The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

How much your Air Canada Aeroplan points are worth depends on several factors. For example, redeeming them for economy class tickets with Air Canada comes with a value of around 1.7 cents per point, whereas a business class ticket might come with a value of about 2.7 to 2.8 cents per point. Redeeming your points for hotel stays doesn't provide great value, and you stand to receive rather poor value if you use them for gift cards, car rentals or shopping.

Once you're part of the Air Canada Aeroplan program, you can earn points when you fly with Air Canada and its airline partners and when you spend through the program's hotel, car rental and other partner merchants. You may earn points faster if you have a co-branded Air Canada Aeroplan credit card.

If you're wondering how to redeem Air Canada Aeroplan points, know that you may use them for flight tickets with Air Canada and its airline partners. Using them for flight upgrades is an option. Other redemption methods include using them for hotel stays and car rentals.

In addition, you earn bonus points as you move up the program's membership levels. Achieving an Elite status comes with other perks too.

MoneyGeek’s Takeaways

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The average value of Air Canada Aeroplan points is 1.5 cents to 1.9 cents per point.

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Business class redemptions tend to offer better value than economy class redemptions.

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Redeeming your points for gift cards and shopping usually offers rather poor value.

Some of the links on this page will take you to one of our partner's sites, where you can compare and apply for a selected credit card.

How Much Are Air Canada Aeroplan Points Worth?

The average value of Air Canada Aeroplan points stands at around 1.7 cents per point when redeemed for economy class tickets and goes up to 2.8 cents for business class tickets. The overall average value hovers between 1.5 cents and 1.9 cents per point.

If you find an award flight where the value of your points is less than 1.5 cents per point, you might want to consider other options.

The Air Canada Aeroplan redemption chart can give you a general idea of how many points you might need for an award flight with Air Canada and the program's airline partners based on different travel zones, flight distances and cabin types.

You may also use the airline's point predictor tool to get an even better understanding of how many points you might need to fly between different destinations.

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HOW TO COMPUTE AIR CANADA AEROPLAN POINTS VALUE

Ticket Cost / Equivalent Points = Points Value

Calculate the value you stand to receive by dividing the number of points you need for an award by its actual cost. For example, if you need 6,000 points for a ticket that costs $115, you get a value of around 1.92 cents per point (115/6000 = $0.01916).

How Air Canada Aeroplan Points Compare to Other Airlines

The monetary worth that the Air Canada Aeroplan program offers through its points is as good as it gets when compared to frequent flyer programs run by other prominent airlines. However, there are other factors, such as Elite level perks, to consider as well.

Air Canada vs. Other Frequent Flyer Programs
Airlines
Value per Mile/Point

Air Canada Aeroplan

1.5 cents to 1.9 cents per point

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

1.2 cents to 1.8 cents per mile

Air France / KLM Flying Blue

1.2 cents to 1.4 cents per mile

American Airlines AAdvantage

1.5 cents to 1.7 cents per mile

British Airways Avios

0.8 cents to 1.5 cents per point

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

1.4 cents to 1.5 cents per mile

Emirates Skywards

1 cent to 1.4 cents per mile

Frontier Miles

0.9 cents to 1.1 cents per mile

Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles

0.9 cents to 1 cent per mile

JetBlue TrueBlue

1.3 cents to 1.6 cents per point

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

1.1 cents to 1.3 cents per mile

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

1.3 cents to 1.5 cents per point

United Airlines MileagePlus

1.2 cents to 1.6 cents per mile

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

1.1 cents to 1.5 cents per point

How to Earn & Maximize Points From Air Canada

You can earn Aeroplan points when you fly with Air Canada and the program's partner airlines, use co-branded Air Canada Aeroplan credit cards or spend with the program's partner merchants.

Earning Points Using Air Canada Co-Branded Credit Cards

Chase offers a co-branded Aeroplan credit card for residents of the U.S. This card offers 3X points per dollar on Air Canada purchases as well as on a few other bonus categories. It also comes with a generous welcome bonus after meeting a spending requirement within the allotted timeframe.

Alternatively, consider getting a credit card linked to a rewards program that lets you transfer your points/miles to your Aeroplan account. These include American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles and Bilt Rewards.

If you're a Canadian resident, you may choose from four different TD Bank-issued Aeroplan credit cards. These include three for individuals and one for businesses. CIBC and American Express also have Aeroplan credit cards for Canadians.

Co-Branded and Other Travel Rewards Cards at a Glance
Credit Card Name
Points Earned per Dollar Spent
How to Increase Points Earned

Chase Aeroplan Card

Up to 3X points per dollar

  • Earn a spend-based welcome
    bonus
  • Earn spend-based bonus
    points each month

Up to 5X points per dollar
(which you can then transfer
to Air Canada Aeroplan)

  • Earn bonus points by meeting
    a spend-based requirement

Up to 5X miles per dollar
(which you can then transfer
to Air Canada Aeroplan)

  • Get an early-spend bonus of
    75,000 miles by spending $4,000
    on purchases in the first
    three months

The Chase Aeroplan Credit Card

The Chase Aeroplan Card comes with a $95 annual fee. You stand to earn a sizable welcome bonus by meeting a spend-based requirement. There is also an opportunity to earn bonus points each month.

Using this travel rewards credit card to make purchases directly with Air Canada comes with 3X points per dollar. You also get 3X points per dollar on grocery store and dining purchases (including eligible delivery and takeout services). All other purchases earn 1X points per dollar.

All cardholders get complimentary Aeroplan 25K status for the rest of the calendar year in which they apply and the calendar year that follows. You and up to eight companions on the same Air Canada booking made using this card get your first bag checked for free.

Additional benefits include:

  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS fee credit once every four years
  • Purchase and travel protection
  • Access to Mastercard 24/7 Concierge

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

Consider getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card if you travel frequently and are okay with paying a $95 annual fee. New cardholders can earn a sizable welcome bonus if they meet a spend-based requirement. If you book hotel stays through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you stand to receive statement credits of up to $50 each year.

You get 5X points per dollar on travel purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards (other than those that qualify for the $50 annual hotel credit). All other travel purchases earn 2X points per dollar. Eligible dining, online grocery and streaming service purchases earn 3X points per dollar. You get 1X points per dollar on all other purchases.

Redeeming your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards offers 25% more value than other redemption methods. Using this card outside of the U.S. will not incur foreign transaction fees. You may transfer your points to Air Canada Aeroplan as well as other airline and hotel transfer partners.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

We recommend the Venture Rewards credit card from Capital One to travelers who don't mind paying a $95 annual fee to take advantage of various benefits. For starters, new cardholders receive 75,000 bonus miles by spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. In addition, this card offers 2X miles per dollar on all purchases, so you don't have to keep track of bonus categories. The one exception to this is that cardholders earn 5X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars they book through Capital One Travel.

All cardholders get two complimentary visits to Capital One Lounges each year. You get a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit once every four years. Other benefits include complimentary Hertz Five Star status, no foreign transaction fees, travel coverage and the ability to transfer your miles to various rewards programs — Air Canada Aeroplan included.

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP FOR EARNING POINTS

You can earn points on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made with your card. But to supercharge your point-earning potential, make sure to meet your Aeroplan credit card's spend-based requirement. By doing so, you can earn a welcome bonus as well as bonus points each month.

Sign Up for Air Canada Aeroplan

Joining the Air Canada Aeroplan program is easy, and you may enroll online. You start by providing your email address and creating a password, after which you will need to provide your name, date of birth and contact information.

There are no fees to join this rewards program, and you don't receive any bonus points upon enrollment. This program comes with five Elite statuses. And you stand to enjoy various Air Canada Aeroplan Elite benefits as you move up the ladder, including the ability to earn bonus points.

Buying Airline Tickets From Air Canada & Affiliates

You earn Aeroplan points when you use the Air Canada website or app to make flight reservations. The number of points you earn depends on the distance your flight travels and the travel class. For example, Standard fares within Canada earn 25% points on the distance traveled, whereas Standard fares between Canada and the United States and Canada and other international destinations earn 50% points.

You may use the Air Canada points chart to get an indication of how many points and Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) you can earn based on different fare classes.

Earn Points Through Air Canada Partner Merchants

Earning Aeroplan points through the program's over 50 partner airlines and Air Canada codeshare airlines work in a similar manner, where the number of points you earn depends on the distance your flight travels and the fare class. You can earn points from certain partners by staying at certain hotels, shopping, using certain car rental companies, and from other transfer partners,

  • hotel icon

    Hotels and lodging

    • Best Western: Earn 250 Aeroplan points for every qualifying stay.
    • Choice Hotels: Earn 250 Aeroplan points for every qualifying stay.
    • Coast Hotels: Earn 250 to 500 Aeroplan points for every qualifying stay.
    • IHG Rewards Club: Earn 2 Aeroplan points per dollar spent.
    • Langham Hotels and Resorts, Chelsea Hotel: Earn 500 to 1,500 Aeroplan points for every qualifying stay.
    • Marriott Bonvoy: Earn 2 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on the room rate during an eligible stay. Plus, if you opt to transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Aeroplan points, you will earn 5,000 bonus Aeroplan points.
    • Rocketmiles: Earn up to 10,000 Aeroplan points per night booked through Rocketmiles.
    • Shangri-La's Golden Circle: Earn 500 Aeroplan points for every qualifying stay.
    • Wyndham Rewards: Get 2 Aeroplan points per dollar.
  • shoppingCart icon

    Shopping and dining

    • Starbucks: Earn 500 Aeroplan points upon joining Starbucks Rewards and get points upon loading money on your Starbucks app.
    • Uber Eats: Register with Uber Eats and get 1,000 Aeroplan points on your first order, and earn points based on your spending going forward.
    • LCBO: Get 1 point for every $4 you spend, as well as a chance to earn bonus points.
  • car icon

    Car rentals

    • Avis: Earn up to 500 Aeroplan points on each qualifying rental at participating locations.
    • Budget: Get 250 points per qualifying rental.
    • Uber: Register with Uber and get 1,000 Aeroplan points on your first ride, and earn points based on your spending going forward.
  • rewards icon

    Others

    It is possible to convert reward points from various Air Canada Aeroplan transfer partners to Aeroplan points. In addition to Air Canada’s airline transfer partners, your options include but are not limited to:

    • American Express Membership Rewards: Get 1,000 Aeroplan points for 1,000 Membership Rewards points.
    • Chase Ultimate Rewards: Get 1,000 Aeroplan points for 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
    • Barclays Arrival Premier: Get 5,000 Aeroplan points for 8,500 Arrival Premier miles.
    • Capital One: Get 1 Aeroplan point for 1 Capital One mile.
    • Hilton Honors: Get 1,000 Aeroplan points for 10,000 Hilton Honors points.
    • Radisson Rewards: Get 1 Aeroplan point for 10 Radisson Rewards points.

    You may also earn Aeroplan points through over 250 retail partners, such as:

    • Amazon.ca
    • 1-800-Flowers.ca
    • Adidas
    • Aldo
    • American Eagle
    • Apple
    • Armani Beauty
    • Best Buy
    • Bloomingdales
    • Bose
    • Clarins
    • Crocs
    • Dell
    • Disney+
    • Etsy
    • Gap
    • HP
    • Instacart
    • Kenzo
    • Lacoste
    • Lenovo
    • Macy's
    • Microsoft
    • Nike
    • Oakley
    • Puma
    • Quickbooks
    • Ray-Ban
    • Sennheiser
    • Steve Madden
    • Under Armour
    • Vans
    • WeightWatchers
    • YSL Beauty

Buying Points From Air Canada

Buying points from Air Canada is possible. You typically pay around 3.5 Canadian cents, which, as of this writing, equates to about 2.6 U.S. cents per Aeroplan point. That is more than the average value you stand to receive when you redeem your points, so you’ll want to do the math before moving forward.

Air Canada runs promotional offers through which it offers bonuses when you purchase points. Over time, these bonuses have ranged from 30% to a staggering 115%. These bonuses may help you get considerably better value.

For example, if you buy points and get a 100% bonus, you'll end up paying around 1.3 U.S. cents per point. So, if you need extra points to redeem an award flight that offers a value of over 2 cents per point, buying them with even a 30% bonus might work well for you.

How to Redeem Air Canada Aeroplan Points

If you're wondering how to use Air Canada Aeroplan points, start by logging in to your Aeroplan account. Then, you can choose from the various redemption methods on offer.

Using the Air Canada flight search tool will give you an idea of how many points you might need across different routes and fare types. It also includes partner airlines in your searches, allowing you to select the best option.

Consider this. As of this writing, if you plan to fly from Toronto, Canada, to Melbourne, Australia, in April, a business class flight with Air Canada and Virgin Australia would require around 470,000 Aeroplan points. However, you could get a first-class ticket on the same route and date with Air India for as little as 150,000 Aeroplan points.

When you use your points for economy class tickets, aim to get a value of 1.7 cents or more per point. For business class tickets, you should be looking at getting at least 2 cents per point.

Ways to Redeem Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Air Canada Aeroplan Points can be used to redeem more than just flights. While flights often provide the best value, you may be able to score great deals on hotels, rental cars and more.

  • hotel icon

    Hotel accommodations

    You may use your Aeroplan points to book hotel stays through the program's online portal, where you can choose from more than 300,000 properties the world over. Using 50% points and 50% cash is an option. When you redeem your points for hotel stays, expect to get a value of around 0.8 cents to 1.1 cents per point. Using your points to book vacations through Air Canada Vacations is also an option.

  • car2 icon

    Car rentals

    Using your Aeroplan points to book car rentals with Avis and Budget is possible. In this case, you may get an average value of around 0.6 cents to 0.7 cents per point.

  • airplane icon

    Flight upgrades

    If you buy an eligible Economy or Premium Economy Class ticket on an Air Canada- or Air Canada Rouge-operated flight or one that flies under the Air Canada Express banner, you may use your points to bid for an upgrade through the AC Bid Upgrade program. The value you receive may vary greatly depending on the bid amount and the actual cost of the upgrade.

  • rewards icon

    Others

    Redeeming Aeroplan points for gift cards is possible, in which case you may expect a value of around 0.6 cents to 0.7 cents per point. The value drops to about 0.4 cents to 0.65 cents per point when you use your points to make purchases through the Aeroplan eStore. Donating your points to charity is also an option — but don't expect to get great value in this case.

When Best to Redeem Air Canada Aeroplan Points

If you look at the Air Canada flight rewards chart, notice that it provides a range of points you may need for redemption on Air Canada flights. This is because when you choose to fly has a bearing on the actual fare and, therefore, the points you need for redemption.

For example, flying from New York to Toronto on a Saturday in April would need around 8,000 points for an economy class ticket and about 30,000 points for a business class ticket. If you move the same flight to the following Tuesday, you'll need around 6,000 points for an economy class ticket and about 14,600 points for a business class ticket.

When it comes to business class tickets, you stand to get the best value if you book 15 days before the intended travel date. This might also be the case with some economy-class tickets.

A few other factors play a role in how much value you receive for your Aeroplan points. For example, economy class tickets on short-haul flights that travel less than 500 miles require just 6,000 points and tend to provide good value. This is the case when you fly from New York to Toronto.

Further, you need around 10,000 points for economy class tickets on flights within North America that cover 501 miles to 1,500 miles. If you wish to fly business class, you'll need around 20,000 points. The next bracket that covers flights of over 2,750 miles can get you from the West Coast to Hawaii for about 12,500 points in economy class.

The Aeroplan program also works well with long-haul business class reward flights with some of its partner airlines, such as Lufthansa, ANA and Air India.

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

The Air Canada rewards program offers tremendous value when booking international flights with its partner airlines. In some cases, award flights require fewer points/miles and have lower taxes and fees than booking directly with the airline you're flying on.
Lee Huffman, contributing expert for MoneyGeek

How to Get Air Canada Elite Status

The Air Canada Aeroplan program comes with five Elite statuses that you may qualify for by earning Status Qualifying Miles (SQMs) or flying Status Qualifying Segments (SQSs) along with earning Status Qualifying Dollars (SQDs). You earn SQMs based on the distance you fly, you get SQMs for every flight segment and you earn SQDs for eligible spending on flight tickets. To reach each elite status tier, you must meet the following thresholds within a calendar year:

  • 25K: 25,000 SQMs or 25 SQSs plus 3,000 SQDs
  • 35K: 35,000 SQMs or 35 SQSs plus 4,000 SQDs
  • 50K: 50,000 SQMs or 50 SQSs plus 6,000 SQDs
  • 75K: 75,000 SQMs or 75 SQSs plus 9,000 SQDs
  • Super Elite: 100,000 SQMs or 100 SQSs plus 20,000 SQDs

Benefits at Different Levels of Air Canada Elite Status

With each milestone Elite status level, you'll be afforded additional perks and benefits with Air Canada. Compare benefits to plan your travel and unlock additional bonuses.

1

25K

Benefits include 25% bonus points, bonus points on car rentals and hotel stays, priority seat selection, priority check-in, two bags checked for free, complimentary sports equipment handling, priority boarding, two one-time Maple Leaf lounge guest passes, eUpgrade credits, priority rewards, SQMs for eligible Flight Pass activities and complimentary Avis Preferred Plus status.

2

35K

In addition to 25K benefits, members get 35% bonus points, priority baggage handling, priority security clearance, three bags checked for free and complimentary access to select Maple Leaf lounges.

3

50K

The additional perks that come with this tier include 50% bonus points, complimentary preferred seats, complimentary access to all Maple Leaf lounges, complimentary access to Star Alliance Gold lounges and Non-Star Alliance lounges, access to Air Canada Café, threshold rewards, lower requalification level and additional status passes.

4

75K

When you get to this level, you may benefit through additional perks such as 75% bonus points, guaranteed reservations in economy class, complimentary Avis President’s Club status and a 12-month Aeroplan Elite Wi-Fi plan.

5

Super Elite

When you get to the top-most tier, you may benefit through 100% bonus points, access to the Air Canada concierge service, access to London Heathrow Arrivals lounge, the most number of eUpgrade credits, the most number of SQMs for eligible Flight Pass activities, complimentary changes/cancellations with Aeroplan reward flights and complimentary in-flight refreshment.

How We Determined the Value of Air Canada Aeroplan Points

MoneyGeek experts have taken a close look at how the value of Air Canada Aeroplan points changes based on different redemption methods. They have also carried out in-depth market research to determine the worth of your points.

Other Questions You May Have About Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Take a look at answers to other commonly asked questions about the Air Canada membership program to determine how best to use your Aeroplan points.

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About Rajiv Baniwal


Rajiv Baniwal headshot

Rajiv Baniwal is a journalist who has been covering financial topics for over 15 years. Meticulous in his research, he provides accurate and up-to-date information. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.


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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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