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Maximizing Free Flights: The Ultimate Guide to Airmiles and Aeroplan Rewards

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Do you love to travel but hate paying high prices for flights? If so, you might be interested in learning how to use travel rewards programs to get free or discounted flights to your dream destinations. In this guide, we will compare two of the most popular travel rewards programs in Canada: Airmiles and Aeroplan. We will also show you how to earn and redeem points with these programs, as well as some tips and tricks to maximize your rewards.

Business travel essentials with Airmiles and Aeroplan rewards on a luxury office desk.
Optimizing Business Travel: Leverage Airmiles & Aeroplan for Corporate Success.

What are Airmiles and Aeroplan?

Airmiles and Aeroplan are loyalty programs that allow you to earn points or miles when you shop at participating retailers, use certain credit cards, or fly with partner airlines. You can then use your points or miles to redeem for various rewards, such as flights, hotels, car rentals, gift cards, merchandise, and more.

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Airmiles is a general loyalty program that has many retail partners across Canada. You can choose to earn Cash Miles or Dream Miles, depending on how you want to use your rewards. Cash Miles can be redeemed for $10 off your purchases at select retailers, while Dream Miles can be used for travel and other perks.

Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program that focuses on travel rewards. You can earn points when you fly with Air Canada or its Star Alliance partners, as well as when you shop with Aeroplan-affiliated credit cards or retailers. You can use your points to book flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and more.

How to earn points with Airmiles and Aeroplan?

There are many ways to earn points with both Airmiles and Aeroplan, but some of the most common and effective methods are:

  • Using a co-branded credit card that earns points or miles with every purchase. For example, you can use the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card to earn Aeroplan points, or the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card to earn Avion points that can be transferred to Airmiles or Aeroplan.
  • Shopping at participating retailers that offer points or miles for your spending. For example, you can earn Airmiles at Sobeys, Shell, Staples, and more, or Aeroplan points at Costco, Sephora, Indigo, and more.
  • Flying with partner airlines that award points or miles for your travel. For example, you can earn Airmiles when you fly with WestJet, Delta, or Air France, or Aeroplan points when you fly with Air Canada, United, Lufthansa, or Singapore Airlines.
  • Taking advantage of promotions and offers that give you bonus points or miles for meeting certain criteria. For example, you can earn extra Airmiles when you shop at multiple partners, or extra Aeroplan points when you refer a friend or book a hotel.

How to redeem points with Airmiles and Aeroplan?

Both Airmiles and Aeroplan offer a wide range of redemption options for your points or miles, but the most valuable and popular ones are usually flights. Here are some tips on how to redeem your points or miles for free or discounted flights with these programs:

  • Plan ahead and book early. Flights tend to have limited availability and higher prices as the departure date approaches, so it’s best to book your flights as soon as possible to secure your seats and get the best value for your points or miles.
  • Be flexible and search for different dates, destinations, and routes. Flights can vary in price and availability depending on the season, demand, and competition, so it’s worth exploring different options to find the best deals for your points or miles.
  • Compare the cash price and the points or miles price of the flight. Sometimes, it might be cheaper to pay cash for a flight than to use your points or miles, especially if there are taxes, fees, or surcharges involved. You can use tools like Google Flights or Kayak to compare the cash prices of flights, and then check the points or miles prices on the Airmiles or Aeroplan websites.
  • Use a combination of cash and points or miles to pay for your flight. If you don’t have enough points or miles to cover the full cost of the flight, or if you want to save some for later, you can use a mix of cash and points or miles to pay for your flight. Both Airmiles and Aeroplan allow you to do this, and you can adjust the ratio of cash and points or miles to suit your preference.

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How to maximize your points with Airmiles and Aeroplan?

If you want to get the most out of your points or miles with Airmiles and Aeroplan, here are some strategies and hacks to boost your earning and redeeming potential:

  • Sign up for credit cards that offer generous sign-up bonuses and ongoing rewards. Some credit cards offer thousands of points or miles as a welcome bonus when you meet a certain spending requirement within a certain time period. These bonuses can help you jump-start your points or miles balance and get you closer to your travel goals. Additionally, some credit cards offer higher earning rates or bonus categories for certain types of spending, such as gas, groceries, or travel. These cards can help you earn more points or miles on your everyday purchases.
  • Shop online through the Airmiles or Aeroplan e-stores. Both Airmiles and Aeroplan have online shopping portals that allow you to earn points or miles when you shop at hundreds of online retailers, such as Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and more. You can earn extra points or miles on top of what you earn with your credit card, and sometimes there are special offers or promotions that give you even more rewards.
  • Transfer points or miles between programs or partners. If you have points or miles in different programs or partners, you might be able to transfer them to Airmiles or Aeroplan to boost your balance or redeem for better rewards. For example, you can transfer Avion points to Airmiles or Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy points to Aeroplan, or American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan. However, be aware that there might be fees, taxes, or exchange rates involved, and the transfer ratios might not be favorable, so always do the math before you transfer.
  • Pool or share your points or miles with your family or friends. If you have family or friends who also collect Airmiles or Aeroplan points or miles, you might be able to pool or share your points or miles with them to reach your travel goals faster or redeem for better rewards. For example, Airmiles allows you to join a household account with up to eight members, and Aeroplan allows you to create a sharing plan with up to eight members. This way, you can combine your points or miles and redeem them together for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.

Conclusion

Travel rewards programs like Airmiles and Aeroplan can help you save money and enjoy free or discounted flights to your dream destinations. By using the right credit cards, shopping at the right retailers, flying with the right airlines, and taking advantage of the right promotions and offers, you can earn and redeem points or miles with these programs and maximize your travel rewards. Whether you prefer Airmiles or Aeroplan, or both, you can use this guide to get started and become a travel hacking pro.


Source: (1) Aeroplan vs. Air Miles: Differences and Alternatives – NerdWallet. https://www.nerdwallet.com/ca/credit-cards/aeroplan-vs-air-miles. (2) AIR MILES vs. Aeroplan: Which should you choose? – Young & Thrifty. https://money.ca/credit-cards/reviews/aeroplan-vs-airmiles-comparison. (3) Comparing Air Miles Vs. Aeroplan: Which Is Better? – moneyGenius. https://moneygenius.ca/blog/air-miles-vs-aeroplan-rewards. (4) Air Miles vs Aeroplan: Choosing the Right Loyalty Program. https://piggybank.ca/credit-cards/air-miles-vs-aeroplan. (5) AIR MILES Merchandise. https://rewards.airmiles.ca/merchandise/.

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