How to Redeem Aeroplan Points

Anyone who collects Aeroplan Points can redeem them by booking flights, renting a car, planning a vacation, ordering gift cards or merchandise, and more. You can even transfer them to other reward programs if you don't see a redemption option you like.

Before you cash in your points, take a look at which options give you the most value and which ones you should steer clear of if you want to maximize your point value.

To help you weigh your options, this article goes into detail about each redemption option so you can see what it's actually worth.

Aeroplan: Redeem points for flights

Average value: 1.6 CPP

Redemption options: Air Canada and Star Alliance airline flights

How to redeem:

• Visit the Air Canada website and make sure "Book with points Aeroplan" is selected.
• Search for flights, pick the itinerary, flight class, and options you want, then confirm whether you want to pay in cash, Aeroplan Points, or a mix of both.
• Enter your membership number, payment information, and traveller details, and confirm.

How to save:

Air travel can be the most valuable reward category, but it's also the most complicated. Unlike CIBC Aventura points, Aeroplan Points use dynamic pricing based on demand – the higher the demand for seats, the higher the cost in points.

In short, booking a Business or First Class flight on short notice to a popular destination during peak tourist season lowers the value of your Aeroplan Points. Booking an Economy flight to a quiet airport 1 – 3 months ahead (during "off" or "shoulder" tourist seasons for your chosen destination) yields the maximum bang for your buck.

Air Canada's flight reward chart divides the world into 4 major travel zones: North America, South America, the Atlantic, and the Pacific.

Based on our research and the formula below, we've determined that staying within the Pacific or Atlantic zones, or visiting South America from either, is significantly more valuable than flying to South America from North America.

Cost of reward in dollars / cost of reward in Aeroplan Points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)

Unfortunately, travel between North America and every other zone yields the worst points value.

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your Aeroplan Points:

• Don't forget the basics: Use the simple travel tricks at the beginning of this section to take advantage of dynamic pricing.
• Fly domestic, not international: Save your points for travel within Canada or use them to hop between cities overseas.
• Plan ahead: Air Canada offers 2 online tools for vacation planners. The Points Predictor estimates the points cost of flying between 2 airports while the Points Finder shows you where your points can take you depending on your departing airport, travel dates, travel class, and points budget.
• Position yourself for a short flight: If you live in the interior of Canada, consider taking a bus or train east to Halifax (YHZ), west to Vancouver (YVR), or south to Toronto (YYZ) to lessen the distance you have to fly to another zone.
• Remember that average costs don't represent actual ticket prices: Grab a calculator before searching for flights on the Air Canada website and use the formula above to compare the value of different travel dates, flight classes, or destinations.

Pros of Aeroplan flight rewards:

• 1,150+ global destinations through Air Canada and partners
• 80+ international airports
• 50+ Canadian airports
• 50+ US airports

Cons of Aeroplan flight rewards:

• Must use Air Canada or Star Alliance member airline
• No set value for Aeroplan Points
• Partner airline booking fees apply
• Reward flights don't earn Aeroplan Points

Aeroplan: Redeem points for car rentals

Average value: 0.9 CPP

Redemption options: Avis and Budget car rentals

How to redeem:

• Visit the Air Canada car rental website and log in.
• Enter your pick-up location, select "Drop-off at different location" if necessary, and enter your pick-up and drop-off dates and times. Enter the driver's age and click "Search rental cars."
• Sort results at the top by "Recommended," price, rental company, or car type. In the top right corner, choose whether you want to view the price of the booking in points, points + cash, or cash. In the left pane, filter results by number of passengers, car type, rental company, and amenities.
• Click "Select car," then choose whether you'd like to pay in Aeroplan Points, Points + cash, or cash. Select "Add to trip cart."
• Review the booking details (including the link to "Rules, policies, and cancellations") and choose if you'd like to add a hotel or another car to your trip. Click "Continue to traveller information."
• Enter traveller details and payment information and confirm the booking.

Renting a car is a straightforward way to use your Aeroplan Points – but it's also subject to dynamic pricing.

Depending on what type of car you book, where you book, and when you book, the cost of a rental vehicle (and the value of your points) goes up or down. Large cars in large cities during peak tourist seasons face high demand and high costs.

Aeroplan Elite Status members and credit cardholders qualify for a complimentary membership to the Avis Preferred Plus or President's Club.

Pros of Aeroplan car rental rewards:

• 11,000+ car rental locations
• 8+ rental company partners including Avis, Budget, Hertz, Enterprise, and Thrifty
• Complimentary Avis Preferred Plus and President's Club membership and benefits

Cons of Aeroplan car rental rewards:

• Limited rental car company choices
• No set value for Aeroplan Points

Aeroplan: Redeem points for vacation packages

Average value: 0.83 CPP

Redemption options: All-inclusive resorts, Disney vacations, tour packages, vacation packages, cruises, and flight and hotel packages

How to redeem:

• Visit Air Canada Vacations or Disney Vacations – and log in to your Aeroplan account.
• Select your preferred type of reward (if applicable) and departure, destination, travel dates, and options like flight class, number of guests, or tour type. Click "Search."
• Sort the results at the top by price, company, or rating, or filter them on the left by price, departure dates, rating, amenity, tour duration, and more. Once you find a listing you like, click the blue "Select" button.
• Confirm additional details such as room, room preferences, add-ons, and travel insurance. Scroll down, reviewing information as you go, and write down any important information related to cancellation policies or travel requirements. Click the "Continue" button in the bottom right corner to proceed to the next page.
• Enter traveller and payment information and choose how much of your booking you'd like to pay in points or cash.
• Review your order details and confirm your booking.

Air Canada Vacations offers a long list of ways to enjoy your Aeroplan Points.

You could relax at an all-inclusive resort for adults, couples, and families in Mexico or the Caribbean. Or maybe you'd rather embark on a tour package with curated activities including concerts, museums, and nature excursions. If you're a family, take the stress out of a family Disney vacation with a bundled flight and stay in Orlando, Anaheim, or the Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii.

Aeroplan now allows you to book cruises online, too. The list of available cruises spans 13 cruise lines, offering a full range of experiences at sea from floating amusement parks to intimate river journeys.

Plus, you can adjust your booking if the US National Hurricane Center issues a tropical storm warning, hurricane warning, or hurricane watch up to 48 hours before departure.

If you prefer to plan your own itinerary, you can use Aeroplan Points to book a flight-and-hotel package in Canada, the US, or Mexico.

Pros of Aeroplan vacation packages:

• 1 complimentary checked bag and 1 carry-on per person
• Connecting flights from Canadian airports starting at $49
• Secured group rates
• Price match
• Frequent promotions, including bonus Aeroplan Points, vacation credits, dollar savings, free activities, and more
• Full refund or free changes if a flight is delayed

Cons of Aeroplan vacation packages:

• Hotels booked through Air Canada Vacations cost more points than those booked through HotelSavers
• No set value for Aeroplan Points
• Promotions, cancellations, and refund policies vary by accommodation, activity, airline, and destination

Aeroplan: Redeem points for hotels

Average value: 0.82 CPP

Redemption options: Bookings at boutiques, hotels, and resorts

How to redeem:

• Visit the Aeroplan HotelSavers website and log in to your Aeroplan account.
• Enter your destination, travel dates, and number of adult and child guests. Click "Search hotels."
• Sort the results by price, star rating, distance, and name using the dropdown menu at the top of the page. Choose to view prices in points, cash, or 50/50 points and cash using the toggle at the top right, or filter results by price, star rating, TravelAdvisor rating, amenities, and more on the left.
• Click the listing you want and review the hotel's rooms, amenities, ratings, and cancellation and pet policies before clicking "Select room" on the room you want.
• Select a payment option: Aeroplan Points, cash, or 50/50 points and cash. Click "Add to trip cart."
• Review your order, add a car or another hotel (if necessary), and click "Continue to traveller information."
• Enter your traveller details, click "Payment and review," and enter your payment details on the next page. Review the details of your booking and click "Complete booking" to confirm.

Through HotelSavers, Aeroplan members enjoy lower rates at over 40 hotel and resort brands, including 16 luxury partners, 17 premium partners, and 13 midscale and economy chains.

Plus, if you're an Aeroplan credit cardholder, you can enjoy 1 free night's stay for every 3 nights you book entirely in points until December 31, 2026.

The cost of your hotel depends on its category. A higher category means a more luxurious hotel and a higher cost in Aeroplan Points:

Costs vary depending on the hotel's location, number of guests, room availability, and season.

For example, if you want to stay downtown, even a room in a budget chain like the Holiday Inn could jump a few categories higher.

As with flights, it costs more to stay in a location with greater demand. Book a shared room in a budget hotel away from the town centre and travel during shoulder or off-peak seasons to stay longer for fewer points.

Pros of Aeroplan hotel rewards:

• 300,000+ hotel, resort, and boutique locations available worldwide
• 1 free night for every 3 nights booked in Aeroplan Points (Aeroplan credit card holders only)
• Save up to 30% in points by using a HotelSavers partner

Cons of Aeroplan hotel rewards:

• 30% higher room costs at non-HotelSavers hotels
• Cancellation, pet, and refund policies vary by hotel
• Refunds can take up to 2 credit card billing cycles to process
• No set value for Aeroplan Points

Aeroplan: Redeem points for merchandise and gift cards

Average Value: 0.71 CPP for gift cards; 0.74 for merchandise

Redemption options: General merchandise including electronics, jewellery, and appliances

How to redeem:

• Visit the Aeroplan eStore and sign into your Aeroplan account.
• On the "Products" page, filter products by points cost, brands, and categories on the left, or sort the results by newest, price, or alphabetically using the dropdown menu in the top-right corner. Toggle "Promotion only" to only see products on sale.
• Select the product you want, then on the product page, choose the number and colour you'd like to buy. Select your payment option – whether Aeroplan Points or points and cash – and click the "Buy" button.
• Enter your shipping details in the pop-up, click "Proceed to payment," and enter your payment details. Click "Complete Order," then review the details on the next page and click "Confirm."

The Aeroplan eStore offers thousands of products, over 300 brands, and 18 categories of general merchandise. Comparing the value of each product in cents per point (CPP) and shopping promotions are the best ways to see which items are worth your hard-earned rewards.

Cost of the product in dollars / cost in points x 100 = cents per point

As you can see below, even the most valuable items tend to yield less than 1 CPP:

The Aeroplan eStore also offers gift cards from 70+ retailers, but they're only worth about 0.71 CPP.

The only exceptions are Air Canada gift cards, valued at 1 CPP each, which the recipient can spend on flights, travel options, fees, and more. But before you buy any travel gift cards, look into point transfers – more on this later.

Unless you shop during a promotion, prepaid credit cards are even less valuable, offering just 0.63 CPP.

Pros of shopping with Aeroplan Points:

• Value as high as 1 CPP
• 300+ merchandise brands
• 70+ gift card partners
• $50 Air Canada Onboard Duty-Free Boutique Certificate when you redeem 7,000 points
• Convenient and quick redemption options

Cons of shopping with Aeroplan Points:

• Value as low as 0.5 CPP
• 2–3 week delivery time for physical gift cards
• Most valuable rewards (Aeroplan gift cards) aren't worth as much as buying flights through the Air Canada website
• No refunds or returns on items ordered through the Aeroplan eStore

How much are Aeroplan Points worth?

Aeroplan Points don't have a fixed worth. The dollar value of your Aeroplan Points depends on 3 things:

• The type of reward you choose
• How you redeem your points
• When you redeem your points

To make sure you're getting the highest value out of your Aeroplan Points, check the special offers page regularly and compare your options using the same formula as our researchers:

Cost of reward in dollars / cost of reward in Aeroplan Points x 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)

Air Canada flights are at the top of the rewards ladder. Booking a ticket to a quiet destination during "off" or "shoulder" tourist seasons can yield 1.6 CPP. By contrast, redeeming your points on toys or games on the Aeroplan eStore can net you as little as 0.6 CPP.

From most to least valuable, here are the 6 types of Aeroplan rewards:

You can use our handy calculator to determine exactly how much your Aeroplan Points are worth and decide how to spend them:

Rewards Points Calculator

Enter your rewards balance to calculate how much your points are worth. Review your redemption options and recommendations to get the most value.

Reward ProgramAAdvantageAeroplanAlaska Airlines Mileage PlanAvianca LifemilesAmerican Express Membership RewardsBMO RewardsAir MilesDesjardins BONUSDOLLARSMarriott BonvoyCIBC Aventura RewardsBritish Airways Executive ClubFlying BlueCathay Pacific Asia MilesDelta SkyMilesMBNA RewardsPorter VIPorterMyMcDonald's RewardsJournie RewardsRexall BeWellPC OptimumQatar Airways Privilege ClubTD RewardsUnited MileagePlusMore RewardsPlum RewardsNational Bank A La Carte RewardsAvion Rewards (Elite)Scene+Tims RewardsWestJet RewardsTriangle RewardsAvion Rewards (Premium)Blue RewardsWendy's Rewards

Points Balance

Our recommendations:

Use your points for Flights to get the most value.

$160

Avoid using points for Gift Cards as this gives you the lowest value.

$71

Using your points for Flights instead of Gift Cards will save you $89.

Point Values

Redemption Option	Point Value	Total Value
Flights	1.6 cents	$160
Air Canada Gift Cards	1 cent	$100
Car rentals	0.9 cents	$90
Vacation packages	0.83 cents	$83
Hotels	0.82 cents	$82
Merchandise	0.74 cents	$74
Gift Cards	0.71 cents	$71

Redemption Options

Flights

Flights on Air Canada and airline partners

$160

Air Canada Gift Cards

Gift cards for use with Air Canada

$100

Car rentals

Car rentals with Avis and Budget through Aeroplan

$90

Vacation packages

Air Canada vacation packages

$83

Hotels

Hotel stays through Aeroplan

$82

Merchandise

Wide variety of merchandise

$74

Gift Cards

Assortment of gift cards for a wide variety of retailers

$71

Can you buy or transfer Aeroplan Points?

You can buy, transfer, or convert Aeroplan Points from other rewards programs for a fee – but like rewards, some options just aren't worth it.

For example:

• You can buy up to 250,000 Aeroplan Points at a time for $9,375 CAD on the Aeroplan website, at a cost of 3.75 CPP.
• Because flight tickets only yield an average of 1.6 CPP, you'll lose more than 2 CPP when you redeem them.
• You could just as easily spend the money on a flight and reap up to 60,000 Aeroplan Points with the right credit card.

Buying or transferring Aeroplan Points is worth it if you need a small amount to qualify for a valuable reward. If you only need a few thousand points to qualify for a 3-night stay at a HotelSavers hotel (and get 1 free night), buying points is a pretty good option.

Before you do, consider converting your points from another rewards program as it's more cost-effective than purchasing points. Aeroplan's best conversion program partners include:

• American Express Membership Rewards (at a rate of 1:1)
• Marriott Bonvoy (3:1)
• Best Western Rewards (5:1)

Aeroplan Family Sharing

The Aeroplan Family Sharing program can be worth looking into for accumulating points – and rewards – faster.

The program allows up to 8 verified family members to share points in 1 pool while maintaining their own individual Aeroplan accounts.

FAQ

How do I redeem my Aeroplan Points?

You can redeem your Aeroplan Points for flights, car rentals, merchandise on the Aeroplan eStore, gift cards, hotels, and vacation packages (which include cruises). The easiest way to redeem Aeroplan miles is directly through the Air Canada website or by booking flights in the Air Canada app.

How much are 50,000 Aeroplan Points worth?

Try out our handy Aeroplan calculator to see how much 50,000 Aeroplan Points will get you. You'll see that your highest-value redemption option, Air Canada flights, gives you the best return; your 50,000 points will be worth $800.

Can I convert Aeroplan Points to anything?

You can transfer Aeroplan Points to partner loyalty rewards programs, including airline and hotel options. You can also decide to donate your points to registered charities or give them to a friend or family member who also participates in Aeroplan. Keep in mind that you will have to pay a processing fee to do this.

Do Aeroplan Points expire?

Yes, your Aeroplan Points will expire if you haven't had activity on your account in the last 18 months. To keep your account active, buy, redeem, or earn Aeroplan Points at least once in that period. However, if you have an Aeroplan credit card or Elite Status, you never have to worry about your points expiring.

Are Air Canada points the same as Aeroplan Points?

Yes, you might see these terms used interchangeably, as they are the same: Air Canada's reward program points are called Aeroplan Points. You can redeem Aeroplan Points for 6 high-value redemption categories and an average value of 1.6 cents per point.

What can you redeem Aeroplan Points on?

When you're ready to cash in your reward points, you can choose to redeem your Aeroplan Points for Air Canada flights, where they give the most value, or use them for eStore merchandise, cruises, car rentals, hotel stays, or vacation packages.