Air Canada Aeroplan: 248 questions answered
Everything members ask about Air Canada Aeroplan, answered from Air Canada's own program pages, terms and help centre. Each answer names its source; every answer comes from an official page.
Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .
Joining and managing your account
Signing up, membership numbers, logins, profiles and closing an account.
How do I join Air Canada Aeroplan?
Enrol online at aircanada.com/aeroplan (or in the Air Canada app) using your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport or government ID, plus a valid email address; Aeroplan confirms the enrolment and issues your number. Each person may hold only one account.
Does it cost anything to join Air Canada Aeroplan?
No. The terms state that membership in the Aeroplan program is free, and you can also terminate your membership at any time at no cost or penalty.
Is there a minimum age to join Air Canada Aeroplan, and can children have their own account?
There is no stated minimum age, but a minor (under the age of majority in their province, territory or jurisdiction) can only be enrolled by a parent or legal guardian, using a unique email address owned by the parent that is not tied to another Aeroplan account. Children can then be added to a Family Sharing pool, which has no minimum age.
Where do I find my Air Canada Aeroplan membership number?
If you have forgotten your Aeroplan number, use the recovery form on aircanada.com: enter your personal details so Aeroplan can match your profile and it emails the number to you. You can sign in with either your email address or your Aeroplan number, and the app shows a digital Aeroplan card with the number.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan issue a physical membership card, and do I need one?
You do not need a physical card. The Air Canada app carries a digital Aeroplan card you can add to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, and since mid-2026 even Elite members request a physical membership kit through their online dashboard rather than receiving one automatically.
Source: Air Canada: the Air Canada app
Does Air Canada have an app for managing Air Canada Aeroplan, and what can it do?
Yes, the Air Canada app (iOS and Android) covers both flying and Aeroplan: check-in from 24 hours out, boarding passes and bag tracking, booking flights with cash, points or points + cash, a digital Aeroplan card for Apple or Google Wallet, activity tracking, Elite Status progress, partner offers and reward redemptions.
Source: Air Canada: the Air Canada app
How do I change the name on my Air Canada Aeroplan account after marriage or a legal name change?
The terms make you responsible for keeping your legal name current; you update it online in your account or by calling the Aeroplan Contact Centre at 1-800-361-5373, and Aeroplan relies on the old details until you do. Because flight rewards must be issued in the traveller's passport name, fix the account name before booking.
I accidentally created two Air Canada Aeroplan accounts. Can they be merged?
The terms allow only one account per member and warn that registering more than one (with the same or different emails or identities) may void all Aeroplan points and disqualify you from the program. Call the Aeroplan Contact Centre at 1-800-361-5373 to have duplicate accounts sorted out rather than keep using both.
How do I close my Air Canada Aeroplan account, and what happens to my points?
You can terminate your Aeroplan membership at any time at no cost or penalty by contacting the Aeroplan Contact Centre, but on termination all accumulated Aeroplan points are immediately forfeited, so redeem or transfer them first.
Can I join Air Canada Aeroplan if I live outside the airline's home country?
Yes. Aeroplan is open internationally: the contact centre has a UK line (0-808-812-6310) and an international line (514-395-0300), and conversion partners include banks in the US, China, Taiwan, the UAE, Mexico and South Korea. Only the co-branded credit cards are residency-restricted (Canada, plus Chase for US residents).
Source: Air Canada: customer support (Aeroplan contact numbers)
How do I update my email, address or phone number with Air Canada Aeroplan?
Update your email, phone, address and province of residence yourself in your Aeroplan account online, or by calling the Aeroplan Contact Centre. Aeroplan communicates about your account by email, so keeping the address current matters; marketing can be stopped separately via the profile, the unsubscribe link, or replying STOP to SMS.
What do I do if I am locked out of my Air Canada Aeroplan account?
Choose "Forgot my password" on the sign-in page and enter your email or Aeroplan number and date of birth. Sign-in also requires mandatory two-factor authentication (a six-digit code by SMS or email); if a code never arrives, check spam, wait 60 seconds to request another, or call 1-800-361-5373.
If I join Air Canada Aeroplan after a flight, can I still claim points for it?
Generally no: the terms say purchases and flights made before you enrolled are not eligible for Aeroplan points unless Aeroplan specifically permits otherwise. Enrol before you fly and add the number to the booking.
Does Air Canada have a separate program for small businesses, and can I earn in both?
Yes. Air Canada for Business (with its free self-serve tier, Air Canada Embarq) gives Canadian-registered companies fare discounts of up to 5%, and eligible travellers still earn their own Aeroplan points, boosted by a 1.5x multiplier on eligible bookings made through Embarq (Economy Basic excluded). There is no cost to join and no minimum spend.
Earning on Air Canada flights
What a ticket earns, which fares are excluded, elite bonuses and posting times.
How are points calculated on Air Canada flights: by fare paid, by distance, or by a fixed amount?
Since January 1, 2026 Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights are revenue-based: 1 point per $1 spent on base fare and carrier surcharges, multiplied by your Elite Status (up to 6x). Distance-based earning survives only for unpublished, bulk, group and tour fares, which earn 15% (Economy), 20% (Premium Economy) or 30% (Business) of the distance flown.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
How many points do I earn per dollar (or per mile flown) on Air Canada?
Members without status earn 1 point per $1 of base fare and carrier surcharges; Aeroplan 25K earns 2x, 35K 3x, 50K 4x, 75K 5x and Super Elite 6x. Taxes, fees, baggage and seat charges do not count.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
Do basic economy or light fares on Air Canada earn points?
Basic fares do earn Aeroplan points, since the earn page says points accrue "on every fare class - including Basic". They earn no Status Qualifying Credits, though: SQC accrue only on Economy Standard (2 per $1) and Flex or higher (4 per $1).
What elite bonus do status members earn on Air Canada flights?
Elite Status members earn a multiple of the base 1 point per $1: 2x for Aeroplan 25K, 3x for 35K, 4x for 50K, 5x for 75K and 6x for Super Elite. The multiplier also applies to Air Canada-issued (014) tickets flown on Star Alliance partners, but not to distance-based specialty fares.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
How long after a flight do points post to my Air Canada Aeroplan account?
Air Canada deposits the points after each flight is completed. If they have not shown up, Aeroplan asks you to wait at least 14 days after the whole trip before submitting a missing points request.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
Do award tickets earn points or status credit on Air Canada?
No. The Flight Reward Policy says members are ineligible to accrue points when travelling on a flight reward, redeemed flights earn 0 Status Qualifying Credits, and points and points + cash bookings do not count toward Million Mile Lifetime Qualifying Miles either.
Which Air Canada tickets earn no points at all?
Refunded, void or unused tickets, reward and promotional free tickets, travel industry and agency reduced fares, tour conductor, companion and infant tickets, single-entity charters, fares with an explicit exclusion, and flights operated or marketed by ineligible carriers earn nothing. Extra baggage and seat selection charges also earn no points.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
Do taxes, fees and surcharges on an Air Canada ticket earn points?
No. Points are calculated only on the base fare and carrier surcharges; taxes, fees and third-party charges are excluded, as are extra baggage and seat selection fees.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
If I upgrade a ticket on Air Canada, do I earn points on the original fare or the upgraded cabin?
On the original fare. Air Canada says points for an AC Bid Upgrade are calculated on the booking class of the ticket you purchased, not the upgraded cabin, and a last-minute upgrade bought at check-in likewise earns points and status credit as per the original fare. Cash eUpgrade add-ons do earn 2 SQC per $1.
Do infant or child tickets on Air Canada earn points?
Infant tickets are on the list of tickets that do not earn Aeroplan points. Children travelling on their own paid fare earn normally into their own account (a parent enrols them).
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
Do group bookings, tour packages or charter flights on Air Canada earn points?
Group, bulk, tour and other unpublished fares earn by distance rather than spend: 15% of miles flown in Economy, 20% in Premium Economy and 30% in Business, with no Elite multiplier. Single-entity charter flights earn nothing, while Air Canada Vacations packages earn fixed amounts (for example 500 points Economy or 1,000 Business within the Americas).
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
Do employee, industry or heavily discounted fares on Air Canada earn points?
No. Travel industry and travel agency reduced fares are explicitly ineligible for Aeroplan points, and the eUpgrade policy also excludes promotional pass travel and industry discount fares from upgrades.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
How do I add my Air Canada Aeroplan number to an existing Air Canada booking?
Add your Aeroplan number to the booking when you buy the ticket or at check-in (Air Canada notes this is also what unlocks free Wi-Fi). If a flight was flown without it, wait 14 days after the trip and file a missing points request with your boarding pass or e-ticket receipt. See claim missing miles.
Does Air Canada have a calculator to estimate points for a flight?
Not an interactive one. Because Air Canada flights now earn 1 point per $1 of base fare and carrier surcharges times your Elite multiplier, the earning page just shows a worked "Explore your points potential" example ($500 base fare = 500 points, or 2,000 points for an Aeroplan 50K member at 4x), and the fare breakdown at booking tells you the base fare to multiply. The separate Points Predictor tool estimates how many points a redemption will cost, not what you will earn.
Source: Air Canada: new ways to earn Aeroplan points with Air Canada from January 1, 2026
Earning on partner airlines
Which airlines credit to the program, how much they earn and the rules for booking classes.
Which airlines can I credit to Air Canada Aeroplan?
All 26 Star Alliance airlines (Aegean, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels, Copa, Croatia, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian, EVA, ITA once it joins, LOT, Lufthansa, Shenzhen, Singapore, South African, SWISS, TAP, THAI, Turkish, United and Air Canada itself) plus connecting partner Juneyao and non-alliance partners such as Emirates. Air Canada says more than 50 airlines are Aeroplan partners; see Star Alliance.
How are points calculated on partner airline flights credited to Air Canada Aeroplan?
Partner flights on tickets not issued by Air Canada earn distance-based points by booking class, while Star Alliance flights on Air Canada-issued (014) tickets earn the revenue-based 1 point per $1 with your Elite multiplier. Partner base points also convert to status credit at 1 SQC per 5 base points, capped at 25,000 SQC a year.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
Which booking classes on partner airlines earn points in Air Canada Aeroplan, and which earn nothing?
It depends on who issued the ticket. On an Air Canada-issued ticket (number starting 014), partner flights earn on spend, 1 point per $1 of base fare and carrier surcharges; on a ticket issued by another airline, they earn points based on distance flown at the rates in that airline's details on the Aeroplan partners page (Helijet and Harbour Air are exceptions). Either way, a flight marketed and operated by another airline in a non-eligible booking class earns nothing, and neither do reward or free promotional tickets, industry or agency reduced-rate tickets, or tour conductor, companion and infant tickets.
Source: Air Canada: new ways to earn Aeroplan points from January 1, 2026 (FAQ)
Do partner airline flights count toward elite status in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes. Partner airline flights earn 1 Status Qualifying Credit for every 5 Aeroplan base points, up to 25,000 SQC per calendar year, unless the ticket was issued by Air Canada (014), in which case it earns the same 2 to 4 SQC per $1 as an Air Canada flight with no cap.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Does it matter whether a partner flight is ticketed by Air Canada or by the partner for Air Canada Aeroplan earning?
Yes, it matters a lot. Air Canada-issued (014) tickets on Star Alliance partners earn spend-based points with the Elite multiplier and 2 to 4 SQC per $1; tickets issued by the partner earn distance-based points and only 1 SQC per 5 base points (capped at 25,000 SQC a year).
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Which non-alliance airlines partner with Air Canada Aeroplan for earning?
Emirates has been an earn-and-redeem partner since December 7, 2022, and the reward chart lists Emirates, Flydubai and Etihad Airways among its "select partners". ITA Airways became a redemption partner on February 5, 2026 but earning and status benefits wait until it joins Star Alliance; Juneyao Airlines is a Star Alliance Connecting Partner.
Source: Air Canada: Emirates joins Aeroplan as a new airline partner
How long do partner airline flights take to post to Air Canada Aeroplan?
Aeroplan says partner-earned points can take up to 2 months to appear in your account. For flights, wait at least 14 days after the trip before filing a missing points request.
Do Air Canada Aeroplan elite members earn a bonus on partner airline flights?
Only on Air Canada-issued tickets. The Elite multiplier (2x to 6x) applies to 014 tickets flown on Star Alliance partners; partner flights on other ticket stock earn flat distance-based points with no Elite bonus.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
Where does Air Canada publish the partner earning charts for Air Canada Aeroplan?
The partner directory at aircanada.com/aeroplan/partners lists each airline, hotel, car and everyday partner with its own page and earning chart; the Star Alliance page lists all 26 member carriers. The Air Canada flight earning rules live at aircanada.com/aeroplan/earn/air-canada.
Can I earn points on trains, buses or ferries through Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes, on one rail partner: Rocky Mountaineer earns 1 Aeroplan point per dollar in SilverLeaf Service and 2 points per dollar in GoldLeaf Service on all its itineraries (First Passage to the West, Journey Through the Clouds, Rainforest to Gold Rush, Rockies to the Red Rocks). Give your Aeroplan number when booking at rockymountaineer.com or 1-800-875-9149 and allow up to 7 days after the journey for points to post. No bus or ferry partners are listed.
Missing points and retroactive claims
What to do when a flight does not post, the claim window, and what the airline needs.
How long after a flight can I claim missing points from Air Canada Aeroplan?
Wait at least 14 days after your whole trip before requesting missing points. Aeroplan accepts flight claims up to 11 months after departure and hotel or car rental claims up to 6 months after the transaction; partner credits can take up to 2 months to post on their own.
How do I file a missing points claim with Air Canada Aeroplan?
Use the online "Request missing points" form at aircanada.com/requestmissingpoints (from the missing points page) for Air Canada flights, with your boarding pass, e-ticket or booking receipt handy. Missing Status Qualifying Credits are handled by phone at 1-800-361-5373, and AC Wallet discrepancies have their own form.
What information does Air Canada Aeroplan need for a missing points claim?
Have your boarding pass, e-ticket number or flight booking receipt ready, as Aeroplan may ask you to submit them with the online request; the flight must have been completed at least 14 days earlier.
How do I claim missing points for a partner airline flight in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Points from partners can take up to 2 months to post. For non-airline partner transactions Aeroplan asks you to contact the partner directly using the phone or email listed for it on the missing points page; for flights use the online form after 14 days, and for missing SQC call 1-800-361-5373.
How long does Air Canada Aeroplan take to process a retroactive claim?
Air Canada asks you to wait at least 14 days after the whole trip before filing, and its FAQ warns that "it can take up to 2 months for points to appear in your account in some cases" once a missing points request is submitted. Keep boarding passes for 6 months in case they are requested to support the claim.
Source: Air Canada: customer service FAQ
Can I claim points for flights taken before I joined Air Canada Aeroplan?
Not normally. The terms say purchases made before enrolment are ineligible for points unless Aeroplan permits otherwise, so join first and add the number to the booking.
Will Air Canada Aeroplan credit a flight if the name on the ticket does not exactly match my account?
Points can only be credited to the member whose name and Aeroplan number appear on the ticket, which is why Aeroplan requires you to enrol under your full legal name exactly as on your passport or government ID. A mismatched name is the usual reason a claim fails, so update the account name before flying.
Credit cards and bank transfers
Co-brand cards, transferable points, ratios and timing.
Which banks issue Air Canada Aeroplan credit cards, and in which countries?
In Canada, TD (Visa Platinum, Infinite and Infinite Privilege), CIBC (Visa personal and business) and American Express (Aeroplan Card, Reserve and Business Reserve). In the United States, Chase issues the Air Canada Aeroplan Card for US residents only.
How many points per dollar do Air Canada Aeroplan credit cards earn?
It varies by card: the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite earns 1.5 points per $1 on Air Canada, gas, EV charging and groceries and 1 point elsewhere; the American Express Aeroplan Reserve earns 3 points per $1 with Air Canada, 2 on dining and food delivery in Canada and 1.25 on everything else; the entry-level Amex Aeroplan Card earns 2/1.5/1.
What sign-up bonus do Air Canada Aeroplan credit cards typically offer?
As of 2026 the welcome offers run from up to 20,000 points on the TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum and up to 50,000 on the TD Visa Infinite, to up to 85,000 on the Amex Aeroplan Reserve (60,000 after $7,500 in 3 months plus 25,000 in month 13), 90,000 on the Amex Business Reserve and up to 100,000 on the TD Visa Infinite Privilege.
Source: Air Canada: TD Aeroplan cards
Can credit card spending earn elite status or tier credit in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes. Premium Aeroplan cards earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Credits per $5,000 spent and core cards 1,000 SQC per $20,000, capped at a combined 25,000 SQC per member per year (enough for 25K Status on its own). From 2027 premium cardholders who hold status also get a 10% Head Start: bonus SQC equal to 10% of the previous year's total, uncapped.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Which bank points transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan, and at what ratio?
American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One miles transfer 1:1 (1,000-point minimum), Barclays Arrival at 8,500 miles to 5,000 points, and hotel programs convert too: Marriott Bonvoy 3:1, World of Hyatt 2:1, Accor ALL 2:1, Hilton Honors 10:1, and IHG, Best Western, Choice and Wyndham 5:1. See transfer partners.
How long do bank point transfers to Air Canada Aeroplan take?
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers are usually processed by the next business day, and Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and Accor conversions land within 24 hours but can take up to 72 hours.
Can I transfer points back out of Air Canada Aeroplan to a bank program?
Not to a bank: once bank points arrive they are governed by Aeroplan terms and cannot be transferred back. Elite Status members can, however, move Aeroplan points out to Marriott Bonvoy at 1:1 (500 minimum, 100,000 a day) or to World of Hyatt at 2 Aeroplan points per Hyatt point.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan run transfer bonuses from bank programs?
The standing offer on the conversion page is a Marriott Bonvoy one: convert 60,000 Bonvoy points and Aeroplan adds a 5,000-point bonus. Time-limited offers from other partners are posted on the Aeroplan promotions page.
Must the bank account and Air Canada Aeroplan account be in the same name for a transfer?
Yes. The Aeroplan terms require that an account with a Conversion Program (a credit card or hotel program you convert points from) "must be in the Member's name so that the name on the Account with Aeroplan and the account under such Conversion Program are the same person". Amex, Chase, Capital One, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt conversions all fall under this rule, so you cannot push a spouse's card points into your Aeroplan account.
Do Air Canada Aeroplan credit cards have annual fees, and what perks offset them?
Yes: TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum $89, Visa Infinite $139 and Visa Infinite Privilege $599; Amex Aeroplan Card $120 and Aeroplan Reserve $599. Perks that offset them include a free first checked bag (Infinite and up), preferred flight reward pricing, points that never expire, NEXUS rebates, and on the $599 cards Maple Leaf Lounge access, priority airport services and an annual Companion Pass.
Source: Air Canada: TD Aeroplan cards
Do any Air Canada Aeroplan credit cards include a companion fare or free flight certificate?
Yes. The American Express Aeroplan Reserve and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege each give an annual Companion Pass after $25,000 in spend, letting a companion fly for a base fare of $99 to $599 (plus taxes) depending on the destination.
Is there a business credit card for Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes: the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve ($599, up to 90,000 welcome points, unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access in North America) and the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card ($180, 2 points per $1 with Air Canada, free first bag for up to 9 people). TD also offers an Aeroplan Visa Business card.
Can I get a Air Canada Aeroplan credit card if I live outside the United States?
The TD, CIBC and Amex Aeroplan cards require Canadian residency, but US residents can apply for the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card, and points from US bank programs (Amex, Chase, Capital One, Barclays) transfer into Aeroplan.
Earning without flying
Shopping portals, dining, hotels, cars, rideshare, surveys and buying points.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan have an online shopping portal, and how does it work?
Yes, the Aeroplan eStore (aeroplan.rewardops.com) earns points on online shopping at hundreds of brands, and paying with an Aeroplan credit card lets you "earn points twice". eStore bonus points do not count toward status, though.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan have a dining rewards program?
There is no points-per-dollar dining program. Aeroplan's food links are Starbucks (100 points for every $75 or more loaded to a linked digital Starbucks Card), Uber Eats (1 point per $1 on orders of $40 or more with a linked Uber account) and, since October 28, 2025, a partnership with the reservations app DINR that gives members perks and members-only offers on DINR Premium memberships at top Canadian restaurants.
Source: Air Canada: earn every day with Aeroplan retail partners
Which hotel chains earn points in Air Canada Aeroplan, and can hotel points be converted?
Marriott Bonvoy stays booked direct earn up to 2 Aeroplan points per US dollar, and World of Hyatt members can take 500 Aeroplan points per stay instead of Hyatt points. Hotel points convert in from Marriott (3:1), Hyatt (2:1), Accor (2:1), Hilton (10:1), IHG, Best Western, Choice and Wyndham (5:1) and Shangri-La and Coast (1:1).
Which car rental companies earn points in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Avis and Budget are the core rental partners (with Avis Preferred Plus or President's Club status for members), and Hertz joined in May 2026 with up to 5 points per $1 for Elite members plus complimentary Hertz Gold Plus status. Rentals booked through the Aeroplan hotels and cars portal also earn points.
Source: Air Canada: book hotels and car rentals with Aeroplan
Can I earn points by taking surveys with Air Canada Aeroplan?
Surveys are not one of Aeroplan's earning options: the "Earn points with Aeroplan" page covers flying Air Canada and partner airlines, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages, the Aeroplan eStore, everyday and in-store retail partners, Aeroplan credit cards and buying points, with no survey or market-research program among them.
Can I buy points from Air Canada Aeroplan, at what price, and is there a yearly cap?
Yes, Aeroplan sells points through Points.com at buy.points.com (linked from the Your Aeroplan page), where you can also boost, gift or transfer points. Prices and any annual cap are shown at checkout rather than on the Air Canada page.
Source: Air Canada: your Aeroplan (buy, transfer, gift, donate, convert points)
Can I gift points to another Air Canada Aeroplan member?
Yes. You can transfer your own points to another member for a fee, or buy points as a gift for someone, both through the Points.com portal linked from the Your Aeroplan page. Family Sharing lets up to 8 relatives pool points free instead.
Source: Air Canada: your Aeroplan (buy, transfer, gift, donate, convert points)
Are there phone, internet, energy or subscription partners that earn points in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes. Bell is an Aeroplan partner: linking your Bell and Aeroplan accounts earns 100 points (plus up to 1,000 Status Qualifying Credits and a $20 Air Canada flight credit where eligible), and current mobility offers pay 10,000 points and up to 2,000 SQC for bringing your own phone to an eligible Ultra plan or buying a phone on a 2-year Bell SmartPay plan; Bell also sponsors the free in-flight Wi-Fi for members. For bills that have no partner of their own, Chexy lets you earn points on rent, tax payments and similar expenses.
Can I earn points on fuel or groceries with Air Canada Aeroplan?
Journie Rewards (fuel and convenience) can be linked to Aeroplan on the earn page, and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite earns 1.5 points per $1 on gas, EV charging and groceries. LCBO in-store purchases also earn when linked.
Can I earn points on Airbnb, vacation rentals or cruises with Air Canada Aeroplan?
Not directly for earning, but Airbnb eGift cards can be redeemed from 14,000 points through the Aeroplan hotels and cars portal, and Air Canada Vacations packages earn fixed points (500 to 5,000 depending on region and cabin) plus 1 SQC per $1.
Source: Air Canada: book hotels and car rentals with Aeroplan
Does in-flight Wi-Fi, duty free or onboard purchases earn points on Air Canada?
Extra baggage fees and seat selection charges are explicitly excluded from earning. In-flight Wi-Fi is free for Aeroplan members within North America and to Sun destinations, and where it is sold it can be paid with points.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
Where does Air Canada Aeroplan list its current earning promotions?
Current offers are listed at aircanada.com/aeroplan/promotions, and program announcements (new partners, chart changes, card offers) are dated on the Aeroplan news page.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan news
Elite status
Tiers, how to qualify, the year cycle, matches and what each level gets.
What are the elite status tiers in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Five tiers: Aeroplan 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite. 25K and 35K map to Star Alliance Silver; 50K, 75K and Super Elite are Star Alliance Gold.
How do I qualify for elite status in Air Canada Aeroplan: by spending, segments, distance or points?
Since January 1, 2026 there is a single metric, Status Qualifying Credits (SQC), earned by spend: 4 SQC per $1 on Economy Flex or higher fares, 2 SQC per $1 on Economy Standard and eUpgrade add-ons, 1 SQC per 5 partner base points (capped at 25,000), 1,000 SQC per $5,000 (premium card) or $20,000 (core card) of card spend (capped at 25,000), and 1 SQC per $1 on Air Canada Vacations.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
What are the qualification thresholds for each Air Canada Aeroplan tier?
25,000 SQC for Aeroplan 25K, 35,000 for 35K, 50,000 for 50K, 75,000 for 75K and 125,000 for Super Elite. Alternatively, 100,000 Everyday Status Qualification (EDQ) points from everyday partners in a calendar year earn 25K only.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
When does the Air Canada Aeroplan qualification year start and end, and how long does status last?
The qualification year is January 1 to December 31. Status earned is valid for the rest of that year and until the end of the following year, and reaching a higher tier mid-year gets you early recognition at that level.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Do partner airline flights count toward Air Canada Aeroplan status?
Yes. Partner flights earn 1 SQC per 5 Aeroplan base points, up to 25,000 SQC a year, and Star Alliance flights on Air Canada-issued tickets earn the full 2 to 4 SQC per $1 with no cap.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer a status match or status challenge?
Air Canada publishes no airline status match, but there is a hotel one: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite members get complimentary Aeroplan 25K Status once accounts are linked (allow 7 to 10 business days), and Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite members get Marriott Gold Elite in return.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer lifetime or million-miler status?
Yes, Air Canada Million Mile. Lifetime Qualifying Miles count paid Air Canada, Rouge and Express flights at 100% of distance in Economy (not Basic), 125% in Premium Economy and 150% in Business; 1 million miles means your status never drops below 50K, 2 million never below 75K and 3 million never below Super Elite, with SQC gifts (2,500 to 30,000 a year) and status for a friend at higher levels.
If I fall short of requalifying, does Air Canada Aeroplan drop me one tier or all the way?
You land on whatever tier your Status Qualifying Credits actually earned between January 1 and December 31, which may be no status at all; Air Canada describes no one-tier-down soft landing. What you do get is time: Elite Status now runs 13 months, so if you fall short your current status is automatically extended to January 31 and the new tier, "if applicable", takes effect February 1 with Core Benefits loaded by mid-February. eUpgrade credits, Priority Rewards, lounge passes and Status Passes keep their own expiry dates and are not extended.
Source: Air Canada: extending your Elite Status validity (13-month status)
What baggage benefits do Air Canada Aeroplan elite members get?
Aeroplan 25K adds 1 complimentary 23 kg bag to the fare allowance; 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite get 3 checked bags of up to 32 kg each. Priority baggage handling starts at 35K.
Which Air Canada Aeroplan tiers get lounge access, and where?
Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite get Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés, Star Alliance Gold lounges, Virgin Australia lounges and Emirates Business Class lounges in Dubai; Super Elite adds the London Heathrow Arrivals Lounge. 25K and 35K have no lounge access as a core benefit, though milestone choices include lounge passes.
Do Air Canada Aeroplan elite members get complimentary upgrades, and how are they prioritised?
Upgrades run on eUpgrade credits: 5 a year for 25K, 10 for 35K, 15 for 50K, 20 for 75K and 30 for Super Elite, plus more from milestones. Clearance windows favour higher tiers (Super Elite anytime; 75K/50K 12 to 14 days out domestically; 35K/25K 8 to 10 days), with Latitude fares clearing anytime for all tiers.
Do Air Canada Aeroplan elite members get free seat selection or extra-legroom seats?
Yes, preferred seats: 25K and 35K get them free at check-in on Economy Standard and Flex fares, 50K at booking for Canada/US and at check-in elsewhere, 75K at booking, and Super Elite at booking on any fare.
Which fees does Air Canada Aeroplan waive for elite members?
Only Super Elite gets complimentary changes and cancellations on Aeroplan flight rewards as a core benefit; other tiers pay the standard reward fees. Same-day airport changes on rewards are free in Business or First but $100 in Economy and Premium Economy.
What do Air Canada Aeroplan tiers map to in the alliance (Star Alliance Gold, oneworld Emerald, SkyTeam Elite Plus)?
Aeroplan 25K and 35K are Star Alliance Silver; Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite are Star Alliance Gold. See Star Alliance.
Can elite benefits in Air Canada Aeroplan be shared with family or a companion?
Partly. Status Passes (2 a year for Super Elite, plus milestone choices for 50K and up) give anyone on an Air Canada booking 3 free 32 kg bags, priority check-in, security, boarding, baggage and Maple Leaf Lounge access for that trip. Lounge-eligible members can also bring a partner, one guest and up to 5 dependent children free.
Source: Air Canada: Status Pass
Do surplus qualifying points roll over to the next year in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Not as a standing rule. For the 2026 transition, up to 200,000 leftover SQM converted to SQC at 5:1 (max 40,000 SQC). From 2027, primary premium Aeroplan cardholders who requalify get a 10% Head Start: bonus SQC worth 10% of the previous year's SQC, deposited by end of March with no cap.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Can I gift or nominate someone for status in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes. Milestone Benefits let you gift 25K, 35K or 50K Status from the 60K to 130K SQC milestones and 75K Status at 200K+, and Status Passes give someone elite-style perks on a single booking. Million Mile members at 2 million miles and up also nominate a friend for ongoing status.
Can I buy status or top-up missing qualifying points in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Air Canada does not sell status or SQC outright. The closest routes are credit card spend (1,000 SQC per $5,000 on premium cards, up to 25,000 SQC a year, enough for 25K), Air Canada Vacations at 1 SQC per $1, and choosing bonus SQC as a milestone benefit.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Will Air Canada Aeroplan elite benefits be recognised on partner airlines?
Yes: 25K and 35K are recognised as Star Alliance Silver and 50K and above as Star Alliance Gold across the alliance (lounges, extra bag, priority services). 50K+ members also get Emirates Business Class lounges in Dubai and Virgin Australia lounges.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer selectable benefits or milestone rewards for elites?
Yes, Milestone Benefits: at every 10,000 SQC up to 200,000 (then every 20,000) status holders get automatic eUpgrade credits plus a choice such as a Priority Reward (50% off a flight reward), lounge passes, bonus points, bonus SQC, Status Passes, gifted status, gift cards or eStore and hotel discounts. Choices must be made by January 30 of the following year.
Redeeming on Air Canada
How awards are priced, the cheapest redemptions and the booking rules.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan use a fixed award chart or dynamic pricing for Air Canada flights?
Dynamic for Air Canada flights: the points price tracks the cash fare, with the published Flight Reward Chart showing the likely range (and starting price) per zone, distance band and cabin; partner airlines are priced at fixed distance-based amounts. See the award chart.
What is the cheapest award ticket in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Economy flights of 0 to 500 miles within North America start at 6,000 points one way on Air Canada, and the same band is a fixed 6,000 points on partners. The next bands start at 10,000 (501 to 1,500 miles) and 12,500 (1,501 to 2,750 miles).
Can I book one-way awards in Air Canada Aeroplan, and are they half the round-trip price?
Yes. Flight rewards are priced per direction of travel, so a one-way costs what that direction costs and the reward chart quotes one-way figures. Change fees are also charged per direction.
How do I search for award seats on Air Canada?
Search on aircanada.com or in the Air Canada app with the "book with points" option; the Points Predictor tool on the redeem page estimates the cost by route before you search. Multi-city and stopover itineraries use the Multi-city/Stopover search, or call the Aeroplan Contact Centre ($30 booking fee).
What is the difference between saver and standard (or flexible) awards in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Aeroplan has no saver/standard split; prices are dynamic. What differs is the reward fare type: Economy Standard rewards carry change fees ($75 online) and $150 cancellation fees, while Economy Flex rewards change free and cancel for $75; Latitude reward fares clear eUpgrades anytime.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan allow stopovers or open jaws on award tickets?
Yes: one stopover per direction of up to 45 days for an extra 5,000 points, on one-way, round-trip or multi-city rewards, booked via the Multi-city/Stopover search. Stopovers are not permitted within Canada, the US or China, and open jaws are handled through multi-city itineraries of up to 6 directions.
Can I book a mixed-cabin award in Air Canada Aeroplan, and how is it priced?
Yes, and the policy is explicit: flight reward pricing is based on the highest class of service in the itinerary, per direction of travel, so a Business segment plus Economy connections prices as Business for that direction.
Can I pay part in points and part in cash with Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes, Points + Cash lets you cover part of the flight in points at checkout. Note that on a points + cash booking the taxes and fees must be paid in cash, whereas on a wholly points booking taxes and fees can themselves be paid with points.
How do I add an infant or child to an award ticket in Air Canada Aeroplan?
An infant under 2 not occupying a seat needs a separate ticket: free within Canada and between Canada and the US, and CAD $25 or 2,500 points per direction on other international itineraries, one infant per adult. Children with a seat are booked as regular passengers on the reward.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer a round-the-world or multi-city award?
There is no dedicated round-the-world award, but multi-city rewards allow up to 6 directions of travel and 12 segments (6 per direction) on one reservation, each direction priced separately, with a 45-day stopover allowed per direction for 5,000 points.
Do awards in Air Canada Aeroplan book into basic economy or a regular fare?
Rewards book as Economy Standard or Economy Flex fares (the two reward fare types in the policy), not Basic. Basic fare classes are also ineligible for Priority Rewards.
What is the minimum number of points needed to book an award in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Flights start at 6,000 points (short hops of up to 500 miles in North America); off the aircraft, gift cards start at 3,200 points and car rentals at 5,000 points.
What are the best-value redemptions in Air Canada Aeroplan?
The structural wins are: no carrier surcharges on any flight reward (just taxes and a $39 partner fee), fixed distance-based partner pricing that ignores cash fares, 5,000-point stopovers of up to 45 days, and 6,000-point short hops. Elite members can halve a reward with a Priority Reward voucher, and cardholders get preferred pricing. See award chart.
Does flying on an award ticket in Air Canada Aeroplan earn status or points?
No. Flights redeemed with points earn 0 SQC, no Aeroplan points, and do not count toward Million Mile Lifetime Qualifying Miles (including points + cash bookings).
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Can I select seats on an award ticket in Air Canada Aeroplan, and is there a charge?
Yes. A flight reward carries a fare brand, so standard advance seat selection is free on Flex, Comfort, Latitude, Premium Economy and Business rewards and costs $15 to $150 per segment on Basic and Standard, exactly as on the equivalent cash fare. Preferred (extra legroom) seats, $20 to $199, can be bought on a Flight Reward through My Bookings after booking, but "it's not possible right now to purchase Preferred Seats using Aeroplan points". Air Canada says Aeroplan Elite members get Preferred Seats free "on select routes", and that they "are complimentary for Aeroplan Super Elite Members travelling on an Aeroplan Flight Reward".
Source: Air Canada: Preferred Seats
What baggage allowance do I get on an award ticket in Air Canada Aeroplan?
The same allowance as the fare brand your reward is issued in: within Canada and to the US, Standard rewards pay $45 to $54 for a first bag and $60 to $72 for a second, Flex and Comfort include the first bag, Latitude includes two, and Business includes its usual allowance; international Basic fares pay $90 to $108 for the first bag. Aeroplan Elite and Star Alliance Gold members get one extra bag on top of the fare allowance, and the Flight Reward Policy leaves baggage rules to the operating airline's fare, so partner rewards follow that partner's allowance.
Source: Air Canada: fees related to baggage and optional services
Redeeming on partner airlines
Which partners can be booked, online versus by phone, and the partner-specific rules.
Which partner airlines can I book with points from Air Canada Aeroplan?
All 26 Star Alliance airlines plus non-alliance partners including Emirates (all four cabins), Etihad, Flydubai, ITA Airways (since February 5, 2026), and regional carriers Calm Air (since July 2026) and Air Creebec. See how to book partner awards.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan news
Which partner awards can be booked online with Air Canada Aeroplan, and which need a phone call?
Partner rewards are booked on aircanada.com or in the app, including ITA Airways and Emirates; the Aeroplan Contact Centre can book anything but charges a non-refundable $30 CAD per booking, and Air Creebec and Calm Air rewards need 48 hours notice rather than 2.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan welcomes ITA Airways (February 2026)
How are partner awards priced in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Fixed amounts by distance band and cabin from the Flight Reward Chart (for example 6,000 points for up to 500 miles in North America, 22,500 for 2,751+ miles), independent of the cash fare, plus a $39 partner booking fee per ticket.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan charge a fee for partner awards?
Yes, a flat Partner Booking Fee of $39 CAD per ticket whenever a reward includes a partner airline flight; it can be paid with points.
Which partner airlines add fuel surcharges to Air Canada Aeroplan awards?
None. Air Canada advertises no cash surcharges on flight rewards; you pay taxes and third-party airport fees (in cash or points) plus the $39 partner fee, whichever partner you fly.
Can I combine Air Canada and partner flights on one award in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes. Rewards can combine Air Canada and partner flights (Air Canada highlights combining ITA with Air Canada and other partners), up to 6 segments per direction; any partner segment triggers the $39 fee and pricing follows the highest cabin per direction.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan welcomes ITA Airways (February 2026)
Do partner airlines release the same award seats to Air Canada Aeroplan as to their own members?
No guarantee: the Flight Reward Policy says eligibility for rewards on partner airlines is "subject to partner airline restrictions", meaning each partner decides which seats it opens to Aeroplan. Air Canada has negotiated better access with some: the March 25, 2025 chart that moved United, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad and the Canadian regionals onto "select partner" pricing came with "improved access to redemption flights, and in some cases, deeper inventory levels". See how to book partner awards.
Source: Air Canada: new Air Canada and select partners reward chart (March 2025)
Which non-alliance airlines can be booked with Air Canada Aeroplan points?
Emirates (Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First, with First limited to 35K status and above and passengers 9+), Etihad, Flydubai, ITA Airways, Calm Air and Air Creebec.
Source: Air Canada: redeem points for travel on Emirates (July 2026)
Are stopovers allowed on partner awards in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes, the same rule as Air Canada rewards: one stopover per direction, up to 45 days, for 5,000 extra points, as long as the stopover city is outside Canada, the US and China.
Can I use points to upgrade a partner airline flight through Air Canada Aeroplan?
No. eUpgrades are not available on codeshare flights operated by partner airlines; they work only on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada Rouge.
Source: Air Canada: eUpgrade policy
Can partner awards booked through Air Canada Aeroplan be changed or cancelled online?
The Flight Reward Policy fees apply to all rewards: changes $75 online or $100 by phone per direction (free on Economy Flex), cancellations $150 online or $175 by phone ($75/$125 on Flex), up to 2 hours before departure. Online is cheaper, so try the website first.
Which partner airlines are the best value to book with Air Canada Aeroplan points?
Air Canada does not rank them, but the chart structure tells you where value sits: every partner except the "select partners" (United, Emirates, Flydubai, Etihad, Canadian North, Calm Air, Bearskin and PAL, which carry their own "starting at" prices) is priced on one fixed distance-and-zone chart with no carrier surcharges, just taxes and the $39 Partner Booking Fee. Because those fixed prices ignore the cash fare, long-haul Business and First rewards on the fixed-chart partners (Lufthansa, SWISS, ANA, EVA, Singapore, Turkish and the rest of Star Alliance) stretch points furthest, while short hops in North America start at 6,000 points. See the award chart.
Taxes, fees and surcharges on awards
What is added on top of the points, and which fees can be avoided.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan add fuel surcharges to award tickets on Air Canada?
No. Air Canada eliminated airline surcharges on point redemptions; you pay only government taxes and third-party airport fees, and those can be paid with points on a wholly points booking.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan charge a booking fee for award tickets?
Booking online is free. A reward booked through the Aeroplan Contact Centre costs a non-refundable $30 CAD, and any reward including a partner airline carries a $39 CAD Partner Booking Fee per ticket.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan charge extra to book an award by phone?
Yes, $30 CAD per booking, non-refundable, when the Aeroplan Contact Centre makes the reservation; changes and cancellations by phone also cost $25 to $50 more than online.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan charge a close-in or last-minute booking fee for awards?
No close-in fee. Rewards can be booked up to 2 hours before departure (48 hours for Air Creebec and Calm Air) at the same price structure.
Which award fees does Air Canada Aeroplan waive for elite members?
Super Elite members get complimentary changes and cancellations on flight rewards; other tiers pay standard fees. Elites also receive Priority Reward vouchers that cut the points price of a reward by 50%.
How much are the typical taxes and fees on a Air Canada Aeroplan award ticket?
It depends on the route, because Aeroplan adds no airline surcharges on Air Canada flights: "only taxes and third-party fees (such as airport fees) are listed in cash", plus a flat $39 Partner Booking Fee per ticket (as of September 2026) when a partner airline is involved, which you can also pay with points. The Aeroplan Flight Reward Policy adds that taxes, fees and charges are paid at ticketing, that some reservations include a U.S. Tax Recovery Fee, and that for certain international departures they may be collected at the departure airport.
How does Air Canada Aeroplan handle UK Air Passenger Duty and other high departure taxes on awards?
Like any government tax, UK Air Passenger Duty and other departure taxes are yours to pay on an Aeroplan reward: the Aeroplan terms make members responsible for all taxes, fees and charges imposed by governments and airports, "including but not limited to departure and security charges". The Flight Reward Policy, a separate page, has them paid at ticketing and refunds them on unused travel when you cancel, except those that are non-refundable by law. What Aeroplan removes is airline surcharges: on Air Canada flights only taxes and third-party fees are charged in cash, and Air Canada's redeem page says you can cover those with points too.
Can I pay the taxes and fees on a Air Canada Aeroplan award with points?
Yes, when the flight itself is paid wholly with points the taxes, fees and the $39 partner fee can all be covered with points. On a points + cash booking the taxes and fees must be paid in cash.
Are taxes and fees refunded if I cancel a Air Canada Aeroplan award?
Yes. Cancel up to 2 hours before departure and the full points plus taxes and fees are refunded, less the cancellation fee ($150 online for Standard rewards, $75 for Flex). Cancellations within 24 hours of booking are free.
How can I reduce the cash cost of a Air Canada Aeroplan award?
Book online (avoids the $30 phone fee), pay the taxes and partner fee with points on wholly points bookings, hold an Aeroplan credit card for preferred pricing (which extends to your Family Sharing pool), and use a Priority Reward voucher for 50% off if you have status.
Changes, cancellations and refunds
Fees, deadlines, redeposits, no-shows and what happens when the airline changes the schedule.
What does Air Canada Aeroplan charge to change an award ticket?
Per direction, per ticket: $75 online or $100 through the Contact Centre on Economy Standard, Premium Economy and Business/First rewards; no fee at all on Economy Flex rewards. Super Elite members change free. See award change fees.
What does Air Canada Aeroplan charge to cancel an award ticket and redeposit the points?
Per ticket: $150 online or $175 by phone for Economy Standard, Premium Economy and Business/First rewards, and $75 online or $125 by phone for Economy Flex. Points and taxes are refunded less the fee; Super Elite members cancel free.
How close to departure can I cancel a Air Canada Aeroplan award?
Up to 2 hours before the scheduled departure of the first flight. After that the reward is treated as a no-show and forfeited.
What happens to my points if I no-show a Air Canada Aeroplan award?
You lose them. If you do not cancel or change at least 2 hours before departure the reward ticket is forfeited and, in the policy's words, is "no longer valid for travel or Points reinstatement".
How long does Air Canada Aeroplan take to redeposit points after a cancellation?
Air Canada does not publish a separate points timeline; its refund policy commits to processing all eligible refunds within 30 calendar days of the date it is required to (7 business days for credit card purchases on US itineraries), and cash portions can take a further billing cycle to show on your card. Within a Family Sharing pool, refunded points go back to the account of the member they were drawn from.
Can I change or cancel a Air Canada Aeroplan award online, or must I call?
Both work, and online is cheaper: changes are $75 online versus $100 by phone, cancellations $150 versus $175 (Flex $75 versus $125). Flight rewards can be managed on aircanada.com or in the app.
What are my rights if Air Canada changes the schedule of my award flight?
Under Air Canada's Customer Service Plan, a flight that is cancelled or rescheduled with a significant change makes you eligible for a refund to the original form of payment (for a reward, your points and taxes), or you can take the rebooking options or credit Air Canada offers instead. The Flight Reward Policy itself is silent on schedule changes, so these general passenger rules are what apply.
Can I cancel just the return of a round-trip Air Canada Aeroplan award?
Yes, as a cancellation of the unflown part: the Flight Reward Policy lets you cancel up to 2 hours before the departure of the flight and refunds "taxes, fees and charges on any unused value of travel", with the usual cancellation fee ($150 online, $175 by phone; $75/$125 on Economy Flex; waived for eligible Elite members). The policy does not spell out how the points for a partly flown itinerary are valued, so call the Aeroplan Contact Centre for the exact redeposit.
Can I change the passenger name on a Air Canada Aeroplan award?
No. The policy states that name changes are not permitted once a flight reward ticket has been issued, so the ticket must be booked in the traveller's legal passport name from the start.
Are change and cancellation fees waived for Air Canada Aeroplan elite members?
Only for Super Elite, whose core benefits include complimentary changes and cancellations with Aeroplan flight rewards. 25K to 75K members pay the standard fees.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer a 24-hour free cancellation on awards?
Yes. Rewards cancelled within 24 hours of booking are refunded in full with no fee; after that the standard cancellation fees apply up to 2 hours before departure.
Are the change and cancellation rules different for partner awards in Air Canada Aeroplan?
No separate fee table: partner rewards use the same change ($75 online, $100 by phone) and cancellation ($150/$175) fees and the same 2-hours-before-departure deadline as Air Canada rewards, with the $39 Partner Booking Fee charged per ticket. The exceptions are Air Creebec and Calm Air, which need 48 hours notice, and partner-specific restrictions on which flights are eligible.
If I cancel a Air Canada Aeroplan award booked with points that have since expired, do I get them back?
The policy does not address it directly, and the scenario is rare because redeeming counts as activity that restarts the 18-month inactivity clock (and expiry is currently paused). If a cancellation returns points to an account that has since gone dormant, Aeroplan's normal reinstatement rules apply: within 6 months of expiry you can buy expired points back for a fee, have them all reinstated free by flying with Air Canada, or restore them by taking out an Aeroplan credit card. See do miles expire.
What does Air Canada do if my award flight is cancelled on the day, and can I be rebooked on partners?
Air Canada's disruption guide, which draws no distinction for reward tickets, says a cancelled flight is automatically rebooked on the next available flight, "including flights with other airlines", with the new itinerary sent by email and SMS; if it does not suit, retrieve the booking online or in the app and pick another option. Delays of 2 hours or more can bring meal vouchers, hotels and transport, and if the disrupted flight is operated by a partner airline you deal with that airline directly.
Award availability
When seats are released, holds, waitlists and how to find space.
When does Air Canada release award seats, and are more added closer to departure?
On its own flights Air Canada has no separate award release to wait for: "any Air Canada seat you see available to buy in cash, you can use your points to redeem for it", with every fare class included and no blackout periods. What changes is the price, because "the price you pay in points is related to the price of the ticket in cash" and can climb above the usual range in high-demand periods; partner rewards instead cost a fixed amount of points based on the distance flown.
Can I put a Air Canada Aeroplan award on hold before paying?
No. Aeroplan's Flight Reward Policy says Flight Reward reservations "must be ticketed immediately" and that points are deducted from your account at the time of the reservation, with taxes, fees and charges paid at ticketing, so a reward seat cannot be held before you pay. If plans are still uncertain, book it and rely on the change and cancellation rules instead; see award change and cancellation fees.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan have an award waitlist?
No. The Flight Reward Policy states plainly that waitlisting Flight Rewards is not permitted, and courtesy upgrade requests on rewards are also refused, including at the airport on the day of travel. If a seat is not bookable now, keep checking rather than waiting for a list to clear.
Do Air Canada Aeroplan elite members get extra award availability?
Not extra seats: Air Canada opens every seat on its own flights to every member with no blackout dates, so there is no Elite-only inventory. What Elite members get is price: Priority Rewards, unlocked as a Milestone Benefit at every 20,000 Status Qualifying Credits, cut the points price of an eligible flight reward by 50% and are valid 12 months from issue, plus waived change and cancellation fees for eligible tiers.
Source: Air Canada: Priority Rewards for Elite Status members
Can I redeem points for any seat on Air Canada, or only for designated award seats?
On Air Canada, any seat: the redeem page promises "every seat, every Air Canada flight, no restrictions", with the points price rising with the cash fare. Partner airlines release only designated award seats at fixed prices.
What tools show Air Canada Aeroplan award availability across dates?
Air Canada's own Points Predictor on the redeem page estimates the points needed by route and cabin, and the website and app show live prices per date once you search with points. See how award availability works.
When is the best time to book a Air Canada Aeroplan award?
Outside peak demand, and early enough to keep options open. Air Canada's own Points Predictor caveat is that a reward will fall inside the predicted range "during normal times" but "if you're looking to travel in a high demand period ... the cost of the trip in points might fall above the range", because Air Canada reward prices track the cash fare. Partner rewards are fixed-price, so for those the only question is whether the partner has released the seat; booking as soon as you see it and using the free 24-hour cancellation window if plans change is the safe play.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan travel tools (Points Predictor and Points Finder)
How do I find award seats for a family of four in Air Canada Aeroplan?
On Air Canada it is simply a matter of seats for sale: "any Air Canada seat you see available to buy in cash, you can use your points to redeem for it", so search for four passengers with the "book with points" option and every flight with four cash seats prices up in points (the price rises with the fare). On partner airlines you are limited to the reward seats the partner releases, so flexible dates or splitting the family across flights is the usual workaround. See how award availability works.
Upgrades
Using points to move up a cabin, eligible fares, copays and waitlists.
How do I upgrade an Air Canada flight with points?
Three ways: Elite members apply eUpgrade credits (with a cash add-on on many routes), any member can place an AC Bid Upgrade with cash or points up to 48 hours before departure, or buy a Last Minute Upgrade at web or app check-in (1 to 24 hours out) or a kiosk (1 to 12 hours out).
Which fares are eligible for a points upgrade on Air Canada?
Economy Basic is ineligible for eUpgrades and for last-minute upgrades. Latitude and Premium Economy Latitude fares clear eUpgrades anytime for any tier; Standard, Comfort and Flex fares are upgradeable inside status-based clearance windows, and group bookings and industry discount fares are excluded.
How many points does an upgrade cost in Air Canada Aeroplan, and is there a cash copay?
eUpgrades cost 1 to 11 credits for Business within North America and Sun destinations, with cash add-ons of $125 to $250 on cheaper fares, and 11 to 26 credits plus $200 to $900 on international routes (Premium Economy 6 to 16 credits plus up to $450). Add-ons are non-refundable and include taxes.
Can I use points to upgrade partner airline flights through Air Canada Aeroplan?
No. eUpgrades work only on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada Rouge; partner-operated codeshares are excluded.
Source: Air Canada: eUpgrade policy
Can I waitlist for a points upgrade in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes, for eUpgrades. Any eUpgrade request made within 36 hours of departure is automatically waitlisted and processed at the gate on the day of travel; earlier requests that have not cleared move to the airport standby list, whose priority order can be viewed in the Flight Status section of the Air Canada app. If the upgrade never clears, the eUpgrade credits are returned to your account.
Can I upgrade with points at check-in or at the gate on Air Canada?
Yes. A Last Minute Upgrade can be bought during web or mobile check-in between 24 and 1 hours before departure or at a kiosk 12 to 1 hours before (not on Basic fares, not on every flight), and eUpgrade requests on Air Canada-operated codeshares can be made at check-in.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan give elite members upgrade certificates or instruments?
Yes, eUpgrade credits: 5 a year at 25K, 10 at 35K, 15 at 50K, 20 at 75K and 30 at Super Elite, topped up automatically at milestones (10 or 20 credits each). Super Elite also gets 2 Status Passes and can name an eUpgrade nominee.
Can I upgrade an award ticket with more points in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes with eUpgrade credits: Air Canada says they can be used on any flight operated by Air Canada, Express or Rouge, "even on flights paid with points", and the requirements table has a separate column for Aeroplan flight rewards.
Are upgrade points refunded if the upgrade does not clear in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes for the credits: if the traveller is not upgraded the eUpgrade credits return to the account (partially, for segments that did not clear), though allow 4 days before chasing it. Cash add-ons, once charged, are non-refundable.
Source: Air Canada: eUpgrade policy
Does Air Canada sell cash upgrades or run upgrade auctions, and do they earn points?
Yes. AC Bid Upgrade lets Economy and Premium Economy passengers bid cash or Aeroplan points up to 48 hours before departure, with minimum bids sometimes cut by up to 25%; a Last Minute Upgrade is sold at check-in. Both earn points only on the original booking class, not the upgraded cabin.
Non-flight redemptions
Hotels, cars, merchandise, seats, bags and other ways to spend points.
Can I redeem points for hotels through Air Canada Aeroplan, and what is the value?
Yes, through the Aeroplan hotels portal (300,000+ properties) with points, cash, or 50/50 points + cash. Aeroplan HotelSavers cuts the points price by up to 30% at select partner hotels, priced in eight categories from 10,000 to 15,000 points a night (Category 1) up to 75,000 to 105,000 (Category 8); cardholders get a 4th night free.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan HotelSavers
Can I redeem points for car rentals through Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes: Avis and Budget rentals at 11,000+ locations can be booked with points (a Toronto rental from about 20,000 points), cash or 50/50 points + cash through the Aeroplan hotels and cars portal, and cash bookings earn points (Elite members an extra 3 per $1).
Source: Air Canada: book hotels and car rentals with Aeroplan
Can I redeem points for merchandise or gift cards in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes. The Aeroplan eStore sells brand merchandise and gift cards for points, with gift cards starting at 3,200 points and Airbnb eGift cards from 14,000.
Can I pay for seat selection with points on Air Canada?
Not at the moment. Air Canada's Preferred Seats page says "it's not possible right now to purchase Preferred Seats using Aeroplan points", and the redeem page's list of point-payable extras is limited to AC Bid Upgrades and in-flight Wi-Fi. Standard seat selection is free on Flex and higher fare brands anyway, and Preferred Seats are complimentary for Elite members on select routes.
Source: Air Canada: Preferred Seats
Can I pay for checked bags with points on Air Canada?
No. The only flight extras Air Canada sells for points are AC Bid Upgrades and in-flight Wi-Fi passes; checked bag fees ($45 to $54 for a first bag within Canada or to the US on Basic and Standard fares) are paid in cash online, in the app, at a kiosk or at the counter when you check in. The cheaper route is a fare brand or status that includes the bag: Flex and Comfort include one, Latitude two, and Elite and Star Alliance Gold members get an extra bag.
Can I pay for in-flight Wi-Fi or food with points on Air Canada?
Yes, Air Canada lets you use Aeroplan points to buy in-flight Wi-Fi, though members get it free anyway on Wi-Fi-equipped flights within North America and to Sun destinations if their Aeroplan number is on the booking.
Can I redeem points for lounge access or a lounge membership in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes for memberships: the Maple Leaf Lounges page points members to redeem Aeroplan points for Maple Leaf Club memberships (the annual passes otherwise sold for $375 Canada, $495 North America Plus or $665 Worldwide). Single-visit access is a cash purchase, $49 on Premium Economy or Latitude fares, $59 on Comfort and $79 on Flex, bought at least 24 hours before departure, and extra guests are $59.
Can I donate points to charity through Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes, through donatepoints.aircanada.com (linked from Your Aeroplan) to participating charities; donating also counts as account activity for the 18-month inactivity clock.
Source: Air Canada: your Aeroplan (buy, transfer, gift, donate, convert points)
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer experiences, events or auctions for points?
Yes, "activities and travel experiences" are a redemption category on the redeem page, alongside Air Canada Vacations packages, hotels, cars and merchandise.
Can I convert points to cash or statement credit in Air Canada Aeroplan?
No. The terms state Aeroplan points have no monetary value and cannot be exchanged for cash; Family Sharing pooled points are also barred from any cash redemption.
Which non-flight redemptions in Air Canada Aeroplan give the best value per points?
Non-flight options are the eStore (over 2,000 merchandise items and gift cards from 3,200 points, plus an Apple Reward Store), hotel and car bookings, Maple Leaf Club memberships and Wi-Fi passes; Air Canada does not publish a value-per-point comparison, and its own pitch is that flights, where "every seat, every Air Canada flight" is bookable and cardholders get Preferred Pricing, are the headline use. See value for how the non-flight rates compare.
Source: Air Canada: the Aeroplan eStore
Can I use points to extend status or buy tier credit in Air Canada Aeroplan?
No. Status cannot be bought with points; SQC come only from flights, partner activity, Air Canada Vacations and credit card spend, plus bonus SQC chosen as a Milestone Benefit.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Expiry and reactivation
Whether points expire, what keeps them alive and how to get them back.
Do Air Canada Aeroplan points expire?
Points expire after 18 consecutive months without earning or redeeming, although Air Canada currently notes that points expiry is "temporarily on pause" as of 2026. Cardholders and Elite members are exempt. See do miles expire.
What counts as activity to keep Air Canada Aeroplan points from expiring?
Any earn or redeem: an Air Canada or partner flight with your number on it, a hotel stay or car rental, eStore or linked retail purchases, redeeming for flights, hotels, cars, gift cards or upgrades, donating points, transferring points, or converting points in from another program. In a Family Sharing pool, any member's redemption counts for everyone.
Can expired Air Canada Aeroplan points be reinstated, and at what cost?
Within 6 months of expiry you can buy the points back for a fee, or reactivate them free by flying Air Canada, getting an Aeroplan credit card, or filing a missing points claim (hotel/car within 6 months, flights within 11 months of departure).
Are Air Canada Aeroplan elite members or cardholders exempt from expiry?
Yes. Points never expire while you hold Aeroplan Elite Status or are the primary holder of a TD, CIBC or American Express Aeroplan credit card.
How do I check when my Air Canada Aeroplan points expire?
Sign in, open the Activity tab and scroll to your "inactivity date". Aeroplan also emails a warning up to 60 days before points would expire.
What is the cheapest way to keep Air Canada Aeroplan points active?
A single linked Uber, Starbucks, LCBO or eStore purchase, a small donation, or converting a handful of hotel points all count as activity, and holding any Aeroplan credit card removes expiry altogether.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan close inactive accounts?
Yes. Points are forfeited after 18 months of inactivity, and after 3 consecutive years of inactivity Aeroplan reserves the right to terminate the membership and reassign the Aeroplan number.
Does a bank transfer or a purchase of points reset the Air Canada Aeroplan expiry clock?
Yes. Converting points in from another loyalty program and transferring points to another member are both listed as qualifying activity, and buying back points is the reinstatement route after expiry.
Baggage, seats, lounges and travel perks
What members and elites get at the airport and on board.
What is the standard checked baggage allowance on Air Canada, and how does status change it?
Standard bags are up to 23 kg and 158 cm; the number included depends on fare. Aeroplan 25K adds one bag, Star Alliance Gold (50K+) adds one bag at up to 32 kg, 35K and above get 3 bags at 32 kg, and Canadian and US military members get up to 3 bags at 32 kg free.
Source: Air Canada: checked baggage
Which lounges can Air Canada Aeroplan members access, and how?
Maple Leaf Lounges (23 lounges at 18 airports in Canada, the US and Europe) admit Business and First passengers, Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite, Star Alliance Gold, premium Aeroplan cardholders (Canada and US), and Emirates Skywards Gold/Platinum on Dubai routes. Elites can bring a partner, one guest and up to 5 children free.
Can I buy lounge access on Air Canada without status?
Yes. Economy passengers can buy single-visit access at least 24 hours ahead: $49 on Premium Economy or Latitude fares, $59 on Comfort and $79 on Flex; extra guests are $59. An annual Maple Leaf Club membership costs $375 (Canada), $495 (North America Plus) or $665 (Worldwide).
Who gets priority check-in, security and boarding on Air Canada?
All Elite tiers get priority check-in, boarding and airport standby; priority security clearance and priority baggage handling start at 35K, and 50K and up carry priority services across Star Alliance partners. Premium cardholders and Status Pass recipients get priority check-in, security and boarding too.
Does Air Canada offer same-day changes or standby, and is it free for elites?
Same-day airport changes on flight rewards cost $100 in Economy (Standard or Flex) and Premium Economy and are free in Business or First. Priority airport standby is a core benefit at every Elite tier.
Does Air Canada offer free Wi-Fi to Air Canada Aeroplan members?
Yes. Sponsored by Bell, Wi-Fi is free for Aeroplan members on equipped Air Canada, Rouge and Express flights within North America and to Sun destinations when the Aeroplan number is on the booking, and since April 2026 Aeroplan members also get free Starlink Wi-Fi on United.
Do Air Canada Aeroplan elite benefits extend to a companion on the same booking?
Some do. Lounge-eligible Elites bring a partner, one guest and up to 5 dependent children free; Elite priority baggage handling covers travel companions; premium cards give a free first bag for up to 8 companions; and a Status Pass grants elite-style perks to anyone on a booking.
Can Air Canada Aeroplan elites use partner airline lounges when flying partners?
Yes for 50K, 75K and Super Elite: Star Alliance Gold lounges when flying Star Alliance, Emirates Business Class lounges in Dubai on Canada-Dubai itineraries, and Virgin Australia lounges (plus one guest). 25K and 35K are Star Alliance Silver, which carries no lounge access.
Do I get elite benefits when flying on an award ticket in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes. Elite benefits such as eUpgrades apply on flights paid with points, and Super Elite gets free changes and cancellations on rewards. You just do not earn points or SQC on the redeemed flight.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan status come with hotel, car rental or other partner status?
Yes: Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite get Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite; 75K, Super Elite and premium cardholders get Avis President's Club while 25K to 50K and core cardholders get Avis Preferred Plus; Elites get Hertz Gold Plus; and premium cardholders get World of Hyatt Discoverist.
Alliances and partnerships
Which alliance the airline belongs to, its non-alliance partners and joint ventures.
Which alliance is Air Canada in, and since when?
Air Canada is a member of Star Alliance, which its site lists as 26 airlines including United, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Turkish, EVA Air, Air China and ITA Airways. See Star Alliance.
Which airlines are Air Canada's partners outside its alliance?
Outside Star Alliance, Aeroplan partners include Emirates (since December 2022), Etihad, Flydubai, ITA Airways (redeem only until it joins the alliance), Juneyao Airlines as a connecting partner, and regional carriers Calm Air and Air Creebec.
Source: Air Canada: Emirates joins Aeroplan as a new airline partner
Which joint ventures is Air Canada part of, and what do they mean for Air Canada Aeroplan members?
Air Canada is in the Atlantic Joint Venture with United, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings (since 2010), and a joint venture with Air China. For members it means coordinated schedules, 60+ lounges across the partners, aligned frequent flyer recognition and, on Wi-Fi flights, free access to the United and Lufthansa apps.
Which partners has Air Canada Aeroplan added or lost recently?
Added: ITA Airways redemptions (February 5, 2026), Emirates Premium Economy rewards (July 2026), Calm Air reward bookings (July 2026) and a Hertz partnership (May 2026). Reciprocal free Wi-Fi with United MileagePlus launched in April 2026.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan news
Which hotel loyalty programs partner with Air Canada Aeroplan?
Marriott Bonvoy (earning, status match and two-way conversion), World of Hyatt (earning, two-way conversion and status challenges), plus conversions from Hilton Honors, Accor ALL, IHG One Rewards, Best Western Rewards, Choice Privileges, Wyndham Rewards, Shangri-La Golden Circle and Coast Rewards.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan partner with any low-cost carriers?
Yes: Flydubai is listed among the reward chart's select partners and Eurowings is part of the Atlantic Joint Venture, both bookable with points.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan have rail partners?
Rocky Mountaineer is Aeroplan's rail partner: 1 point per dollar in SilverLeaf and 2 per dollar in GoldLeaf, and you can redeem points for Rocky Mountaineer eVouchers (from $50) through the Aeroplan eStore. VIA Rail and Amtrak are not Aeroplan partners.
Which other frequent flyer programs are best for booking Air Canada flights?
Air Canada publishes reciprocity only for its own partnerships: Emirates Skywards members "can now earn and redeem miles on all flights operated by Air Canada", with one-way rewards from 8,000 Skywards Miles in Economy and 16,000 in Business under the December 2022 partnership, and every Star Alliance program treats Air Canada as an alliance carrier for its own award charts. Aeroplan itself remains the only program that can price "every seat, every Air Canada flight" without partner inventory limits. See Star Alliance.
Source: Air Canada newsroom: Aeroplan and Emirates Skywards joint loyalty partnership (December 2022)
Do Air Canada's regional or subsidiary carriers earn and redeem in Air Canada Aeroplan the same way?
Yes. Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express flights are treated as Air Canada for earning, Million Mile miles, eUpgrades, free Wi-Fi and carbon offsetting on rewards.
Program rules, ownership and selling
What the terms say about who owns points, selling, brokers and enforcement.
Who owns Air Canada Aeroplan points: the member or the airline?
Air Canada. The terms say accumulating points gives no vested rights, points are personal to you and cannot be assigned, traded, bartered, willed, exchanged for cash or otherwise transferred except as Aeroplan authorises, and membership is a privilege that can be revoked at any time without compensation.
Do the Air Canada Aeroplan terms prohibit selling or bartering points?
Yes. The terms state that Aeroplan points "cannot be assigned, traded, bartered, willed, exchanged for cash, or otherwise transferred, except as may be authorized by Aeroplan", that any attempt to do so is prohibited, and that a transfer in violation may result in termination of membership. Authorised routes are the paid Points.com transfer and Family Sharing.
What can Air Canada Aeroplan do if it finds points were sold or awards were bought?
Aeroplan may suspend, revoke or terminate membership at any time for any reason without compensation, with all accumulated points forfeited on termination; it can also freeze the account during an investigation, refuse to credit points, and reverse or debit points already credited.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan audit accounts, and what triggers a review?
Yes, Aeroplan reserves the right to audit any account at any time without notice. Triggers named in the terms include patterns of circumventing the rules, abusing benefits, misrepresentation, automated access (scripts or macros), multiple credit card applications to farm welcome bonuses, cancelling cards soon after a bonus, and suspicious Family Sharing relationships (which it may ask you to validate).
Is it against the Air Canada Aeroplan rules to book an award for someone who pays me for it?
Yes. Booking rewards for friends and family is allowed, but the terms bar bartering or exchanging points for cash, and a pattern of abuse or misrepresentation can lead to audit, point forfeiture and termination.
Can Air Canada Aeroplan change its rules or devalue points without notice?
Yes. The terms let Aeroplan unilaterally amend, restrict, suspend or alter any part of the program at any time, including accumulation and redemption requirements, with continued participation counting as consent. Quebec residents must be notified between 90 and 60 days before a change takes effect; the June 2026 reward chart changes applied to bookings from June 1 without a published notice period.
Are Air Canada Aeroplan points taxable?
Aeroplan takes no position beyond saying you are solely responsible for reporting any income tax benefits and paying any taxes arising from participation, and it accepts no liability for tax consequences.
Where are the full Air Canada Aeroplan terms and conditions?
The Aeroplan program terms and conditions are at aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/legal/terms-and-conditions.html (current version effective February 5, 2024 for existing members), with separate Flight Reward, Elite Status and eUpgrade policies linked from it.
How does selling Air Canada Aeroplan points through Points Plug work?
Points Plug buys Air Canada Aeroplan points in balances of 50,000 or more and pays 1.02¢ to 1.23¢ per point depending on the balance. You get a quote on the Air Canada Aeroplan page, our team confirms the details, the points are used to book travel for our customers through your account, and you are paid within 24 to 48 hours of the booking. The rates page explains how offers are set.
Source: Points Plug: how it works
What are Air Canada Aeroplan points worth?
Published valuations put Air Canada Aeroplan points at 1.40¢ to 1.50¢ each, about 1.45¢ on average, as of 2026-09-22. Premium-cabin partner awards can beat that and merchandise or cash-style redemptions fall below it. The valuation page lists each source and the redemptions behind the range.
Customer service and tools
Reaching the program, security, statements and useful tools.
How do I contact Air Canada Aeroplan customer service?
Aeroplan Contact Centre: 1-800-361-5373 (toll-free, Canada and US), 0-808-812-6310 from the UK, or 514-395-0300 from anywhere else, for reward bookings, changes, cancellations and account issues.
Source: Air Canada: customer support (Aeroplan contact numbers)
What are the Air Canada Aeroplan service centre hours, and is there a dedicated elite line?
The 1-800-361-5373 line is listed as 24/7. Super Elite members also get Air Canada Concierge service as a core benefit.
Source: Air Canada: customer support (Aeroplan contact numbers)
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer online chat or messaging support?
Only an automated one. Air Canada's self-serve support page offers an "automated chat option" (its virtual assistant, "Ask us a question") for common booking, baggage and Aeroplan queries; the page does not offer live-agent chat or WhatsApp, so anything needing a human, such as a reward change or account issue, goes to the Aeroplan Contact Centre by phone.
Source: Air Canada: self-serve support
What do I do if my Air Canada Aeroplan account is hacked or points are stolen?
The terms require you to notify the Aeroplan Contact Centre (1-800-361-5373) immediately of any suspected wrongful access or misuse. Two-factor authentication is mandatory on sign-in, and Aeroplan may freeze an account while it investigates.
How do I see my Air Canada Aeroplan activity statement and past redemptions?
Sign in and open the Activity tab of your Aeroplan account, which lists earning and redemption transactions and your inactivity date; the Air Canada app shows the same activity and status progress.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan support two-factor authentication?
Yes, and it is mandatory: every sign-in needs a one-time six-digit code sent by SMS or email. Verifying your mobile number for 2FA is also step one of account verification, which unlocks Family Sharing.
How do I escalate a complaint about Air Canada Aeroplan?
File it with Air Canada Customer Relations through the online contact form, or by mail to Air Canada Customer Relations, PO Box 64239, RPO Thorncliffe, Calgary AB T2K 6J7. The Customer Service Plan commits to answering complaints within 45 days (30 days for Air Passenger Protection Regulations compensation claims); if you are not satisfied, escalate to the Canadian Transportation Agency at 1-888-222-2592 or info@otc-cta.gc.ca.
Which languages does Air Canada Aeroplan customer service support?
English and French are guaranteed: Air Canada's Customer Service Plan commits to serving every customer in their official language of choice, with details in its Linguistic Action Plan. The Aeroplan Contact Centre numbers (1-800-361-5373 in Canada/US, 0-808-812-6310 in the UK, 514-395-0300 elsewhere) are answered in both.
Special cases
Infants, unaccompanied minors, pets, medical needs, military and students.
What does an infant cost on a Air Canada Aeroplan award ticket?
A lap infant under 2 travels free on rewards within Canada and between Canada and the US; on other international rewards the infant ticket is CAD $25 or 2,500 points per direction. One infant per adult, on a separate ticket.
Can an unaccompanied minor travel on a Air Canada Aeroplan award ticket?
Air Canada's Unaccompanied Minor service is mandatory for children aged 8 to 11 travelling alone and optional for 12 to 17, costs $100 to $118 CAD/USD each way per child, and is only offered on non-stop flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or Air Canada Express (Jazz), never on connecting, codeshare or partner flights. It must be requested through Air Canada Reservations rather than online, and the page sets no special exclusion for tickets booked with Aeroplan points, so a reward on an eligible non-stop Air Canada flight can carry the service once you call to add it. Children under 8 must travel with someone aged 16 or over.
Source: Air Canada: unaccompanied minors (children travelling alone)
Can I pay pet fees with points on Air Canada, and do pet fees earn points?
Pet fees are cash charges collected when you register the animal by phone with Air Canada Reservations (they cannot be added online): $50 to $60 each way for a pet in the cabin within Canada or to the US and $100 to $120 internationally, or $105 to $318.60 in the baggage compartment. They do not earn Aeroplan points, because points accrue only on base fare and carrier surcharges, not on fees and add-ons.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer military, veteran or government member benefits?
Active, retired and reserve members of the Canadian and US militaries get up to three checked bags of 32 kg each free on Air Canada; there is no separate Aeroplan military benefit.
Source: Air Canada: checked baggage
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer student or youth benefits?
Air Canada's student product is the Student Flight Pass, one of its Flight Passes, sold to make it "more convenient for students to travel between home and school more often". You must be an Aeroplan member to buy and travel on any Flight Pass, and flights on a Limited Credit pass earn Aeroplan points "as you would with any Air Canada flight", plus Status Qualifying Credits.
Source: Air Canada: Flight Passes
Are there special award rules for medical or bereavement travel in Air Canada Aeroplan?
No. Air Canada's bereavement policy applies to cash fares (Economy Standard, Flex, Comfort and Latitude, booked by phone for travel within 10 days and up to 60 days total, with a death certificate or similar sent to Bereavement@AirCanada.ca within 7 days of return) and makes no provision for flight rewards, so a reward booked for a funeral or medical trip follows the normal rules: free cancellation within 24 hours of booking, then the standard change and cancellation fees up to 2 hours before departure.
Source: Air Canada: bereavement travel
How do I request wheelchair or accessibility assistance on a Air Canada Aeroplan award booking?
The same way as on any Air Canada ticket: contact Air Canada Accessibility Services at least 48 hours before departure (72 hours for some international needs) on 1-800-667-4732 (toll-free) or 1-514-369-7039, by email at accessible@aircanada.ca, or by fax on 1-888-334-7717; hours are Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. Air Canada also asks you to call Reservations right after completing the booking and to check in 60 minutes earlier than usual so the wheelchair, mobility aid or boarding help can be arranged; there is no charge.
Source: Air Canada: customer service FAQ
Can I book group awards for more than nine people in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Not as a group reward. Air Canada's Group Travel and Meetings and Conventions services for parties of 10 or more are cash-fare products, and the Aeroplan Flight Reward Policy contains no group provision, so points bookings are made as ordinary reservations online (any seat sold for cash on Air Canada can be redeemed) or through the Aeroplan Contact Centre for a $30 fee. Family Sharing members with redemption privileges can book rewards for anyone from the shared balance.
Source: Air Canada: customer service FAQ
Recent changes and what is coming
Devaluations, renames, new partners and how the program announces changes.
What are the most recent major changes to Air Canada Aeroplan?
The big one took effect January 1, 2026: Air Canada flights now earn 1 point per $1 (2x to 6x with status) and elite qualification collapsed into a single Status Qualifying Credit metric with Milestone Benefits every 10,000 SQC. Since then ITA Airways became a redemption partner (February 2026) and the Flight Reward Chart was repriced on June 1, 2026.
Has Air Canada Aeroplan changed its name or currency recently?
The program kept the Aeroplan name but changed its currency: when Air Canada relaunched the transformed program on November 8, 2020, "Aeroplan miles" became "Aeroplan points", with existing balances honoured one-for-one. The January 1, 2026 overhaul renamed the status currency too, replacing Status Qualifying Miles, Segments and Dollars with a single Status Qualifying Credit (SQC).
Source: Air Canada newsroom: Air Canada unveils details of transformed Aeroplan program (August 2020)
When did Air Canada Aeroplan last devalue its award prices?
June 1, 2026. The updated chart raised most medium- and long-haul North America to Atlantic and Pacific prices by 5,000 to 25,000 points (partner First up 20,000 to 25,000, Atlantic-Pacific Business up to 40,000) while cutting short-haul economy by 2,500 and some Pacific routes by 5,000.
Source: Air Canada: an update on the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart (April 2026)
What changes has Air Canada Aeroplan announced for the coming year?
From 2027 primary premium Aeroplan cardholders who hold status get a 10% Head Start of bonus SQC based on their 2026 total, provided the card was approved by December 15, 2026 and status is held on February 15, 2027. 2026 milestone benefits must be chosen by January 30, 2027 (bonus SQC by December 30, 2026) or are forfeited.
How does Air Canada Aeroplan notify members of changes?
By email, which the terms make the official channel for account communications, plus dated posts on the Aeroplan news page and monthly Elite update digests. Quebec residents get written notice 90 to 60 days before a change showing the old and new clause.
What changed most recently in how Air Canada Aeroplan elite status is earned?
Announced August 6, 2025 and live January 1, 2026: SQM, SQS and SQD were replaced by Status Qualifying Credits (4 per $1 on Flex and up, 2 on Standard), thresholds became 25K/35K/50K/75K/125K SQC, credit cards and partners can each add up to 25,000 SQC, and Milestone Benefits unlock every 10,000 SQC.
When was Air Canada Aeroplan founded?
Aeroplan launched in 1984: Air Canada marked the program's 40th anniversary on July 8, 2024 with a giveaway of 40 prizes of 1 million points and ten days of member offers (40% bonus points on flights, 20% back on hotel, car, gift card and merchandise redemptions, extra Uber points), noting the program then had more than 8 million members.
Source: Air Canada newsroom: Aeroplan marks 40th anniversary (July 2024)
Pages these answers were read from
- Air Canada: Aeroplan program terms and conditions · official page
- Air Canada: account and sign-in FAQ · official page
- Air Canada: the Air Canada app · official page
- Air Canada: customer support (Aeroplan contact numbers) · official page
- Air Canada: Air Canada for Business FAQs · official page
- Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026 · official page
- Air Canada: earn points with Aeroplan · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan Flight Reward Policy · official page
- Air Canada: upgrade your Air Canada flight · official page
- Air Canada: request missing Aeroplan points · official page
- Air Canada: new ways to earn Aeroplan points with Air Canada from January 1, 2026 · official page
- Air Canada: Star Alliance partners · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026) · official page
- Air Canada: Emirates joins Aeroplan as a new airline partner · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan partners, Rocky Mountaineer · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan inactivity policy · official page
- Air Canada: customer service FAQ · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan credit cards · official page
- Air Canada: American Express Aeroplan cards · official page
- Air Canada: TD Aeroplan cards · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan conversion programs · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy · official page
- Air Canada: CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card · official page
- Air Canada: earn every day with Aeroplan retail partners · official page
- Air Canada: book hotels and car rentals with Aeroplan · official page
- Air Canada: your Aeroplan (buy, transfer, gift, donate, convert points) · official page
- Air Canada: earn Aeroplan points with Bell · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan news · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status overview · official page
- Air Canada: Air Canada Million Mile · official page
- Air Canada: extending your Elite Status validity (13-month status) · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status core benefits · official page
- Air Canada: Status Pass · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan Milestone Benefits · official page
- Air Canada: redeem with Air Canada (flight rewards) · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart (PDF) · official page
- Air Canada: Preferred Seats · official page
- Air Canada: fees related to baggage and optional services · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan welcomes ITA Airways (February 2026) · official page
- Air Canada: redeem Aeroplan points · official page
- Air Canada: new Air Canada and select partners reward chart (March 2025) · official page
- Air Canada: redeem points for travel on Emirates (July 2026) · official page
- Air Canada: eUpgrade policy · official page
- Air Canada: refund and cancellation policy · official page
- Air Canada: customer service plan · official page
- Air Canada: flight disruption guide · official page
- Air Canada: Priority Rewards for Elite Status members · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan travel tools (Points Predictor and Points Finder) · official page
- Air Canada: eUpgrades and clearance windows · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan HotelSavers · official page
- Air Canada: in-flight Wi-Fi and connectivity · official page
- Air Canada: Maple Leaf Lounges access · official page
- Air Canada: the Aeroplan eStore · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan Family Sharing · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan estate policy · official page
- Air Canada: checked baggage · official page
- Air Canada: Atlantic Joint Venture · official page
- Air Canada newsroom: Aeroplan and Emirates Skywards joint loyalty partnership (December 2022) · official page
- Air Canada: self-serve support · official page
- Air Canada: connecting with Air Canada on social media · official page
- Air Canada: unaccompanied minors (children travelling alone) · official page
- Air Canada: travelling with your pet · official page
- Air Canada: Flight Passes · official page
- Air Canada: bereavement travel · official page
- Air Canada newsroom: Air Canada redefines how members earn points and achieve Elite Status (August 2025) · official page
- Air Canada newsroom: Air Canada unveils details of transformed Aeroplan program (August 2020) · official page
- Air Canada: an update on the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart (April 2026) · official page
- Air Canada: September 2026 Elite updates · official page
- Air Canada newsroom: Aeroplan marks 40th anniversary (July 2024) · official page