Insights > Air Canada Partners You Can Book with Aeroplan Points

Air Canada Partners You Can Book with Aeroplan Points

17 minute read 13 August 2024

Since Air Canada announced an entirely revamped Aeroplan in 2020, it’s become one of the most popular frequent flyer programs not only in Canada but also in the United States (and our number two pick for best loyalty program in the world). Beyond the obvious redemptions on Star Alliance carriers, Air Canada has more partners than any other frequent flyer program. Aeroplan miles are easy to earn, with a straightforward award chart that even allows for cheap layovers.

Here’s our complete guide to everything you need to know about Air Canada Aeroplan’s partners and some tips for redeeming and earning points.

Air Canada partner airlines

Air Canada has more partner airlines than any other airline. As a member of Star Alliance, Aeroplan members can earn and redeem points on all 26 Star Alliance members. Beyond that, Air Canada has partnerships with carriers outside of Star Alliance, including Emirates and Air Mauritius.

Other Air Canada travel partners

In addition to airline partners, Air Canada has many other partners with which frequent flyers can earn and redeem miles.

Air Canada partners with Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards, and Wyndham, allowing Aeroplan members to earn 2 points per dollar spent at Marriott properties. Several other hotel chains, including Shangri-La and Langham, offer between 500 and 1500 Aeroplan points per qualifying stay. While these offers don’t offer outsized value, they might sometimes make sense. Aeroplan also partners with Rocket Miles, which often offers great bonuses for booking hotels.

If you’re renting a car, you can earn 2 Aeroplan points per dollar when renting a car from Avis Car Rental, Payless Car Rental, or Budget Car Rental. Air Canada Vacations allows Aeroplan members to both earn and redeem miles for travel, including package holidays and cruises.

How many Aeroplan points you need for a flight

One highlight of Air Canada Aeroplan is that it is one of the few major frequent flyer programs that continue to publish an award chart, allowing frequent flyers to see exactly how much an award will cost if it’s available. In the world of Aeroplan, there are four zones and the cost of your award is based on the cumulative distance of your flights and the zone you are arriving and departing from.

This is similar to other programs that use a mileage band-based award chart to determine the cost of a flight. However, in an important distinction from programs like British Airways Executive Club, Air Canada doesn’t count segments separately.

The cost of flights within the award chart stays constant regardless of the partner(s) you use, with the notable exception of Emirates.

You can review Air Canada’s award charts here, but we’ve included the most important ones for frequent flyers based in North America below. You can also check out our guide to booking on Air Canada.

Within North America

While unexpected, short flights within North America can be a place to get some real value from Aeroplan. Economy class flights start at just 6,000 points each way, with most flights between cities in the Northeastern United States and Washington, DC, Toronto, and Montreal falling within this band.

Between North America and Atlantic zones

There’s also a lot of value to be had on transatlantic flights, with most partner redemptions between North America and Europe in business class costing just 60,00 to 70,000 points.

Between North America and Pacific zones

Redemptions between North America and Asia are one of Air Canada’s award chart sweet spots. One popular route is from Seattle to Tokyo, where business class on All Nippon Airways (ANA) costs just 55,000 points or 90,000 points one way in first class.

Between North America and South America

Air Canada has four partner airlines offering connections to South America between Star Alliance members United, Avianca, and Copa America and non-Star Alliance partner Azul, which is based in Brazil. Many flights between North America and closer destinations in South America (such as Colombia or Peru) fall within the 2,501 mile to 4,500 mile band allowing business class to be booked for just 50,000 points. Flights to deep South American destinations such as Argentina and Brazil are a sweet spot that can be booked in business class for just 60,000 points.

Travel on Emirates

Aeroplan publishes an airline-specific award chart for travel on Emirates and Fly Dubai. Interestingly, business class redemptions through Aeroplan often offer better value compared to Emirates Skywards, with lower point requirements and minimal additional fees. While Emirates might be associated with destinations in the Middle East, a popular sweet spot is its fifth-freedom flights, New York to Milan or Newark to Athens, which start at only 45,000 points in business class.

How to earn Aeroplan miles

Flying with Air Canada and Aeroplan partners

Flying with Air Canada might not be the fastest way to earn Aeroplan points, but it’s a tried-and-true method. Points earned on flights are based on distance and fare class.

Transfer partners

The easiest way for most points and miles enthusiasts to access Aeroplan points is using transfer partnerships. Aeroplan is a 1:1 transfer partner with four major transferable points currencies:

Amex Membership Rewards
Bilt Rewards
Capital One
Chase Ultimate Rewards

Having four major transferable currency partnerships is a big competitive advantage of redeeming with Aeroplan. Better yet, point transfers to Aeroplan are usually instant, meaning there’s less concern that the award seat you want to book disappears while you wait for your points to transfer.

There are also occasional transfer bonuses to Aeroplan, particularly from American Express and Chase, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for these opportunities to get better than a 1:1 transfer ratio into Aeroplan.

Aeroplan credit card

For Americans, the pièce de résistance of earning points with Aeroplan is using its cobranded credit card issued by Chase. Approved cardholders automatically receive Aeroplan 25K status when opening the card, and there are generally good welcome bonus offers available.

The Aeroplan card is worth keeping in your wallet even after earning the bonus. By hitting $50,000 in annual spending targets, you can earn Aeroplan 35K elite status. Cardholders also receive a 10% bonus when transferring 50,000 or more Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Aeroplan.

That’s not to mention earning 3 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on grocery stores, dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services), and direct Air Canada purchases.

Buying Aeroplan points

Another way to stock up on Aeroplan points is to buy them. While buying points at their standard cost of 2.6¢ each doesn’t make sense in most cases, Aeroplan frequently offers bonuses and sales.

Other ways to earn Aeroplan points

In addition to the ways above, there are a couple more ways you can earn Aeroplan points:

Shopping portal: Earn with a variety of retail partners through the Aeroplan eStore
Uber and Starbucks: Earn points through Aeroplan’s partnerships with Uber and Starbucks Rewards by linking your account
Travel Partners: Earn points with the travel partners we listed above, including hotels like Marriott and IHG, along with rental car companies, airport parking, and more

Benefits of Aeroplan status

Aeroplan offers four levels of elite status with increasing benefits. Status is owned by earning Status Qualifying Miles (SQM), Status Qualifying Segments (SQS), and Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD) over the course of a calendar year.

Status Qualifying Miles (SQM): SQMs are the number of miles flown on Air Canada or Star Alliance member airlines, adjusted by fare class. Longer flights, premium cabins, and higher fare classes earn more SQMs.
Status Qualifying Segments (SQS): The number of individual flights taken with Air Canada or Star Alliance members. Each flight counts as one segment, regardless of distance. However, Air Canada’s basic economy fares do not count towards SQS.
Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD): The amount spent on flights with Air Canada, excluding taxes and fees, and through booking with Air Canada Vacations. You can also earn SQDs through flights with Star Alliance partners if you book them through Air Canada with tickets starting with “014”.

As you can see, while you can earn SQM and SQS on both Air Canada and partner flights, you’ll still need to book with Air Canada to earn SQDs to qualify for status. That said, qualifying for Air Canada can unlock significant benefits across Star Alliance if you can swing it.

Aeroplan 25K

Aeroplan 25K is Air Canada’s entry-level elite status. The easiest way to earn this is to open the Aeroplan Credit Card. Otherwise, you’ll need to rack up 25,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) or 25 Status Qualifying Segments (SQS) and $3,000 in Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD) in a calendar year. It offers a modest but appreciable array of benefits, including priority check-in and boarding, preferred seats, and a dedicated call center. You also get an additional checked luggage allowance. Best of all, 25K comes with Star Alliance Silver status, extending some priority perks to Air Canada’s Star Alliance partners, including on your Aeroplan redemptions.

Interestingly, you can also earn Aeroplan 25K status through Aeroplan’s Everyday Status Qualification feature by accumulating 100,000 points in a calendar year from spending on co-branded Aeroplan credit cards, flights with Air Canada and partners, and earning points through travel and retail partners like the Aeroplan eStore. Credit card welcome bonuses and points transfers from other programs are excluded from this qualification.

Aeroplan 35K

Next up is Aeroplan 35K, which requires 35,000 SQM or 35 SQS and a minimum of $4,000 SQD annually. This status level largely adds benefits that apply specifically to Air Canada flights, such as priority security clearance in certain airports, additional checked luggage allowance, and two complimentary Maple Leaf Lounge passes.

While you don’t unlock a higher level of Star Alliance status at 35K, you do unlock your first Priority Reward: 50% off an Aeroplan redemption in economy in the United States and Canada, stretching your points considerably further.

Aeroplan 50K

Aeroplan 50K status requires at least 50,000 SQM or 50 SQS and $6,000 SQD.

50K unlocks Star Alliance Gold status, which will significantly enhance your travel experience across Air Canada’s Star Alliance partners with priority check-in, baggage handling, boarding, and access to all Star Alliance lounges worldwide with a guest. You’ll also have access to Emirates lounges in Dubai when flying on Air Canada or Emirates.

On Air Canada, members qualify forPreferred Seats at any time for North American flights and at check-in for other flights. Additional eUpgrades and rollover SQM to keep the status rolling into the next year, and unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafés.

Once you reach $7,000 SQD, you’ll unlock another Priority Reward, allowing you to save 50% off an Aeroplan redemption in economy and premium economy across North America, stretching your points considerably further.

Aeroplan 75K

At Aeroplan 75K, the perks keep on growing. Reach this requires 75,000 SQM or 75 SQS and $9,000 SQD, but you are guaranteed any full-fare economy seat on any Air Canada, at least six hours before departure. If flights are fully booked, this can be quite a useful benefit to get you where you need to be. Select Benefits become even juicier with options like a 75% bonus on Aeroplan points or 35 eUpgrade credits. Plus, you can gift Aeroplan 35K status to a friend, which makes you the benevolent king or queen of travel perks.

At $10,000 SQD, you’ll earn another Priority Reward — this time offering 50% off redemptions in economy and premium economy worldwide. At $15,000 SQD, you’ll earn the crème de la crème of Priority Rewards, offering 50% off redemptions worldwide up to business class.

Aeroplan Super Elite

Super Elite is the top level of Aeroplan status, requiring 100,000 SQM or 100 SQS and at least $20,000 SQD in a year. Super Elite status comes with all the bells and whistles of the lower tiers, adding a personalized Air Canada Concierge service. Super Elites also enjoy free cancellation and changes to Aeroplan bookings, free beverages and snacks in economy class on Air Canada flights, and the ability to nominate someone to use your eUpgrades even when you’re not flying with them.

You’ll also earn another Priority Reward, saving you 50% off business class Aeroplan redemptions worldwide at $20,000 SQD. Aeroplan Super Elites continue earning Priority Rewards at $5000 SQD increments up to $50,000 SQD.

The best partners to redeem Aeroplan points on

While Air Canada is a member of Star Alliance, Aeroplan has partnerships with numerous other airlines worldwide. There’s no shortage of airlines with which to redeem your miles. This includes unique partnerships like Oman Air, Air Creebec, or Bamboo Airlines, which are hard to redeem miles on otherwise.

The easiest way to discover niche opportunities to redeem Aeroplan points is to search for the routes you’re interested in flying using an award search engine like point.me. That way, you can be sure to see all of your options, including unique opportunities that you may have forgotten existed.

Aeroplan has 50 airline redemption partners, and there are a few that will consistently be the most useful for frequent flyers based in North America.

Emirates

Emirates is unique as a major, independent airline that’s not part of any alliance. That limits options for frequent flyers to redeem points to fly on its famously luxurious in-flight experience, particularly in premium cabins. Luckily for frequent flyers, Air Canada’s partnership with Emirates means that Aeroplan points can be used to book flights to over 150 destinations it serves.

Flights from North America to the Middle East start at just 87,500 points in business class, offering excellent value given the quality of service and comfort. Even better, flights on Emirates’ fifth freedom flights from New York to Milan or Athens start at only 45,000 points in business class or 110,000 points in first.

Business class redemptions on Emirates with Aeroplan can compare favorably with redemptions directly with Emirates’ own Skywards program, especially when Aeroplan’s lower taxes are taken into account.

SWISS and the Lufthansa Group

Swiss and Lufthansa Group are preferred Aeroplan partners due to the Star Alliance transatlantic joint venture, which includes Air Canada and Lufthansa.

SWISS is known for its punctuality and premium in-flight experience, with excellent connections through its Zurich hub. Flights from North America to Europe cost 60,000 Aeroplan points in business class, offering a high-value redemption for a comfortable and efficient transatlantic journey.

If you’re planning a European holiday, you’ll likely find yourself looking at SWISS and other Lufthansa Group airlines like Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines for internal connections in the continent as well. These flights start at 7,500 points in economy or 15,000 points in business class, with most intra-Europe itineraries costing 12,500 points in economy or 25,000 points in business. You’ll want to compare with cash rates but, during peak demand, this can represent significant savings using points.

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), is another top choice for Aeroplan redemptions. ANA was already viewed as one of the world’s best airlines with top-tier service, but it has cemented that reputation with its “The Suite” first class and “The Room” business class seats. As a member of Star Alliance, ANA flights are bookable with Aeroplan points with shockingly good values.

For frequent flyers based in North America, flights from Vancouver, Canada, and Seattle, Washington, fall within the lowest 0 to 5,000-mile distance band, meaning they cost only 55,000 points in business class or 90,000 points in first class. Aeroplan redemptions on ANA are good value even when they fall into the 5,001 to 7,500-mile distance bands, with business class flights costing 75,000 points and first class costing 110,000 points.

If you’re connecting through Tokyo on ANA’s extensive Asian route network, you can add a stopover in Tokyo for just 5,000 points.

Singapore Airlines

No discussion of Aeroplan redemptions would be complete without mentioning Singapore Airlines. The Star Alliance carrier based in Southeast Asia offers excellent connectivity to Southeast Asia and beyond.

With Aeroplan points, you don’t need Crazy Rich Asians money to fly in Singapore Airlines first class. Flights from North America to Southeast Asia largely fall within Aeroplan’s 7,500 to 11,000-mile distance band, allowing you to redeem Singapore Airlines first class for just 130,000 points each way. Business class also offers great value with redemptions for 87,500 points.

With Aeroplan’s stopover rules, you can add a stop in Singapore for just 5,000 points, and then continue on to another destination.

Key Aeroplan sweet spots

With over 50 partner airlines, we’ve only begun to explore the value of Aeroplan points. Keep in mind these additional award sweet spots as you collect Aeroplan points and plan your partner redemptions.

Short-haul flights: Under 500 miles for 6,000 Aeroplan points in economy class.
Domestic flights: Under 1,500 miles (e.g., Toronto–Halifax, Vancouver–Los Angeles) for 10,000 Aeroplan points in economy or 20,000 in business class.
Mexico and the Caribbean: Major Canadian cities to Mexico or the Caribbean for 12,500 Aeroplan points in economy or 25,000 in business class.
Hawaii: Vancouver to Hawaii for 12,500 Aeroplan points in economy or 25,000 in business class; the rest of Canada for 17,500 points in economy or 35,000 in business class.
Europe: Toronto or Montreal to Western Europe for 60,000 Aeroplan points in business class.
Asia: Vancouver or Calgary to Tokyo for 35,000 Aeroplan points in economy or 55,000 in business class.
Long-haul flights: Between North America and the Pacific zones (7,501–11,000 miles) for 87,500 Aeroplan points in business class.
South America: Central and Eastern Canadian cities to Peru for 50,000 Aeroplan points in business class.

How to redeem Aeroplan points on partner airlines

One of Aeroplan’s top features is that miles can be easily redeemed online for most carriers. To book, navigate to aircanada.com, enter your desired travel details, and select the checkbox next to “Book with Aeroplan points.”

While you don’t need to be logged in to search, it’s beneficial if you are. If you have an Aeroplan credit card or Aeroplan status, you can get preferred pricing and/or availability. However, you can see basic redemption options and pricing whether you’re logged in or not.

If you’re logged in, you can view a weekly award calendar showing the lowest prices and choose from different award levels within your class of service (e.g., Standard, Flex, or Latitude Rewards in economy). Each level has different prices and inclusions. After selecting your flight, just click through and confirm your booking details as you would with a cash flight.

Summary

Aeroplan is one of the most popular frequent flyer programs in Canada and the United States. Beyond Star Alliance redemptions, Aeroplan partners with more airlines than any other program, including unique carriers you won’t find in any other major program. Aeroplan miles are easy to earn with most major transfer currencies, and redemption is straightforward with an award chart that offers excellent value, especially for flights with stopovers. Additionally, Aeroplan members can earn points through hotel stays, car rentals, and various retail partners, making it a versatile and valuable program for frequent travelers.

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Written by:

Giovanni Hashimoto

Giovanni Hashimoto is a brand and reputation management consultant and travel writer. His interest in aviation and different cultures may stem from his background as a third-culture kid born in Tokyo, grew up in the United States, and attended university in Italy. He's a citizen of all three countries. He loves to discover and share travel tips, sweet spots for point redemptions, and flight deals that allow him to explore new places around the world (he's visited over 60 countries and counting).

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