Aeroplan Points for Beginners: How to Earn, Redeem and Value Them

Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program, and for many Canadians it’s the most useful points currency for flights. You earn points from flying, credit cards and partners, then redeem them for flights on Air Canada and dozens of partner airlines, often at a value well above what the same points would fetch as gift cards or merchandise.

This guide covers the basics: how earning works in 2026, how Air Canada and partner rewards are priced, what you’ll pay in taxes and fees, how to value your points and the mistakes beginners make most often.

Key takeaways

• Aeroplan is free to join, and points are earned from flights, credit cards and everyday partners.
• Since January 2026, points earned on Air Canada flights are based on what you spend rather than how far you fly.
• Air Canada flights use dynamic pricing; partner flights use a distance-based chart.
• You always pay taxes and fees, but Aeroplan doesn’t add fuel surcharges to partner rewards.
• Many travellers aim for at least 1.5 cents of value per point.
• Points expire after 18 months of inactivity, and that rule returns at the end of November 2026.

How Aeroplan works

Sign up online for free and you’ll get an Aeroplan number to add to every Air Canada and partner booking. Points accumulate in your account, and you redeem them through the Aeroplan website or app for flights, upgrades, hotels, car rentals and merchandise. Flights almost always offer the best value.

Aeroplan’s biggest advantage is its partner network. Air Canada belongs to Star Alliance, and Aeroplan also partners with several airlines outside the alliance, so your points can reach most of the world.

How you earn points

Flying Air Canada

Since January 1, 2026, Aeroplan has awarded points on Air Canada-ticketed flights based on dollars spent rather than distance flown. Base members earn about 1 point per eligible dollar, counting the base fare and carrier surcharges but not taxes, and elite members earn more. Cheap basic fares earn little, so flights alone build a balance slowly for most people.

Flying partner airlines

Flights on Star Alliance and other partner airlines can also earn Aeroplan points, often based on distance and fare class. Earning rates vary widely by partner and fare, so check the partner earning chart on Aeroplan’s site before you book.

Credit cards

For most Canadians, credit cards are the fastest way to earn. Several Canadian banks issue co-branded Aeroplan cards, and some flexible rewards programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, let you transfer points to Aeroplan. Our travel credit cards guide explains how to compare them.

Everyday partners

Aeroplan has retail partners and an online shopping portal where you can earn points on purchases you were already making. These add up slowly, but they’re also a painless way to keep your account active.

How redemption works

Air Canada flights: dynamic pricing

Rewards on Air Canada-operated flights are priced dynamically, which means the number of points moves with demand and the cash fare. Off-peak flights can be inexpensive in points, while holiday flights can be very costly. Always compare the points price with the cash price before booking.

Partner flights: a distance-based chart

Partner rewards use a published chart based on flight distance and region. That predictability is valuable: when a partner releases reward seats, the price is known in advance. In June 2026, Aeroplan updated its partner chart, raising many premium-cabin long-haul prices while leaving partner rates for travel within North America unchanged, according to reporting at the time. Check the current chart before you plan.

Taxes, fees and surcharges

Rewards aren’t free. You’ll pay government taxes and airport fees on every booking, and those can be substantial on departures from Canada. Aeroplan doesn’t add carrier-imposed fuel surcharges to partner rewards, but it charges a partner booking fee, recently about $39 per passenger. Booking by phone instead of online can also add a fee, so book online where possible (verify current fees before you book).

Heads up: Taxes and fees vary by route. Departing from some countries, such as the UK, can add significantly more than departing from Canada. If the taxes look high, price each direction separately to see which leg is driving the cost.

Stopovers and Family Sharing

On international reward itineraries, Aeroplan lets you add a stopover for a small number of extra points, recently 5,000, so you can spend a few days in a connecting city. Our guide to stopover programs shows how to make the most of them.

Family Sharing lets up to eight members pool points into one balance for redemptions, which helps families reach a reward faster.

How to value your points

The simple formula is:

Value per point = (cash price of the ticket − taxes and fees you pay on the reward) ÷ points required

Say a round trip costs $650 in cash. The reward version costs 25,000 points plus $120 in taxes and fees. That’s ($650 − $120) ÷ 25,000 = 2.1 cents per point, a strong redemption.

Our points value calculator does the math for you.

Redemption type	Typical value	Notes
Partner business class, long-haul	Often highest	Seat availability can be limited
Air Canada economy, peak dates	Can be good	Compare with high cash fares
Air Canada economy, off-peak	Varies	Cheap cash fares can make points a poor deal
Short partner flights in North America	Can be good	Useful on routes with expensive cash fares
Gift cards and merchandise	Low	Usually well below flight value

Pro tip: If a cash fare is cheap, pay cash and save your points. Aeroplan points shine when cash prices are high, such as holiday travel, last-minute trips or premium cabins.

Keep your points alive

Under Aeroplan’s standard rule, points expire after 18 months with no earning or redemption activity. Aeroplan paused expiry for a period, but that pause is scheduled to end on November 29, 2026, with the standard rule returning the next day, so check your account’s last activity date now. Any qualifying earn or redemption resets the clock, and some co-branded cardholders have extra protection; confirm the current terms.

Common beginner mistakes

• Hoarding points for years. Programs change their charts, as the 2026 update showed. Points are meant to be used.
• Redeeming for merchandise. It almost always delivers far less value than flights.
• Ignoring taxes and fees. A “free” flight with $300 in fees may not beat a cash sale fare.
• Not comparing with cash. Always check the cash price for the same flight.
• Booking without checking change rules. Fees for changing or cancelling rewards depend on your status and how close to departure you are.

Example: A beginner in Ottawa has 60,000 points and wants to visit London. Rather than spending them on a pricey summer Air Canada flight, she checks partner availability in May, finds a partner economy seat at a fixed chart price and adds a stopover in Frankfurt on the way for a few thousand extra points. For the flight home, a cash sale fare turns out to be the better deal, so she saves the rest of her points.

A simple first-redemption plan

1. Join Aeroplan and add your number to every eligible booking.
2. Pick one realistic goal, such as a round trip to the sun or Europe.
3. Choose one earning method to focus on, usually a credit card.
4. When you’re close, compare points prices with cash fares for your dates.
5. Book when you get at least about 1.5 cents per point, and get on with your trip.

You can also pair points with cash deals. Sign up for CheapFly’s free deal alerts so you know when paying cash is the smarter move.

Bottom line

Aeroplan is a powerful tool for Canadian travellers who learn its basics. Earn steadily, compare points prices with cash fares, keep an eye on taxes and fees, and redeem regularly instead of hoarding. Used well, your points can turn an expensive trip into an affordable one.