How To Buy Aeroplan Points – And Is it Worth It?

As one of the most popular rewards programs in Canada, it's not really a surprise that there are multiple ways to get Aeroplan points – including buying them. While it isn't always the wisest option, it can certainly help in certain situations.

Especially if you use one of the country's best Aeroplan cards, it's pretty easy to rack up points. But if your redemption goal is just out of reach, it can be a smart idea to buy a few points.

The guide below explains what it means to buy Aeroplan points, how to do it, when you should do it, and more.

How to buy Aeroplan points

While earning Aeroplan points is easy with the right Aeroplan credit card, sometimes you may come up a little short on the number of points you need for a flight redemption. Good thing Air Canada is always willing to sell you Aeroplan points!

Here’s how to buy them:

1. Head over to aircanada.com and sign in to your Aeroplan account.
2. In the "My Offers" section, scroll to the bottom to "Do more with your Aeroplan points" and click "Buy points and reach your goals faster."
3. From the dropdown menu, select how many points you’d like to buy. Options range from 2,000 to 250,000.
4. Complete your purchase with a credit card and the points will be added to your account within 72 hours.

Here's what it costs:

No matter how many Aeroplan points you buy, they'll cost you 3.5 cents each..

Pro Tip: If your Aeroplan account is going to expire due to inactivity, buy some points. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay Air Canada to reactivate your account.

What are Aeroplan points worth?

The value of your hard-earned Aeroplan points varies depending on how you redeem them. When we looked at the average of all category redemptions, we found points were worth an average of 0.95 cents each – far less than the 3.5 cents you’ll pay for them.

There’s one exception: if you use your points for flights, you’ll get a solid value of 2 cents per point.

Is it worth buying Aeroplan points?

Given the cost vs. value, it’s generally not worth buying Aeroplan points. With a few exceptions (like if Aeroplan is running a promotion), you'll pay more for the points than they are actually worth.

If you are short a couple of thousand points on your next redemption, it might be worthwhile for you to buy the rest so that you can use your banked points. Otherwise, it’s best to avoid point purchases.

Pro Tip: If you’re flying into the far north in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, sometimes it’s cheaper to pay for the points and use them for your flight rather than paying for the flight outright – assuming you can find availability.

Other ways to earn Aeroplan points

If you want to ramp up your Aeroplan points collection, your best bet is to use an Aeroplan credit card. You have two good choices: an Aeroplan-branded card or one that earns Amex Membership Rewards, which you can transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan.

Here are our top picks to earn you more Aeroplan points:

Credit card	Welcome bonus	Earn rate	Annual fee and income requirements
American Express Cobalt Card	$100 GeniusCash + Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms)	* 5 points per $1 spent on eligible groceries and restaurants (up to $2,500 spent per month) * 3 points per $1 spent on eligible streaming services * 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, transit, and ride share purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases	* $191.88 * None
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card	Up to 45,000 bonus points (terms)	* 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, grocery and direct through Air Canada purchases * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases	* $139 * $60K personal or $100K household
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card	Up to 85,000 bonus points (terms)	* 3 points per $1 spent on Air Canada * 2 points per $1 spent on dining and food delivery purchases in Canada * 1.25 points per $1 spent on all other purchases	* $599 * None
American Express Aeroplan Card	Up to 40,000 bonus points (terms)	* 2 points per $1 spent on Air Canada * 1.5 points per $1 spent on restaurants * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases	* $120 * None
American Express Green Card	10,000 bonus points (terms)	* 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases	* $0 * None

FAQ

How much does it cost to buy Aeroplan points?

We calculated that points cost 3.5 cents CAD each – but your redemption value is limited to a max of about 2 cents per point if you use your points for flights.

How much are 50,000 Aeroplan points worth?

The value of 50,000 Aeroplan points depends on how you redeem them. Some redemption options are worth 2 cents per point while others are just 0.70 cents. The average redemption value is 0.95 cents, so 50,000 Aeroplan points would be worth an average of $475 CAD.

Can I use an Air Canada gift card to buy Aeroplan points?

Unfortunately, Air Canada doesn’t allow you to use a gift card to purchase points.

How many Aeroplan points can I buy?

Aeroplan allows you to buy 500,000 points in a single transaction, up to a total of 1 million points per year.