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Aeroplan Points Guide Canada 2026 | Earn, Redeem, Value

Updated

Aeroplan Point Value

Redemption Type Value per Point Rating
Short-haul economy 1.2-1.5¢ Good
Long-haul economy 1.5-2.0¢ Great
Business class 2.0-3.0¢ Excellent
First class 2.5-4.0¢ Best
Merchandise 0.7-1.0¢ Poor
Gift cards 0.8-1.0¢ Poor

Target: Aim for at least 1.5¢ per point.

How to Earn Aeroplan Points

Credit Cards

Card Annual Fee Sign-up Bonus Earning Rate
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite $139 50,000 pts 1.5x Aeroplan
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite $139 50,000 pts 1.5x Aeroplan
Amex Aeroplan Reserve $599 90,000 pts 3x Aeroplan
TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum $89 25,000 pts 1x Aeroplan

Transfer Partners

Program Transfer Ratio Notes
American Express MR 1:1 Cobalt, Gold, Platinum
Marriott Bonvoy 3:1 60k Marriott = 20k Aeroplan
HSBC Points 1:1 HSBC World Elite

Everyday Earning

Activity Points Earned
Air Canada flights 3-10+ per $
Aeroplan eStore 1-15x
Starbucks 10x with linked card
Shell gas 1 pt per litre
LCBO 1 pt per $
Parkland stations 1 pt per litre

Aeroplan Award Chart Basics

Dynamic Pricing

Aeroplan uses dynamic pricing — point costs vary by:

  • Flight demand
  • How far in advance you book
  • Seat availability
  • Time of year

Typical Flight Costs

Route Economy Business
Toronto ↔ Montreal 6,000-12,000 25,000-50,000
Toronto ↔ Vancouver 12,500-25,000 50,000-100,000
Toronto ↔ New York 10,000-20,000 40,000-80,000
Toronto ↔ London 35,000-60,000 70,000-150,000
Toronto ↔ Tokyo 50,000-90,000 90,000-200,000
Toronto ↔ Australia 80,000-150,000 150,000-300,000

Finding Best Redemptions

Tip Details
Book early More availability, lower prices
Be flexible Check +/- 3 days
Use partners Star Alliance often cheaper
Watch sales Aeroplan runs point sales
Check one-ways Sometimes cheaper than round-trip

Best Value Redemptions

Sweet Spots

Route Points Cash Value Point Value
Canada short-haul 6,000-10,000 $100-200 1.5-2¢
North America business 50,000-70,000 $1,500+ 2-3¢
Europe business 85,000-120,000 $4,000+ 3-4¢
Asia business 100,000-150,000 $5,000+ 3-5¢

Partner Airlines

Star Alliance booking often offers better value:

Airline Regions Notes
EVA Air Asia Great business class
ANA Japan Good availability
Turkish Airlines Europe/Middle East Wide network
Lufthansa Europe German precision
United USA Extensive domestic
Singapore Airlines Asia/Oceania Premium experience

Aeroplan Status Tiers

Status Levels

Tier SQM Required Key Benefits
25K 25,000 Priority check-in, extra bags
35K 35,000 Preferred seating, upgrades
50K 50,000 Maple Leaf Lounge, Star Gold
75K 75,000 Intl lounge, higher upgrades
Super Elite 100,000 Top-tier everything

Status Benefits

Benefit 25K 35K 50K 75K
Priority boarding
Extra checked bag 1 1 2 3
Maple Leaf Lounge
Star Alliance Gold
Same-day standby
eUpgrades Some More Many Most

Credit Card Strategy

Maximizing Sign-Up Bonuses

Timeline Action
Year 1 TD Aeroplan VI (50k)
Year 2 CIBC Aeroplan VI (50k)
Year 3 Amex Aeroplan (75k+)
Year 4 Cancel/downgrade, repeat

Everyday Earning Optimization

Spend Category Best Card Rate
Air Canada purchases Amex Aeroplan Reserve 3x
Everything else (Aeroplan) TD/CIBC Aeroplan VI 1.5x
Dining/groceries Amex Cobalt (transfer) 5x → Aeroplan
Gas Shell + Aeroplan card 2-3x

Common Aeroplan Mistakes

Mistake Why It’s Bad Better Option
Redeem for merchandise 0.7¢/pt value Save for flights
Pay cash for short flights Points often good value Use points
Book last minute Highest point costs Book 3+ months out
Ignore partners Miss better deals Check Star Alliance
Let points expire Lose everything Any activity resets

Points Expiration Rules

Rule Details
Standard expiration 18 months no activity
Activity that resets Earn or redeem any points
Easy way to keep active Use linked credit card
What counts Partner earning, eStore, flights

Family Sharing

Feature Details
Family Sharing Pool points with up to 8 members
Cost Free for 35K+ status; $50-100/year otherwise
Members Spouse, children, parents
Benefits Combine for bigger redemptions

Aeroplan eStore

Category Bonuses

Category Typical Bonus
Fashion 2-5x
Electronics 1-3x
Travel 3-7x
Home 2-4x
Sports 2-5x

Always check eStore before online shopping.