Aeroplan is Canada’s largest airline loyalty program, with over 5 million members earning and redeeming points on Air Canada and Star Alliance flights. Here’s everything you need to know to maximize your Aeroplan points.
Aeroplan at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Parent airline | Air Canada |
| Alliance | Star Alliance |
| Point value | ~1.5-2 cents (flights) |
| Point expiry | 18 months of inactivity |
| Credit card partners | TD, CIBC, American Express |
| Membership cost | Free |
| Status tiers | 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, Super Elite |
How to Earn Aeroplan Points
Flying Air Canada
| Ticket Class | Earning Rate |
|---|---|
| Basic Economy | 0.25 points per km |
| Standard/Flex | 1 point per km (varies by fare) |
| Business Class | 1.25-1.5 points per km |
| First Class | 1.5 points per km |
Example: A Toronto to Vancouver economy ticket (~3,400 km) earns approximately 850-3,400 points depending on fare class.
Flying Star Alliance Partners
Earn Aeroplan points when flying:
| Partner | Alliance | Key Routes |
|---|---|---|
| United | Star Alliance | US domestic, Latin America |
| Lufthansa | Star Alliance | Europe |
| Swiss | Star Alliance | Europe |
| Turkish Airlines | Star Alliance | Middle East, Europe |
| ANA | Star Alliance | Asia |
| Singapore Airlines | Star Alliance | Asia, Australia |
| EVA Air | Star Alliance | Asia |
Aeroplan Credit Cards
The fastest way to earn Aeroplan points:
| Card | Annual Fee | Earn Rate |
|---|---|---|
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1.5x everywhere, 3x Air Canada |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1.5x everywhere, 3x Air Canada |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve | $599 | 3x Air Canada/dining, 2x gas/transit, 1x other |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum | $89 | 1x everywhere, 1.5x Air Canada |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 | 1.5x everywhere, 3x Air Canada |
Best everyday earner: TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite ($139/year) for 1.5 points per dollar on ALL purchases.
Aeroplan eStore
Earn bonus points shopping online:
| Retailer Type | Typical Bonus |
|---|---|
| Fashion retailers | 5-15 points/$1 |
| Electronics | 2-5 points/$1 |
| Travel bookings | 1-3 points/$1 |
| Department stores | 3-8 points/$1 |
Tip: Always start shopping from aeroplan.com/estore to earn bonus points on regular online purchases.
Everyday Partners
| Partner | Earning |
|---|---|
| Starbucks | 25 points per transaction |
| Home Hardware | 1 point per $2 |
| Uber / Uber Eats | Earn points on rides and orders |
| Hertz, Avis, Budget | Points per rental |
| Hotels (via Aeroplan) | 1-3 points per $1 |
How to Redeem Aeroplan Points
Flight Rewards
Aeroplan uses a dynamic pricing model plus fixed-rate partner awards:
Market Fare Flights (Air Canada):
- Points required vary by demand
- Best value typically off-peak
- Use “Flexible dates” search
Fixed Partner Awards: Points required based on distance for Star Alliance flights:
| Distance | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 mi | 6,000 | 15,000 |
| 500-1500 mi | 10,000 | 25,000 |
| 1500-3000 mi | 20,000 | 40,000 |
| North America | 25,000 | 55,000 |
| Atlantic | 60,000 | 100,000 |
| Pacific | 75,000 | 110,000 |
Rates are each way
Cash + Points
Redeem fewer points by paying some cash:
| Option | Value per Point |
|---|---|
| Points only | 1.5-2+ cents |
| Points + Cash | ~1 cent |
| Minimum redemption | 1,000 points |
When to use Cash + Points:
- When you’re short on points for a flight
- For last-minute bookings
- When points-only pricing is poor
Non-Flight Redemptions
| Redemption | Value per Point |
|---|---|
| Flights | 1.5-2+ cents ✅ |
| Upgrades | 1-1.5 cents |
| Hotels | 0.7-1 cent |
| Car rentals | 0.7-1 cent |
| Gift cards | 0.6-0.8 cents ❌ |
| Merchandise | 0.5-0.7 cents ❌ |
Recommendation: Redeem for flights. Other redemptions provide significantly less value.
Best Aeroplan Redemptions (Sweet Spots)
Domestic Canada (Economy)
| Route | Points | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto - Vancouver | 12,500-25,000 | Good |
| Toronto - Montreal | 6,000-10,000 | Very Good |
| Calgary - Vancouver | 6,000-12,500 | Good |
Look for off-peak pricing at 12,500 points coast-to-coast.
US Travel
| Route | Points (Economy) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Canada - NYC/BOS/ORD | 10,000-25,000 | Good value |
| Canada - LA/SFO | 20,000-30,000 | Fair value |
| Canada - Hawaii | 25,000-40,000 | Use United availability |
International (Business Class Sweet Spots)
| Route | Points | Why It’s Good |
|---|---|---|
| Canada - Europe | 60,000-100,000 | Swiss, Lufthansa biz |
| Canada - Japan (ANA) | 75,000-110,000 | Excellent product |
| Canada - Middle East (Turkish) | 60,000-100,000 | Good value |
| Canada - Southeast Asia | 75,000-120,000 | EVA, Singapore |
Aeroplan Status Tiers
How to Earn Status
Status is earned through Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) or Status Qualifying Segments (SQS):
| Tier | SQM Required | OR SQS | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroplan 25K | 25,000 | 25 | Priority services |
| Aeroplan 35K | 35,000 | 35 | Lounge passes, upgrades |
| Aeroplan 50K | 50,000 | 50 | Star Alliance Gold, lounge access |
| Aeroplan 75K | 75,000 | 75 | Priority everything |
| Super Elite | 100,000 | 95 | Best benefits |
Status Benefits
| Benefit | 25K | 35K | 50K | 75K | SE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority check-in | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Priority boarding | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Preferred seats | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| eUpgrade credits | 4 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 40 |
| Maple Leaf Lounge | — | 4 passes | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Star Gold lounges | — | — | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bonus points | 25% | 35% | 50% | 75% | 100% |
eUpgrades
eUpgrades let you upgrade from economy to business class:
| Route | eUpgrades Needed |
|---|---|
| Domestic Canada | 2-4 |
| Canada - US | 4-6 |
| Transatlantic | 8-15 |
| Transpacific | 10-20 |
Tip: eUpgrades work best on less popular routes. Competitive routes (like Toronto-Vancouver) clear less frequently.
Aeroplan for Families
Family Pooling
Pool points with up to 8 family members:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Max members | 8 (including primary) |
| Who can join | Immediate family at same address |
| Points access | Primary member redeems for all |
| Earning | Each member earns to household |
How to set up:
- Log into Aeroplan account
- Go to “My Family Sharing”
- Add family members by Aeroplan number
- They accept invitation
- Points automatically pool
Aeroplan for Kids
- Children under 12 can have Aeroplan numbers
- Points earned in their name go to family pool
- No age requirement to redeem flights
Aeroplan Tips & Tricks
Booking Tips
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| Search flexible dates | Find lowest point prices |
| Book partner awards for fixed pricing | Avoid dynamic pricing volatility |
| Check United, ANA, Swiss availability | Often better than Air Canada |
| Book 331 days out | Best availability for popular routes |
| Use ExpertFlyer | Find partner award space |
Earning Tips
| Tip | Potential |
|---|---|
| Put all spending on Aeroplan card | 1.5 points/$1 adds up |
| Use Aeroplan eStore | 5-15x bonus points |
| Stack credit card + eStore | Double earning |
| Watch for bonus promotions | 2x-5x during promos |
Avoiding Pitfalls
| Pitfall | Solution |
|---|---|
| Redeeming for gift cards | Flights provide 2-3x better value |
| Booking last-minute | Dynamic pricing is worst here |
| Ignoring partner awards | Fixed rates can be cheaper |
| Letting points expire | Any activity resets 18-month clock |
Aeroplan vs Other Programs
| Feature | Aeroplan | Air Miles | Scene+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Flights | Flexible | Entertainment |
| Point value | 1.5-2 cents | 10-15 cents | 1 cent |
| Partners | 40+ airlines | Cash/travel | Scotiabank |
| Expiry | 18mo inactive | 3yr inactive | No expiry |
Aeroplan Credit Card Comparison
| Card | Fee | Base Earn | Air Canada | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD Aeroplan VI | $139 | 1.5x | 3x | Best value |
| CIBC Aeroplan VI | $139 | 1.5x | 3x | Best value |
| TD Aeroplan Platinum | $89 | 1x | 1.5x | Lower fee |
| Amex Aeroplan | $120 | 1x | 2x | Amex ecosystem |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve | $599 | 1-2x | 3x | Premium perks |
Recommendation: The TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite at $139 is the best value for most people. The $599 cards are only worthwhile for heavy travelers who value lounge access.
Maximizing Aeroplan: Sample Strategy
For an Average Canadian
Earning:
- Get TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite
- Use for ALL purchases (1.5 points/$1)
- Shop through eStore when possible
- Link Starbucks, Uber accounts
Annual earning estimate:
- $3,000/month spending × 1.5 = 54,000 points/year
- Bonus from sign-up: 20,000-50,000 points
- Year 1 total: 74,000-104,000 points
Redemption:
- 75,000 points = Round-trip to Europe (economy)
- 100,000 points = Round-trip to Japan (economy)
- 55,000 points = Domestic business class round-trip
For Frequent Travelers
- Get premium Aeroplan card (Amex Reserve or CIBC Privilege)
- Earn status through flying
- Leverage eUpgrades for business class
- Use lounge access extensively
- Book partner awards for best value
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer points to family?
Yes, through Family Sharing. Otherwise, transfers cost 1 cent per point (not worth it).
What happens to points if I cancel my credit card?
Points remain in your Aeroplan account. They don’t disappear when you cancel a card.
Can I combine Aeroplan with other programs?
Aeroplan receives transfers from Amex Membership Rewards (at varying ratios). Scene+ can transfer to Aeroplan at 1:1 for Scotiabank customers.
Is Aeroplan Elite Status worth it?
50K status (Star Alliance Gold) is the key threshold—it unlocks lounge access worldwide. Lower tiers have limited value.