Air Canada Aeroplan
A complete guide to joining Aeroplan, earning points, climbing elite status, using stopovers, and redeeming Star Alliance awards.
What Aeroplan is
Aeroplan is Air Canada’s frequent flyer programme. You earn Aeroplan points for flights and selected partners, then redeem across Air Canada and a very large partner airline network. Air Canada is in Star Alliance, and Aeroplan also partners with many non-alliance airlines.
For travellers, Aeroplan is often valued for flexible awards, stopovers, little or no classic fuel surcharge on many redemptions, and strong partner sweet spots. Award pricing can be dynamic in places, so you still need to search live space before transferring bank points.
How to join
- Create a free Aeroplan account on Air Canada’s Aeroplan pages or app.
- Use the same personal details as your passport.
- Add your membership number on every eligible Air Canada or partner booking before travel.
- If you plan family pooling later, keep one clear Family Lead account from the start.
Points vs status metrics
- Aeroplan points: the balance you redeem for awards.
- Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) or Status Qualifying Segments (SQS): distance or segment progress toward elite tiers.
- Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD): spend progress toward elite tiers, tracked in Canadian dollars.
- Partner flights may earn redeemable points even when they do not help status. Check before you book for a status project.
Elite tiers
Aeroplan publishes several elite tiers. Higher tiers add bags, priority services, lounge access, eUpgrades, and selectable benefit bundles. Thresholds below are the commonly discussed paths and can change.
| Tier | Rough path people discuss | Star Alliance level | Why beginners care |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25K | About 25,000 SQM or 25 SQS plus SQD spend | Silver | Priority basics and early upgrade tools |
| 35K | About 35,000 SQM or 35 SQS plus SQD spend | Silver | Richer bags and a few more soft benefits |
| 50K | About 50,000 SQM or 50 SQS plus SQD spend | Gold | Usual lounge and Star Gold sweet spot |
| 75K | About 75,000 SQM or 75 SQS plus SQD spend | Gold | Stronger worldwide Priority Rewards style tools |
| Super Elite | About 100,000 SQM or 100 SQS plus high SQD | Gold | Top published recognition for heavy Air Canada flyers |
For most members who are not based around Air Canada flying, Aeroplan is often a redemption programme first and a status programme second. Chase 50K only if your year of flying can support SQM or SQS plus SQD.
How you earn Aeroplan points
- Flying Air Canada in earning fare classes. Cheap basic fares can earn very little.
- Flying Star Alliance and selected non-alliance partners that credit Aeroplan.
- Bank transfers from credit cards that still list Aeroplan. Common routes people discuss include Axis EDGE products at varying ratios and HDFC premium cards around 2:1 or 3:1.
- Hotel transfers such as Marriott, Hilton, Accor, IHG, and others. Many ratios are weak, so use them mainly for leftover balances or clear top-ups.
- There is usually no Air Canada co-brand card, so transfers and flying matter more than everyday card earn.
Bank points usually move one way. Search the Air Canada or partner award first, including taxes and any partner booking fee. Aeroplan’s stopover rules can change the maths of a trip, so check multi-city options too.
Feeding Aeroplan from credit cards
| Route | Ratio people commonly cite | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HDFC Infinia / Diners Black | Around 2:1 | Confirm in SmartBuy or the current transfer flow |
| HDFC Regalia Gold | Around 3:1 | Product-specific; check the portal |
| Axis EDGE cards | Varies by product | Confirm live before moving a large balance |
| Hotel currencies | Often weak | Use mainly for leftovers or tiny top-ups |
How to redeem
- Aeroplan uses a hybrid distance and region style award model. Prices move, but many redemptions still avoid heavy classic fuel surcharges.
- Partner booking fees can apply on some awards. Price the whole ticket.
- Stopovers for a small points surcharge are one of Aeroplan’s best features when rules allow a multi-city trip.
- Family pooling can let household members combine points while keeping separate accounts.
- Infant lap fares and short-haul partner awards are often discussed as beginner-friendly sweet spots when space exists.
- Compare Aeroplan with Maharaja Club or KrisFlyer before locking Star Alliance bank points into one programme.
Practical tips
- Use Aeroplan when a partner award from India looks cleaner than Air Canada metal alone.
- Air India and other Star partners can create useful regional or long-haul awards when Aeroplan prices them well.
- If your cards transfer poorly into Aeroplan, prefer a programme with a cleaner card feed.
- Points can expire after inactivity for non-elite members. Keep a small earning or redeeming action on the account.
- Keep one Aeroplan login. Duplicate accounts make missing credit harder to fix.
Common beginner mistakes
- Transferring a large bank balance before checking live award space and fees.
- Assuming every partner flight helps SQM status.
- Ignoring stopover potential and booking two separate expensive awards instead.
- Using weak hotel transfer ratios just to empty a balance.
- Forgetting inactivity expiry on a dormant account.
Simple starter plan
- Join Aeroplan and add the number on any eligible Star or partner booking.
- Search a real award from India, including stopover options if useful.
- Transfer only the points you need after the total cash outlay looks fair.
- Use family pooling only if household travel plans are clear.
Card transfer snapshot
| Card | Ratio | As of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Regalia Gold | See SmartBuy | 2026-08-09 | Often discussed around 3:1 on mid-tier HDFC cards; confirm live before transfer. |