Airmiles vs Aeroplan: Which Offers Better Value for Travelers?

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If you’re a frequent traveler or a savvy shopper, you may have heard of Airmiles and Aeroplan, two of the most popular travel rewards programs in Canada. But which one offers better value for travelers? How do they compare in terms of earning and redeeming points, flexibility, and additional perks? In this article, we’ll dive deep into the comparison of Airmiles and Aeroplan rewards programs and help you choose the most rewarding program for your travel goals.

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Key Takeaway Box

Airmiles and Aeroplan are two of the most popular travel rewards programs in Canada, but they have different features, benefits, and drawbacks.
Airmiles allows you to earn miles from shopping at various partner retailers and redeem them for travel, merchandise, events, and cash rewards.
Aeroplan allows you to earn points from flying with Air Canada and its partner airlines and redeem them for flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, gift cards, and merchandise.
To maximize your travel value, you should compare the earning and redemption rates, the flexibility and perks, and the suitability of each program for your travel goals.
You should also consider other factors, such as the availability of credit cards, the expiration policy, and the customer service of each program.
You may also want to consider a third option: RBC Rewards/Avion, which offers more flexibility and options for booking any travel with a fixed point value.

What are Airmiles and Aeroplan?

Airmiles is a general loyalty rewards program that allows you to earn miles from shopping at various partner retailers, such as Shell, Safeway, Staples, and more. You can also earn miles from using co-branded credit cards, such as the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite® Mastercard® or the American Express® AIR MILES®* Platinum Credit Card. You can redeem your miles for travel, merchandise, events, and cash rewards.

Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program that allows you to earn points from flying with Air Canada and its partner airlines, such as United, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. You can also earn points from using co-branded credit cards, such as the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card or the American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve Card. You can redeem your points for flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, gift cards, and merchandise.

How to earn points with Airmiles and Aeroplan?

The earning rate of Airmiles and Aeroplan depends on various factors, such as the type of purchase, the retailer, the credit card, and the flight class. Here are some general guidelines on how to earn points with Airmiles and Aeroplan:

With Airmiles, you can earn 1 mile for every $20 spent at participating merchants, or 1 mile for every $10 spent with featured credit cards. You can also earn bonus miles from special offers and promotions. However, you don’t earn miles from flights, unless you book them with your credit card.
With Aeroplan, you can earn 1 point for every $1 spent at participating merchants, or up to 1.5 points for every $1 spent with featured credit cards. You can also earn points based on the distance and the fare class of your flights, ranging from 25% to 150% of the actual miles flown. You can also earn bonus points from special offers and promotions.

How to redeem points with Airmiles and Aeroplan?

The redemption value of Airmiles and Aeroplan also depends on various factors, such as the type of reward, the availability, the season, and the taxes and fees. Here are some general guidelines on how to redeem points with Airmiles and Aeroplan:

With Airmiles, you can choose between Cash Rewards and Dream Rewards. Cash Rewards allow you to redeem 95 miles for a $10 credit at partner retailers, such as Sobeys, Metro, and Shell. Dream Rewards allow you to redeem your miles for travel, merchandise, and events, with different redemption values depending on the reward. For example, a round-trip flight from Toronto to Vancouver may cost around 2,000 miles, while a $100 gift card may cost around 950 miles.
With Aeroplan, you can redeem your points for flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, gift cards, and merchandise, with different redemption values depending on the reward. For example, a round-trip flight from Toronto to Vancouver may cost around 25,000 points, while a $100 gift card may cost around 13,500 points. You can also use your points to pay for taxes and fees, or combine your points with cash to get a flight.

Which program offers more flexibility and perks?

Both Airmiles and Aeroplan offer some degree of flexibility and perks for their members, but there are some differences to consider. Here are some of the pros and cons of each program:

Airmiles pros: High average value for miles, many merchandise rewards options, pay with miles directly at some partner retailers.
Airmiles cons: Taxes and fees aren’t covered, fuel surcharges covered only within North America, takes a long time to earn rewards, fewer partners and bonus offers than Aeroplan.
Aeroplan pros: Can pool points, no blackout dates or surcharges, can combine points with cash to get a flight, access to 45+ partner airlines and hotels, premium travel benefits with elite status and credit cards.
Aeroplan cons: Uncertainty about how many points you need for a flight, as the chart provides a wide range of points needed per flight category, charge of $39 to book partner airlines, points expire after 18 months of inactivity.

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Which program is better for you?

The answer to this question depends on your personal preferences, travel goals, and spending habits. However, here are some general tips to help you decide:

If you want to use your points for Air Canada flights, Aeroplan is usually the better choice, as you can get more value and flexibility from your points.
If you want to use your points for other types of travel, such as hotels, car rentals, or vacation packages, Aeroplan may still offer more value and options than Airmiles, especially if you use transfer partners or combine points with cash.
If you want to use your points for merchandise, events, or cash rewards, Airmiles may offer more value and variety than Aeroplan, especially if you shop frequently at partner retailers.
If you want to use your points for any type of travel, regardless of the airline, you may want to consider a third option: RBC Rewards/Avion. This program allows you to book any travel with a fixed point value, no blackout dates or seat restrictions, and the ability to transfer your points to other programs, such as Airmiles or British Airways.

Conclusion

Airmiles and Aeroplan are two of the most popular travel rewards programs in Canada, but they have different features, benefits, and drawbacks. To maximize your travel value, you should compare the earning and redemption rates, the flexibility and perks, and the suitability of each program for your travel goals. You should also consider other factors, such as the availability of credit cards, the expiration policy, and the customer service of each program. By doing so, you can choose the best program for your travel needs and enjoy the rewards of your loyalty.