How To Use Aeroplan: A Beginner’s Guide

Aeroplan is Canada’s most popular airline rewards program — and for good reason. It lets you earn points and redeem them for flights across 40+ airline partners worldwide, including major Star Alliance carriers like United, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines, as well as premium options like Emirates, Etihad, and Oman Air.

Used strategically, Aeroplan points can unlock serious travel savings — from economy flights to luxury business class experiences — all while helping you stretch your budget way further. Whether you’re just starting your travel hacking journey or looking to get more out of your everyday spending, understanding how Aeroplan works is one of the smartest moves you can make.

Let’s break it down step by step.

Why Choose Aeroplan for Travel Rewards?

If you’re in Canada and looking to travel more while spending less, Aeroplan is a great place to start. It’s not only the most popular airline rewards program in the country — it’s also one of the most powerful when it comes to flexibility and value.

With Aeroplan, your points go a lot further than just Air Canada flights. The program gives you access to a global network of over 40 airline partners, which means you can use your points to fly to just about anywhere. Whether it’s a quick hop to the U.S. or a bucket-list trip overseas, chances are there’s a partner airline that can get you there.

One of the biggest advantages? The earning potential. With just a couple of well-chosen credit card signups and some strategic spending, it’s possible to earn 300,000 points or more in your first year. That kind of balance can unlock more than $6,000 worth of economy flights — or over $20,000 in business class travel if you know how to book smart.

And if you’re working together with a partner or spouse, your earning power gets even stronger. Aeroplan makes it easy to combine points and refer each other, which means you can hit those big redemption goals even faster.

What really makes Aeroplan stand out is the combination of accessibility and value. It’s widely accepted across Canada, offers tons of ways to earn points in everyday life, and when it’s time to redeem, there’s a good chance you’ll find a route — and a deal — that works.

At the end of the day, Aeroplan isn’t just another loyalty program. It’s a way to travel better, more often, and for a lot less. Whether you’re aiming for a family vacation or a first-class splurge, those points can take you farther than you think.

How Aeroplan Redemptions Work

When it comes to using Aeroplan points, not every redemption gives you the same value. That’s because Aeroplan uses a dynamic pricing system — which means the number of points needed for a flight can change depending on demand, destination, and availability. Just like cash fares, prices go up when flights are popular and go down when they’re not.

So how do you know if you’re getting a good deal?

The goal is to get the most value per point, or what’s often called “cents per point” (cpp). For economy flights, a solid target is around 1.4 cpp or higher. That means 50,000 points should cover at least $700 in flight value. Savvy travelers — the points pros — sometimes score redemptions closer to 2 cpp or more.

Where things get really interesting is with business class redemptions. These can offer exceptional value — often 4 cpp or more — and turn your points into flights worth thousands. That said, they can be harder to find and may require 2–3x the points compared to economy.

And while it’s fun to see “8 cents per point” redemptions floating around online, remember: many people wouldn’t actually pay $8,000 cash for that seat. If you wouldn’t either, take those high cpp values with a grain of salt. What matters most is that you’re using your Aeroplan points to book travel you genuinely want — while saving serious money along the way.

What’s the Value of an Aeroplan Point in CAD?

One of the first questions people ask when getting into travel rewards is: What’s an Aeroplan point actually worth?

The answer? It depends — but we can estimate a general range.

Different experts assign slightly different values to Aeroplan points, based on average redemptions and real-world examples. Here’s a quick breakdown:

These numbers are great benchmarks — especially for economy flights — but the value can jump significantly when you redeem for premium travel. In my experience, business class redemptions often reach 4 cents per point (cpp) or more, especially on long-haul international flights. That’s where the real magic happens — turning points into $6,000+ flights for a fraction of the cost.

As a general rule:

• 1.5 cents per point is a solid target
• 2+ cpp is considered a great redemption
• 4 cpp+ is often achievable with business class, especially if you’re flexible and book strategically
• Anything under 1 cpp is typically poor value (like gift cards or fixed-value travel portals)

The key takeaway? The smarter your redemption, the more value you’ll squeeze from every Aeroplan point — and the more travel you’ll unlock without spending cash.

How to Calculate Aeroplan Point Value On A Redemption (Cents Per Point)

Want to know if you’re getting a good deal with your Aeroplan points? You’ll want to calculate your redemption value using cents per point (cpp). This simple metric helps you compare the real-world value of different bookings and decide if your points are being used wisely.

Here’s what you need to calculate cpp:

• The number of points required for the flight
• The taxes and fees you’ll still need to pay
• The cash price of a similar flight (same date, time, airline if possible)

You can use this calculator, or plug the numbers into this formula manually:

(Cash Price – Taxes and Fees) ÷ Points Used = Cents Per Point (cpp)

Let’s take a real-life example (Toronto to Tokyo Economy flight):

• Cash price (peak season): ~$1,080
• Points required: 50,700
• Taxes and fees: $77

Calculation:
($1,080 – $77) ÷ 50,700 = 0.0198, or ~2.0 cpp

That’s an excellent redemption for an economy flight — well above the average.

Most economy bookings typically fall in the 1.3 to 1.7 cpp range. If you’re hitting 2 cpp or more, you’re doing very well. And as I’ve mentioned earlier, business class redemptions can often reach 4 cpp+, especially on long-haul routes, making them ideal for maximizing value.

One quick note: round-trip cash fares are sometimes cheaper than booking two one-way tickets, so keep that in mind when comparing. And if you’re mixing cash and points, just compare the total cost of each option to understand your true savings.

Also, Aeroplan’s standard fares (booked with points) usually offer more flexibility — like change and cancellation options — compared to basic economy cash fares. So sometimes you’re not just saving money, you’re also gaining peace of mind.

Understanding cpp is one of the best tools for making your Aeroplan redemptions work harder — and your travel budget stretch further.

High-Value Redemption Examples

To help you visualize what’s possible with Aeroplan points, here are real-world examples of high-value redemptions — the kind of flights that turn everyday spending into incredible travel experiences.

Here’s a breakdown of the points, fees, and why each deal stands out:

Toronto → Tokyo (with 4-Day Stopover) → Singapore

Points: 54,600

Taxes/Fees: Varies by segment

Why it’s great: You can include an international stopover (up to 45 days) for just 5,000 extra points — perfect for turning one trip into two major destinations.

Toronto → Vancouver

Economy: 10,400 points + $53

Business: 26,200 points + $53

Why it’s great: A short-haul domestic flight that often costs $1500+ in a lie-flat business class (btw not all business class seats on this route are lie-flat) — this redemption gets you excellent value, especially in premium cabins.

Toronto → Manila

Economy: 41,900 points + $77

Why it’s great: Long-haul redemptions to Southeast Asia under 50,000 points are a steal — especially when cash prices are often $1,000+ for a standard (non-basic) fare

Montreal → Lisbon

Economy: 35,000 points + $120

Why it’s great: Europe for 35k points is a solid deal, and Lisbon is one of the most affordable and vibrant cities to visit in Western Europe.

Toronto → New York

Economy: 6,500 points + $85

Why it’s great: Great value for short-haul travel — especially if booked early. A solid way to save on spontaneous weekend trips or business travel.

Toronto → London

Economy: 25,100 points + $77

Business: 60,000 points + $149

Why it’s great: This route often retails for $3,000–$4,000 in business class. At 60k points, you’re getting 4–6 cpp — a dream value for premium travel.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While Aeroplan is one of the most powerful rewards programs in Canada, it’s not foolproof — and not every redemption is a good one. If you’re not careful, you could burn through thousands of points for poor value. Here are a couple of common pitfalls to avoid:

Ignoring Dynamic Pricing

Aeroplan uses dynamic pricing, which means the number of points needed for a flight can vary widely depending on demand. For example, a Toronto to Vancouver economy flight might cost 10,400 points one day, and 37,000+ points the next — for the exact same route. That’s over 3x the cost, without 3x the value.

Tip: Be flexible with your dates when possible, and always check the cash price to compare value. A good rule of thumb is to look for redemptions that give you at least 1.4–1.5 cpp in economy.

Overpaying for Low-Value Routes

Not every route offers great value for points. Toronto to California, for instance, often comes in at under 1 cent per point — meaning you’re getting less value than you would from cash back or other redemptions. In these cases, it might actually make more sense to pay cash and save your Aeroplan points for higher-value flights.

Bottom line? Just because you can use points doesn’t mean you should. Always calculate the value of your redemption using cpp, and aim to use your points on flights where they’ll give you the best return — ideally 1.5 cpp or higher in economy, and 2–4 cpp or more in business class.

With a little planning and awareness, you can avoid these common traps — and make every Aeroplan point count.

How to Book Flights with Aeroplan Points

When it comes time to actually book a flight using your Aeroplan points, you’ll notice that Aeroplan gives you a range of points + cash combinations. This is great for flexibility — but it also means you’ll want to choose carefully to get the best value.

Let’s walk through a real example to see how it works:

As you select to redeem this flight, you will see you have several points + cash options.

• Option 1: 49,523 points (no additional cash)
  • CPP = $1,039 / 49,523 = 2.1 cpp (lowest value)
• Option 2: 41,900 points + $77 fees
  • CPP = ($1,039 – $77) / 41,900 = 2.3 cpp (excellent value!)
• Option 3: 33,500 points + $236 fees
  • CPP = ($1,039 – $236) / 33,500 = 2.4 cpp (even better!)
• Option 4: 25,100 points + $395 fees
  • CPP = ($1,039 – $395) / 25,100 = 2.6 cpp (highest cpp!)

As you can see, the fewer points you use, the more value you often get per point — though it comes at the cost of more cash out of pocket. In most cases, paying entirely with points gives you the lowest cents-per-point (cpp), while a points + cash combo can give you a much higher return.

So, which option is best?

That depends on your situation. If you’re sitting on a huge stash of points and want to avoid cash costs altogether, Option 1 might feel like the right call. But if you’re looking to stretch your Aeroplan points as far as possible, paying a little cash to reduce the number of points needed can give you much better overall value.

💡 Tip: Before finalizing any Aeroplan booking, take a moment to calculate the cpp of each option. A few seconds of math can mean hundreds of dollars in extra travel value.

In short, booking with Aeroplan isn’t just about using points — it’s about using them wisely.

How to Find the Best Aeroplan Flight Deals

The secret to getting amazing value from your Aeroplan points isn’t just about having a big balance — it’s about knowing how to find the right flights. And that comes down to three things: flexibility, smart searching, and using the right tools.

Some of my go-to tools for finding Aeroplan award flights are:

• AwardTool.com – Think of it as your personal points detective. It helps uncover hidden redemptions, highlights sweet spots, and compares point value across dates.
• Roame.travel – This one’s a game-changer. You can explore available award flights by region, airline, date, and points required — all at a glance.

But tools alone aren’t enough. Flexibility is key. Often, just shifting your travel dates by a day or two can save you thousands of points — or unlock better flight times and cabins. Try searching from nearby airports too. A short drive or train ride might open up far better deals than your home airport.

And when it comes to premium cabin flights, earlier is often better — but don’t ignore those last-minute surprise openings. Aeroplan sometimes releases business class seats a few days before departure, so it pays to keep checking.

The best way to get better at this? Practice. Seriously. Log in, run searches, try different dates and destinations. The more time you spend poking around the Aeroplan search tool (or those third-party sites), the faster you’ll start spotting great redemptions — and avoiding the bad ones.

It’s a bit like a game. And once you get the hang of it, you’ll never want to pay full price for a flight again.

Understanding Aeroplan Points Devaluation

Just like most travel rewards programs, Aeroplan points aren’t immune to inflation. Over time, airlines quietly increase the number of points required for flights — especially for popular routes and premium cabins. This is called points devaluation, and it happens more often than most people realize.

Why does this happen? As more people collect and redeem points (thanks to credit card bonuses and everyday spending), demand goes up. And as prices rise due to inflation, airlines adjust their redemption charts to match. That same flight that once cost 25,000 points might now require 35,000 or more.

So what can you do about it?

The best strategy is simple: don’t hoard your points. Aeroplan isn’t a savings account — it’s a rewards program. The longer you sit on a big balance, the more you risk losing value. Instead, aim to redeem points regularly for flights and redemptions that give you strong value — and use tools and cpp calculations to help guide your decisions.

Great deals come and go, so when you see one that fits your plans, don’t wait too long. Redeem strategically and travel smart — that’s how you stay ahead of devaluation.

Final Tips and Key Takeaways for Aeroplan Beginners

Aeroplan remains Canada’s top airline rewards program, offering incredible value when used strategically — whether you’re flying across the country or across the world. The key to getting the most out of it? Calculate your cpp to understand the real value of your points, stay flexible with your travel plans, and use tools like AwardTool and Roame.travel to uncover the best redemptions.

Don’t sit on your points forever — they lose value over time. Use them smartly and often, especially when the deal makes sense for your travel goals.

By now, you’ve got a solid grasp of how Aeroplan points work — from earning to booking to avoiding common mistakes. You don’t need to be an expert to start seeing real results, just someone who’s willing to learn and take a few smart steps.

👉 Looking for a real example of how this all comes together? Check out how I’m booking a family trip to Japan using points and how you can too.

🎯 Want to earn points faster? Don’t miss my breakdown of the best travel credit cards in Canada to supercharge your points strategy right from the start.

🚀 Ready to go even deeper? Grab my Ultimate “0 to 1 Million Points” Guide and start building toward unforgettable travel experiences — without draining your savings account or losing your mind.

You’ve got this. Let’s turn your everyday spending into extraordinary travel.