The best ways to use Aeroplan points in Canada

Redeeming Aeroplan points for a flight can be worth several times more than redeeming them for a gift card. The gap between the best and worst uses of Aeroplan points is wide enough that the choice genuinely matters. This guide ranks the strongest redemption options, flags the ones that quietly erode value, and gives you a practical framework for deciding what to do with the points you have. For a full breakdown of what each point is worth across different redemption types, the How much are Aeroplan points worth in Canada (2026)? covers the numbers in detail.

Why the redemption you choose changes everything

Aeroplan uses a dynamic pricing model for Air Canada flights, which means the number of points required shifts based on demand, route, and cabin class. That variability cuts both ways. On a busy Toronto-to-Vancouver route during peak season, a business class seat might cost more points than a transatlantic flight in the same cabin during a quieter period. The headline earn rate on your credit card only tells part of the story. The redemption rate determines whether those points are worth collecting at all.

Say you have 60,000 Aeroplan points. Used toward a short-haul economy flight within Canada, you might extract modest value. Applied to a business class seat on a transatlantic route where the cash price runs into the thousands, the same 60,000 points can represent a significantly higher dollar value per point. The math is not complicated, but it requires you to compare the cash price of the seat against the point cost before confirming a redemption.

Best ways to use Aeroplan points: ranked by value

The table below ranks common Aeroplan redemption categories from highest to lowest typical value. Point costs and cash prices vary by route, date, and availability, so treat these as directional benchmarks rather than fixed rates.

Business class redemptions consistently deliver the strongest value because the cash price of those seats is high relative to the point cost. A transatlantic business class ticket that retails for $4,000 or more can sometimes be booked for a point total that, at cash-equivalent value, would represent a fraction of that price. Economy redemptions on short domestic routes still beat gift cards, but the margin over a simple cash purchase narrows considerably.

Best use of Aeroplan points: flight redemption strategies that work

Getting the most from a flight redemption comes down to a few consistent habits. Flexibility on dates and routes is the single biggest lever. Aeroplan’s dynamic pricing means the same route can vary significantly in point cost depending on when you search.

• Book Star Alliance partner flights: Aeroplan points can be used on over 40 Star Alliance partners including Lufthansa, United, and Singapore Airlines. Partner business class redemptions sometimes offer better value than Air Canada metal on the same route.
• Search for saver availability: Aeroplan shows lower point costs when airlines release saver-level award space. These seats are limited but represent the strongest per-point value on any given route.
• Combine points and cash: Aeroplan allows partial point redemptions topped up with cash. If you are short on points, this prevents you from waiting months to accumulate enough for a full redemption.
• Redeem for stopovers: Aeroplan allows one free stopover on round-trip international itineraries, letting you visit two destinations for the point cost of one.
• Target routes where business class cash prices are highest: transatlantic and transpacific routes in business class typically yield the best cents-per-point value because the cash fares are steep.

Worst ways to spend Aeroplan points

The best way to redeem Aeroplan points is also defined by knowing what to avoid. Several redemption categories consistently deliver poor value, and using points there can feel like leaving money on the table.

• Gift cards: Aeroplan gift card redemptions typically return well under one cent per point, making them one of the weakest options in the program.
• Merchandise through the Aeroplan store: physical goods redemptions rarely approach the value of even a modest flight redemption, and the selection is limited.
• Seat upgrades purchased with points at the gate: last-minute upgrade redemptions through Aeroplan can carry unfavourable point costs relative to the cash value of the upgrade.
• Car rentals as a primary redemption: car rental redemptions can be convenient but the per-point value is low; better to pay cash and earn points on the rental instead.
• Paying for taxes and fees with points: Aeroplan allows points to cover taxes and surcharges on award bookings, but the conversion rate for this specific use is poor compared to applying those points toward the base fare.

How to get more Aeroplan points to redeem

Accumulating points faster comes down to stacking earn sources. Flying Air Canada and its partners earns base points, but the real acceleration happens through everyday spending on an Aeroplan-linked credit card. Grocery, gas, and dining purchases on the right card can add up quickly, and welcome bonuses on premium cards can front-load enough points for a meaningful redemption within the first few months. If you want to compare which cards earn Aeroplan points most efficiently across different spending categories, the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada ranks the current options by earn rate and category fit.