How to transfer loyalty points to Aeroplan in Canada

A single Aeroplan redemption for a business-class flight to Europe can require fewer points than you think — if you know how to move points from the right program first. Transferring loyalty points to Aeroplan is one of the most powerful moves available to Canadian rewards collectors, but the mechanics are specific and the mistakes are easy to make. Transfer ratios are not always one-to-one, some programs charge fees, and points moved in the wrong direction cannot come back. Before you click confirm, it pays to understand exactly what you are doing and why. For a broader look at how much credit card points are worth and how different programs stack up, that context helps frame whether a transfer makes sense for your situation.

Which programs can you transfer to Aeroplan in Canada?

• American Express Membership Rewards: one of the most flexible transfer partners, with a generally favourable ratio to Aeroplan — see the full walkthrough in How to transfer Amex points to Aeroplan in Canada for step-by-step instructions.
• Marriott Bonvoy: hotel points can be converted to Aeroplan, though the ratio makes this worthwhile mainly when you have a large Bonvoy balance you are unlikely to use for hotel stays.
• TD Rewards: TD points earned on select cards can be transferred to Aeroplan, giving TD cardholders a path into the Air Canada ecosystem without holding an Aeroplan co-branded card.
• CIBC Aventura: Aventura points transfer to Aeroplan, which is useful if you have accumulated a balance on a CIBC travel card and want to consolidate into a single program.
• RBC Avion: Avion Rewards points are transferable to Aeroplan, making RBC one of the few major Canadian banks with a direct transfer path to Air Canada’s program.
• BMO Rewards: select BMO cardholders can move BMO Rewards points to Aeroplan, though availability depends on the specific card held.
• Bilt Rewards (U.S.-based): while primarily a U.S. program, Canadians with cross-border accounts may encounter Bilt as a transfer partner — confirm eligibility with Aeroplan directly before attempting.

How Aeroplan transfer ratios actually work

Transfer ratios tell you how many points from your source program convert into Aeroplan points. A ratio of 2:1 means you hand over two points to receive one Aeroplan point. A ratio of 1:1 means the conversion is even. The ratio matters enormously because Aeroplan points are not all worth the same in every redemption context — a point used for a short-haul economy seat is worth less than one applied to a long-haul business-class booking. To understand what you are actually getting, read through How much are Aeroplan points worth in Canada (2026)? before committing to a transfer. Say you hold 60,000 Membership Rewards points and the transfer ratio to Aeroplan is 1:1. You would arrive at 60,000 Aeroplan points, enough to target a meaningful Star Alliance redemption. If the ratio were instead 2:1, you would land at 30,000 Aeroplan points — a very different outcome for the same starting balance.

The ratio is only half the equation. You also need to factor in whether the source program charges a transfer fee, whether there is a minimum transfer amount, and whether the transfer is instantaneous or takes several business days. American Express transfers to Aeroplan are generally fast and fee-free, which is part of why Membership Rewards is considered one of the strongest feeder programs. Bank-issued rewards programs like TD Rewards or Avion may have different processing timelines and occasional promotional bonuses that temporarily improve the ratio. Watching for those transfer bonuses, which Aeroplan and its partners occasionally run, can meaningfully increase the Aeroplan points you receive for the same outlay.

Step-by-step: how to transfer points to Aeroplan

The process varies slightly by program, but the core steps are consistent. First, log into your source rewards account — whether that is your Amex, TD, RBC, or CIBC portal. Navigate to the transfer or convert section, which is usually found under the rewards or points management tab. You will be prompted to enter your Aeroplan number, so have it ready. Select the number of points you want to transfer, confirm the ratio and the resulting Aeroplan balance, and submit. Most programs require a minimum transfer amount, often 1,000 points, and transfers are generally one-way and irreversible once confirmed. After submission, the timeline varies: Amex transfers to Aeroplan typically post within minutes to a few hours, while some bank programs take two to five business days. Do not book a flight expecting points to appear instantly unless you have confirmed the processing time for your specific program.

A practical note on timing: if you are targeting a specific award seat, check availability on the Aeroplan website first and put the seat on hold if the option exists before initiating the transfer. Award space on popular routes — particularly Air Canada business class to Europe or Asia — can disappear quickly. Transferring points into Aeroplan and then discovering the seat is gone is a frustrating and avoidable outcome. Some travellers also wait for transfer bonus promotions before moving large balances. These promotions, when available, can add 20% to 40% more Aeroplan points on top of the standard ratio, which changes the math considerably on a large transfer.

When transferring to Aeroplan is worth it

Transferring points to Aeroplan makes the most sense when you have a specific redemption in mind that delivers materially more value than your source program’s own travel portal. Bank travel portals typically value points at a fixed rate per dollar of travel booked. Aeroplan’s fixed-rate chart for short-haul flights can be competitive, but the real leverage comes from long-haul premium cabin bookings where the cents-per-point value can be substantially higher than a portal redemption. The difference matters most when you are booking business or first class on Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner like Lufthansa, ANA, or Singapore Airlines. In those cases, the Aeroplan points required may represent a fraction of the cash price, making the transfer worthwhile even at a less-than-ideal ratio.

Transfers from American Express Membership Rewards

Transfers from bank rewards programs (TD, RBC, CIBC, BMO)

Common mistakes when transferring points to Aeroplan

The most common mistake is transferring points before confirming award availability. Aeroplan points cannot be refunded once transferred, and the Aeroplan points themselves can only be used within the Aeroplan ecosystem. If you move 80,000 Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan and then cannot find the seat you wanted, those points are now locked in Aeroplan until you find another redemption. A second frequent error is ignoring the ratio. Transferring from a program with a 2:1 ratio to Aeroplan effectively halves your balance. If your source program’s own travel portal values points at a rate that competes with what Aeroplan would deliver, the transfer destroys value rather than creating it. A third mistake is missing transfer bonus windows. Aeroplan and its bank partners periodically offer limited-time bonuses of 20% to 40% on transfers. Transferring outside those windows, when you could have waited a few weeks, is a real cost. Tracking these promotions through loyalty program newsletters or communities is a practical habit for anyone who moves points regularly.