Air Canada Aeroplan

About Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada is Canada's largest carrier, with hubs in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Aeroplan is its frequent flyer program — completely rebuilt in November 2020 after Air Canada reacquired it from Aimia. The new program is materially better than the old one. Distance-based pricing for partner awards, no fuel surcharges on most non-Lufthansa partners, and a flexible status qualification path make it one of the strongest Star Alliance currencies available today.

The program's defining characteristic is transfer breadth. Aeroplan accepts Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points — all at 1:1. No other Star Alliance program takes all three major US transferable currencies. That means US-based travelers can access Aeroplan without ever flying Air Canada. You accumulate Chase or Amex points on everyday spend, transfer when you have a specific redemption in view, and use Aeroplan's distance-based pricing to book premium cabin flights on partners that have no fuel surcharges.

Points expire after 18 months of inactivity. Any qualifying activity resets the clock — including earning points from a credit card. If you hold any Aeroplan-earning card and use it occasionally, expiry is not a practical concern.

What Aeroplan points are worth

The realistic range is 1.2–2.5+ cents per point, depending heavily on what you book. Air Canada economy awards on own-metal flights deliver roughly 1.2–1.5 cents per point — serviceable but not exceptional. The program's real value emerges on Star Alliance partner premium cabins, where distance-based pricing and no fuel surcharges combine to produce redemptions worth 2–3 cents per point or more.

The key insight: Aeroplan points are most valuable on partner airlines, not Air Canada itself. Air Canada's own pricing is reasonable, but the sweet spots — ANA Business to Japan, Swiss and SAS Business to Europe, United saver awards — are all on partners. If you're building a balance to redeem on Air Canada economy, you can likely find a simpler program. If you're targeting a partner premium cabin redemption, Aeroplan is one of the best tools available. See the guide to valuing points and miles for a framework to calculate the value of a specific award before committing.

How to earn Aeroplan points

Aeroplan has four practical earn channels. Transfers from Chase, Amex, and Citi are the most accessible path for US-based travelers who don't fly Air Canada regularly.

Earning on flights

Air Canada flights earn based on distance multiplied by a fare class factor. Elite members receive bonus percentages on top: 25K Elite +20%, 35K Elite +20%, 50K Elite +50%, 75K Elite +75%, Super Elite +118%. You also earn Aeroplan points on Star Alliance partner flights — rates vary by partner and fare class, so confirm earning before booking a partner ticket primarily for miles.

Earning from credit cards

For US-based travelers, the three major transferable currencies are the primary path to Aeroplan points:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards — 1:1 transfer. Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred, and Freedom Flex all earn UR points transferable to Aeroplan. Transfers are typically instant.
• Amex Membership Rewards — 1:1 transfer. Platinum, Gold, Green, and several business cards earn MR points. Amex to Aeroplan transfers are usually processed within minutes.
• Citi ThankYou Points — 1:1 transfer. Prestige and Premier cardholders can transfer to Aeroplan. This is a less commonly used path but valid for travelers heavily invested in the Citi ecosystem.

In Canada, TD, CIBC, RBC, and Amex Canada all issue Aeroplan co-brand cards with earn rates of 1x–3x Aeroplan points. Some of these cards also generate Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD) — relevant if you're pursuing elite status. US residents are not eligible for Canadian co-brand cards.

Shopping and dining portals

The Aeroplan eStore earns bonus points at participating online retailers. Rates vary by merchant and season — typically 1–5 points per dollar. The dining program earns points at participating restaurants. Both are worth enabling passively but not worth changing buying behavior for. Compare portal rates across programs before assuming Aeroplan eStore leads.

Why the three-currency access matters

Most frequent flyer programs accept one or two transferable currencies. Aeroplan accepts all three major US programs simultaneously. This matters for two reasons. First, it gives you flexibility — you can fund an Aeroplan redemption from whatever currency you have the most of. Second, it means you never need to commit to Aeroplan in advance. Accumulate Chase or Amex points for their flexibility, and transfer to Aeroplan only when you have a specific redemption identified. Never transfer speculatively — transferred points cannot come back.

Star Alliance partner network

Star Alliance has 26 member airlines covering virtually every major geography. Membership gives Aeroplan holders three practical capabilities: earn points on partner flights, have elite status recognized on partner carriers, and book partner award flights at distance-based prices. The third capability is where Aeroplan distinguishes itself — distance-based pricing means a long-haul premium cabin award costs a predictable number of points, not whatever the partner airline decides to charge that day.

Aeroplan elite status

Aeroplan has five status tiers. Each requires hitting a Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) or Status Qualifying Segments (SQS) threshold AND a Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD) spend minimum. The dual requirement means cheap-fare frequent flyers can clear the segment or mileage bar while missing the dollar threshold. Plan for both before pursuing status.

• 25K Elite — 25,000 SQM or 25 SQS + $3,000 SQD: Star Alliance Silver, one free checked bag, priority check-in and boarding, 10 eUpgrade credits annually, preferred seat selection.
• 35K Elite — 35,000 SQM or 35 SQS + $4,000 SQD: Star Alliance Gold — lounge access on international itineraries, priority security, 20 eUpgrade credits, 20% flight bonus.
• 50K Elite — 50,000 SQM or 50 SQS + $6,000 SQD: Star Alliance Gold, 35 eUpgrade credits, 50% flight bonus, Maple Leaf Club lounge access, guaranteed economy seating with 24h advance booking.
• 75K Elite — 75,000 SQM or 75 SQS + $9,000 SQD: Star Alliance Gold, 50 eUpgrade credits, 75% flight bonus, business class lounge on all Star Alliance itineraries.
• Super Elite — 100,000 SQM or 100 SQS + $15,000 SQD: 80 eUpgrade credits, 118% flight bonus, dedicated service line, guaranteed Business Class seating.

eUpgrade credits deserve specific attention. Each credit covers one segment upgrade on Air Canada. A one-way upgrade costs 2 credits per segment. At 35K Elite you receive 20 credits — enough for 10 one-way segment upgrades. This is a meaningful benefit separate from points redemptions, and one reason status pursuit can make sense for travelers who fly Air Canada regularly even without a points-optimization angle.

Excess SQM and SQS roll over into the next qualification year — useful if you narrowly miss a tier.

Who should pursue Aeroplan status: travelers who already spend $4,000–$6,000+ on Air Canada tickets annually. If you're flying Air Canada twice a year on leisure fares, the SQD threshold will be the binding constraint. Focus on points optimization instead of status pursuit.

Redeeming Aeroplan points

Air Canada flights use a fixed award chart. Partner flights use distance-based pricing — the cost in points is determined by the distance flown and the cabin, not by dynamic demand pricing. This predictability is a core advantage. You can know in advance that a North America–Europe Business Class award on a specific carrier will cost a specific number of points, and plan your balance accordingly.

Fuel surcharges apply on some partners and not others. Most Star Alliance carriers charge no fuel surcharges on Aeroplan awards. Lufthansa is the notable exception — expect $300–500 in fees per one-way on Lufthansa-operated flights, even on an Aeroplan award. This does not affect Austrian, Swiss, or Brussels Airlines awards booked through Aeroplan.

Sweet spots

These are the redemptions where Aeroplan outperforms most competing programs.

ANA Business Class to Japan — ~60,000 points round-trip

This is the program's headline redemption and one of the best values in all of points and miles. ANA Business Class from North America to Japan prices at approximately 60,000 Aeroplan points round-trip. ANA's Business Class product — "The Room" on 777s and 787s — is among the best in the world, with direct-aisle-access seats and full lie-flat beds. No fuel surcharges apply. Taxes and fees are minimal. At 60,000 points for a round-trip business class flight that retails at $5,000–8,000, the per-point value clears 8–12 cents — the top end of what any loyalty currency can produce. This is the reason to accumulate Aeroplan points if you have any interest in Japan.

Star Alliance Business to Europe — 55,000–75,000 points one-way

Swiss, SAS, TAP Air Portugal, and Turkish Airlines all operate to Europe with no fuel surcharges on Aeroplan awards. One-way Business Class prices in the 55,000–75,000 point range depending on distance zone and carrier. Against cash prices of $2,000–4,000, that's 3–7 cents per point — strong value. Swiss Business Class in particular is a premium product worth targeting.

Lufthansa operates many of the same routes. The product is comparable, but Lufthansa charges $300–500 in fuel surcharges per one-way even on Aeroplan bookings. Factor that cost in before choosing Lufthansa over Swiss or SAS for the same routing.

United domestic saver awards

Aeroplan can access United saver award space, sometimes at prices below what United charges MileagePlus members under dynamic pricing. Short-haul one-ways can price at 6,000–10,000 points. Useful for domestic travel within the US when you have Aeroplan points and want to avoid paying cash for a short flight.

Where Aeroplan disappoints

Lufthansa fuel surcharges. The fees are real and substantial — $300–500 per one-way on Lufthansa-operated flights. On a round-trip, that's $600–1,000 in fees on top of the award cost. Swiss and SAS reach the same European destinations without this penalty. Choose carefully.

Air Canada own-metal economy. The fixed award pricing for Air Canada flights is reasonable but not a standout value. If domestic Canada or transatlantic economy on Air Canada is your target, the case for Aeroplan over a simple paid fare or cash-back card is not always compelling. The program earns its reputation on premium partner redemptions, not Air Canada economy.

Availability on top partner routes. ANA Business to Japan and Swiss Business to Europe are genuinely excellent redemptions — and genuinely competitive for saver space. Book 180+ days out when space first opens. Searching 30 days out on popular routes during peak season will often show no saver availability at the published prices.

Points expire. The 18-month inactivity clock is real. Most programs have moved to never-expiring miles. Aeroplan hasn't. Keep a card earning Aeroplan points or make a small redemption every 18 months if you're sitting on a balance.

Bottom line

Aeroplan occupies a unique position in the loyalty landscape. It is the only program that simultaneously accepts transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points — all at 1:1. It prices partner awards on distance rather than demand. It charges no fuel surcharges on most Star Alliance partners. And it offers the ANA Japan Business Class redemption, which is among the best point-for-value trades available anywhere.

The program is not for everyone. If you fly Air Canada twice a year for leisure and want a simple earn-and-burn setup, there are easier programs. But if you're willing to plan a specific premium cabin redemption — Japan, Europe, Southeast Asia — and transfer points from Chase or Amex to fund it, Aeroplan is the clearest path to outsized value in the Star Alliance ecosystem.