Are you a frequent flyer or a savvy shopper who wants to get the most out of your loyalty rewards? If so, you need to know how to use Aeroplan and Air Miles, two of the most popular loyalty programs in Canada. In this article, we will show you how to earn and redeem points or miles with these programs, and share some advanced tips and tricks for maximizing your rewards.
Key Takeaways
- Aeroplan and Air Miles allow you to earn points or miles for your purchases, which you can then redeem for flights, merchandise, gift cards, and more.
- To maximize your rewards, you need to understand the different types of points or miles, how they are earned and redeemed, and what are the best redemption options for each program.
- You can also boost your earnings and savings by taking advantage of promotions, bonus point opportunities, credit card partnerships, and online shopping portals.
- You can get more value and flexibility by avoiding surcharges, using hidden city ticketing, controlling your stops and stopovers, and redeeming your points or miles at the right time.
Aeroplan Tips
Aeroplan is the loyalty program of Air Canada, and a member of the Star Alliance, the largest airline network in the world. Here are some tips for earning and redeeming Aeroplan points:
How to earn Aeroplan points
You can earn Aeroplan points by:
- Flying with Air Canada or its partner airlines
- Using an Aeroplan-branded credit card
- Shopping online through the Aeroplan eStore
- Shopping, dining, and staying at participating partners
| Activity | Points Earned |
|---|---|
| Flying from Toronto to Vancouver with Air Canada (economy class) | 1,000 points |
| Spending $1,000 with the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card | 1,000 points |
| Shopping for $100 at Amazon through the Aeroplan eStore | 100 points |
| Buying $50 worth of gas at Esso | 50 points |
How to redeem Aeroplan points
You can redeem Aeroplan points by:
- Booking flights with Air Canada or its partner airlines
- Booking hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages
- Shopping for merchandise and gift cards
- Donating to charities and causes
| Option | Points Required |
|---|---|
| One-way flight from Toronto to Vancouver with Air Canada (economy class) | 6,000 points |
| One-night stay at a Marriott hotel in Montreal | 12,000 points |
| $100 gift card from The Bay | 12,000 points |
| $50 donation to the Canadian Red Cross | 6,000 points |
IMPORTANT LINKS:
- Unlocking Maximum Value: A Guide to Optimizing Your Spending and Earning with Aeroplan, Air Miles, and Avion
- How to Calculate Point Value: Aeroplan, Air Miles, and Avion
- How to Choose and Use the Best Travel Rewards Program in Canada: Aeroplan, Air Miles, or Avion?
What are the best redemption options for Aeroplan points
The value of your Aeroplan points depends on how you use them, but generally, the best redemption options are:
- Short-haul economy flights within North America
- International premium-cabin flights with partner airlines
- Hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages with Expedia
| Option | Cash Price | Points Required | Value per Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way flight from Toronto to New York with Air Canada (economy class) | $200 | 6,000 points | 3.33 cents |
| One-way flight from Toronto to Paris with Lufthansa (business class) | $4,000 | 60,000 points | 6.67 cents |
| One-night stay at a Hilton hotel in London | $200 | 14,000 points | 1.43 cents |
Air Miles Tricks
Air Miles is the loyalty program of the Air Miles Reward Program, a coalition of over 200 partners, including airlines, retailers, financial institutions, and service providers. Here are some tricks for earning and redeeming Air Miles:
How to earn Air Miles
You can earn Air Miles by:
- Shopping at participating partners
- Using an Air Miles-branded credit card
- Shopping online through airmilesshops.ca
- Booking travel through airmiles.ca
| Activity | Miles Earned |
|---|---|
| Spending $100 at Sobeys | 100 miles |
| Spending $1,000 with the BMO® AIR MILES® World Elite®* Mastercard®* | 1,000 miles |
| Shopping for $100 at Sephora through airmilesshops.ca | 100 miles |
| Booking a flight from Toronto to Vancouver with WestJet through airmiles.ca | 200 miles |
How to redeem Air Miles
You can redeem Air Miles by:
- Booking flights with Air Miles partners
- Shopping for merchandise and gift cards
- Donating to charities and causes
- Using Air Miles Cash to pay for flights
| Option | Miles Required |
|---|---|
| Round-trip flight from Toronto to Vancouver with Air Canada (economy class) | 2,400 miles |
| $100 gift card from Amazon | 950 miles |
| $50 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation | 500 miles |
| $10 off your flight with Air Miles Cash | 95 miles |
What are the best redemption options for Air Miles
The value of your Air Miles depends on how you use them, but generally, the best redemption options are:
- Short-haul economy flights within North America
- Merchandise and gift cards with high cash value
- Flights with Air Miles Cash
| Option | Cash Price | Miles Required | Value per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round-trip flight from Toronto to New York with Air Canada (economy class) | $400 | 2,400 miles | 1.67 cents |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 smartphone | $1,000 | 5,900 miles | 1.69 cents |
| $10 off your flight with Air Miles Cash | $10 | 95 miles | 1.05 cents |
Maximizing Loyalty Rewards
Whether you are using Aeroplan or Air Miles, or both, there are some general strategies that can help you maximize your loyalty rewards and get the most value for your points or miles. Here are some of them:
- Take advantage of promotions, bonus point opportunities, and special offers
- Use credit card partnerships to double-dip or triple-dip your rewards
- Use online shopping portals to earn more points or miles
- Avoid surcharges and fees when booking flights
- Use hidden city ticketing to save points or miles
- Control your stops and stopovers when booking flights
- Redeem your points or miles at the right time
| Strategy | Example | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Taking advantage of promotions, bonus point opportunities, and special offers | Flying with Air Canada during a promotion that offers 50% more points | Earning 1,500 points instead of 1,000 points for a flight from Toronto to Vancouver |
| Using credit card partnerships to double-dip or triple-dip your rewards | Using an Aeroplan-branded credit card to shop at a participating partner and through the Aeroplan eStore | Earning points from Aeroplan, the credit card, and the online retailer for the same purchase |
| Using online shopping portals to earn more points or miles | Shopping for $100 at Nike through airmilesshops.ca | Earning 100 miles from airmilesshops.ca and 100 miles from Nike for the same purchase |
| Avoiding surcharges and fees when booking flights | Choosing an airline that has low or no surcharges, such as Turkish Airlines or Etihad Airways | Saving money and points or miles by paying less for taxes, fees, and surcharges |
| Using hidden city ticketing to save points or miles | Booking a flight from Toronto to Seattle, with a layover in Vancouver, and getting off the plane in Vancouver | Saving 5,000 points or miles by booking a cheaper flight to a hidden city |
| Controlling your stops and stopovers when booking flights | Booking a flight from Toronto to Tokyo, with a stop in Vancouver and a stopover in Seoul, for the same price as a direct flight | Enjoying two extra cities for the same price and points or miles |
| Redeeming your points or miles at the right time | Booking a flight during peak season, when the cash price is high and the points or miles price is low | Getting a higher value for your points or miles by comparing the cash price and the points or miles price |
Conclusion
Aeroplan and Air Miles are two of the most popular loyalty programs in Canada, offering rewards for flights, merchandise, gift cards, and more. To master these programs, you need to know how to earn and redeem points or miles, and how to use advanced tips and tricks to maximize your rewards. By following the advice in this article, you can elevate your rewards game and get the best value for your points or miles. Happy hustling! 😊
Source: Aeroplan – The Official Website. https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan.html. (2) Avoid Aeroplan surcharges and blackout dates with booking service. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/avoid-aeroplan-surcharges-and-blackout-dates-with-booking-service-1.3089231. Aeroplan Flight Reward Policy. https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/legal/aeroplan-flight-reward-policy.html. Air Canada Customer Service FAQ. https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/fly/customer-support/frequently-asked-questions.html.Air Miles – Wikipedia : Air Miles Flight Calculator : Cash Miles – Air Miles : The Points Trader – Sell Air Miles : Points.com – Exchange Air Miles : Air Miles and WestJet Rewards Promotion – WestJet : Air Miles and British Airways Contest – Air Miles : Airline Partners – Air Miles : Dream Miles – Air Miles