3:1
- Wyndham Rewards at a rate of 5:1
4. Purchase Aeroplan points or Point Boosts
That’s right, you can buy Aeroplan points!
Unfortunately, it’s seldom worth it – points cost 3.5 cents CAD each and can only be redeemed for rewards that are rarely worth more than 2 CPP. Any points you buy are also non-refundable, taxable, and must be purchased in packs of at least 1,000 (to a maximum of 250,000 per transaction and up to 1,000,000 per year).
Costing just over 2 CPP, the cheaper option is to boost Aeroplan points you’ve already earned. You can multiply the points you earned on a recent purchase by 1x, 3x, or 5x – but again, these points are taxable, non-refundable, and seldom justified by the worth of the rewards you redeem them for.
5. Shop at the Aeroplan eStore and with retail partners
Air Canada has 275 retail partners offering Aeroplan points with every purchase. Best of all, there’s no limit on the number of points you can earn per year.
Here’s where to shop:
- On the Aeroplan eStore: Earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent at partners like Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Gap, Sephora, and more.
- In-store: Earn bonus points or 0.25–1 point per $1 spent at stores like LCBO, Starbucks, or UPS.
- Through partner apps: Earn bonus points for signing up and redeeming offers through Starbucks, Uber, Uber Eats, and other apps.
Taking advantage of promotions on all 3 platforms can also net you up to 5x bonus points per $1 spent, letting you reach your Aeroplan goals faster.
6. Pay your bills and expenses with Chexy
Chexy is a Canadian fintech startup founded in 2022. With this online service, you authorize Chexy to pay your bills using your specified credit card information.
This does cost you a small service fee, but in return, you can earn credit card rewards on expenses you normally couldn’t charge. These include:
- Rent
- Taxes
- Insurance
- Tuition
- Daycare
For a limited time, Chexy has partnered with Aeroplan to award up to 10,000 Aeroplan points with qualifying purchases! This promotion ends July 15, 2025. Keep in mind that even after the promotion ends, you can still earn Aeroplan points if you’re using the right credit card.
7. Shop with Aeroplan credit cards
Last but not least, Air Canada has partnered with 3 major credit card issuers in Canada – American Express, CIBC, and TD Bank – to offer 13 Aeroplan-branded premium credit cards. Aeroplan cards offer advanced points earning rates, benefits, and perks, plus perks like:
- First free checked bag (up to 23 kg) on Air Canada flights
- No expiry of Aeroplan points as long as card is active
- Preferred pricing on Air Canada flights
- Shared benefits with additional cardmembers
If you’d like more details, we’re happy to oblige – read on!
The best Aeroplan credit cards
While you have over a dozen options, here are our picks for the top credit cards for earning Aeroplan points from the three major issuers.
Here are the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Current offer | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card | $139 | Up to 45,000 bonus points (terms) | * Free checked bags on Air Canada * Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan flight rewards * 12 types of insurance * Annual fee waived for first year | * High income requirements of $60,000 personal or $100,000 household * Only high-value rewards are redeeming for Air Canada flights |
| American Express Cobalt Card | $155.88 | Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms) | * Best credit card in Canada * 4 ways to redeem points for high value * 10 types of insurance included | * Lower acceptance as an American Express |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card | $599 | Up to 85,000 bonus points (terms) | * Up to 85,000 bonus Aeroplan points * Up to 2 points per $1 spent on purchases * Free checked bags on Air Canada * Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan flight rewards * Unlimited Maple Leaf lounge access | * High income requirements of $150,000 personal or $200,000 household * High annual fee of $599 * Only high-value rewards are redeeming for Air Canada flights |
Best TD Aeroplan credit card
The best TD Aeroplan credit card is also our pick for the best Aeroplan-branded credit card overall: the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
Cardholders enjoy 1.5x Aeroplan points on qualifying purchases with Air Canada, plus:
- 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on eligible gas and grocery purchases
- 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on other purchases
- Free checked bags on Air Canada
- Preferred Pricing on Aeroplan flight rewards
- 12 types of insurance
- 1,000 Elite Status Miles for every $10,000 spent annually
Its annual fee of 139 is reasonable (and waived for the first year). Plus, you’ll get to enjoy all the benefits of having a Visa Infinite credit card:
- Access to special Canadian culinary events through the Visa Infinite Dining Series
- Preferred rates, free room upgrades, and special perks at 900+ hotels in the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
- Vacation planning, reservation, and ticket services through the Visa Infinite Complimentary Concierge
If you’re looking for a more premium card with a better earn rate, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card is one of the best credit cards with lounge access thanks to the Visa Airport Companion Program. You’ll get 6 complimentary passes to airport lounges around the world, including Plaza Premium Lounges.
Best American Express Aeroplan credit card
×8 Award winner Transfer points to Aeroplan and 7 other travel partners with Canada's #1 credit card.*
8x Award winner Transfer points to Aeroplan and 7 other travel partners with Canada's #1 credit card.*
With great perks, zero income requirements, and an earn rate unmatched by any Aeroplan card, the American Express Cobalt Card takes the top spot. Sure, it’s not an Aeroplan-branded card, it’s a de facto Aeroplan card since you can transfer your Amex points 1:1 to Aeroplan points.
Though you won’t get any Air Canada benefits or lounge access, you have the opportunity to collect loads of points and enjoy flexible rewards:
- 5 points per $1 spent on groceries and restaurants
- 3 points per $1 spent on streaming services
- 2 points per $1 spent on gas, transit, and travel
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Transfer points to Aeroplan (at 1:1 ratio) and 5 other airlines, use with the Fixed Points Travel Program, transfer to hotel programs, or redeem for any purchase
- Front of the Line access
- Amex bonus offers
- 10 types of insurance coverage
If you’re looking for an Aeroplan-branded Amex credit card, try the American Express Aeroplan Card, which offers 1 Aeroplan points per $1 spent and a suite of premium Air Canada and Amex perks for a lower annual fee of $120.
Best CIBC Aeroplan credit card
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card may not be our top choice, but the competition is fierce and it’s a respectable premium credit card in its own right. Cardholders enjoy 2x Aeroplan points through Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, plus:
- 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, dining, and other travel
- 1.25 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 1,000 miles and 1 flight towards Aeroplan Elite Status membership per $5,000 spent
- 1 free checked bag for you and up to 8 travelling companions on Air Canada flights
- 1 free night per 3-night hotel stay booked with Aeroplan points
- Priority boarding, check-in, and baggage handling on Air Canada flights
- Unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge Access, plus complimentary guest passes
- Visa Infinite Privilege perks, including the Visa Infinite Complimentary Concierge Services, Dining Series, and Luxury Hotel Collection
CIBC also offers the no fee CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card and the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, which costs $139 per year. They score lower on our list for earning only up to 1.5x Aeroplan points per $1 spent and including fewer perks.
FAQ
What is the value of an Aeroplan point?
Based on our analysis of 7 rewards categories, Aeroplan points are worth an average of 0.95 cents per point (CPP) each, with Air Canada flights offering an average value of 2 CPP.
How flexible are Aeroplan rewards?
Aeroplan rewards can be redeemed for flights with 50+ airlines to 1,300+ global destinations, accommodations with 20+ hotel chains, car rentals at 11,000+ locations, and gift cards and merchandise from almost 275 retail partners.
Do Aeroplan points expire?
Your Aeroplan points won’t expire as long as you redeem or earn points at least once every 18 months. If not, your account will be marked inactive and deleted 3 years later. If you have an Aeroplan credit card or Elite Status, your points never expire.
Can you transfer Aeroplan points?
You can transfer, gift, and donate Aeroplan points to registered charities.
Can you use Aeroplan points to cover taxes and fees?
You can use Aeroplan points to cover taxes, third-party fees, and partner booking fees on Aeroplan reward flights.
Which credit card is the best for earning Aeroplan points?
The credit card with the most Aeroplan point-earning potential is the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, which awards 3x the points on every purchase with Air Canada.
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