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![20 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Air Canada Aeroplan Points [2023]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/An-AIr-Canada-Boeing-777-at-Toronto-Pearson-Airport.jpeg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1420&height=650&fit=crop)
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With nearly 200 destinations across 6 continents, Air Canada is the largest airline in Canada. Most recently, the airline carried nearly 51 million passengers in a single year.
Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, which includes Lufthansa, Asiana Airlines, United Airlines, and many more carriers.
Its 3 hubs are Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
Aeroplan is the Air Canada loyalty program, and its points are redeemable for travel rewards, gift cards, and merchandise.
Of course, the more Aeroplan points you earn, the more valuable the redemptions are. Here’s how to build up your Aeroplan points quickly so you can qualify for the best Aeroplan redemptions!
You can’t begin earning Aeroplan points until you enroll in Aeroplan, so that’s the first step. After you register, you’ll be able to access your Aeroplan Dashboard, where you can see transactions, current status, and manage your rewards.
If you need to request Missing Mileage Credit, you can do that from your dashboard, too.
You’ll begin accruing points in no time by flying Air Canada, Air Canada Express, and Air Canada Rouge. All you need is the Aeroplan number that you received during enrollment.
Whether you book online, through Air Canada Reservations, or even through a travel agent, you’ll want to ensure that your Aeroplan number is associated with your plane ticket. Otherwise, you may not earn Aeroplan points.
The table below shows the points you can earn for Air Canada flights:
| Booking Classes | Aeroplan Points Earned | Aeroplan SQMs Earned |
| Business | 150% | 150% |
| Premium Economy | 125% | 125% |
| Latitude | 125% | 125% |
| Comfort | 115% | 115% |
| Flex | 100% | 100% |
| Standard (international) | 50% | 50% |
| Standard (domestic Canada) | 25% | 50% |
| Basic (international excluding Canada and U.S.) | 25% | 0% |
| Basic (between Canada and the U.S.) | 25% | 0% |
| Basic (domestic Canada) | 10% | 0% |
Here’s an example calculation: if you book a one-way ticket in business class from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), you’d fly a distance of 2,175 miles. Because the multiplier earning rate is 150%, you would earn around 3,263 Aeroplan points for this flight.
Hot Tip: If you prefer to fly in business class, check out our guide to upgrading to business class on Air Canada.
Another way to earn Aeroplan points is by booking travel with one of the other Star Alliance carriers.
Depending on the airline and the fare purchased, you can earn up to 200% of miles flown with Star Alliance members as well as smaller regional carriers that partner with Air Canada. To ensure you’re getting the most points, see where to credit your miles for maximum value.
In addition to Star Alliance carriers, Air Canada is partners with a number of airlines that aren’t in Star Alliance. While some of these are boutique carriers in Canada, there are still other major airlines like Cathay Pacific that you should keep at the back of your mind.
To find out more about the earning structure, click on the appropriate partner.
You have between January 1 and December 31 each calendar year to qualify for elite status.
The 5 tiers in the Aeroplan program are:
With elite status, you will also get up to 50% off and need fewer points for flight rewards by using Priority Reward vouchers.
Unfortunately, some points are not eligible for Aeroplan status, like points transferred from other loyalty programs and points transferred between member accounts.
You also earn a minimum of 250 points for eligible fares on flights operated by Air Canada, its regional carriers, and Star Alliance member airlines, no matter how far you travel!
Plus, you get Star Alliance recognition, which can help with getting reciprocal benefits from other airlines.
In the U.S., you can opt to acquire the Aeroplan® Credit Card, which earns 3x points per dollar spent on dining, groceries, and Air Canada, as well as 1x point per $1 spent everywhere else.
Several co-branded Aeroplan credit cards are also available to Canadian citizens only. You can earn Aeroplan points on these non-U.S. credit cards:
Aeroplan is an American Express transfer partner in increments of 1,000 online or by phone. The transfer ratio is 1:1 and it usually processes instantly.
Best of all, you can earn Membership Rewards points with the following credit cards and then transfer them over to Aeroplan points.
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
Business Owner? Check out our article on the best Amex business cards that earn Membership Rewards.
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer over to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, which matches Amex’s ratio.
Business Owner? Read our article on the best Chase business cards that earn Ultimate Rewards.
Capital One miles also transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly.
Business Owner? Learn about the best Capital One business cards that earn Capital One miles.
If you’re a member of Marriott Bonvoy, don’t miss an opportunity to increase your Aeroplan points balance.
You can transfer 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1,000 Aeroplan points with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred to Aeroplan.
Bilt Rewards is a niche program aimed at those who pay rent. You can earn Bilt points and transfer them to United at a 1:1 ratio with a minimum of 2,000 points transferred. The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card allows you to earn Bilt points on rent, however, it doesn’t come with a welcome bonus, and it has a minimum transaction requirement, so this card won’t be for everyone.
Earn 500 Aeroplan points for each qualifying car rental at participating airport locations (250 points for participating off-airport locations) at Avis.
You can also earn 250 points per rental at Budget and 50 points per rental at Payless. Just be sure to enter the appropriate promo or code when booking, which can be found at the Aeroplan partner website.
There are 8 Aeroplan hotel brands offering points per $1 spent or points per stay.
Here’s the breakdown:
| Aeroplan Partner | Earning Structure | Aeroplan Partner | Earning Structure |
| Best Western | Earn 250 points per qualifying stay | Marriott Bonvoy | Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent |
| Coast Hotels | Earn 250 to 500 points per qualifying stay | Rocketmiles | Earn up to 10,000 points per night |
| IHG | Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent | Shangri-La’s Golden Circle | Earn 500 points per qualifying stay |
| Langham Resorts & Hotels | Earn 500 to 1,500 points per qualifying stay | Wyndham Rewards | Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent |
Convert Club Rewards from your Diners Club account to Aeroplan points at clubrewardsus.com or by phone at 800-234-4034.
There’s a minimum of 1,000 points per redemption, which must also be made in increments of 1,000 points. The transfer ratio is 1,000:1,000.
You can transfer points from the following hotel loyalty programs:
| Hotel Loyalty Program | Hotel Points | Aeroplan Points | Minimum Transfer Amount |
| ALL – Accor Live Limitless | 2 points | 1 mile | 4,000:2,000 |
| Best Western Rewards | 5 points | 1 mile | None |
| Coast Rewards | 1 point | 1 mile | 1,000:1,000 |
| Hilton Honors | 10 points | 1 mile | 10,000:1,000 |
| IHG One Rewards | 5 points | 1 mile | 10,000:2,000 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3 points | 1 mile | 3,000:1,000 (5,000-mile bonus with transfers of 60,000 points) |
| Radisson Rewards Americas | 10 points | 1 mile | Manual conversion: 2,000:200
Automatic conversion: None |
| Shangri-La’s Golden Circle | 1 point | 1 mile | 2,500:2,500 |
| Wyndham Rewards | 5 points | 1 mile | 6,000:1,200 |
Planning a trip? Book through Air Canada Vacations and earn Aeroplan points on flight-inclusive packages when travel is on a flight operated by Air Canada. You can also earn towards status.
Provide your Aeroplan number when you book your trip at the Air Canada Vacations website.
Find limited-time offers for extra Aeroplan points, such as bonus points when renting from Avis, by checking the Air Canada Aeroplan’s promotion website on a regular basis.
Get a bite to eat on your flight at the Air Canada Bistro and earn Aeroplan points at the same time. Earn 25 Aeroplan points on purchases of $10 to $19.99 before tax and 50 Aeroplan points when you spend $20+!
Air Canada Aeroplan members in Canada have loads of opportunities to earn points from local partners like Costco.ca, Home Hardware, Toyota Canada, and online retailers.
But if you live in the U.S., you’re not out of luck! You can shop through Air Canada’s Aeroplan eStore and earn bonus points on online purchases you’re likely already making anyway.
If you don’t have quite enough Aeroplan points for an award, don’t worry.
You can buy them or transfer points from 1 Aeroplan account to another online instantly. There is a fee of 2 cents per mile, so this should only be a solution when you find yourself in a bind.
You are limited to 5 transactions transferring points either from or to your account per year. The minimum amount is 1,000 Aeroplan points, and the maximum amount is 999,999 Aeroplan points in a single transaction. You may find promotions to get 100% bonus points, too!
There are so many terrific ways to earn Air Canada Aeroplan points! You’re now able to get out there and start earning so you can reap the benefits.
Remember, one of the best ways to earn Aeroplan points is by using credit cards associated with Air Canada transfer partners.
The information regarding the American Express® Aeroplan® Business Reserve Card, American Express® Aeroplan® Card, American Express® Aeroplan® Corporate Card, American Express® Aeroplan® Corporate Reserve Card, American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Card, CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card, CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card, CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Business Card, CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Card, and TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Unlimited® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
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Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.
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11 comments
Uptowngirl
June 20, 2019
Your article is about Aeroplan so I assume you are speaking to a Canadian audience but the details of the Amex Plat/Gold cards you listed are for US customers not Canadian customers…
Erin Miller
June 20, 2019
Hi Uptowngirl! We’re actually a U.S. based website and as such, publish content with suggestions for a U.S. audience. As you can see from many of the other articles on our site, just because we’re U.S. based that doesn’t limit us to reviewing only U.S. airlines and loyalty programs. We post earning/redeeming/booking guides for most of the popular international airlines as well as general travel-related content.
We hope one day to be able to branch out to credit card suggestions for those living outside of the U.S. but while we’re still small, the U.S. is where our focus will lie for the time being! Thanks for writing in!
Jarrod West
June 20, 2019
Hi Uptowngirl,
While our website is based out of the US, the audience for this article is anyone that can benefit from the use of Aeroplan miles. Air Canada services customers in over 50 countries worldwide. Additionally, Aeroplan miles can also be used to purchase award flights with a large number of their airline partners around the world.
david friedman
July 15, 2019
We opened two accounts at Air Canada on that date and asked to add the miles of those flights to our accounts. Now we are flying again and thought to use them but found out that we do not have any miles in our accounts, but we do not know why.
Can you add those miles into our accounts and explain us how to use them? Thank you.
Jarrod West
July 15, 2019
Hi David,
Please be advised that we are not, and have no affiliation with, Air Canada. We are Upgraded Points, a website that provides educational resources to help people travel with points and miles.
In order to receive assistance with your Aeroplan account, you’ll need to contact the Air Canada customer service line at 1-(800) 361-5373. I hope you’re able to get the matter resolved!
Betty Eroshinsky
June 10, 2020
Do any grocery stores or gas stations give aeroplan miles in Calgary, Okotoks or High River AB?
Jarrod West
June 10, 2020
Hi Betty,
Based on the partners’ section on the Aeroplan website for gas stations and grocery stores, it seems that there are no such offers.
Thanks for reading!
Chris Jensen
November 14, 2020
Is the 2 cents per point mentioned in CDN or USD, an can 40% of the ticket points be purchased as was thought previously?
Jarrod West
November 16, 2020
Hi Chris,
The 2 cents per point mentioned in USD, and yes you should be able to purchase 40% of the ticket points.
Elaine
June 07, 2021
What stores in the Lower Mainland of BC award Aeroplan points for point of sale purchases?
Jarrod West
June 07, 2021
Hi Elaine,
Air Canada does not appear to publish that information on its website. However, you can see all of the stores offered on the Air Canada eStore.
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
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