Air Canada Aeroplan: 245 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, since Aeroplan memberships and accounts are administered online only, using your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport (or on government-issued identification if you don't have a passport) and a valid email address. You can enrol only once, and each member may have 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, you can find it online: enter your personal information so Aeroplan can match and locate your number, and it is emailed to you. If that email never arrives, call 1-800-361-5373. You can also sign in using your email address instead of the Aeroplan number.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan issue a physical membership card, and do I need one?
You do not need a physical card to use your membership: Air Canada says you can access your Aeroplan card anytime in the Air Canada app, or add it to your Apple or Google Wallet, for quick, easy use at any step of your journey.
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 updating your membership information, including any change to your legal name. You can do it online in your account or by calling the Aeroplan Contact Centre at 1-800-361-5373, and Aeroplan may rely on the details on file until you update them. Because Aeroplan requires your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport (or government ID), keep the account name matching that document.
I accidentally created two Air Canada Aeroplan accounts. Can they be merged?
The terms don't provide for merging accounts. Each member may have only one account, and any attempt to register more than one (with the same or different email addresses, identities or logins) may void all Aeroplan points awarded or due to that member and get them disqualified from the program. Contact the Aeroplan Contact Centre at 1-800-361-5373 about the duplicate 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 and close your account at any time without cost or penalty. The terms don't set out the steps, so contact the Aeroplan Contact Centre (1-800-361-5373), the program's listed contact point. Any points still in the account when you terminate or close it 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's Program Terms and Conditions make membership free and open to natural persons, set no country-of-residence restriction and refer to members' "province, territory or jurisdiction of residence". You can enroll only once, in your full legal name as it appears on your passport (or government-issued ID), and minors are enrolled by a parent or legal guardian.
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 runs a free self-serve program, Air Canada Embarq, for businesses doing business in Canada and registered in Canada for tax purposes, with no cost to join and no minimum spend. Travellers still earn their own Aeroplan points, and for bookings made through Embarq between September 10 and December 10, 2026 they get discounts of up to 5% on eligible fares and 1.5x Aeroplan points, neither of which applies to Economy Basic.
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 based on spend: 1 point per C$1 of base fare and carrier surcharges (fares paid in other currencies are converted to Canadian dollars), multiplied by your Elite Status (up to 6x). Distance-based earning remains for specialty fares, which include but are not limited to unpublished, bulk, group and tour tickets: they 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 C$1 of base fare and carrier surcharges (tickets bought in other currencies are converted to Canadian dollars first); Aeroplan 25K earns 2x, 35K 3x, 50K 4x, 75K 5x and Super Elite 6x. Taxes, fees, third-party charges, extra baggage and seat selection 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?
Yes. Aeroplan's earn page says you earn points based on how much you spend on an eligible Air Canada flight booked in cash on its website or app, "on every fare class - including Basic". Points are calculated on the base fare and carrier surcharges, excluding applicable taxes, fees and third-party charges.
What elite bonus do status members earn on Air Canada flights?
Elite Status members earn a multiple of the base 1 point per C$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 other Star Alliance airlines, 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?
Aeroplan points are deposited into your account after the completion of each flight you take. Air Canada Vacations packages are the exception: their fixed amount of points is deposited once, after the last flight of the entire package journey.
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 or qualifications towards Aeroplan Elite Status when travelling on a flight reward, so redeemed flights earn neither points nor Status Qualifying Credits. Members of partner frequent flyer programs are also ineligible to earn their own miles or points on a flight reward.
Which Air Canada tickets earn no points at all?
Refunded, void or unused tickets (including unused non-refundable ones), reward and free promotional tickets, travel agency and industry reduced-rate tickets, tour conductor, companion and infant (under two) tickets, tickets bought to carry excess or special baggage or to give a passenger extra space, single-entity charters unless otherwise specified, and fares whose rules exclude earning all earn nothing, as does any flight marketed and operated by another airline in a non-eligible booking class. Paid add-ons such as extra checked bags and seat selection earn no points either.
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 Aeroplan points for an AC Bid Upgrade are calculated according to the booking class of the originally purchased ticket, not the upgraded class of service, and a Last Minute Upgrade bought at check-in likewise earns Aeroplan points and progress toward Elite Status as per the original fare purchased.
Do infant or child tickets on Air Canada earn points?
Infant tickets (under age two) are on Aeroplan's list of Air Canada tickets that earn no points. Children's tickets are not on that list, so a child who is an Aeroplan member earns on an eligible paid ticket like anyone else.
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?
Not if they are industry fares. Travel agency and industry reduced-rate tickets are on Aeroplan's list of Air Canada tickets that earn no points, alongside reward and free promotional tickets and any fare whose rules exclude earning. Other eligible Air Canada tickets earn 1 point per C$1 of base fare and carrier surcharges, so a cheaper fare earns fewer points rather than none.
Source: Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights from January 1, 2026
Does Air Canada have a calculator to estimate points for a flight?
Not a standalone one on the earning page. Air Canada flights earn 1 point per C$1 of base fare and carrier surcharges, multiplied for Elite members, so the page shows a worked "Explore your points potential" example instead: a C$500 sample base fare earns 500 points, or 2,000 points (4x) for an Aeroplan 50K member. Air Canada also says you can see your points as you book, discovering how many points you could earn on an eligible Air Canada flight.
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?
Air Canada and the other Star Alliance member airlines. Aeroplan's Elite Status page says you earn Status Qualifying Credits flying with Air Canada and Star Alliance members, and Air Canada's Star Alliance page lists the 26 members as Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels, Copa, Croatia, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian, EVA Air, ITA Airways, LOT, Lufthansa, Shenzhen, Singapore, South African, SWISS, TAP, THAI, Turkish and United. Juneyao is listed separately as a Star Alliance Connecting Partner. See Star Alliance.
How are points calculated on partner airline flights credited to Air Canada Aeroplan?
It depends on who issued the ticket. Partner flights ticketed by another airline (ticket number not starting with 014) earn points based on the distance you fly, except on Helijet and Harbour Air. Partner flights on Air Canada-issued (014) tickets earn by spend instead, 1 point per C$1 of base fare and carrier surcharges, and the Elite multiplier is added when the partner is a Star Alliance airline. Toward status, Aeroplan's status qualification page gives partner flights 1 SQC per 5 base points, up to 25,000 SQC a year, while Star Alliance flights on 014 tickets earn 2 to 4 SQC per C$1 with no cap.
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 C$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, within a cap of 25,000 SQC per calendar year on all partner earning, unless the flight is operated by a Star Alliance airline and ticketed by Air Canada (014). Then it earns the same 2 SQC per C$1 (Economy Standard) or 4 SQC per C$1 (Economy Flex and above) 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. On Star Alliance flights, Air Canada-issued (014) tickets earn points on the amount spent with the Elite Points Multiplier, plus 2 SQC per C$1 on Economy Standard or 4 SQC per C$1 on Flex and above, with no cap. Tickets issued by the other airline earn points based on distance and only 1 SQC per 5 Aeroplan points, within the 25,000 SQC a year cap on partner earning.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Which non-alliance airlines partner with Air Canada Aeroplan for earning?
Emirates is one: as of December 7, 2022, Aeroplan welcomed Emirates as an airline partner, and members can earn and redeem points for flights across the Emirates network. Aeroplan's Emirates announcement does not list the program's other non-alliance partners.
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's missing transactions page gives no set posting time for partner airline flights. For any flight it asks you to allow at least 14 days after your entire trip has been completed before submitting a missing points request; the up-to-2-months delay it mentions applies to transactions with financial, car rental, hotel, retail and other partners, not flights.
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?
Air Canada publishes partner earning details on Aeroplan partner pages on aircanada.com: the Rocky Mountaineer page, for example, gives its points per C$1 by service class, how to add your Aeroplan number and how long points take to post. Air Canada's Star Alliance page lists the alliance's 26 member airlines.
Can I earn points on trains, buses or ferries through Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes on trains: Rocky Mountaineer is an Aeroplan partner, earning 1 point per C$1 in SilverLeaf Service and 2 points per C$1 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, on 1-800-875-9149 or through a travel agent, and allow up to 7 days after the journey for points to post.
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?
Aeroplan accepts missing points requests for a flight booking within 11 months of the flight's departure date, and for a hotel stay or car rental within the last 6 months, even if you didn't give your Aeroplan number when you booked.
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 or flight booking receipt handy, as Aeroplan may ask you to submit them with the online request, and wait until at least 14 days after your entire trip has been completed before you submit it.
How do I claim missing points for a partner airline flight in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Use the flight missing points request: Aeroplan's missing transactions page sets no separate process for partner airline flights, and asks you to wait at least 14 days after your entire trip has been completed, then submit the request with your boarding pass, e-ticket or flight booking receipt handy. Missing SQC for a flight are requested by calling 1-800-361-5373. The page's up-to-2-months posting time and partner contact details cover financial, car rental, hotel, retail and other partners, not flights.
How long does Air Canada Aeroplan take to process a retroactive claim?
Allow up to 2 months. Air Canada's FAQ on requesting missing points says to fill out the missing points request form for a flight (missing partner points go through a separate page) and warns: "Keep in mind, it can take up to 2 months for points to appear in your account in some cases."
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?
Only if you are the traveller on that ticket: the terms say points for air travel can only be earned by the member who is the traveller whose name and Aeroplan number appear on the ticket, and only that member's account is credited. Aeroplan also requires you to enrol under your full legal name exactly as on your passport or government ID and to update the account if your legal name changes, so keep the two matching before you fly.
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?
TD, CIBC and American Express in Canada, and Chase in the United States. Aeroplan's Canadian credit card page features the TD Aeroplan Visa cards (including the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card), CIBC Aeroplan Visa credit cards and American Express Aeroplan cards (including the Aeroplan Reserve Card), and lists the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card for U.S. residents.
How many points per dollar do Air Canada Aeroplan credit cards earn?
It varies by card. The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card earns 3 points per C$1 spent directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations, 2 points per C$1 on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada and 1.25 points per C$1 on everything else, while the entry-level American Express Aeroplan Card earns 2, 1.5 and 1 point per C$1 in the same three categories.
What sign-up bonus do Air Canada Aeroplan credit cards typically offer?
As of September 2026 the TD Aeroplan cards offer up to 20,000 bonus points on the Visa Platinum (10,000 on first purchase plus 10,000 after spending C$1,500 within 90 days), up to 50,000 on the Visa Infinite (10,000 on first purchase, 15,000 after C$3,000 in 3 months and a 25,000 anniversary bonus after C$12,000 in the first 12 months) and up to 100,000 on the Visa Infinite Privilege (20,000 on first purchase, 30,000 after C$12,000 in 6 months and a 50,000 anniversary bonus after C$24,000 in the first 12 months).
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 C$5,000 spent and core cards 1,000 SQC per C$20,000, up to a combined 25,000 SQC per member per calendar year (enough for 25K Status on its own). Starting in 2027, eligible primary premium cardholders who requalify for Elite Status also get a Head Start: SQC equal to 10% of their previous year's total, with no limit, deposited by the end of March.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Which bank points transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan, and at what ratio?
American Express Membership Rewards (US), Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One miles transfer 1:1 in 1,000-point amounts, and Barclays Arrival converts at 8,500 miles to 5,000 points. 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 under Aeroplan's terms. Points converted in from another program are meant to be "used by the Member for redemptions within the Aeroplan Program", and unless Aeroplan permits otherwise, points "cannot be transferred or converted to and from another loyalty program currency"; the terms tell you to check the Aeroplan website for any conversions currently allowed.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan run transfer bonuses from bank programs?
Not as a standing offer: Aeroplan's conversion page lists no bonus for any bank program. The only bonus it shows is on Marriott Bonvoy conversions: you get an extra 5,000 Aeroplan points every time you convert at least 60,000 Bonvoy points, so 60,000 Bonvoy points at the standard 3:1 become 25,000 Aeroplan points.
Must the bank account and Air Canada Aeroplan account be in the same name for a transfer?
Yes. The Aeroplan terms require that your account with a Conversion Program (a third-party rewards program whose points Aeroplan lets you convert into Aeroplan points) "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". So you cannot convert a spouse's points from such a program into your own Aeroplan account.
Do Air Canada Aeroplan credit cards have annual fees, and what perks offset them?
Yes: the TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum costs C$89 a year, the Visa Infinite C$139 and the Visa Infinite Privilege C$599. Perks that offset them include preferred pricing on flight rewards and points that don't expire while you are a cardholder in good standing (all three), a free first checked bag for up to 9 people on the same Air Canada reservation and NEXUS fee rebates (Infinite and up), and on the Privilege card Maple Leaf Lounge access in North America, Priority Airport Services and an annual round-trip companion pass from C$99 plus taxes, fees, charges and surcharges.
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 Card gives one Annual Companion Pass once you spend more than C$25,000 in net purchases before your card anniversary date, letting a companion fly for a base fare of C$99 within Canada and the continental US up to C$599 to Asia, Australia and New Zealand, plus taxes, fees, charges and surcharges.
Is there a business credit card for Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes: the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card (C$599 annual fee, up to 90,000 welcome points, unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access in North America) and the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card (C$180 annual fee, 2 points per C$1 spent directly with Air Canada, free first checked bag for up to 9 travellers on the same reservation). TD also offers the TD Aeroplan Visa Business Credit Card.
Can I get an Air Canada Aeroplan credit card if I live outside the United States?
Yes, if you live in Canada: Aeroplan's Canadian credit card page features TD, CIBC and American Express Aeroplan cards, while the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card is marked for U.S. residents. The page names no Aeroplan credit card for residents of any other country.
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) lets you earn Aeroplan points by shopping your favourite retail partners online. Separately, Aeroplan's earn page says you "earn points twice" when you present your Aeroplan membership at its partners and retailers and pay with your Aeroplan credit card.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan have a dining rewards program?
Not a dedicated restaurant program. Aeroplan's everyday earning partners are Starbucks, Uber and Uber Eats, LCBO, Journie and Chexy, and the food links are Starbucks (100 points when you load C$75 or more to your linked digital Starbucks Card in a single transaction) and Uber Eats (1 point per C$1 on Uber Eats delivery and pick-up orders in Canada of C$40 or more, once your Aeroplan and Uber accounts are linked).
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?
Yes, hotel points can be converted: Aeroplan's conversion page takes points from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1), World of Hyatt (2:1), Accor ALL (2:1), Hilton Honors (10:1), IHG One Rewards, Best Western Rewards, Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards (5:1), and Shangri-La Golden Circle and Coast Rewards (1:1). You also get an extra 5,000 Aeroplan points each time you convert at least 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. The page does not give earn rates for hotel stays.
Which car rental companies earn points in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Avis and Budget are the car rental companies named on Aeroplan's hotels and cars page: booking an Avis or Budget rental there with cash earns points, and Aeroplan Elite Status members earn an additional 3 points per dollar spent on full cash bookings. The page also notes you can earn points directly with Aeroplan's hotel and car rental partners.
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. Air Canada's Your Aeroplan page links to Points.com (buy.points.com) to purchase points and top up your account, and the same portal handles buying points for a friend or family member and transferring points to another member for a fee. The Air Canada page doesn't publish a price per point or any yearly purchase cap.
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 if eligible and a C$20 Air Canada flight credit (C$10 on one-way bookings), 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 new phone with Bell SmartPay on an eligible 2-year Ultra plan. Bell also sponsors the free in-flight Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members.
Can I earn points on fuel or groceries with Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes, most directly through a TD Aeroplan credit card: the Visa Platinum earns 1 point per C$1 on gas, electric vehicle charging and grocery purchases, the Visa Infinite 1.5 points per C$1, and the Visa Infinite Privilege 1.5 points per C$1 on travel, dining, gas, EV charging and groceries. Other eligible purchases earn less, 1 point per C$1.50 on the Platinum and 1 point per C$1 on the Infinite.
Source: Air Canada: TD Aeroplan cards
Can I earn points on Airbnb, vacation rentals or cruises with Air Canada Aeroplan?
Not through the hotels and cars page, which lists no Airbnb, vacation rental or cruise earning. Its Airbnb offer is a redemption: Airbnb eGift cards from 14,000 points through the Aeroplan eStore. What does earn points there is booking hotels or Avis and Budget car rentals with cash, with Aeroplan Elite Status members earning an additional 3 points per dollar on full cash bookings.
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?
Aeroplan's earning rules for Air Canada flights don't provide for it: points come only from the base fare and carrier surcharges of an eligible ticket, and the earn page says "you will not earn Aeroplan points for extra fees or add-ons, such as paying for additional checked baggage or seating assignments." It lists no earning for in-flight Wi-Fi, duty free or onboard purchases.
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. Elite Status unlocks core benefits such as extra checked baggage, priority airport services and Star Alliance recognition, and Maple Leaf Lounge access starts at 50K.
How do I qualify for elite status in Air Canada Aeroplan: by spending, segments, distance or points?
Since January 1, 2026 the metric is Status Qualifying Credits (SQC): 4 SQC per C$1 on Economy Flex or higher fares, 2 SQC per C$1 on Economy Standard fares and eUpgrade Add-Ons (Economy Basic earns none), 1 SQC per 5 base points earned with Aeroplan partners (capped at 25,000), 1,000 SQC per C$5,000 (premium card) or C$20,000 (core card) of card spend (capped at 25,000), and 1 SQC per C$1 on Air Canada Vacations packages. The one alternative is 100,000 EDQ in a calendar year, which unlocks 25K only.
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 EDQ in a calendar year (1 EDQ per eligible point earned with Aeroplan partners, including the Aeroplan eStore) unlocks 25K, but only SQC can take you higher.
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 across all Aeroplan partners, and Star Alliance flights on Air Canada-issued (014) tickets earn the full 2 to 4 SQC per C$1 with no cap.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026)
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer a status match or status challenge?
Yes, through Marriott Bonvoy. Under the Aeroplan Marriott Bonvoy Status Match, members with Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite or Ambassador Elite status can register for complimentary Aeroplan 25K Status (allow 7 to 10 business days after registering), and Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite members can register for complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status 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 complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés, Star Alliance Gold lounges, Virgin Australia lounges (when flying with Air Canada or Virgin Australia) and Emirates Business Class lounges in Dubai (when flying between Canada and Dubai); Super Elite adds the London Heathrow Arrivals Lounge. 25K and 35K have no lounge access among their core benefits.
Do Air Canada Aeroplan elite members get complimentary upgrades, and how are they prioritised?
Upgrades run on eUpgrade credits: 5 for 25K, 10 for 35K, 15 for 50K, 20 for 75K and 30 for Super Elite, plus more at some Milestones. Requests can be made anytime but start clearing by tier: on Standard, Flex and Comfort fares to North America and Sun destinations, 14 days out for Super Elite, 12 for 75K, 10 for 50K, 8 for 35K and 4 for 25K (7, 6, 5, 4 and 3 days on international flights), with Super Elite Latitude fares clearing anytime. Airport standby lists go by cabin, then by highest status.
Source: Air Canada: Aeroplan eUpgrades
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 with an Economy Standard or Flex fare, 50K at booking for Canada and US itineraries and at check-in for all others, 75K at booking with an Economy Standard or Flex fare, and Super Elite at booking with any fare.
Which fees does Air Canada Aeroplan waive for elite members?
Only Super Elite gets fee-free changes and refunds on Aeroplan flight reward bookings as a core benefit; the other tiers' core benefits include no such waiver. What every tier does save on is extras: 25K gets 1 complimentary 23 kg checked bag on top of the fare's allowance, 35K and up get 3 complimentary 32 kg bags on Air Canada flights, and all tiers get free Preferred Seats on eligible fares, at check-in or at booking depending on tier.
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, through Status Passes. Super Elite members get 2 as a core benefit, and 50K, 75K and Super Elite members can choose more as Milestone Benefits. A pass can go to anyone with an upcoming reservation that includes an Air Canada-operated flight, even a non-member, and gives them 3 complimentary checked bags of up to 32 kg, priority check-in, security clearance, boarding and baggage handling, and Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Cafe access, though not lounge guest access.
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 status: 25K Status at the 70K SQC milestone, 35K at 90K, 50K at 130K and 75K at 200K, valid until December 31 of the year after the milestone. Status Passes, another milestone choice, treat anyone you like and up to 8 companions on the same reservation to 3 free checked bags, priority check-in, security and boarding, and Maple Leaf Lounge access on their Air Canada journey. Air Canada's Million Mile page adds that at 2 million miles you designate one friend for ongoing 50K Status, raised to 75K at 4 million.
Can I buy status or top-up missing qualifying points in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Not through any route Aeroplan lists: its status page offers no way to buy status or SQC, so the nearest thing to a top-up is spending through a channel that earns SQC. Aeroplan premium credit cards earn 1,000 SQC per C$5,000 spent (up to 25,000 SQC a year, enough for 25K on its own), and Air Canada Vacations packages earn 1 SQC per C$1.
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, and 50K+ members get Star Alliance Gold lounges plus priority check-in, boarding and airport standby when flying with Star Alliance partners. 50K+ members also get Emirates Business Class lounges in Dubai when flying between Canada and Dubai, and Virgin Australia lounges when flying with Air Canada or Virgin Australia.
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 lounge passes, bonus points, bonus SQC, Status Passes, gifted status, gift cards or eStore and hotel discounts, and at every 20,000 SQC the choices include a Priority Reward (50% off a flight reward). Choices must be made by January 30 of the following year, except bonus SQC, which must be chosen by December 30 of the milestone 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 Flight Reward Chart gives a "starting at" price and a median for each zone, distance band and cabin on flights operated by Air Canada and its Select Partners (United, Emirates, Flydubai, Etihad Airways, Canadian North, Calm Air, Bearskin and PAL), and notes that the points required vary with the itinerary and in high-demand periods; all other partner airlines are charged fixed amounts by zone, distance and cabin. 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 can be booked one-way, and the Flight Reward Policy prices them per direction of travel, so a one-way costs what that direction costs and a round trip adds up its two directions. Change fees are also charged per direction, per ticket.
How do I search for award seats on Air Canada?
Search on aircanada.com or in the Air Canada app. Before you search, the Points Predictor Tool on the redeem page lets you select your origin and destination to see how many points you'll likely need, and for a stopover you choose the "Multi-city/Stopover" option when shopping. If you are short of points, you can pick a Points + Cash combination at checkout.
What is the difference between saver and standard (or flexible) awards in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Aeroplan's Flight Reward Policy does not describe saver and standard award levels; the points needed depend on the itinerary, origin, destination and fare option selected. What differs is the reward fare option: Economy Standard rewards cost C$75 to change and C$150 to cancel online, Economy Flex rewards change free and cancel for C$75 online, and Economy Latitude rewards change free.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan allow stopovers or open jaws on award tickets?
Yes: the Flight Reward Policy allows one stopover per direction of travel, including on one-way rewards, for up to 45 days, and Air Canada's flight rewards page says each stopover adds 5,000 points to the fare between the two cities (a stop becomes a stopover once it runs past 24 hours). Stopovers are not permitted within Canada, the United States or China, and open-jaw rewards can be booked alongside one-way, round-trip and multi-city itineraries.
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: no fare applies within Canada or between Canada and the US, other itineraries cost C$25 or 2,500 points per direction, and applicable taxes, fees and charges are added, with one infant per adult. Children aged 2 or over, or turning 2 during the journey, need their own seat and Flight Reward reservation.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer a round-the-world or multi-city award?
There is no round-the-world reward in the Flight Reward Policy, but multi-city rewards allow up to 6 directions of travel and 12 flight segments on one reservation, with up to 6 segments per direction and each direction priced separately. One stopover of up to 45 days is allowed per direction, and Air Canada's flight rewards page says each adds 5,000 points to the fare.
Do awards in Air Canada Aeroplan book into basic economy or a regular fare?
Not into Basic. The Flight Reward Policy lists three economy reward fare options, Economy Standard, Economy Flex and Economy Latitude, alongside Lowest and Flexible options in Premium Economy, Business and First, and none of them is Basic. Economy Standard is the most restrictive, with a C$75 online change fee and a C$150 online cancellation fee.
What is the minimum number of points needed to book an award in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Flights start at 6,000 points, the reward chart's starting price for Economy flights of up to 500 miles within North America. Off the aircraft, Aeroplan's credit card page lists gift cards from 3,200 points, car rentals from 5,000 points and hotels from 10,000 points.
What are the best-value redemptions in Air Canada Aeroplan?
The structural wins are: no additional airline surcharges on Air Canada flight rewards (only taxes and third-party fees, which you can cover with points), a flat C$39 Partner Booking Fee per ticket on partner rewards, and stopovers that add just 5,000 points for a stay of up to 45 days. Elite members can take 50% off a reward with a Priority Reward voucher, and primary Aeroplan credit cardholders get Preferred Pricing, which everyone in their Family Sharing pool benefits from. 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 for Preferred Seats. Air Canada says Aeroplan Flight Reward customers can buy one after booking by retrieving the reservation in My Bookings and using the seat selection link, at prices from 20 to 199 in Canadian or US dollars, but "it's not possible right now to purchase Preferred Seats using Aeroplan points". Aeroplan Elite members, like Latitude and Comfort customers, can select a Preferred Seat at no extra cost on select routes, and Preferred Seats "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?
Air Canada's baggage fee page names Aeroplan rewards in one place: on Economy travel between Canada and other international destinations, Aeroplan Standard Rewards pay a first-bag fee of C$90 to C$108, the same as Economy Basic fares. Within Canada and between Canada and the U.S., the page charges Economy Basic and Standard fares C$45 to C$54 for a first bag and C$60 to C$72 for a second, while Flex and Comfort include the first bag and Latitude includes two. These fees apply to flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express, other carriers may charge different fees, and Elite baggage benefits are covered in the status guide.
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?
United, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad and Canadian regional partners Canadian North, Calm Air and PAL, which since March 25, 2025 have been priced on the same flight reward chart as Air Canada, plus Aeroplan's other partner airlines, which stay on its fixed partner airline rewards chart. Air Canada's Star Alliance page lists the alliance's 26 member airlines, ITA Airways among them. See how to book partner awards.
Source: Air Canada: new Air Canada and select partners reward chart (March 2025)
How are partner awards priced in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Most partners are charged fixed amounts by zone, distance band and cabin from the Flight Reward Chart's "All other partners" column, for example 6,000 points for up to 500 miles and 22,500 for 2,751+ miles in Economy within North America, whatever the cash fare. Select Partners (United, Emirates, Flydubai, Etihad Airways, Canadian North, Calm Air, Bearskin and PAL) are priced with Air Canada from a "starting at" figure instead, and a partner booking fee applies to rewards that include a partner airline.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan charge a fee for partner awards?
Yes, a partner booking fee of C$39 per ticket applies whenever a reward includes a flight operated by an airline other than Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada Rouge. When the reward is paid wholly in points, applicable taxes, fees and charges can be paid in points too, but on a Points + Cash booking they must be paid in cash.
Can I combine Air Canada and partner flights on one award in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes. Air Canada's ITA Airways announcement says Aeroplan points can be redeemed on ITA flights alone or combined with Air Canada and other Aeroplan airline partners, and since February 5, 2026 those rewards can be booked on aircanada.com, in the Air Canada app or through the Aeroplan Contact Centre.
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?
Air Canada doesn't promise that. What it does say is that the select partners priced on its Air Canada and select partners reward chart from March 25, 2025 (United, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad and Canadian regional partners Canadian North, Calm Air and PAL) come 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 Flight Reward Policy's stopover rule covers all flight rewards: one stopover per direction of travel, up to 45 days, for additional points, as long as the stopover is not within Canada, the United States or China. Air Canada's flight rewards page, which covers its own flights, prices a stopover at 5,000 points; the policy gives no separate price for partner rewards.
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?
Yes. The Flight Reward Policy's change and cancellation fees make no distinction for partner rewards and are priced both at aircanada.com and through the Aeroplan Contact Centre, with online cheaper: an Economy Standard or Lowest premium reward costs C$75 online or C$100 by phone per direction to change and C$150 online or C$175 by phone to cancel, while Economy Flex changes free and cancels for C$75 or C$125. Changes and cancellations must be made at least 2 hours before departure.
Which partner airlines are the best value to book with Air Canada Aeroplan points?
The chart does not rank partners, but it shows where prices stay put: every partner except the Select Partners (United, Emirates, Flydubai, Etihad Airways, Canadian North, Calm Air, Bearskin and PAL) is charged a fixed price by zone, distance and cabin, while flights on Air Canada and the Select Partners are priced from a "starting at" figure that the median runs well above. Within North America, for example, Business on those other partners is a fixed 15,000 points up to 500 miles and 35,000 for 2,751+ miles, the same as the Air Canada and Select Partner starting prices, whose medians are 20,000 and 57,300. A partner booking fee applies. 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 says it has eliminated additional airline surcharges on any Air Canada flight you purchase with points, so only taxes and third-party fees such as airport fees are listed in cash, and you can use your points to cover those taxes too.
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, a non-refundable C$30 per booking when the Aeroplan Contact Centre makes the reservation, and it still applies if the reward could not be booked online. Where a change or cancellation fee applies, the Contact Centre charges C$25 to C$50 more than aircanada.com, for example C$100 instead of C$75 to change an Economy Standard reward.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan charge a close-in or last-minute booking fee for awards?
No. The Flight Reward Policy lists no close-in or last-minute fee; the booking fees it sets are C$30 for booking through the Aeroplan Contact Centre and C$39 per ticket for rewards that include a partner airline. Rewards can be booked up to 2 hours before departure (48 hours for Air Creebec and Calm Air).
Which award fees does Air Canada Aeroplan waive for elite members?
Only Super Elite: its core benefits let members request a refund or change to Aeroplan flight reward bookings with no fee, while the 25K, 35K, 50K and 75K core benefits include no such waiver, so those members pay the standard reward change and cancellation fees.
How much are the typical taxes and fees on an 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", and you can use your points to cover those taxes too. When the reward includes a flight on a partner airline, there is also a flat C$39 Partner Booking Fee per ticket, which you can likewise cover with points.
How does Air Canada Aeroplan handle UK Air Passenger Duty and other high departure taxes on awards?
You pay them: UK Air Passenger Duty and other departure taxes are not waived on Aeroplan rewards. The Aeroplan terms make members responsible for all taxes, fees, charges ("including but not limited to departure and security charges"), surcharges and levies imposed by or under the authority of any government, airport, aviation authority or airline. The terms also say flight rewards are subject to the operating airline's own tariffs, conditions of carriage and policies.
Can I pay the taxes and fees on an Air Canada Aeroplan award with points?
Yes, when the flight itself is paid wholly with points the taxes, fees and the C$39 partner booking 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 an Air Canada Aeroplan award?
Yes, on the unused value of travel. You can cancel a flight reward up to 2 hours before departure, and Aeroplan refunds the taxes, fees and charges on any unused travel except those that are non-refundable by law, less a per-ticket cancellation fee: in Economy, C$150 online or C$175 through the Aeroplan Contact Centre on Standard rewards and C$75 or C$125 on Flex, with no fee on Flexible Premium Economy, Business and First rewards. Air Canada's flight rewards page adds that cancelling within 24 hours of booking costs nothing.
How can I reduce the cash cost of an Air Canada Aeroplan award?
Use your points to cover the taxes on your flight reward and the flat C$39 Partner Booking Fee on partner flights, hold an Aeroplan credit card as primary cardholder so Preferred Pricing is applied automatically (everyone in your Family Sharing pool benefits too), and if you have Elite Status use a Priority Reward voucher for 50% off the reward.
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 (in Canadian dollars) on Economy Standard rewards and on Lowest rewards in Premium Economy, Business and First; no fee on Economy Flex, Latitude or Flexible premium 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, the cancellation and refund fee is C$150 online or C$175 by phone for Economy Standard rewards and Lowest rewards in Premium Economy, Business and First, and C$75 online or C$125 by phone for Economy Flex. The fee itself is non-refundable; taxes, fees and charges on unused travel may be refunded, except those non-refundable by law; and Super Elite members can cancel flight rewards with no fee.
How close to departure can I cancel an 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 an 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's refund policy gives no separate timeline for points. It commits to refunding all eligible tickets within 30 calendar days of the date it is required to process the refund, and for flights to and from the US it tries to process credit card refunds within 7 business days (20 calendar days for other forms of payment). A refund can take up to a billing cycle to appear on your credit card statement.
Can I change or cancel an Air Canada Aeroplan award online, or must I call?
Both work, and online is cheaper: on Economy Standard and Lowest premium rewards a change costs C$75 at aircanada.com versus C$100 through the Aeroplan Contact Centre, and a cancellation C$150 versus C$175 (Economy Flex cancellations C$75 versus C$125). Economy Flex and Latitude rewards change free either way.
What are my rights if Air Canada changes the schedule of my award flight?
Air Canada's Customer Service Plan makes you eligible for a refund of the unused portion of your ticket, to your original payment method, if you choose not to travel or not to accept the rebooking or credit options offered when your flight is cancelled, rescheduled to leave more than 3 hours earlier or arrive more than 3 hours later, moved to a different airport or to an itinerary with more stopovers, or you are moved to a lower cabin. The plan does not address reward tickets specifically.
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 flight departs and says cancellations may provide a refund of "taxes, fees and charges on any unused value of travel", with the usual cancellation fee (C$150 online, C$175 by phone; C$75/C$125 on Economy Flex), which may be 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 an 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: the policy's change and cancellation fees make no distinction for partner rewards, so an Economy Standard or Lowest premium reward costs C$75 online or C$100 by phone per direction to change and C$150 online or C$175 by phone to cancel, with the same 2-hours-before-departure deadline. Partner rewards also carry the C$39 partner booking fee per ticket, Air Creebec and Calm Air rewards must be booked at least 48 hours before departure, and codeshare flights are not eligible unless otherwise permitted.
If I cancel an Air Canada Aeroplan award booked with points that have since expired, do I get them back?
The inactivity policy doesn't address it, and the situation is unlikely to arise: redeeming points for a flight reward is itself activity that keeps points active, points only expire after 18 months of inactivity, and points expiry is currently on pause. If points do expire, the policy gives you 6 months from expiry to get them back by buying them back for a fee, flying with Air Canada (which reinstates all of them) or getting 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 flight disruption guide says a cancelled flight is automatically rebooked on the next available flight, "including flights with other airlines", with the updated itinerary sent by email and SMS; if it does not suit, you can retrieve your booking to search for and rebook alternative options. Delays of 2 hours or more can bring food and drink vouchers, hotel accommodation for overnight stays and airport transportation, and if the disrupted flight is operated by a partner airline you contact that airline directly. Reward travellers who need help can call the 24/7 Contact Centre on 1-800-361-5373.
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 an 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?
Air Canada's Priority Rewards page doesn't promise Elite members extra award seats; the Elite perk it describes is price. A Priority Reward, one of the selectable options at every 20,000 Status Qualifying Credits, cuts the base fare in points of an eligible flight reward by 50%, is valid for 12 months from the date of issue, and is subject to flight schedule availability at the time of booking.
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: Aeroplan's redeem page promises "every seat, every Air Canada flight, no restrictions" for flight rewards, with no cash surcharges on flight rewards with Air Canada. That promise covers Air Canada's own flights; partner airline flights can also be booked with points, but the page makes no any-seat promise for them.
What tools show Air Canada Aeroplan award availability across dates?
Air Canada's own tool is the Points Predictor on its redeem page: select your origin and destination to see how many points you'll likely need and the range to expect in normal times, bearing in mind that prices can fall above that range in high-demand periods or when you search close to departure. Rewards themselves are searched and booked on aircanada.com or in the Air Canada app. See how award availability works.
When is the best time to book an Air Canada Aeroplan award?
Outside peak demand where you can. Air Canada's Points Predictor says you can expect a reward flight to fall into its displayed range "during normal times", but "if you're looking to travel in a high demand period, such as a popular time to go to a destination, the cost of the trip in points might fall above the range." Partner airline rewards work differently: Aeroplan has made all of them a fixed amount in points.
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 flights it is 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", with every fare class included and no blackout periods, so any flight with four seats for sale can be booked for four with points on aircanada.com or in the Air Canada app. The points price is related to the cash fare, so expect it to rise in high-demand periods. 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: Aeroplan Elite members exchange eUpgrade credits for Business or Premium Economy on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada Rouge; customers in Economy or Premium Economy on an eligible flight can make an AC Bid Upgrade offer with cash or Aeroplan points up to 48 hours before departure; or you can buy a Last Minute Upgrade at web or mobile 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 Standard, Comfort, Flex and Latitude and Premium Economy Standard and Latitude fares can all be upgraded, while Economy Basic fares are ineligible for eUpgrades. Latitude fares can clear anytime for 25K members and above (7 days before departure for Members without status); other fares clear inside status-based windows, from 14 days before departure (7 on international flights) for Super Elite down to 4 days (3 international) for 25K.
How many points does an upgrade cost in Air Canada Aeroplan, and is there a cash copay?
eUpgrades cost credits plus, on cheaper fares, a cash add-on priced in Canadian dollars, tax-inclusive and collected after travel. Business within North America and Sun destinations takes 1 to 11 credits, with Economy Standard fares adding C$125 to C$225 (from C$200 or C$250 on flights over 1,500 miles); international Business takes 11 to 26 credits plus C$200 to C$900 on many fares, and international Premium Economy 6 to 16 credits, with Economy Standard fares adding C$400 to C$450 or more.
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 waitlisted and processed at the departure gate on the day of travel, and earlier requests that have not cleared move to the airport standby list for assessment at departure; the policy says a list showing their priority may be included 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?
Points bids close earlier: AC Bid Upgrade offers in cash or Aeroplan points can be made only up to 48 hours before your flight. Closer in, you can buy a Last Minute Upgrade during web or mobile check-in between 24 and 1 hours before departure, or at a kiosk 12 to 1 hours before, though Basic fares are not eligible and Last Minute Upgrades are not available on all flights and markets.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan give elite members upgrade certificates or instruments?
Yes, eUpgrade credits: 5 at 25K, 10 at 35K, 15 at 50K, 20 at 75K and 30 at Super Elite, valid for 12 months from the date they are earned (24 months for Elite members with an Aeroplan premium credit card). Super Elite also gets 2 Status Passes and can designate one eUpgrade nominee to request upgrades for, even when not travelling together.
Can I upgrade an award ticket with more points in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes, with eUpgrade credits rather than extra points: Air Canada says Aeroplan Elite Status members can exchange them for upgrades to Business or Premium Economy on any flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada Rouge, "even on flights paid with points".
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 weekend rental in Toronto from as low as 20,000 points), cash or 50/50 points + cash through the Aeroplan hotels and cars portal, and cash bookings earn points, with Elite members earning an additional 3 points per dollar spent on full cash bookings.
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's online catalog offers over 2,000 merchandise items and gift cards for points, starting as low as 3,200 points, and its Apple Reward Store turns points into Apple products.
Source: Air Canada: the Aeroplan eStore
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", so you pay the seat fee instead, from 20 to 199 in Canadian or US dollars, through My Bookings even on a Flight Reward. Aeroplan Elite members can select a Preferred Seat at no extra cost on select routes, and Super Elite members get them free when travelling on an Aeroplan Flight Reward.
Source: Air Canada: Preferred Seats
Can I pay for checked bags with points on Air Canada?
Not according to Air Canada's checked baggage page, which lists no points option: you pay any applicable baggage fees when you check in, online, on your mobile device, at a self-service check-in kiosk or at an Air Canada check-in counter. Status softens the cost: Aeroplan 25K members get the allowance of the fare paid plus 1 additional bag (maximum 2), and Star Alliance Gold members the fare's allowance plus 1 additional bag (see the status guide).
Source: Air Canada: checked baggage
Can I pay for in-flight Wi-Fi or food with points on Air Canada?
Wi-Fi, yes: Air Canada lets you buy a Wi-Fi pass priced in Aeroplan points on board by signing in to your Aeroplan account, though members get Wi-Fi free anyway on equipped flights within North America and to Sun destinations when their Aeroplan number is added at booking or check-in. Air Canada's connectivity page says nothing about paying for onboard food with points.
Can I redeem points for lounge access or a lounge membership in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Aeroplan points go toward Maple Leaf Club memberships: the Maple Leaf Lounges page links to how to redeem points for one, though it notes that purchases of Maple Leaf Club memberships are currently suspended. Single-visit access is sold as a paid travel option, added when you book or at least 24 hours before your trip: C$49 on Premium Economy or Latitude fares, C$59 on Comfort and C$79 on Flex.
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?
The Aeroplan eStore page does not compare value per point. Its non-flight catalog offers over 2,000 merchandise items and gift cards starting as low as 3,200 points, plus an Apple Reward Store for Apple products, and the eStore also earns points when you shop with its 200+ online retailers. 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?
Not through any route Aeroplan lists. Its status page names where SQC come from: Air Canada flights (except Economy Basic), eUpgrade Add-Ons, Star Alliance flights ticketed by Air Canada, Aeroplan travel and everyday partners, Air Canada Vacations packages and Aeroplan credit cards. Spending points is not one of them, and flights redeemed with points accumulate no SQC.
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's inactivity policy currently notes that points expiry is "temporarily on pause". Primary holders of TD, American Express or CIBC Aeroplan credit cards and Aeroplan Elite Status 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?
Yes, within 6 months of expiry. You can buy the expired points back for a fee, have all of them reinstated by flying with Air Canada within those 6 months (you may book after they expire, but travel must fall in the window), or reinstate them by getting an Aeroplan credit card. You can also request missing points for travel partner purchases made before the points expired: hotel stays or car rentals within the last 6 months and 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?
The low-cost options are all on the policy's list of qualifying activity: a single purchase through the Aeroplan eStore or at a retail partner, donating points to a charity, or converting points in from another loyalty program. Being the primary holder of a TD, American Express or CIBC Aeroplan credit card, or holding Aeroplan Elite Status, stops your points from expiring at all.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan close inactive accounts?
It can. The terms say an account becomes inactive after 18 consecutive months without earning or redeeming and the points in it are forfeited (although Air Canada currently notes that points expiry is temporarily on pause), and if an account stays inactive for 3 consecutive years Aeroplan reserves the right to terminate the membership, close the account and reassign the Aeroplan number.
Does a bank transfer or a purchase of points reset the Air Canada Aeroplan expiry clock?
A bank transfer does: converting points in from another loyalty program is on the inactivity policy's list of activity that keeps points active, as is transferring your points to a friend or family member. The policy doesn't list buying points as qualifying activity; buying back expired points for a fee is instead one of the ways to reinstate them within 6 months of 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 (50 lb) and 158 cm (62 in) in total dimensions, and the number included depends on your fare and class of service. Aeroplan 25K members get 1 additional bag on top of the fare's allowance (maximum 2), and Star Alliance Gold members also get 1 additional bag, with a 23 kg or 32 kg limit per bag depending on the allowance. Aeroplan's status benefits page adds that 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite members get 3 complimentary checked bags of up to 32 kg each on Air Canada flights. Active, retired and reserve members of the Canadian and US military get up to 3 bags of 32 kg free on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express flights.
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, if you're travelling on a Premium Economy, Latitude, Comfort or Flex fare: add Maple Leaf Lounge access as a travel option when booking, or at least 24 hours before your trip, for C$49 on Premium Economy or Latitude, C$59 on Comfort and C$79 on Flex. An annual Maple Leaf Club membership isn't an option for now, as Air Canada says purchases of them are currently suspended.
Who gets priority check-in, security and boarding on Air Canada?
All Elite tiers get priority check-in, boarding and airport standby when flying with Air Canada; priority security clearance and priority baggage handling start at 35K, and 50K and up get priority check-in, boarding and standby with Star Alliance partners too. Super Elite members also get 2 Status Passes, which let them treat someone else to premium travel services for their entire journey.
Does Air Canada offer same-day changes or standby, and is it free for elites?
Yes. Same-day changes at the airport on flight rewards cost C$100 on Economy Standard, Economy Flex and Premium Economy Lowest rewards and are free on Economy Latitude, Premium Economy Flexible, Business and First rewards, and the policy notes fees may be waived for eligible Elite Status members. Priority airport standby is a core benefit at every Elite level.
Does Air Canada offer free Wi-Fi to Air Canada Aeroplan members?
Yes. Sponsored by Bell, Wi-Fi is free for Aeroplan members on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express flights within North America and to Sun destinations on aircraft with high-speed connectivity, as long as the Aeroplan number is added during booking or check-in. Aeroplan members also get free Wi-Fi on United's Starlink-equipped aircraft when their Aeroplan number is in the reservation.
Do Air Canada Aeroplan elite benefits extend to a companion on the same booking?
Some do. When an Aeroplan 50K, 75K or Super Elite member visits a Maple Leaf Lounge, their partner, one guest and up to 5 dependent children can join them free of charge, and additional guests are welcome for a fee of 59 (CAD, USD, EUR or GBP).
Can Air Canada Aeroplan elites use partner airline lounges when flying partners?
Yes for 50K, 75K and Super Elite: Star Alliance Gold lounges, Emirates Business Class lounges in Dubai when flying between Canada and Dubai, and Virgin Australia lounges when flying with Air Canada or Virgin Australia. 25K and 35K are recognised as Star Alliance Silver and have no lounge access among their core benefits.
Do I get elite benefits when flying on an award ticket in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Yes, Elite benefits such as eUpgrades apply on award tickets: Air Canada says Aeroplan Elite Status members can exchange eUpgrade credits for Business or Premium Economy on any flight operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express or Air Canada Rouge, "even on flights paid with points".
Does Air Canada Aeroplan status come with hotel, car rental or other partner status?
Yes: Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite members are automatically eligible for Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status; 25K to 75K members get Avis Preferred Plus and Super Elite gets Avis President's Club; 25K to 50K members get complimentary Hertz Five Star status and 75K and Super Elite get Hertz President's Circle; and every Elite tier can unlock World of Hyatt status sooner with a 90-Day Status Challenge.
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?
Star Alliance. Air Canada's Star Alliance page lists it among the alliance's 26 member airlines, alongside United, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Turkish, EVA Air, Air China and ITA Airways, and says Star Alliance was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance; the page gives no separate joining date for Air Canada. See Star Alliance.
Which airlines are Air Canada's partners outside its alliance?
Emirates is one: Aeroplan welcomed Emirates as an airline partner as of December 7, 2022, and members can earn and redeem points for flights across the Emirates network. Aeroplan's Emirates announcement does not list the program's other partners outside Star Alliance.
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?
The Atlantic Joint Venture, in which Air Canada, United, Austrian, Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings have been building transatlantic connections together since 2010. For members it means coordinated schedules, access to over 60 lounges across the partner airlines, aligned frequent flyer programs including Aeroplan so "your benefits travel with you", and, on Air Canada flights with Wi-Fi, free access to the United or Lufthansa app to check your flight status.
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?
Aeroplan's conversion page lists ten hotel programs whose points convert into Aeroplan points: Marriott Bonvoy (3:1), World of Hyatt (2:1), Accor ALL (2:1), Hilton Honors (10:1), IHG One Rewards, Best Western Rewards, Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards (5:1), and Shangri-La Golden Circle and Coast Rewards (1:1).
Does Air Canada Aeroplan partner with any low-cost carriers?
Yes: Flydubai is one of the Select Partners listed on Aeroplan's Flight Reward Chart, so its flights can be booked with points, priced like Air Canada flights from a "starting at" figure, plus the partner booking fee that applies to rewards including a partner airline.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan have rail partners?
Yes: Rocky Mountaineer is an Aeroplan partner, earning 1 point per C$1 in SilverLeaf Service and 2 points per C$1 in GoldLeaf Service on all its itineraries, and you can redeem points through the Aeroplan eStore for Rocky Mountaineer eVouchers toward part of a journey or for an entire Rocky Mountaineer package.
Which other frequent flyer programs are best for booking Air Canada flights?
Emirates Skywards is the partner Air Canada itself announced for this: since the partnership launched in December 2022, Skywards members "can now earn and redeem miles on all flights operated by Air Canada", with one-way rewards starting from 8,000 Skywards Miles in Economy and 16,000 in Business at launch. Air Canada is also a founding member of Star Alliance, so the alliance's member programs are the other place to look. 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, where Air Canada spells it out. Air Canada Million Mile counts eligible cash-purchased flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express alike for Lifetime Qualifying Miles, eUpgrades work on flights operated by all three, and the Flight Reward Policy charges its C$39 partner booking fee only when a reward includes a flight operated by another airline.
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?
The terms don't say who owns them, but they leave members limited rights: accumulating points gives you no vested rights, points have no monetary value, and they are personal to you and cannot be assigned, traded, bartered, willed, exchanged for cash or otherwise transferred except as Aeroplan authorises. Membership itself is a privilege that can be suspended, revoked or terminated at any time, for any reason, 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?
It can change the program at any time, with notice given as the law requires. The terms let Aeroplan, subject to applicable law, unilaterally amend, restrict, suspend, extend or otherwise alter any of its terms, including the accumulation and redemption of points, and your continued participation counts as consent. Any required notification is given in line with applicable law and by email, and Quebec residents must be notified between the 90th and 60th day before a change takes effect.
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), and they link to the separate Flight Reward pricing and policies and to the Aeroplan Elite Status pages.
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 from Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean, 0-808-812-6310 from the United Kingdom, or 514-395-0300 from all other areas, for Aeroplan inquiries including booking, changing or cancelling a flight reward.
Source: Air Canada: customer support (Aeroplan contact numbers)
What are the Air Canada Aeroplan service centre hours, and is there a dedicated elite line?
Air Canada's flight disruption guide says its Contact Centre is available 24/7 and gives 1-800-361-5373 as the number to call if you are travelling on an Aeroplan flight reward. No separate elite number is listed, but every Elite level gets Priority Contacts, front-of-the-line access to the contact centres, and Super Elite members also get personalized support from Air Canada Concierge agents.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer online chat or messaging support?
Yes, an automated one. Air Canada's self-serve support page says its "automated chat option" can help you find what you need, opened with an "Ask us a question" prompt, and it lists no live-agent chat or WhatsApp. The page otherwise points to self-serve tools: managing a booking, checking in, flight status, retrieving your Aeroplan number, booking with points and requesting missing Aeroplan points.
Source: Air Canada: self-serve support
What do I do if my Air Canada Aeroplan account is hacked or points are stolen?
Notify the Aeroplan Contact Centre (1-800-361-5373) immediately: the terms require you to report any suspected wrongful access or misuse of your membership or account information. Aeroplan can also freeze an account while it investigates suspected activity.
How do I see my Air Canada Aeroplan activity statement and past redemptions?
Sign in to your Aeroplan account and open the Activity tab. Air Canada's inactivity policy points members to that tab, and scrolling down it also shows your points inactivity date.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan support two-factor authentication?
Yes, and it is mandatory: Aeroplan describes two-factor authentication as a mandatory, extra layer of security that sends a one-time six-digit verification code by SMS to your mobile device or by email, which you enter to access your account. Your mobile phone number is the default method; if a code doesn't arrive, check your junk or spam folder, request a new one after 60 seconds or call 1-800-361-5373.
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, Canada's official languages: Air Canada's Customer Service Plan says it believes in offering service to customers in their official language of choice, and it points to Air Canada's Linguistic Action Plan for the details. The plan does not name any other language.
Special cases
Infants, unaccompanied minors, pets, medical needs, military and students.
What does an infant cost on an Air Canada Aeroplan award ticket?
A lap infant under 2 needs a ticket but pays no fare on rewards wholly within Canada or between Canada and the US; on all other itineraries the infant fare is C$25 or 2,500 points per direction. Applicable taxes, fees and charges are still added, and only one lap infant is allowed per adult.
Can an unaccompanied minor travel on an Air Canada Aeroplan award ticket?
Air Canada does not say: its unaccompanied minor page makes no mention of reward or Aeroplan tickets. What it does set out is that the service is mandatory for children aged 8 to 11 travelling alone and optional for ages 12 to 17, costs 100 to 118 (CAD or USD) each way per child per flight regardless of the fare you select, and is available only on non-stop flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or Air Canada Express (Jazz), not on connecting or codeshare flights. You request it by contacting Air Canada Reservations or your travel agent, and children under 8 must travel with a passenger aged 16 or older.
Source: Air Canada: unaccompanied minors (children travelling alone)
Can I pay pet fees with points on Air Canada, and do pet fees earn points?
Air Canada's pet page quotes pet fees only in money and mentions no way to pay them with Aeroplan points or to earn points on them. You register the pet by contacting Air Canada Reservations after booking, and the charge for one-way travel is 50 to 60 in Canadian or US dollars for a pet in the cabin within Canada or between Canada and the US and 100 to 120 internationally, or 105 to 120.75 (270 to 318.60 internationally) in the baggage compartment, taxes included.
Does Air Canada Aeroplan offer military, veteran or government member benefits?
Air Canada's published military benefit is a baggage allowance: active, retired and reserve members of the Canadian and US military get up to three checked bags of up to 32 kg each at no additional charge on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or Air Canada Express, for both personal and duty travel, with valid military identification.
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 special award rules appear on Air Canada's bereavement page. Its bereavement policy covers paid fares (Economy Standard, Flex, Comfort and Latitude, plus Economy Basic when travelling outside North America), requested by phone for travel within 10 days of booking that lasts no more than 60 days, with a death certificate or a similar document emailed to Bereavement@AirCanada.ca within 7 days of returning. The page makes no provision for Aeroplan flight rewards, so a reward follows the usual rules on Air Canada's flight rewards page: free cancellation within 24 hours of booking, then changes or cancellations up to 2 hours before departure, where a fee may apply.
Source: Air Canada: bereavement travel
How do I request wheelchair or accessibility assistance on an Air Canada Aeroplan award booking?
Through Air Canada Accessibility Services, which helps with medical and mobility needs at each step of the journey; the FAQ sets no separate process for reward bookings. Air Canada strongly recommends contacting the team at least 48 hours before departure, 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 (toll-free) or 514-828-0027. Hours are Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.
Source: Air Canada: customer service FAQ
Can I book group awards for more than nine people in Air Canada Aeroplan?
Air Canada's FAQ offers no group reward: for a group of 10 or more it points you to its Meetings and Conventions or Group Travel services. What it does allow is using your points to book a flight reward for anyone, even if you're not travelling with them, and Aeroplan Family Sharing lets family members combine their points and redeem from the shared balance at no additional cost.
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 biggest recent change took effect for travel from January 1, 2026: Air Canada flights now earn a minimum of 1 point per C$1 spent (2x to 6x for Elite Status members, depending on their status), and Status Qualifying Credits became the single path to Elite Status, with up to 25,000 SQC each from Aeroplan credit cards and partner activity and Milestone Benefits every 10,000 SQC.
Has Air Canada Aeroplan changed its name or currency recently?
The Aeroplan name has stayed, but the currency changed when Air Canada relaunched the transformed program on November 8, 2020: "Aeroplan miles" became "Aeroplan points", and existing balances of miles were honoured on a one-to-one basis. The same relaunch eliminated additional airline surcharges, including fuel surcharges, on all flight rewards with Air Canada.
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, for rewards booked or reissued from that date, in a mix of increases and decreases. Partner First between North America and the Atlantic rose 20,000 to 25,000 points and Air Canada and select-partner Business between the Atlantic and Pacific zones rose by up to 40,000, while Economy between North America and the Atlantic (up to 4,000 miles) or the Pacific (up to 5,000 miles) fell 2,500 points and some routes within the Pacific fell 5,000.
Source: Air Canada: an update on the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart
What changes has Air Canada Aeroplan announced for the coming year?
From 2027, primary Aeroplan premium credit cardholders who requalify for status get a Head Start of bonus SQC worth 10% of the SQC they earned the year before, with no limit, provided the card was approved by December 15, 2026 and they hold 25K Status or higher on February 15, 2027; it replaces the Rollover SQM benefit. Air Canada's Milestone Benefits page adds that Milestones earned toward 2026 can be chosen until January 30, 2027, except bonus SQC, which must be chosen by December 30, 2026.
How does Air Canada Aeroplan notify members of changes?
By email: the terms say any required notice of a change is given in line with applicable law and the section that makes email Aeroplan's form of communication about your account. Quebec residents are notified between the 90th and 60th day before a change takes effect, and the notice sets out the new clause, or the amended clause and how it read before, plus the date the change applies.
What changed most recently in how Air Canada Aeroplan elite status is earned?
Announced August 6, 2025 and effective for travel from January 1, 2026: Air Canada introduced Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) as a single path to Elite Status, earned at up to 4 SQC per C$1 on eligible Air Canada fares depending on fare type, plus up to 25,000 SQC from Aeroplan credit card spending and another 25,000 from partner activity. Milestone Benefits unlock every 10,000 SQC, with perks such as bonus SQC and Status Passes.
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: 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: 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: request missing Aeroplan points · 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: 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: Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy · 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: Aeroplan eUpgrades · official page
- Air Canada: Status Pass · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan Milestone Benefits · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart (PDF) · official page
- Air Canada: redeem with Air Canada (flight rewards) · official page
- Air Canada: Preferred Seats · official page
- Air Canada: fees related to baggage and optional services · official page
- Air Canada: new Air Canada and select partners reward chart (March 2025) · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan welcomes ITA Airways (February 2026) · 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: redeem Aeroplan points · 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: the Aeroplan eStore · official page
- Air Canada: checked baggage · official page
- Air Canada: in-flight Wi-Fi and connectivity · official page
- Air Canada: Maple Leaf Lounges access · official page
- Air Canada: Aeroplan estate policy · 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: customer support (Aeroplan contact numbers) · 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 · official page
- Air Canada newsroom: Aeroplan marks 40th anniversary (July 2024) · official page