Key Takeaways:
- Aeroplan is Air Canada’s frequent flyer program that allows you to earn and redeem points for flights, hotels, car rentals, gift cards, and more.
- You can earn Aeroplan points by flying with Air Canada and its partner airlines, shopping online via the Aeroplan eStore, linking your accounts with Starbucks, Uber, Uber Eats, and LCBO, and using an Aeroplan credit card for your everyday purchases.
- You can also take advantage of various promotions and offers to earn bonus Aeroplan points throughout the year, such as buying or gifting points, booking hotel stays or car rentals, and referring friends and family.
- By earning enough Aeroplan points, you can qualify for one of the five Aeroplan Elite Status tiers, which give you access to exclusive benefits and privileges, such as free checked bags, lounge access, priority services, eUpgrades, and more.
If you’re looking for a way to travel better and save money on your trips, you might want to consider joining Aeroplan, Air Canada’s frequent flyer program. Aeroplan is one of the most popular and rewarding loyalty programs in Canada, with millions of members who enjoy earning and redeeming points for flights, hotels, car rentals, gift cards, and more.
But how do you earn Aeroplan points, and what are the best ways to maximize your points balance? In this article, we’ll show you how to earn Aeroplan points with participating partners, credit cards, and promotions, and how to access elite status benefits and bonuses.
How to earn Aeroplan points with participating partners
One of the easiest ways to earn Aeroplan points is by flying with Air Canada and its partner airlines, which include all the members of the Star Alliance network, as well as other airlines like Etihad Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Virgin Australia. You can earn Aeroplan points based on the distance, fare class, and airline of your flight, as well as any extra in-flight purchases you make, such as food and beverages and duty-free items.
But you don’t have to fly to earn Aeroplan points. You can also earn points by shopping online via the Aeroplan eStore, which features over 170 brands across various categories, such as electronics, fashion, home decor, and health. You can earn up to 10 points per dollar spent when you shop via the eStore, and sometimes even more during special offers and promotions¹¹.
Another way to earn Aeroplan points is by linking your accounts with some of Aeroplan’s retail partners, such as Starbucks, Uber, Uber Eats, and LCBO. For example, you can earn 100 points for every $75 or more loaded to your digital Starbucks Card, 1 point per dollar spent on eligible rides with Uber and food orders of $40 or more with Uber Eats, and 1 point per dollar spent on your favourite beverages at the LCBO.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
- Aeroplan vs AIR MILES: Which Travel Rewards Program Offers More Value and Flexibility?
- 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?
How to earn Aeroplan points with credit cards
One of the most effective ways to boost your Aeroplan points balance is by using an Aeroplan credit card for your everyday purchases. There are several Aeroplan credit cards to choose from, issued by American Express, TD, and CIBC, each with different features, benefits, and annual fees. Some of the common perks of Aeroplan credit cards include:
- A welcome bonus of Aeroplan points when you meet the minimum spending requirement in the first few months
- A base earn rate of 1 or 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases, and a higher earn rate of 2 or 3 points per dollar spent on Air Canada purchases
- Aeroplan preferred pricing, which gives you access to lower flight rewards on Air Canada and its partner airlines
- A free checked bag, priority check-in and boarding, and a Nexus application fee rebate when you fly with Air Canada
- A comprehensive travel insurance package, including emergency medical, trip cancellation, baggage loss, and car rental coverage
- A companion voucher, which allows you to book a second ticket for a flat fee when you redeem points for a flight reward on Air Canada
- Access to airport lounges, such as the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, the American Express Centurion Lounge, and the Priority Pass network
Depending on the type of Aeroplan credit card you have, you may also enjoy some additional benefits, such as:
- Status accelerator, which allows you to earn status qualifying miles and segments just by spending on your card
- Rollover, which allows you to carry over any extra status qualifying miles and unused eUpgrade credits to the next year
- Higher priority, which gives you an edge for premium airport services, such as standby, upgrades, and waitlists
If you’re interested in applying for an Aeroplan credit card, you can compare the features, benefits, and values of different cards on websites like Prince of Travel,or MoneySense.
How to earn Aeroplan points with promotions
Another way to earn Aeroplan points is by taking advantage of various promotions and offers that Aeroplan runs throughout the year. These promotions can help you earn bonus Aeroplan points on top of your regular earning, or save you points when you redeem them for rewards. Some of the recent or ongoing promotions include:
- Buying or gifting Aeroplan points with a mystery bonus of 100% or more, until January 29, 2024⁴
- Getting up to 10,000 points back on hotel redemptions booked by November 27, 2023, for travel until March 31, 2024³
- Getting up to 10% points back on Avis and Budget car rentals booked with Aeroplan points by November 27, 2023, for travel until March 31, 2024³
- Referring friends and family to join Aeroplan and earn up to 2,500 points per referral, plus a chance to win 100,000 points
To stay updated on the latest offers and promotions, you can sign up for Aeroplan’s email newsletter, follow Aeroplan on social media, or visit Aeroplan’s promotions page.
How to access Aeroplan elite status benefits and bonuses
By earning enough Aeroplan points, you can also qualify for one of the five Aeroplan elite status tiers: 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, and Super Elite. Each status tier gives you access to exclusive benefits and privileges, such as:
- Complimentary checked baggage allowance
- Maple Leaf Lounge access
- eUpgrades, which allow you to upgrade to a higher cabin class
- Priority contacts, check-in, boarding, and baggage
- Priority rewards, which let you book any available seat on Air Canada flights at the fixed rate
- Select benefits, which let you choose from a range of personalized perks, such as bonus points, travel vouchers, gift cards, and more
To obtain status, you need to fulfill either the status qualifying miles or status qualifying segments requirements, in addition to the status qualifying dollars requirement, in a calendar year. You can earn status qualifying miles and segments by flying with Air Canada and its partner airlines, and status qualifying dollars by spending on Air Canada flights and extra purchases. You can also earn status qualifying miles and segments by spending on certain Aeroplan credit cards⁵.
Once you have achieved a status tier, you can enjoy the benefits for the rest of the current year, the entire next year, and until January 31 of the following year. For example, if you reach 50K status in June 2024, you can enjoy the benefits until January 31, 2026. You can also earn additional eUpgrade credits and gifts as you reach certain thresholds within each status tier⁶.
If you are a frequent flyer with Air Canada, you may also be eligible for the Air Canada Million Mile program, which recognizes and rewards you for flying more than one million lifetime qualifying miles with Air Canada and its partner airlines. As a Million Mile member, you can enjoy enhanced benefits, such as lifetime status, bonus points, special recognition, and more⁷.
Conclusion
Aeroplan is a great program for anyone who loves to travel and save money on their trips. By earning Aeroplan points with participating partners, credit cards, and promotions, you can boost your points balance and redeem them for flights, hotels, car rentals, gift cards, and more. You can also access elite status benefits and bonuses, which elevate your travel experience with exclusive perks and privileges. To join Aeroplan, you can sign up for free on Aeroplan’s website or app, and start earning and redeeming points today. Happy travels! 🛫
Source: (1) How to earn points – Aeroplan. https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/earn.html. (2) Earn everyday with Aeroplan retail partners – aircanada.com. https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/earn/everyday.html. (3) Canada’s 7 Best Aeroplan Credit Cards | Updated February 2024. https://princeoftravel.com/best-credit-cards/aeroplan/. (4) The best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada for 2024 – MoneySense. https://www.moneysense.ca/spend/best-aeroplan-credit-cards/.