Rewards
Aeroplan Points Explained: Value, Flight Costs and Expiry in Canada
How far Aeroplan points go: the points a flight costs on Air Canada’s current chart, what a point is worth, how to tell a good redemption from a poor one, how to keep points from expiring and which cards earn the most.
How much is an Aeroplan point worth?
WalletReturn uses about 1 cent per point for flights, so 50,000 points ≈ $500 of travel. That’s the value behind every Aeroplan card estimate on the site.
Your own value depends on the flight. Long-haul business class often works out to more than 1 cent per point; short economy hops on busy dates, merchandise and gift cards usually work out to less.
Put it into practiceAeroplan credit cardsHow many Aeroplan points does a flight within North America cost?
One-way economy on Air Canada starts at 6,000 points up to 500 miles, 10,000 up to 1,500 miles, 12,500 up to 2,750 miles and 17,500 beyond that.
| One-way distance | Economy | Premium economy | Business | Partner airline economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top0–500 miles | 6,000 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 6,000 |
| 501–1,500 miles | 10,000 | 15,000 | 20,000 | 10,000 |
| 1,501–2,750 miles | 12,500 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 12,500 |
| 2,751+ miles | 17,500 | 30,000 | 35,000 | 22,500 |
These are “starting at” prices from Air Canada’s flight rewards chart (dated August 2026). Points are based on the distance actually flown, and Air Canada says the price can rise for high-demand dates and itineraries.
How many points for common trips from Canada?
Montréal–Toronto starts at 6,000 points one way, Toronto–Calgary or Toronto–Vancouver at 12,500, and Toronto–London or Vancouver–Tokyo at 32,500 in economy.
| Trip (one way) | Approximate distance | Economy starts at | At 1¢ a point |
|---|---|---|---|
| TopMontréal to Toronto | 315 miles | 6,000 points | $60 |
| Toronto to Calgary | 1,690 miles | 12,500 points | $125 |
| Toronto to Vancouver | 2,080 miles | 12,500 points | $125 |
| Toronto to London | 3,545 miles | 32,500 points | $325 |
| Vancouver to Tokyo | 4,670 miles | 32,500 points | $325 |
Distances are approximate great-circle miles between the airports; connections add the distance of each flight, which can move a trip into a higher band.
How many Aeroplan points to Europe, Asia or South America?
From North America, one-way economy starts at 32,500 points to Europe (up to 4,000 miles), 32,500 to Asia (up to 5,000 miles) and 20,000 to South America (up to 2,500 miles). Business class starts at 60,000, 55,000 and 40,000.
| Zone | Distance band | Economy starts at | Business starts at |
|---|---|---|---|
| TopNorth America – Atlantic (Europe, Middle East, Africa) | 0–4,000 miles | 32,500 | 60,000 |
| North America – Atlantic (Europe, Middle East, Africa) | 4,001–6,000 miles | 42,500 | 75,000 |
| North America – Pacific (Asia, Oceania) | 0–5,000 miles | 32,500 | 55,000 |
| North America – Pacific (Asia, Oceania) | 5,001–7,500 miles | 45,000 | 85,000 |
| North America – South America | 0–2,500 miles | 20,000 | 40,000 |
| North America – South America | 2,501–4,500 miles | 30,000 | 50,000 |
Partner airlines (Star Alliance members such as Lufthansa or ANA) use the same zones, with a partner booking fee on top of taxes; some longer partner bands cost more points than Air Canada.
How do I know if an Aeroplan redemption is a good deal?
Work out the cents per point: take the cash price of the same flight, subtract the taxes and fees you’d still pay on the reward, divide by the points needed and multiply by 100. Above about 1 cent is a good use; well below 1 cent means paying cash and keeping the points is usually better.
Example: if a flight costs $700 in cash and the reward costs 32,500 points plus $250 in taxes and fees, the points save $450, which is about 1.4 cents a point.
Redemptions for merchandise or gift cards usually give less per point than flights, so check the maths before using them.
Do Aeroplan points expire?
Only after 18 months with no activity. Earning, redeeming, donating, transferring or converting at least one point resets the clock. Primary cardholders of a TD, CIBC or American Express Aeroplan credit card, and members with Aeroplan Elite Status, are exempt.
Air Canada’s page says expiry is temporarily paused but gives no end date, so don’t count on it: holding an Aeroplan card or earning a few points each year is the simplest protection.
How do you earn Aeroplan points?
By flying Air Canada and Star Alliance partners, shopping with Aeroplan partners and, for most people, with an Aeroplan credit card. American Express Membership Rewards points can also be converted to Aeroplan.
Which credit cards earn the most Aeroplan points?
At typical spending, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa earns the most each year ($173 after the fee). TD, CIBC and American Express issue Aeroplan cards.
| Card | Annual fee | First-year value | Net annual rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| TopTD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | $779 | $140 |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | $779 | $140 |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 | $732 | −$268 |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege | $599 | $730 | −$270 |
| American Express Aeroplan Card | $120 | $482 | $132 |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum | $89 | $386 | $97 |
| American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card | $599 | $319 | −$281 |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa | $0 | $273 | $173 |
Card values use WalletReturn’s example spending of $2,000 a month. First-year value is the welcome bonus plus a year of rewards, minus the annual fee; net annual rewards are what a typical year earns after the fee. Rankings are the same whether or not we earn a commission.
Keep reading
RankingsHow Much Are Credit Card Points Worth in Canada?What 1,000, 10,000 and 100,000 points are worth for Aeroplan, Scene+, Membership Rewards, Aventura, BMO Rewards, PC Optimum and other Canadian programs, how to work out a redemption’s value yourself and how points compare with cash back.
RewardsScene+ Points Explained: Value, Earning and Redeeming in CanadaWhat Scene+ points are worth, how fast you earn them at Sobeys, Home Hardware, Cineplex and Scene+ Travel, every way to redeem them, whether they expire and which Scotiabank card earns the most.- RewardsHow to Redeem Credit Card Points in CanadaThe same points are worth different amounts depending on how you use them. In the programs we have reviewed, the recorded value ranges from 1 ¢ a point to 0.1 ¢ a point.
RankingsBest Aeroplan Credit Cards in CanadaEvery Aeroplan credit card ranked by first-year value, from the TD and CIBC Visa Infinite cards to the premium Privilege cards and Amex Aeroplan cards.
Official sources and further reading
Terms vary by product. Confirm the provider’s current terms before acting. This guide does not predict approval, realized value or credit-score changes. How WalletReturn calculates value