The Value of Aeroplan Points

The average dollar value of 1 Aeroplan point is $0.02

Aeroplan points value depends on how you redeem them. Points can be used for flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, gift cards, and merchandise, but each option offers a different value per point. Aeroplan is one of the most widely used airline loyalty programs in Canada, and millions of travellers earn points through flights and Aeroplan credit cards. Understanding how Aeroplan points are valued can help you decide when to redeem them and which redemption options offer the best value.

Are Aeroplan points worth it?

Aeroplan points can be extremely valuable, particularly for travellers who regularly fly Air Canada, use Aeroplan credit cards, or want to earn elite status within the program.

The program is designed to reward both frequent flyers and everyday spenders. If you fly Air Canada often, Aeroplan points can help offset the cost of flights, upgrades, and travel perks across the airline’s global partner network. Because Air Canada is part of the Star Alliance, Aeroplan members can also redeem points with dozens of partner airlines around the world.

Aeroplan points are also relatively easy to earn through Aeroplan credit cards in Canada. Many cards allow you to accumulate points on everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and travel, which can quickly add up toward free flights or upgrades.

For frequent travellers, Aeroplan offers elite status tiers that provide benefits such as priority check-in, lounge access, bonus points on flights, and complimentary upgrades. Members can also earn Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) through eligible Air Canada spending and Aeroplan credit card activity, helping them reach higher status levels faster.

Aeroplan points tend to be most valuable for people who:

• Fly Air Canada or Star Alliance airlines regularly
• Use an Aeroplan credit card for everyday spending
• Travel frequently and want to earn Aeroplan Elite Status
• Redeem points primarily for flights rather than merchandise or gift cards

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.

Air Canada's Dynamic Pricing Model

Air Canada’s dynamic pricing model means the number of points required for a flight can vary based on factors like demand and route. Recently, this dynamic pricing approach has expanded to include select partner airlines. Partners now using a dynamic model include United Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Flydubai, Calm Air, Canadian North, and PAL Airlines. This means award pricing for flights with these airlines may also fluctuate rather than follow a fixed chart.

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 Aeroplan points 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.

This value is calculated by comparing Aeroplan redemptions to the cheapest available flight on the same route, regardless of airline. Because competing airlines or discount carriers sometimes offer lower fares than Air Canada, this method produces a more conservative estimate of point value.

However, Aeroplan points are generally most valuable when used to book Air Canada flights. When we compare the value of points against the cash price of the same Air Canada flight, the average value increases to 2.43 cents per point.

In other words, Aeroplan points provide the strongest value when you use them in place of paying for Air Canada flights, particularly for longer routes or premium cabin seats. If your goal is simply to find the cheapest flight available across all airlines, you may get lower value from your points compared to paying cash for a discounted ticket.

For the most accurate estimate of how many points a specific trip will require, it’s always best to check the Aeroplan website or the Air Canada booking engine directly, as redemption rates can vary based on route, demand, and travel class.

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 does allow 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

Aeroplan points can be redeemed for more than just flights. However, most non-flight redemptions tend to provide lower value per point compared to flight rewards.

Redeeming Aeroplan points for hotels

Aeroplan points can be used to book hotels through the Aeroplan travel portal. Hotel stays can cost 20,000 points per night for lower-cost properties or 100,000 points or more per night for premium hotels, depending on the destination and hotel category. Aeroplan credit cardholders can also get a 4th night free on eligible hotel redemptions, which can improve the overall value of this redemption option. 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

Aeroplan points can also be used toward Air Canada Vacations packages, which typically include flights and hotel stays. In most cases, the program allows you to redeem 5,000 Aeroplan points for $50 toward a vacation package, which results in a value of 1 cent per point ($0.01).

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 cost 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, a $500 Amazon gift card requires about 70,000 Aeroplan points, resulting in a value of roughly 0.7 cents per point. Similarly, a $25 Shoppers Drug Mart gift card costs 3,500 Aeroplan points, which also works out to be the same. 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.

Average Aeroplan point value by redemption option

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.

How to maximize Aeroplan points value

To get the most value from Aeroplan points, it helps to understand how to earn and redeem them strategically. 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 30,000+ points, and you can earn 1-2 points for every dollar spent. Plus, some cards offer accelerated earn rates on categories like groceries, gas, and travel, helping you accumulate points much faster than through flights alone.

Redeem Aeroplan points 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. Cards like the American Express Cobalt card, and other Amex credit cards allow you to transfer Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, making it easy to convert everyday spending into Aeroplan rewards.

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 a flight.
• Free carry-on bags for basic fare flights: Starting January 2025, some Economy Basic fares will only include one personal article per passenger, with a carry-on bag costing extra. However, those with a premium Aeroplan credit card will still enjoy benefits like a free checked bag.
• 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.
• Status matching and points transfer with Marriott Bonvoy: All Aeroplan Elite Status members can transfer Aeroplan points to Marriott Bonvoy points at a 1:1 ratio. Aeroplan 50K, 75K, and Super Elite members receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

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. Each point costs $0.035, but you'll enjoy up to 30% off for buying more points:

• 15% off for 10,000-19,000 points
• 20% off for 20,000-75,000 points
• 25% off for 80,000-95,000 points
• 30% off for 100,000-250,000 points

Buying points can make sense if you are only a small number of points short of a redemption. For example, if a flight costs 25,000 Aeroplan points and you already have 20,000 points, you may choose to buy the remaining 5,000 points. At the regular price of $0.035 per point, this would cost about $175. If that same flight would otherwise cost $400 in cash, purchasing the missing points could still save money.

The bottom line 

Aeroplan points can be a valuable asset for frequent travellers, 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.