You’ve spent months, maybe even years, diligently collecting Aeroplan Points, and the moment has finally arrived to redeem them.
But where do you start?
The Aeroplan loyalty program can seem confusing, especially for beginners.
If you’ve ever wondered how to get the most value from your points or worried about making costly mistakes,
You’re in the RIGHT place.
In this guide, we’ll debunk some of the most common myths about Aeroplan and show you how to avoid the pitfalls that many first-timers encounter.
Let’s dive right in.
Common Myth #1 – “I can only book Air Canada flights with Aeroplan points.”
Let’s clear this up right away.
This is a MAJOR MISCONCEPTION.
While Aeroplan is indeed Air Canada’s loyalty program, your points are far from limited to Air Canada flights.
Thanks to Air Canada being part of Star Alliance, you have access to flights on over 26 other partner airlines.
This opens up a world of possibilities, quite literally, and gives you more options to find the best value for your points.
Ok, but how?
Keep reading…
Partner Airlines have a fixed pricing model
When it comes to redeeming Aeroplan points, the pricing model is key.
Every redemption starts with the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart, which calculates the amount of points required for a flight, based on the Zones and distances.
During this calculation, Air Canada follows a dynamic pricing system, whereas partner airlines follow a fixed pricing model.
What’s does this mean?
This means the number of points required for an Air Canada flight can vary widely, potentially requiring an absurd amount of points during peak travel season.
(sorry for teachers out there who can only travel during peak season 🥲).
In contrast, partner airlines will require a fixed amount of points regardless of when you travel, as long as there’s an available seat.
Let’s take a look at quick example.
You’re planning a trip from Toronto to Lisbon during March Break, and would like to redeem Aeroplan points.
By basic geography knowledge 🤓, you know this is a trip between North America and Atlantic Zone.
And according to Great Circle Mapper, the distance between Toronto and Lisbon is 3,576 miles.
Heading over to the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart, this trip would cost any where between 35,000-60,000 Aeroplan points with Air Canada, but fixed at 35,000 points with a partner airline in economy.
By doing a real search on Aeroplan website, we can see the points required as expected for both Air Canada and Partner Airlines.
A direct Air Canada flight from Toronto to Lisbon would cost 45,000 Aeroplan points and $74 in taxes and fees.
However, if you opt to fly with TAP Air Portugal, you could snag the same direct flight for just 35,000 points, though with slightly higher taxes and fees at $113.
That’s a saving of 10,000 points, which can be far more valuable than the extra $39 in fees.
Just by understanding the difference in pricing models between Air Canada and its partner airlines, you’ve managed to save 10,000 points.
So, it’s always a smart move to compare options with partner airlines when planning your trips.
And that’s not all…
The benefits become even more pronounced when redeeming for business class tickets, which leads us to the next common myth.
Common Myth #2 – “I can never afford a business class.”
This is another common thought, and I don’t blame you.
I also grew up hearing countless times from my parents,
“Son, if you want to fly in business, you must study hard and become rich”
There’s some truth to this, as revenue fares for business cabins tend to be three or even four times more expensive than those of economy cabins.
However, when it comes to redeeming points, you can find a business cabin that’s not even twice as expensive as economy.
Let’s take a look at the following example:
An economy flight from Montreal to Zurich will cost 35,000 Aeroplan points and $120 in taxes and fees.
This is already a pretty sweet deal, knowing that the cash fare for this exact same flight would be around $1200.
But what if take a look at the business class?
It costs 60,000 Aeroplan points and $120 in taxes and fees.
That’s just an additional 25,000 Aeroplan points, or roughly 70% more points.
While this may still feel quite expensive, your thoughts may completely change after seeing the cash price.
The exact same ticket would cost $8,424 if you were to pay in cash.
You heard that right – $8,424!
There’s absolutely no way an average person would be willing to spend that much for a single flight!
But would I now be willing to pay some extra points to experience something that I’d probably never be able to with cash?
Absolutely.
Moreover, you’ll be well rested in a lie-flat seat, getting some good sleep during the overnight flight,
ready to hit the ground upon landing, rather than traveling lethargic and feeling like the walking dead.
Of course, I can’t force you to take a business class as it does require more points,
but I highly recommend trying it at least once, especially when it’s a long haul overnight flight.
Maximizing Points with Stopovers: Double Your Destinations
One of the best-kept secrets to getting more value out of your Aeroplan points is taking advantage of stopovers.
A stopover is a stay of more than 24 hours in a connecting city before reaching your final destination, and it can be a game-changer for your travel plans.
Why Consider a Stopover?
Imagine someone from New York City wanting to visit both Seoul and Bangkok for vacation.
Normally, you’d book two separate flights – one from New York to Seoul, and then another Seoul to Bangkok.
For example, you might first book a flight from New York to Seoul for 50,000 Aeroplan points and $78 in taxes and fees.
Then you’d book a flight from Seoul to Bangkok, departing a week later, for 25,000 Aeroplan points and $67 in taxes and fees.
This brings the grand total to 75,000 Aeroplan point and $145 in taxes and fees.
Not too bad, right?
But here’s where the magic starts…
Aeroplan allows you to add a stopover on a one-way reward booking for just 5,000 additional points.
This means you can just add Seoul as your stopover city en route to your final destination, Bangkok.
How to Book a Stopover
1. Start by searching for a one-way flight as you normally would on the Aeroplan website.
2. Once you find a suitable route, select the “Add Stopover” option during the booking process.
3. Choose your stopover city and the length of your stay.
It’s that simple. Just remember that stopovers are not permitted within Canada or United States, so it’s worth playing around with different options to see what works best.
This way, you can snatch a flight from New York to Bangkok, with a 7-day stopover in Seoul for 65,000 points and $105 in taxes fees.
Two cities for the price of one – quite no-brainer, right?
By simply just utilizing Aeroplan’s generous stopover rule, you’ve just saved 10,000 Aeroplan points and $40 in taxes and fees.
It’s an incredible way to maximize the value of your points, especially if love exploring multiple cities in a single trip.
Wrapping Up: Your Aeroplan Journey Begins…
We’ve covered some essential tips and debunked common myths that often trip up beginners when redeeming Aeroplan points.
By now, you should have a solid understanding of how to maximize your points by:
- Focusing on partner airline redemptions
- Taking advantage of stopover rules
But remember, this is just the beginning. The world of Aeroplan is VAST, with so much more to explore.
From advanced routing techniques to tips on earning points faster, there’s always more to learn.
However, I wanted to keep this guide simple and straightforward, focusing on the basics to help you get started without feeling overwhelmed.
I’ll be sharing more tips and tricks down the road, helping you make the most of your travel experiences.
Until then, take your time, explore the options, and enjoy the journey.
Safe travels, and may your points take you to amazing places!
And don’t forget to leave your redemption experiences in the comments down below!
