If you have ever looked at your Aeroplan account and thought, “I have points, but I have no idea what to do with them”, you are not alone. Most travelers earn Aeroplan points without ever fully understanding how to use them well.
Aeroplan can feel complicated at first. There are partner airlines, transfer partners, sweet spots, open jaws, and stopovers, and most online content is written for people who already know what all of that means. That is frustrating when you are just getting started as a beginner with Aeroplan in 2026.
This guide is different. It is written for travelers who want to understand Aeroplan clearly, not obsess over it. Whether you are a retiree thinking about your first points redemption or someone who has been collecting points without a strategy, this article will give you the foundation you need.
By the end, you will understand how Aeroplan works, how to earn points in your everyday life, and how to redeem them in a way that actually makes sense for you.
What Is Aeroplan?
Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program. It allows you to earn points every time you fly with Air Canada or any of its 40+ partner airlines, and redeem them for flights, upgrades, hotels, merchandise, and more.
Launched in 1984, Aeroplan is one of the oldest and most established loyalty programs in Canada. It was restructured in 2020, which actually made it more flexible and more valuable for everyday travelers.
Here is the key thing to understand: Aeroplan points are a currency. Like dollars, they have a value, and like dollars, how you spend them matters. Some redemptions give you extraordinary value. Others give you very little. Learning the difference is what this guide is about.
How Does Aeroplan Work?
Aeroplan works in three simple stages: you earn points, your points accumulate in your account, and then you redeem them for travel or other rewards.
The more you engage with Aeroplan’s partners, airlines, credit cards, hotels, and everyday shopping, the faster your points balance grows. And the smarter you are about redemptions, the more value you extract from every point you have earned
The Earning Side
Points come in every time you interact with an Aeroplan partner. Flying is the most obvious way, but it is far from the only one. Credit cards, hotel stays, car rentals, and everyday purchases through partner retailers all contribute to your balance.
The Redemption Side
When you are ready to use your points, you can book flights directly through Aeroplan’s website or app. The number of points required depends on the route, cabin class, and how you search. We will cover this in detail in the redemption section.
How to Earn Aeroplan Points
Most beginners assume Aeroplan points only come from flying. In reality, flying is just one piece of the puzzle. Here are all the ways you can build your balance.
Via Credit Cards (The Most Powerful Method)
The fastest way to earn Aeroplan points, by far, is through a co-branded credit card. These cards award you Aeroplan points on every dollar you spend, meaning your grocery runs, gas fill-ups, and restaurant dinners are all building toward your next trip.
Major Canadian banks offer Aeroplan credit cards, including TD, CIBC, and American Express. Each card has different earn rates and welcome bonuses; some offer tens of thousands of points just for meeting an initial spend threshold.
Key Aeroplan Credit Cards in Canada (2026):
• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite — strong everyday earn rate, includes travel insurance
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite — competitive earn rates, flexible redemption
• American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card — premium earn rate, lounge access
• American Express Aeroplan Card — no-fee option for casual earners
Via Flying with Air Canada and Partners
Every time you fly Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner airline, you earn Aeroplan points based on the distance flown and your fare class. Higher fare classes earn more points per mile flown.
Always enter your Aeroplan number when booking; points from flights will not be credited retroactively without it (or at least, the process is significantly more complicated).
Via Everyday Partners
Aeroplan has an extensive network of non-travel partners where you can earn points on purchases you are already making.
- Grocery: Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Thrifty Foods
- Gas: Esso and Mobil stations across Canada
- Dining: Hundreds of restaurant partners across major cities
- Online Shopping: The Aeroplan eStore connects to hundreds of retailers
- Hotels: Marriott, Hilton, and other major chains with Aeroplan earn
- Car Rentals: Avis, Budget, National, and Enterprise
How to Redeem Aeroplan Points
This is where Aeroplan gets interesting, and where strategy begins to matter. Not all redemptions are equal. Some give you extraordinary value; others barely beat what you would pay in cash.
Redeeming for Flights (The Best Use)
Flight redemptions are where Aeroplan points shine. You can use your points to book seats on Air Canada and over 40 partner airlines across the Star Alliance network. This means destinations across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond, all bookable with Aeroplan points.
Aeroplan uses a distance-based chart to price most partner airline redemptions. The further you fly, the more points required. Air Canada flights are priced dynamically, which means the point cost varies based on availability and demand.
Example Redemption Ranges (Economy, Round Trip):
• Toronto to New York: ~10,000 – 15,000 points
• Toronto to London: ~35,000 – 55,000 points
• Toronto to Tokyo: ~50,000 – 75,000 points
• Toronto to Sydney: ~65,000 – 100,000 points
Redeeming for Business Class (Outstanding Value)
Business class is where loyalty points deliver the most dramatic value over cash. A business class ticket to Europe that retails for $4,000 to $7,000 CAD can often be redeemed for 50,000 to 75,000 Aeroplan points, giving you a value of 5 to 10 cents per point, far above average.
For many travelers, particularly those who value comfort but rarely pay for premium cabins, this is the most compelling reason to build an Aeroplan balance.
Other Redemption Options
Aeroplan also allows you to redeem for hotels, car rentals, merchandise, gift cards, and statement credits. However, these options typically offer significantly lower value per point than flight redemptions. We generally recommend reserving your points for flights where the value is highest.
Understanding Point Value
Not all Aeroplan redemptions are worth the same. A point used for a flight upgrade might be worth 3 cents. The same point used for merchandise might be worth 0.8 cents. This difference matters enormously when you are deciding how to use your balance.
A simple rule of thumb: if you are getting more than 1.5 cents per point on a redemption, you are doing well. If you are getting less than 1 cent, consider whether cash might be a better choice.
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Most people start their Aeroplan journey with good intentions but make a few avoidable mistakes. Here are the most common ones in this Aeroplan beginner guide 2026 and how to sidestep them.
- Earning points but never using them, points lose value to inflation and program changes over time. A point you redeem today is almost always worth more than one you hold for five years.
- Redeeming for low-value options, gift cards, merchandise, and statement credits is rarely the best use. Reserve your points for flights.
- Not adding your Aeroplan number to bookings, points from flights you have already taken can be very difficult to claim retroactively. Always add your number at booking.
- Ignoring the taxes and fees, International redemptions often carry significant taxes. Factor these into your value calculation before assuming a redemption is a great deal.
- Not comparing cash vs points, sometimes paying cash is genuinely smarter. A $200 flight you could book with 20,000 points is only worth 1 cent per point, often below what you could get on a better redemption.
Is Aeroplan Worth It for Beginners?
For most Canadians who fly Air Canada even occasionally, yes, Aeroplan is worth engaging with. The program is well-established, the partner network is broad, and the redemption sweet spots (especially in business class) can deliver extraordinary value.
That said, Aeroplan is not a “get rich quick” scheme. It rewards consistency, consistent earnings through credit cards and partners, and consistent strategic thinking when it comes to redemptions.
If you are willing to spend a little time understanding how the program works, the payoff can be significant. A family that earns 60,000 points through their credit card over a year might redeem them for a business class seat that would otherwise cost $4,000. That is real, tangible value, and it starts with understanding the basics.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Aeroplan points expire?
Aeroplan points do not expire as long as you have qualifying account activity at least once every 12 months. Earning or redeeming any points, even a small amount, resets the clock.
Q: How many Aeroplan points do I need for a free flight?
It depends on the route and cabin class. A short-haul North American economy flight may require as few as 10,000 points. A long-haul business class seat could require 60,000 to 100,000 points or more.
Q: Can I transfer points to a family member?
Aeroplan has a Points Sharing feature that allows members to pool points with family members for a fee. You can also book award flights for others using your own points.
Q: What is the best credit card for earning Aeroplan points?
The best card depends on your spending habits and whether you want to pay an annual fee. For most Canadians, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite or the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card offer strong earn rates and valuable benefits.
Q: Can I use Aeroplan points for hotels?
Yes, Aeroplan points can be redeemed for hotel stays, though the value per point is typically lower than for flights. For maximum value, prioritize flight redemptions.
Q: What is a good Aeroplan redemption?
Generally, anything above 1.5 cents per point is considered a solid redemption. Business class seats on long-haul flights through partner airlines often deliver the best value.
The Bottom Line
Aeroplan is one of the most accessible loyalty programs in Canada, and one of the most rewarding when used thoughtfully. The basics are straightforward: earn points through credit cards and everyday partners, and redeem them strategically for flights.
You do not need to become a loyalty expert to get real value from Aeroplan. You simply need to understand the fundamentals, avoid the common mistakes, and have a clear picture of what a good redemption looks like for your situation.
That is exactly what Le Travelogist is here to help you with: clear, jargon-free guidance tailored to where you are in your travel journey.
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Next Steps:
→ Read: Cash vs Points — How to Decide Which is Right for You
→ Read: Best Aeroplan Redemptions for Beginners
→ Book: A Loyalty Optimization Session with Le Travelogist