Air Canada Aeroplan Loyalty Program Review

Branded and Partnered Credit Cards

The Air Canada Aeroplan program makes it easy to earn points by partnering with 3 out of the 4 flexible point programs.

Aeroplan^® Credit Card

The co-branded Aeroplan card from Chase offers 3x points per $1 spent on dining, groceries, and Air Canada purchases, as well as 1x point per $1 spent everywhere else.

American Express Credit Cards

American Express credit cards are a great way to earn Amex points that can be transferred directly to Aeroplan.

Amex has an impressive selection of personal and business credit cards, so you’ll have more than enough ways to earn points for your next redemption.

Amex also has regular bonuses with some of its airline partners when you transfer your points into airline points, making this a valuable program to earn points in.

Recommended Amex Cards (Personal)

Recommended Amex Cards (Business)

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

Marriott Bonvoy credit cards provide another way to earn flexible Marriott Bonvoy points that can be transferred directly to Aeroplan.

What makes this transfer even better is the fact that you’ll receive a 5,000-point bonus for every 60,000 points that you convert into Aeroplan points.

Marriott Bonvoy points convert into airline points at a 3:1 ratio, so 60,000 points become 25,000 Aeroplan points with the 5,000-point bonus.

Capital One Credit Cards

Capital One credit cards are another great way to add points to your Air Canada Aeroplan account thanks to its 1:1 transfer rate.

You have multiple card options when it comes to selecting a great Capital One Miles credit card.

Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Cards (Canadian Residents)

Air Canada and TD Bank have partnered to offer 3 separate credit card products to Canadian residents. The TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Platinum Card that earns 1x point per $1 spent on Air Canada flights, the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Card that earns 1.5x points per $1 spent on Air Canada flights, and the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege Card that earns 2x points per $1 spent on Air Canada flights.

Other Hotel Partner Credit Cards

Transferring other hotel points to Aeroplan, like via Hilton or IHG, will result in less than a 1:1 transfer ratio, with Hilton transferring at 10:1 and IHG transferring at 5:1, so we highly recommend avoiding this option.

However, if you are merely topping off your Aeroplan account, or are in a bind, transferring hotel points to Aeroplan can be a good option.

Air Canada Aeroplan Program Overview

The Air Canada frequent flyer program that you redeem points in is called Aeroplan.

You can use the program for Star Alliance and partner redemptions, like flights on United Airlines.

Members earn Status Qualifying Miles (SQM), Status Qualifying Segments (SQS), and Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD) when flying Air Canada and Star Alliance partners.

Aeroplan points allow you to qualify for the program’s elite status and redeem for award flights. They can be earned in many ways — here are the 4 most common:

• Flying Air Canada or its partner airline flights
• Spending on flexible points program credit cards
• Spending at car rental, hotel, or retail partners
• Shopping through the Aeroplan eStore shopping portal

Bottom Line: Aeroplan is the rewards program in which members earn points to use toward travel and lifestyle awards.

Joining Aeroplan

The Aeroplan program is free to join by simply completing this application.

When your application is complete, you’ll have the ability to earn points by flying with Air Canada or its partner airlines, earn elite status, and redeem points for award flights.

How To Sign in to Your Aeroplan Account

Head to the Aeroplan login page and enter your membership number or email and password.

Hot Tip: The Aeroplan website requires you to log in using your Aeroplan account number to search for award flights. 

Viewing Your Account Activity

The easiest way to check your Aeroplan mileage balance is to:

1. Log in to your account
2. Hover over Your Account on the left and click Account Overview

Aeroplan states that it may take up to 8 days for qualifying activity to appear in your account.

Points Expiration

Aeroplan points will expire if you haven’t accumulated or redeemed points for a period of 18 consecutive months.

The program does allow you to buy back your expired points at a cost of 1¢ per point, a $30 administration fee, and applicable taxes.

Aeroplan Mileage Program

Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Status

The Air Canada Aeroplan program has 5 elite tiers:

• 25K
• 35K
• 50K
• 75K
• Super Elite 100K

The Aeroplan status qualification period begins January 1 and ends December 31 of the same calendar year. Members who qualify for a new status level during the qualification year prior to October 15 may be eligible for early recognition to a higher level of Aeroplan status.

25K: The lowest elite tier offered by Aeroplan comes with the following benefits:

• Priority check-in
• Priority boarding
• Priority seat selection
• 2 Maple Leaf Lounge 1-time guest passes
• 25% Aeroplan mile bonus with Air Canada and select airline partners
• Carrier surcharge waived on award flights between Canada and the U.S.
• 20 eUpgrade credits
• Star Alliance Silver

35K: After earning this status level, you’ll have all of the benefits of 25K, plus access to additional benefits, including:

• Complimentary access to select Maple Leaf Lounges
• Access to unsold economy class award seats on Air Canada flights
• 50% discount on Maple Leaf Club Lounge membership
• 35% Aeroplan mile bonus with Air Canada and select airline partners
• 30 eUpgrade credits

50K: The middle elite tier that you can earn comes with all of the benefits of 35K, plus the following benefits:

• 3 Maple Leaf Lounge 1-time guest passes
• Complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges
• 50% Aeroplan mile bonus with Air Canada and select airline partners
• Lower requalification level of 45K SQM or 45 SQS
• 40 eUpgrade credits
• 2 Status Passes
• Star Alliance Gold

75K: The second highest elite tier that you can earn comes with all of the benefits of Elite 50K, plus the following benefits:

• Guaranteed reservations for economy revenue tickets
• 75% Aeroplan bonus with Air Canada and select airline partners
• Lower requalification level of 70K AQM or 70 AQS
• Gift of Aeroplan 35K status for a friend
• 55 eUpgrade credits
• 3 Status Passes

Super Elite 100K: The highest elite tier that you can earn comes with all of the benefits of 75K, plus the following benefits:

• Air Canada concierge service
• 4 Maple Leaf Lounge 1-time guest passes
• Access to London Heathrow Arrivals Lounge
• 1 upgrade for a designated eUpgrade nominee
• 100% Aeroplan bonus with Air Canada and select airline partners
• Access to any unsold economy class seat, and additional business class seats on Air Canada flights
• Lower requalification level of 90K SQM or 90 SQS
• Aeroplan Elite 50K status for a friend
• Carrier surcharge waived on international award flights
• 70 eUpgrade credits
• 4 Status Passes

Learn more details about the Aeroplan elite benefits at each tier.

Value of Aeroplan Elite Status

Earning elite status with Air Canada Aeroplan makes the most sense if you fly Air Canada regularly or you are looking for elite benefits when flying a Star Alliance partner like United Airlines.

If you meet one of these criteria, access to premium airport lounges and mileage earning bonuses are reasons to earn elite status.

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Status

The Aeroplan program is similar to major U.S. airline programs in that elite status requires Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) or Status Qualifying Segments (SQS) and Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD).

All eligible flights on Air Canada and partner airline flights earn Aeroplan points.

How To Earn Aeroplan Points

The Aeroplan program offers 3 primary ways to earn airline points:

1. Earn points from spending on an Aeroplan credit card
2. Transfer points since Aeroplan is an Amex transfer partner, Capital One transfer partner, and Marriott transfer partner)
3. Use the Aeroplan eStore shopping portal

When you use all of the options in tandem, you’ll have more than enough ways to earn Aeroplan points.

Earning Points Through Flying

If you fly a partner, the mileage is also based on the distance flown and booking class purchased.

For example, if you fly ANA first class (F, A) from Washington (IAD) to Tokyo (NRT), you’ll earn 150% miles of the distance traveled.

The best way to see how many points you’ll earn is to reference the Aeroplan airline partners.

Aeroplan also offers bonus points for certain airlines as an incentive to fly a particular route.

How To Redeem Aeroplan Points

Most of the Aeroplan partner award flights can be both searched for and booked directly on the Aeroplan website.

If you are unable to see award availability for a particular airline, you can call Aeroplan at 800-361-5373 to confirm availability found on another airline’s website.

Hot Tip: If you’re looking for ways to use your Aeroplan points, we put together a guide on the best ways to use Aeroplan points. 

Star Alliance Partner Awards

Since Aeroplan is in the Star Alliance, you can use Aeroplan points to fly on any airline in the alliance.

Booking Online

The Aeroplan search engine can be a great way to book Aeroplan and Star Alliance award flights.

For Star Alliance partner flights, we recommend using the United search engine first, and then confirming the same award availability on the Aeroplan search engine.

If the partner you are trying to book can’t be booked on the Aeroplan website, search for award space on the United search engine first, and then call Aeroplan at 800-361-5373 to confirm award space and ticket the award flight.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card 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 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.

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