Redeem Aeroplan Points Like a Pro for Air Canada Flights and Perks

Headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Air Canada is Canada's flag carrier and its largest airline in terms of passengers carried and fleet size. The airline serves 200 destinations, where you can pay in cash or through reward points. Its loyalty program is one of the world's best, where you can earn and redeem points with around two dozen Star Alliance Airlines, aside from Air Canada. Thus, becoming aware of its frequent flyer program, irrespective of whether you have travelled with it, is good to have alternatives when switching your existing loyalty program. The article below will provide you with different ways to earn and redeem your Air Canada points, along with the best way to book your flight using the points. 

Ways To Collect Air Canada Flight Points 

Air Canada offers a wide array of opportunities for earning Aeroplan points, establishing itself as one of the premier loyalty programs on a global scale. With various avenues available for point accumulation, travellers can enhance their rewards considerably. To truly make the most of your Aeroplan point earnings, consider adopting some of these strategic approaches that can help you maximize your rewards potential: 

• Fly with Air Canada - After joining Air Canada's loyalty membership, you can earn points when you fly with the airline and its sister carriers, including Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express. This is the most basic and common way to earn points in the airline's frequent flyer program. 
• Fly with Star Alliance member-airline flights - In addition to the airline itself, you are entitled to earn points when you fly with any Star Alliance member-airline flight or through any eligible flights with other Air Canada partner airlines.  
• Use more credit cards - Air Canada has co-branded with several credit card issuers, including TD Bank, American Express, and CIBC in Canada. Flyers in the US can opt for the Chase Aeroplan Card, which allows them to shop for anything using these cards and earn points in Air Canada's frequent flyer program.   
• Transfer points through Air Canada's partners - Air Canada Aeroplan's transfer partner is more than its reward programs. Therefore, it allows you to convert your points to Air Canada from renowned programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Marriott Bonvoy, Blit Rewards, and Chase Ultimate Rewards. 
• Shop and Dine in Flights - Last but not least, Air Canada also allows you to earn points by shopping and dining through its online stores, including Uber and Uber Eats, Journie Rewards, and Starbucks Rewards. 

What Is The Process Of Booking an Air Canada Flight With Reward Points?

Utilizing reward points when booking a ticket can significantly enhance the budget for many travellers. This approach allows passengers to leverage the points they've accrued through their previous journeys with the airline or its partner businesses, ultimately making their travel expenses much more manageable. To book a ticket with Air Canada using your hard-earned reward points, simply follow these comprehensive steps: 

• Visit the official website of Air Canada at aircanada.com
• Log into your Aeroplan account or make one if you have none.
• Select your arrival and departure destination and click "Book with points".
• On the succeeding page, you can select your desired flight among the various options and book the flight as usual.
• This booking process with rewards in Air Canada also helps you cover the cost of taxes and fees. 

Various Ways To Secure the Best Deals By Redeeming Air Canada Points 

After accumulating a significant number of reward points, many travellers find themselves bewildered about the best ways to utilize these points for maximum benefit. To help navigate this maze of options, a comprehensive guide outlining the most effective strategies for redeeming your points has been compiled. This guide will highlight various deals and opportunities that can help you optimize the value of your rewards, ensuring that you make the most of your hard-earned points and enjoy an enhanced travel experience.

• Zone-based award - Air Canada uses a zone-based award chart, which allows you to spend fewer points for the closer destination and more reward points for the farther destination. This implies that you will pay comparatively fewer points on short-haul flights than on long-haul flights, whether flying with Air Canada or its partner airline.  
• Book partner flights - One of the best ways to redeem Aeroplan points is by booking a flight with an Air Canada partner. As a member of Star Alliance, Air Canada allows you to utilize Aeroplan points on any of its partner airlines by booking directly through Air Canada’s website, similar to how you would for an Air Canada flight. 
• Use points on first-class seats -Though Air Canada doesn't offer first-class cabins, it has an equivalent business class, where you can experience the premium signature class seats available on various Boeing 777, 787, and Airbus A330 aircraft routes. Their seats are arranged within 1-2-1, offering fully flat seats, lounge access, dedicated check-in counters, and expedited security screening.   
• Other ways - Besides the methods mentioned above, Air Canada allows you to spend your Aeroplan points on merchandise, car rentals, gift cards, and hotels. Though these methods are not preferred much, it is mainly advised that you redeem your points for flights only. 

Worst Ways To Redeem Aeroplan Points Of Air Canada

Some ways of using Aeroplan points are considered the best, and some redemption techniques are considered the worst. Thus, when you don't find a good opportunity to use your earned points, it is better to hold onto them instead of using them in ways like:

• Redeeming Aeroplan points for merchandise or gift cards. They are not considered a good option for using these points as they are often overpriced and thus offer significantly less value when compared to the value offered for the flights. 
• Booking a hotel is often viewed as one of the least advantageous options, while earning points, as there are usually more appealing deals, whether through other loyalty programs or by securing reservations directly with the hotels. These alternatives can provide better value for your points or cash, instead of using them to book hotels. 

Some Of The Top Tips To Find Award Seats on Air Canada

Award seats are special seats reserved for loyal members of Air Canada, offered as a reward for accumulating points through the Aeroplan loyalty program. Unlike regular ticket purchases, these seats provide a great opportunity for members to use their hard-earned points for travel. However, finding availability for these coveted award seats can often be a challenge. If you're eager to secure an award seat on Air Canada, consider following these helpful tips: 

• To maximize your travel experience and find award seat availability, consider being flexible with your travel dates. Flying during off-peak seasons can not only increase your chances of securing an award seat but also result in a more relaxed and comfortable journey. 
• Don't stick to one airport only, and explore alternative airports for potential flights to find the availability of award seats on Air Canada.
• You may find more award seats on midweek flights rather than on weekends, as weekends are more crowded and reduce your chances of securing an awarded seat. 
• Log in with your Aeroplan credentials at the Air Canada website and search for flights as usual, but make sure that the "points" tab is highlighted. 
• If you don't have enough points to get a full award seat, you can use a mix of points and cash to book your flight and secure an award seat on Air Canada. 

FAQs

Q1. What are the minimum points I have to accumulate to earn a free flight?

Ans: The minimum number of points required to fly in Air Canada is based on the destination you are flying to; however, to fly within North America, you are required to spend 6,000 Aeroplan points.

Q2. Can my Aeroplan points expire?

Ans: If you do not engage in any activities related to your Air Canada account for 18 months, your accumulated points will, unfortunately, expire. 

Q3. Am I allowed to transfer or gift my Aeroplan points to someone else?

Ans: Yes, Air Canada allows you to transfer or gift your Aeroplan points to someone else. 

Q4. Can I use my Air Canada points to secure a flight ticket for someone else?

Ans: Absolutely. You can use your points to reserve flights for other individuals by using the Aeroplan Family Sharing or Priority Rewards options.  

Q5. Can I combine my Aeroplan points and cash to book a seat on Air Canada? 

Ans: You can reserve an Air Canada flight by using a mix of points and cash by choosing the Points + Cash option during the checkout process.

Q6. What is the price of buying Air Canada points? 

Ans: You can purchase at least 2,000 Air Canada points for approximately $51. The specific price varies based on the number of points you wish to buy. 

Conclusion

There are numerous diverse avenues through which you can earn and redeem your points, each offering its own unique benefits and experiences. The most effective and rewarding strategies have been detailed in the article above, providing a solid foundation for maximizing your point potential. However, it’s important to note that opinions may vary regarding the most appealing methods. If you discover certain strategies that resonate with you or pique your interest more than others, feel free to explore those options. Ultimately, the choice is yours to make.