Canada’s New Air Transat Rewards Program

Air Transat has joined the ranks of airline rewards programs. The program is currently in its testing phase with a limited number of users, who can earn and redeem points on Air Transat flights.

Right now, you can only earn points on flights operated by Air Transat – not partner airlines like Porter. And you can only redeem points if your itinerary is entirely operated by Air Transat.

As the launch approaches, more info will be released. But this article covers everything we know from our writer's early member access. Bookmark this page or subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the know.

What are Air Transat Rewards?

Air Transat Rewards is a new airline program in Canada. Air Transat's loyalty program lets you earn and redeem points for flights on Air Transat.

As the program is in its infancy, it's a little limiting right now, but over the next few months new features will be added, including a suite of credit cards from Desjardins.

At this time, Air Transat is accepting a limited number of members, but you can view all the details and sign up for the waitlist here.

What are Air Transat points worth?

There is only 1 way to use your Air Transat points: flights with Air Transat. And for any itinerary you want to book at this time, all flights also have to be operated by Air Transat (no combining Porter and Air Transat flights together).

We reviewed redemption options for 10 itineraries to calculate the value of Air Transat points.

Cost of reward in $ / cost of reward in Air Transat points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)

For 80% of the flights we reviewed, we found each point to be worth 0.5 cents. There were 2 exceptions that delivered slightly more value.

Bank on getting 0.5 CPP, and consider yourself lucky if you find higher value than that.

How to earn Air Transat points?

Currently, there's also only 1 way to earn points: flying with Air Transat. But partnered Desjardins credit cards are coming, as is the ability to earn points on Air Transat packages.

To earn points, you have to book your flight through Air Transat. You won't earn points if you book through a travel agency or through a partner airline (Porter being the important one).

How many points you earn is based on the class of fare you paid for. You'll earn points on base air fares and carrier surcharges. You won't earn points on various taxes and fees.

• Eco Budget: 3 points per $1 spent
• Eco Standard & Club Standard: 5 points per $1 spent
• Eco Flex & Club Flex: 7 points per $1 spent

You can also earn 5 points per $1 on the following services:

• Option Plus
• Checked bags
• Seat selection
• Pre-order meals

IMPORTANT: You only earn points on flights operated by Air Transat at this time. If your itinerary involves Porter Airlines, you can link your Air Transat reservation to your Porter account, and you'll be able to earn VIPorter points on any Porter segments. Air Transat will provide you with Porter's reference code so you can add your Air Transat itinerary to your Porter account.

Air Transat group accounts

Air Transat also offers group accounts. Everyone needs their own Air Transat number to earn points.

However, you can pool them together by creating a group, and you can add up to 8 members in 1 group.

With Air Transat group accounts, you can share a larger bank to redeem points on future Air Transat flights.

How to redeem Air Transat points

Right now there is only 1 way to use your points, and that's with flights on Air Transat. At this time, you cannot use points on packages.

And remember, you can only redeem fares on itineraries wholly operated by Air Transat. If the schedule you're looking at includes even 1 flight on Porter, you won't be able to use your points.

You'll be able to redeem your points for base airfares and carrier surcharges – you'll always have to pay for any taxes and fees.

To use your points, first make sure you're signed into your Air Transat account.

Then, search for flights on Air Transat as you normally would.

After you make your selections, you'll be given some options. You can pay for the flight in cash or use your points, choosing from different redemption levels.

While this account doesn't have any points yet, we were shown several options to split the payment for this Toronto-to-Cancun booking across points and cash:

Air Transat shows options in 10% increments, from 10% to 100%. Since this account doesn't have any points, we see the 4 lowest options. Once we earn more points, we expect to see more or higher options, but we can't tell yet.

Are Air Transat Rewards valuable for you?

As mentioned, you have to use points on Air Transat flights only. But Air Transat doesn't fly everywhere on its own. That means this program is most valuable for you if Air Transat travels to and from your city.

Air Transat operates in select Canadian cities. Depending on your city, you can fly to some or all of the following destinations:

• Sun destinations
• Europe
• North Africa (Morocco and Senegal).

At this time, Air Transat has exited the U.S. market. Porter continues to fly to the U.S., but you can't use Air Transat points on Porter-operated flights.

Since Air Transat is a seasonal carrier, flight options are seasonal, so you'll need to consider travel timing as well.

Here are the Canadian cities Air Transat currently operates out of, the areas they serve, and the approximate times of year for flights:

Note that Toronto is followed by the airport code YYZ for Toronto Pearson International Airport. Air Transat doesn't operate out of Billy Bishop (YTZ), though Porter does.

What we want to see next

Air Transat's reward program is new, and we're excited to see it grow with Desjardins-partnered credit cards and more.

In the future, we'd like to see itineraries that include Porter Airlines available for point redemption, making the program more accessible for travellers across Canada.

We'd also love to be able to use points for vacation packages. So far, you can't earn or redeem on packages.

Since Air Transat is known for all-inclusive resort travel, this may surprise you. But when you book packages, you're technically dealing with 2 separate companies. While flights are run by Air Transat, you purchase packages through a separate company called Transat.

We hope that you'll be able to use points in the future on flight bookings through Transat packages. Subscribe to our newsletter, and we'll keep you updated as the program develops.

FAQ

What are Air Transat Rewards?

Air Transat Rewards is the new rewards program for Air Transat. You can currently only use points for flights on Air Transat, and you can only earn points on flights booked through Air Transat directly. You won't earn points when booking through a travel agency or partner.

What can Air Transat Rewards be used for?

The program is in its infancy, and right now you can only use Air Transat rewards points for flights operated by Air Transat and booked through Air Transat. Itineraries that contain flights with Porter are not eligible for redemption. You also cannot use points for Transat vacation packages – only flights.

How do you earn Air Transat Rewards?

The only way to earn points is with flights on Air Transat. You'll earn up to 7 points per $1 spent on base airfares and carrier surcharges, and 5 points per $1 spent on extras like seat selection and baggage fees. Credit cards from Desjardins are coming, as is the ability to earn points on flights with vacation packages.