Airplane wing above the clouds

Air Canada Aeroplan Explained for US Travelers

Not financial advice. Program rules change, so check the official page before you transfer or book. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by Kevin.

You don't need to live in Canada to get a lot out of Aeroplan. Here's why it's popular with US travelers.

Why US travelers use it

Distance-based pricing

Aeroplan says points for flight rewards are based on the actual distance flown, grouped into zones and distance bands. Air Canada flights show "starting at" prices that can move with demand, while many partner flights price at fixed amounts (Aeroplan chart). Check the chart for current numbers.

Partner awards

Aeroplan can book Star Alliance partners and some other airlines. It charges a partner booking fee on rewards that include a partner airline.

Stopovers

Each stopover adds 5,000 points, with one per direction, more than 24 hours and up to 45 days, and none inside Canada, the US, or China (Aeroplan). More in Stopovers and Open-Jaws on Award Tickets.

Fees and flexibility

Aeroplan says you can cancel at no charge within 24 hours of booking. After that, you can cancel or change up to two hours before departure. A fee may apply depending on the fare option, but cancellations return your points and eligible taxes and fees (Aeroplan, Flight Reward Policy). If you miss that two-hour window, the ticket is forfeited.

Keeping points active

Aeroplan points expire after 18 months with no activity. See Do Points Expire?.

Transferring in

Find the seat on aircanada.com first, then transfer from Chase or Capital One. Both list Aeroplan at 1:1. See Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners, Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners, and Capital One miles transfer partners.

Start planning in the free Starter Points Tracker, and see the first business-class award guide for the booking order.

Sources

All guides