The Points Collector’s Guide to Air Canada Aeroplan
Air Canada's Aeroplan loyalty program is good for people based in North America who fly Star Alliance airlines.
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Updated · 8 min read
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Founded in 1937, Air Canada is the flag carrier of Canada. It's Canada’s largest passenger airline and the fifth largest passenger airline in North America, based on both fleet size and passengers carried. So is it worth flying (and if so, participating in its loyalty program, Air Canada Aeroplan)?
Air Canada is a middle-of-the-road type of airline. It's not a budget airline with stereotypically abysmal service, but it's generally not considered the creme of the crop when it comes to airlines either. But if you frequently find yourself flying in Canada, you'll likely find yourself on an Air Canada flight at some point or another given its sheer size. And that's not a bad thing.
Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, which is the world’s largest airline alliance. As an airline alliance member, Air Canada connects to 1,300 destinations in nearly 200 countries worldwide through its 25+ member airlines. When you participate in Air Canada’s Aeroplan loyalty program, you can earn and redeem points with Air Canada, Star Alliance airlines and other partner airlines. Then, turn around and spend them on future free Air Canada flights — or fly someplace a bit closer to the equator through other airlines in the Star Alliance.
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About Air Canada
Headquartered in Montreal, with additional hubs in Toronto and Vancouver, Air Canada offers direct service to 220 destinations across six continents under three brands: Air Canada proper, regional operator Air Canada Express and subsidiary Air Canada Rouge.
Air Canada fare classes
Air Canada offers three cabins — economy, premium economy and business class.
Within those three cabins comes seven fare types — economy basic, economy standard, economy flex, economy comfort, economy latitude, premium economy and business.
Depending on the aircraft flown, cabins may also go by different names and layouts. For example, on the A319 and A321, aircraft, you might opt for the Premium Rouge cabin which features large comfortable seats in a 2x2 seat configuration. No middle seats here.
On some Boeing 787, 777 and 767 aircraft or Airbus A330 aircraft routes, business class is referred to as Air Canada Signature Class. This class guarantees an open suite in the form of an Executive Pod on the 787 and 777 and a Classic Pod on the 767 and A330. In all cases, pod seats convert to fully flat beds, maxing out at 79 inches in the Executive Pod. Air Canada Signature Class is available on European, Asian, Pacific and South American routes.
» Learn more: How to make the most of economy class on Air Canada
Main U.S. routes
Due to its proximity to the U.S., Air Canada offers numerous flights between its Canadian hubs and the U.S. daily, as well as direct service from smaller Canadian airports to the U.S. There are multiple flights to cities like Boston, New York and Detroit, as well as other popular tourist destinations like Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers, Florida, and San Francisco.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Air Canada uses aircraft with its Signature Class (top business class product) on several nonstop, medium haul routes between the U.S. and Canada, making it the only North American airline with lie-flat seats between these two markets. Signature Class is available on flights between Toronto and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver, as well as between Vancouver and Montreal or Newark, New Jersey. How to earn Air Canada Aeroplan points
Earn by flying
For travel on or after Jan. 1, 2026, Aeroplan members earn 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on eligible Air Canada flights, based on the base fare and carrier surcharges (excluding taxes, fees, and third-party charges). That replaces the prior, distance-based award chart. Elite members earn between 2x and 6x points per dollar spent, depending on their status level at the time of travel.
You can also earn points by flying any Star Alliance member airline, as well as on eligible flights with Air Canada's other partner airlines. These include Air Serbia, Azul, Cathay Pacific, Etihad and Vistara.
» Learn more: Your guide to the Star Alliance
Earn by spending on credit cards
Before you start using Aeroplan points, you have to earn them. Beyond flying, another way to amass a large number of Aeroplan points is to earn a sign-up bonus from the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
Earn by transferring
Aeroplan is currently a transfer partner with AmEx, Bilt, Chase and Capital One, and transfers are instant. AmEx Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Capital One miles can be transferred at a rate of 1:1.
Other ways to earn
- Travel partners: Earn points with over 15 hotel and car rental partners such as Marriott and Avis.
- Shopping portal: Earn points with over 150 different retailers when shopping through the Aeroplan eStore.
- Buy points: Buy points at a standard rate of about $25 ($30 Canadian) per 1,000 points.
What are Air Canada Aeroplan points worth?
So you've earned a bunch of points, but what are Air Canada Aeroplan points actually worth? Based on our analysis, the value of 1 Aeroplan point is 1.1 cents . Using that figure, you can estimate the value of your own Air Canada Aeroplan stash using this calculator:
How to redeem Aeroplan points for maximum value
Aeroplan uses a somewhat complicated award pricing system that’s both zone-based and distance-based. Award charts detail pricing between and within four travel zones — North America, Atlantic, Pacific and South America — further broken down by distance and class. That's good and bad. It can make finding great award flights complicated, but it also means there are plenty of Air Canada Aeroplan sweet spots with especially-great redemptions.
On its own flights, Aeroplan employs a dynamic award pricing system within the chart ranges. For partner airlines, award prices are fixed.
Fly Air Canada
For flights on Air Canada, the dynamic pricing system tries to match the points price with the current cash price. On the one hand, that means there’s no official points price; on the other, it means that all flights and seats are fair game. Aeroplan’s award chart offers guidance in the form of a likely range of expected price, and its website has a Points Predictor Tool to further help you.
When you book a seat in signature class, you also get a VIP experience on the ground. Air Canada Signature Service includes dedicated check-in counters, expedited security clearance, exclusive boarding lanes, priority baggage handling and more. There's also lounge access, which includes chef-designed meals and a quiet place to wait before your flight.
On board, Air Canada Signature Class customers are treated to exclusive service and amenities, including a massage function on the chairs.
Fly on partner airlines
It’s often much simpler (and smarter) to use Aeroplan points on their partner airlines, for which flights have fixed award costs. The catch here is that award seats must be available (versus Air Canada’s anytime, any flight on points policy).
Though Aeroplan has eliminated cash surcharges on all award tickets, even for its own flights, booking a partner ticket requires you pay an added partner booking fee. This flat fee costs around $32 ($39 Canadian) per ticket.
Other ways to redeem Aeroplan points
- Upgrades: Aeroplan points can also be used for flight upgrades on eligible Air Canada flights through a bidding system called AC Bid Upgrade.
- In-flight Wi-Fi: Air Canada’s onboard Wi-Fi can be paid with Aeroplan points.
- Hotel stays and car rentals: Points can be used for other travel experiences like hotel stays, pulling from a booking engine with over 300,000 hotels and car rentals through various agencies at 11,000 locations worldwide.
- Shopping: At Aeroplan’s eStore, points can be used on merchandise, activities, travel experiences and retailer gift cards.
- Vacation packages: Aeroplan points can be used to pay for an Air Canada Vacation package in its entirety.
Aeroplan Elite Status (formerly Air Canada Altitude)
With the relaunch of the Aeroplan loyalty program, Air Canada reconfigured its elite status program and rebranded from Air Canada Altitude to Aeroplan Elite Status.
Status levels and benefits
There are five status tiers: Aeroplan 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite. Each level offers its own Core Benefits as well as Select Benefits, where you choose from a selection of extra perks. Benefits include priority reservation services, priority airport services (e.g., increased baggage allowance), Maple Leaf Lounge access and eUpgrade credits, all of which vary by status.
The full list of benefits, broken down by status level, can be found here.
Aeroplan’s Select Benefits for elite members allows frequent flyers to choose which benefits matter most to them beyond their standard Core Benefits. Options include elite status for a friend, Aeroplan Elite Status bonus with Air Canada and select airline partners, eUpgrade credits, and one-time guest passes to the Maple Leaf Lounge.
These Select Benefits must be chosen as bundles and vary in size as you move up the status ladder.
Note: Effective Feb. 1, 2026, Aeroplan 25K members will see a reduction in their checked baggage allowance on Air Canada flights. They will be entitled to one additional complimentary checked bag beyond what is included in their purchased fare, up to a maximum of two checked bags total. However, 25K and 35K members will gain an additional baggage benefit when traveling with certain Star Alliance partners (United Airlines, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, SWISS and Austrian Airlines).
How to earn Aeroplan Elite Status
Starting in 2026, Aeroplan is introducing a new single path to elite status using Status Qualifying Credits (SQC). This replaces the previous system of Status Qualifying Miles (SQM), Status Qualifying Segments (SQS), and Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD).
Achieving the various tiers of Aeroplan Elite Status will depend on accumulating SQC through:
- Eligible Air Canada flight purchases: Earn up to 4 SQC per $1 spent on eligible fares (based on fare type and dollars spent on base fare and carrier surcharges, excluding taxes and fees)
- Aeroplan credit card spending: Earn up to 25,000 SQC annually through eligible credit card spending
- Partner activity: Earn up to 25,000 SQC annually through travel and everyday partners, as well as Star Alliance member airlines
Status tiers are named based on the number of SQC required to achieve status. For example, 35K status requires 35,000 SQC.
Starting in 2027, Aeroplan premium credit cardholders who qualify for elite status will begin the new qualification year with an extra 10% of the total SQC they earned in the previous year (no cap).
Harbour Air partnership
Aeroplan has expanded its earning opportunities beyond traditional airlines with a partnership that launched in December 2025 with Harbour Air, North America's largest seaplane airline. Aeroplan members can earn points on eligible Harbour Air flights across coastal British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.
Harbour Air operates up to 200 daily flights to 15 destinations, connecting communities between Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and beyond with its fleet of over 40 aircraft. The airline specializes in scenic seaplane travel, with average flight times of just 30 minutes between destinations like Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Tofino, Whistler, and Seattle.
Earning Aeroplan points on Harbour Air Aeroplan members earn a fixed number of points based on the Harbour Air fare class:
- Harbour Air Flex Fare: 200 Aeroplan points.
- Harbour Air Comfort Fare: 150 Aeroplan points.
- Harbour Air Value Fare: 100 Aeroplan points.
- Harbour Air Light Fare: No points.
Aeroplan members will be able to redeem points for Harbour Air flights starting in early 2026.
As far as double dipping? Travelers can earn both Aeroplan points and Harbour Air Club credits on the same flight (Harbour Air Club is the airline's own loyalty program).
Aeroplan Elite Status members won't receive recognition on Harbour Air at launch, though the partnership may expand to include status benefits in the future.
Air Canada Aeroplan, recapped
As the fifth-largest carrier in North America, Air Canada is a major player in the U.S. airline market. Its revamped Aeroplan loyalty program offers solid opportunities to earn and redeem points on flights within the Americas and worldwide and often presents great value for award travel on partner airlines. With the 2026 changes to revenue-based earning and the new Status Qualifying Credits system, the program is evolving to better reward members who spend more with Air Canada.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2025:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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