Air Canada Aeroplan Guide (2025): Best Transfer & Award Options
Air Canada's Aeroplan is one of the most versatile and valuable frequent flyer programs available to travelers.
Air Canada Aeroplan Guide
Your complete guide to maximizing credit card transfers and finding exceptional flight redemptions with one of the most valuable airline loyalty programs.
Introduction to Air Canada Aeroplan
Air Canada's Aeroplan is one of the most versatile and valuable frequent flyer programs available to travelers. After a major redesign in November 2020, the program offers competitive award rates, no fuel surcharges, flexible routing rules, and partnerships with all major transferable points currencies. Whether you're looking to fly Air Canada or any of its 45+ Star Alliance and non-alliance partners, Aeroplan provides exceptional value for credit card points collectors.
In This Guide:
Credit Card Transfer Partners
One of Air Canada Aeroplan's biggest strengths is its wide range of transfer partners. You can transfer points from all major flexible points currencies to Air Canada Aeroplan, typically at favorable ratios.
| Transfer Partner | Transfer Ratio | Transfer Time | Transfer Bonuses |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | 1:1 | Instant | Occasional transfer bonuses of 15-30% |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 | Instant to 24 hours | Rare transfer bonuses |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 | Instant | No recent transfer bonuses |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3:1 (plus 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points transferred) | 3-5 days | Occasional transfer bonuses |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 | Up to 24 hours | Monthly 25% transfer bonus on 1st of month (1-5 minutes) |
Pro Tip: Always check for transfer bonuses before transferring points. A 20% bonus effectively makes your points worth 20% more, significantly increasing your redemption value.
How to Earn Points
Credit Card Spending & Bonuses
- Earn welcome bonuses from Chase, Amex, and Capital One cards
- Transfer flexible points from Membership Rewards, Ultimate Rewards, etc.
- Get the dedicated Aeroplan Credit Card from Chase for direct earning
Flying & Travel Partners
- Fly on Air Canada and earn based on fare and elite status
- Credit Star Alliance partner flights to Aeroplan
- Book hotels through Aeroplan's portal or transfer from hotel partners
For most U.S.-based travelers, credit card transfers represent the fastest and most efficient way to accumulate a substantial balance of points, especially when taking advantage of welcome bonuses and transfer promotions.
Key Program Features
No Fuel Surcharges
Aeroplan eliminated fuel surcharges in 2020, making redemptions more affordable across all partner airlines.
Stopover Policy
Add a stopover on one-way international flights for just 5,000 additional points, allowing you to visit two destinations for slightly more than the price of one.
Points + Cash Option
Flexibility to pay for part of your redemption with points and part with cash when you're short on points.
Family Sharing
Pool points with up to 8 family members, making it easier to accumulate enough points for premium redemptions.
Priority Rewards
Elite members can use Priority Reward vouchers to get 50% off award tickets in selected cabins and regions.
Important Note: Air Canada Aeroplan miles expire after 36 months regardless of account activity, so be sure to use your miles before they expire.
Sweet Spot Redemptions
Air Canada Aeroplan offers several exceptional sweet spot redemptions that provide outsized value for your points, particularly for premium cabin travel.
| Route | Economy | Business | First | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US to Europe | 35,000-40,000 points (one-way) | 60,000-70,000 points (one-way) | 90,000-100,000 points (one-way) | Great value on Star Alliance partners like SWISS, Lufthansa, and TAP Air Portugal |
| US to Japan | 35,000-50,000 points (one-way) | 55,000-75,000 points (one-way) | 90,000-110,000 points (one-way) | Excellent availability on ANA flights, especially from West Coast |
| North America to South America | 25,000-40,000 points (one-way) | 50,000-60,000 points (one-way) | Not widely available | Good value on Avianca and Copa Airlines |
| North America Transcontinental | 12,500-25,000 points (one-way) | 25,000-35,000 points (one-way) | Not applicable | Dynamic pricing can sometimes yield great deals |
| Intra-Europe | 12,500-20,000 points (one-way) | 25,000-30,000 points (one-way) | Not widely available | Excellent value on Star Alliance carriers like Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian |
Spotlight: The Stopover Sweet Spot
One of Aeroplan's most valuable features is the ability to add a stopover on one-way international awards for just 5,000 additional points. This effectively allows you to visit two destinations for just slightly more than the cost of one.
Example
- New York (JFK) to Istanbul (IST) on Turkish Airlines
- Stay in Istanbul for as long as you want (stopover)
- Istanbul (IST) to Tokyo (NRT) on Turkish Airlines
- Total cost: Base rate (75,000 points in business) + 5,000 points = 80,000 points
Best Credit Cards for Air Canada Aeroplan
These credit cards offer the best opportunities to earn points that can be transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase
$95
60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in 3 months
3X on dining and online groceries, 2X on travel, 1X on everything else
- Points transfer 1:1 to airline and hotel partners
- $50 annual hotel credit
- 10% anniversary point bonus
- Primary rental car insurance
Capital One Venture X
Capital One
$395
75,000 Venture miles after spending $4,000 in 3 months
10X on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X on flights, 2X on everything else
- Priority Pass and Capital One Lounge access
- $300 annual travel credit
- 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary
- Cell phone protection
American Express Gold
American Express
$250
60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 in 6 months
4X at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000/year), 3X on flights, 1X on other purchases
- Up to $120 annual dining credit
- Up to $120 annual Uber Cash
- Access to Amex Offers
- No foreign transaction fees
Advanced Tips & Tricks
Pro Insider Tips
- Search segment-by-segment instead of end-to-end for better results
- Use 'Fewer points' filter to see partner options instead of Air Canada's higher dynamic pricing
- Book awards exactly 355 days in advance for best availability on partners like Lufthansa and SWISS
- Check Turkish Airlines and EVA Air for excellent business class availability
- Use the 'multi-city' search tool to construct itineraries with stopovers
- Leverage the generous routing rules allowing up to 6 segments on a one-way award
- Mix cabins strategically to save points on shorter segments
- Remember that layovers under 24 hours don't count as stopovers and don't require extra points
Start Your Air Canada Aeroplan Journey
With some of the most competitive redemption rates in the industry, particularly for round-trip premium cabin awards, ANA Mileage Club offers exceptional value for travelers planning trips to Japan, across Asia, and even around the world.Whether you're planning a simple trip or a complex multi-destination journey, Air Canada Aeroplan offers exceptional redemption opportunities.