The Value of Aeroplan Points

The average dollar value of 1 Aeroplan point is $0.0144

Aeroplan is one of the most popular airline loyalty programs in Canada with over 5 million active members. Many banks like CIBC and TD offer a variety of different Aeroplan credit cards that'll earn points on all your everyday purchases; so make sure you do your research because the annual net rewards of each card will vary.

How many Aeroplan points you need for flights

The following calculations and prices were generated using the Air Canada mobile app of an Aeroplan credit card holder and reward member, using Aeroplan’s flight reward chart. We compared the value of Aeroplan points against the cheapest flight available for the same date on the market, so you can get a sense of how much your points are actually worth.

The value of an Aeroplan point when redeemed for travel isn’t consistent and can fluctuate quite considerably based on the Aeroplan Flight Rewards Chart, which splits up the world into four major travel zones: North America, South America, Atlantic, and Pacific.

Your Aeroplan points value can vary based on multiple variables, including:

• Which of the 4 zones you’re travelling within or between
• The distance (in miles) between your city of departure and arrival
• Which type of seat you’re booking (economy, business, or first-class)
• The time of year you’re travelling (high-or-low demand travel seasons)
• Whether you choose to redeem a flight on Air Canada or one of Aeroplan's over two dozen airline partners (including United Airlines, Lufthansa, and more)
• Whether you carry an Aeroplan credit card (cardholders receive better redemption rates versus general loyalty members)

What’s the average value of an Aeroplan point for flights?

We ran 35 different travel scenarios involving economy, business and premium economy class flights departing from Canada to destinations across the globe at various times of the year and determined the average value of 1 Aeroplan point to be $0.0144 or 1.44 cents for flights.

The value of your Aeroplan points also increases when you compare the cost of points to Air Canada prices, rather than comparing it to all of the other discount airlines and other airline options available.

According to our analysis, compared to the cash value of an Air Canada flight, Aeroplan points are worth 2.43 cents for flights. This is much higher than the value when compared to the cash value of any airline or discount airline, which offer cheaper flight prices. It just depends whether you would rather cover the cost of your flight with points, or get the cheapest flight possible. If you are using your hard-earned points, though, you’d want to make sure that you are getting the best value possible, which is why we put together this guide. It's always a good idea to check the Aeroplan website or contact their customer service for the most accurate and up-to-date information on the value of your Aeroplan points for different flight distances.

What’s the best way to use your Aeroplan points?

According to our analysis, the best value for your Aeroplan points are the following three options, in order of the highest to lowest redemption value:

1. A flight to the Pacific Zone from North America, within 12,070 to 17,702 km or 7,500 to 11,000 miles on the Aeroplan rewards chart (like a flight from Toronto to Adelaide airport in Australia.)
2. A flight within North America for a route that is 2,415 to 4,425 km, or 1,501 to 2,750 miles (for example, a flight from Toronto to Vancouver.)
3. A flight from North America to the Atlantic Zone that is 12,875+ km or 8,000 miles or more (for example, Toronto to Cape Town.)

Of course, you don’t have to stick to these particular routes or destinations, but these tend to be the highest-value redemptions.

In general, your points will have a higher value for business class redemptions than economy class redemptions.

Do Aeroplan points cover taxes and fees?

The Aeroplan program now allows you to use your points to cover taxes and fees. You can either cover the entire expense using only points or use a combination of points and cash. If you choose to use only Aeroplan points to cover the entire cost of the flight, the value of your points may vary. Generally, the value of your points are lower if you cover taxes and fees in addition to the base fare.

Average value of an Aeroplan point for non-flight redemptions

Redeeming Aeroplan points for hotels

Hotels will cost you 20,000 Aeroplan points per night for cheaper options, or up to 100,000 points per night or more for premium hotels. The price depends on the type of hotel you are booking and its rating. Aeroplan credit card holders get the fourth night free. Based on our analysis, hotels have an average value of $0.0114 per point or about 1 cent per point.

Redeeming Aeroplan points for vacations

According to the Air Canada loyalty website, you can redeem 5,000 points for $50 towards a vacation, which is a value of 1 cent per point ($0.010).

Redeeming Aeroplan points for car rentals

You’ll need at least 4,000-10,000 Aeroplan points or more for every day you are renting a car, depending on your destination, car model of choice, and your dates of travel. You can choose to pay with a combination of points and cash.

Ratehub.ca tested the value of Aeroplan points for a 3 day long rental period in the United Kingdom. The cost of the car was $185 in cash. For the rental, a total of 10,150 points was required plus $99.87 in cash.

So the value was ($185-99.87) / 10,150 points = $0.008.

Another example tested was a 14 day trip in New York. The trip required about 100,000 points in total. Alternatively, using cash, it would have costed around $1,220.
So the value is $1,220/100,000 = $0.0122.

On average using this analysis with 10 different destinations and trip lengths, rental cars give a value of $0.006 per Aeroplan point; which is less than 1 cent per point.

Redeeming Aeroplan points for gift cards

For all gift cards available on the Aeroplan eStore, you’ll get a value of less than 1 cent per point. For example, you can get a $500 Amazon gift card for 70,000 Aeroplan points or a $25 Shoppers Drug Mart gift card for 3,500 points. The exception is Air Canada gift cards, for which you’ll get 1 cent per point. A $2,000 Air Canada gift card would cost you 200,000 Aeroplan points.

Redeeming Aeroplan points for merchandise

You can redeem Aeroplan points for select merchandise through the eStore. We tested out buying 2nd generation Apple Airpods, an iPhone 15, Oakley goggles, and Xbox headphones. The average point value for all of these purchases was less than 1 cent per point at $0.008.

What’s the average value of an Aeroplan point?

It's worth noting that the value of Aeroplan points for non-travel redemptions may not be as high as the value when redeemed for flights or travel perks. Therefore, if your main goal is to maximize the value of your points, it's generally recommended to use them for travel-related expenses. We compared the value of Aeroplan points redemptions in the table below.

Maximizing Aeroplan points values

To truly unlock the worth of your Aeroplan points, it's important to know how to maximize them. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your points:

Take Advantage of Bonus Points Offers

Aeroplan often runs promotions where you can earn bonus points for certain activities. For example, you may earn 500 bonus points for booking a flight within a specific time frame. Keep an eye out for these offers and take advantage of them to boost your points balance.

Use an Aeroplan Credit Card

Using an Aeroplan credit card for your everyday purchases is a great way to earn points faster. Most Aeroplan credit cards offer a sign-up bonus of 10,000-20,000 points, and you can earn 1-2 points for every dollar spent. Plus, some cards offer bonus points with a higher earn rate for specific categories such as groceries or gas.

Redeem for flights or travel perks

As mentioned earlier, redeeming your points for flights or other travel perks can give you the most value for your points. In addition to flights, you can also use your points for hotel stays, car rentals, and vacation packages.

Transfer points from other programs

You don’t necessarily need to have an Aeroplan-branded credit card to get the most value from Aeroplan points. If you have an American Express Cobalt card, or another Amex card that earns travel rewards, you can transfer your points 1:1 to Aeroplan and redeem them for maximum value.

Aeroplan Elite Status benefits

Aeroplan offers different levels of membership, with each level offering its own set of travel perks. Aeroplan Status benefits range from the 25k level at the lower end, to Super Elite status at the higher end. Some travel credit cards will help you reach Elite Status faster. The higher your membership status the more benefits you can enjoy. Here are some of the most valuable travel benefits available for Aeroplan Elite Status members:

• Priority check-in and boarding: Elite members can enjoy priority check-in and boarding on Air Canada flights, and/or partner flights or both, depending on status level. This allows you to skip the long lines and board the plane first. This can save you time and make your travel experience more convenient.
• Lounge access: Elite members have access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges, Star Alliance lounges, and non-alliance lounges (depending on status level) where you can relax, work, or enjoy free food and drinks before aflight.
• Bonus points and upgrades: Elite members earn bonus points to earn more rewards on flights and can also receive complimentary upgrades to business class or premium economy. This can make your travel experience more comfortable and enjoyable.
• Discounts on flights: Elite Status members can get a 50% discount on the price in points for a flight between Canada and the U.S. on economy flights, or beyond, at higher status levels.

Other ways to use Aeroplan points

Aside from flights and travel, there are other ways to use your Aeroplan points. These include:

Merchandise and Gift Cards

You can redeem your points for a variety of merchandise, such as electronics, home goods, and gift cards. However, keep in mind that the value of your points may be lower when redeemed for these items.

Charitable donations

Aeroplan has a partnership with various charities, allowing you to donate your points to a good cause.

Pay with points

If you have an Aeroplan credit card, you can use your points to pay for purchases at select retailers through the Aeroplan eStore. This is a convenient way to use your points for everyday items.

How to buy Aeroplan points

If you don’t have quite enough Aeroplan points for a flight, you can buy some more to top them up. Currently, there is a promotion which pays you 80% bonus points when you purchase at least 15,000 Aeroplan points. Points cost $0.035, so if you want 10,000 points, it will cost you $350 ($0.035 x 10,000).

The bottom line 

Aeroplan points can be a valuable asset for frequent travelers, offering a variety of ways to earn and redeem points. By understanding the points system and taking advantage of travel perks and bonus points offers, you can unlock the best value from your Aeroplan points. Whether you're a basic member or an Elite member, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your points and enjoy a more rewarding travel experience.