Key Takeaways:
- Airmiles and Aeroplan are two popular loyalty programs in Canada that allow you to earn and redeem points for various rewards, such as flights, merchandise, gift cards, and more.
- To manage your points effectively, you should track your balances, expiry dates, and activity regularly, and use tools like Point Management or Pointe Management to optimize your rewards.
- To redeem your points for maximum value, you should compare the different options and levels available, avoid surcharges and fees, and take advantage of sweet spots and stopovers.
- Aeroplan and Avion are two competing travel rewards programs that offer different benefits and drawbacks. Aeroplan has more partner airlines and redemption options, but also higher taxes and fees. Avion has more flexibility and lower costs, but also fewer partners and lower point value.

Introduction
If you are a frequent traveler or shopper in Canada, chances are you have heard of Airmiles and Aeroplan. These are two of the most popular loyalty programs in the country, with millions of members and hundreds of partners. Both programs allow you to earn and redeem points for various rewards, such as flights, merchandise, gift cards, and more.
But how do you make the most of your points? How do you manage them effectively and avoid losing them to expiration or devaluation? How do you redeem them for the best value and the most rewarding experiences? And how do you choose between Aeroplan and Avion, two competing travel rewards programs that offer different advantages and disadvantages?
In this guide, we will answer these questions and more. We will show you the best practices for managing and redeeming your Airmiles and Aeroplan points, and help you decide which program suits your needs and preferences better. By the end of this guide, you will be able to optimize your rewards and enjoy the benefits of being a loyal customer.
How to Manage Your Points
Managing your points is an essential part of any loyalty program. You want to make sure you are earning as many points as possible, keeping track of your balances and activity, and preventing your points from expiring or losing value. Here are some tips on how to manage your Airmiles and Aeroplan points effectively.
Track Your Balances and Expiry Dates
The first step to managing your points is to know how many you have and when they expire. Both Airmiles and Aeroplan have online platforms and mobile apps that allow you to check your balances, transactions, and expiry dates. You can also sign up for email or text alerts to get notified of any changes or updates.
Airmiles points do not expire as long as you have at least one qualifying transaction every 24 months. However, if you have not earned or redeemed any Airmiles in two years, your account will become inactive and you will lose all your points. To avoid this, you should make sure you have some activity in your account at least once every two years.
Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of inactivity. This means you need to earn or redeem at least one Aeroplan point every 18 months to keep your account active and your points valid. To prevent your points from expiring, you should try to have some activity in your account at least once every year.
Use Tools to Optimize Your Rewards
Another way to manage your points is to use tools that help you optimize your rewards. These tools can help you find the best deals, compare the value of different options, and plan your redemptions. Some examples of these tools are:
- Point Management: This is a service that integrates Gartner Magic Quadrant SAAS, best practices logistics, onsite services, and customer corporate systems to provide seamless insight into every aspect of the asset lifecycle. You can use this tool to manage your points, track your rewards, and redeem them for the best value.
- Pointe Management: This is a professional organization that provides property management and community association management services. You can use this tool to manage your points, redeem them for travel, merchandise, gift cards, banking and bill payments, and more.
- Reward resources: This is a collection of guides, factsheets, reports, and podcasts from the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development. You can use this tool to learn more about reward strategy, pay and benefits, recognition, and performance management.
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?
How to Redeem Your Points
Redeeming your points is the fun part of any loyalty program. You get to use your points for various rewards, such as flights, merchandise, gift cards, and more. But how do you redeem your points for the best value and the most rewarding experiences? Here are some tips on how to redeem your Airmiles and Aeroplan points effectively.
Compare the Different Options and Levels Available
Both Airmiles and Aeroplan offer different options and levels for redeeming your points. You should compare these options and levels to find the one that suits your needs and preferences best. For example:
- Airmiles has two types of rewards: Cash Rewards and Dream Rewards. Cash Rewards are eVouchers or in-store discounts that you can use at select partners, starting from 95 points for $10. Dream Rewards are flights, merchandise, gift cards, and more that you can redeem online, starting from 200 points. You can choose how to split your points between Cash and Dream Rewards, and change your preference at any time.
- Aeroplan has three types of rewards: Fixed Mileage Flight Rewards, Market Fare Flight Rewards, and Non-Air Rewards. Fixed Mileage Flight Rewards are flights with fixed point prices based on a chart, depending on the distance and the regions. Market Fare Flight Rewards are flights with variable point prices based on market demand and availability. Non-Air Rewards are merchandise, gift cards, hotels, car rentals, and more that you can redeem online. You can also use a combination of points and cash to pay for your rewards.
Avoid Surcharges and Fees
One of the drawbacks of redeeming your points for flights is that you may have to pay surcharges and fees on top of your points. These surcharges and fees can vary depending on the airline, the destination, the route, and the booking date. They can significantly reduce the value of your points and make your redemption less worthwhile. To avoid or minimize these surcharges and fees, you should:
- Choose airlines that have low or no surcharges. For example, some of the airlines that have low or no surcharges for Aeroplan redemptions are Air Canada, United, Turkish Airlines, Swiss, Singapore Airlines, and Etihad Airways¹³¹⁴.
- Choose destinations that have low or no taxes. For example, some of the destinations that have low or no taxes for Airmiles redemptions are Hong Kong, Brazil, Argentina, and New Zealand⁵.
- Choose routes that have fewer connections or stopovers. The more connections or stopovers you have, the more surcharges and fees you may have to pay. For example, if you are flying from Toronto to London, you may pay less surcharges and fees if you fly direct than if you fly via New York or Frankfurt.
- Book your flights in advance or during off-peak seasons. The surcharges and fees may vary depending on the demand and availability of the flights. Booking your flights in advance or during off-peak seasons may help you find lower surcharges and fees.
Take Advantage of Sweet Spots and Stopovers
One of the advantages of redeeming your points for flights is that you may be able to take advantage of sweet spots and stopovers. Sweet spots are flights that have a high value or a low point price compared to other flights. Stopovers are stops of more than 24 hours in a city or country on your way to your final destination. Both sweet spots and stopovers can help you maximize your points and enhance your travel experience. For example:
- A sweet spot for Airmiles is redeeming 3,900 points for a round-trip flight from Toronto to New York, which can cost up to $500 in cash.
- A sweet spot for Aeroplan is redeeming 55,000 points for a round-trip flight from North America to Europe in business class, which can cost up to $5,000 in cash.
- A stopover for Airmiles is adding a stop in Montreal on your way from Toronto to Paris, which can cost you only 200 extra points.
- A stopover for Aeroplan is adding a stop in Tokyo on your way from Vancouver to Bangkok, which can cost you only 5,000 extra points.
Aeroplan vs Avion: Which One is Better?
Aeroplan and Avion are two competing travel rewards programs that offer different benefits and drawbacks. Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program, while Avion is RBC’s travel rewards program. Both programs allow you to earn and redeem points for flights and other rewards, but they have different features, partners, and redemption options. Here are some of the main differences between Aeroplan and Avion:
- Aeroplan has more partner airlines and redemption options. Aeroplan allows you to redeem your points for flights with more than 50 partner airlines, including Star Alliance members and non-alliance partners. Aeroplan also allows you to redeem your points for non-air rewards, such as merchandise, gift cards, hotels, car rentals, and more. Avion has fewer partner airlines and redemption options.
- Avion allows you to redeem your points for flights with any airline, but only through the RBC Rewards portal or by transferring your points to other programs, such as British Airways Executive Club or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Avion does not allow you to redeem your points for non-air rewards, except for gift cards and merchandise.
- Aeroplan has higher taxes and fees. Aeroplan charges surcharges and fees on top of your points when you redeem them for flights, especially with Air Canada and some partner airlines. These surcharges and fees can be as high as $800 for a round-trip flight. Avion has lower taxes and fees. Avion does not charge surcharges and fees on top of your points when you redeem them for flights, except for the standard airport and government taxes. These taxes and fees can be as low as $100 for a round-trip flight.
- Avion has more flexibility and lower costs. Avion allows you to use your points for any flight, any time, with no blackout dates or restrictions. Avion also allows you to pay for your flights with a combination of points and cash, starting from 15,000 points for $350. Avion also has a lower annual fee of $120 for the RBC Visa Infinite Avion card. Aeroplan has less flexibility and higher costs. Aeroplan has limited availability and capacity for flights, especially for Fixed Mileage Flight Rewards. Aeroplan also requires you to pay for your flights with points only, unless you use the Points + Cash option, which reduces the value of your points. Aeroplan also has a higher annual fee of $139 for the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card.
So, which one is better: Aeroplan or Avion? The answer depends on your travel preferences and goals. If you value more partner airlines and redemption options, and don’t mind paying higher taxes and fees, then Aeroplan may be a better choice for you. If you value more flexibility and lower costs, and don’t care about non-air rewards, then Avion may be a better choice for you. Either way, you can use your points to travel the world and enjoy the perks of being a loyal customer.
Conclusion
In this guide, we have shown you the best practices for managing and redeeming your Airmiles and Aeroplan points. We have also compared Aeroplan and Avion, two competing travel rewards programs that offer different benefits and drawbacks. By following these tips, you can optimize your rewards and enjoy the benefits of being a loyal customer.
We hope you found this guide informative and engaging. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know. And if you are looking for more tips and tricks on how to hustle smarter, check out our website HustleHub, where we share the latest insights and trends on entrepreneurship, personal finance, and lifestyle.
Source: (1) Homepage – PointManagement. https://point-management.com/. (2) Property Management Company | Community Association Management …. https://pointemanagement.com/. (3) Reward resources | CIPD. https://www.cipd.org/uk/topics/reward/.