Air Canada Frequent Flyer Program

(Updated: 15-03-2018)

The Frequent Flyer Program of Air Canada is called Aeroplan. It is different from Air Canada Altitude, which is a membership tier program that defines the different levels of membership and their various benefits and privileges. It is the Aeroplan program which defines how points are to be earned and redeemed. 

Aeroplan Enrolment

Enrolment for Aeroplan can be done online at: https://www.aeroplan.com/enroll.do

Aeroplan status levels

Aeroplan allows you to earn Aeroplan Miles on its partners, including itself, as given below. Further, as Miles get accumulated and reach a certain level, Aeroplan defines the status levels. These Aeroplan status levels are different from Altitude ones, so these shall not be confused. Let us first know what are Aeroplan status levels and their threshold limits:

• Aeroplan diamond—100,000 eligible miles accumulated during the calendar year
• Aeroplan black—50,000 eligible miles accumulated during the calendar year
• Aeroplan silver—25,000 eligible miles accumulated during the calendar year

In general, there are certain Miles which are not eligible to be counted in Aeroplan status. 

Earning the Aeroplan Miles

The calculation of Aeroplan Miles earned also depends on the fare class bought and sector of travel.

Till 28 February 2015, following was the minimum miles earned based on distance flown:

• For a distance flown up to 249 miles on Air Canada or Air Canada Express, Aeroplan members earn 250 miles whereas Air Canada Altitude members earn 500 miles. Also, for the same distance flow on Rapidair flights and for flights between Toronto and Montreal, you earn 500 miles.
• For flights of 250 miles or more, Aeroplan members earn as per actual miles flown. These minimum miles count towards Altitude membership as well.

Now, these minimum values also alter as per fare choices, as given below:

• Tango in Canada: 25% of 250 miles
• Tango between Canada and United States: 50% of 250 miles
• Flex: 100% of 250 miles
• Latitude: 125% of 250 miles
• Premium Economy (lowest or flexible): 125% of 250 miles
• Business Class (lowest or flexible): 150% of 250 miles

Altitude members also earn minimum of 250 miles on flights of Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air Canada Express in addition to miles earned as given above.

Flights of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, operating within Canada,

• earn AeroMiles and AQMs of 150% on Business Class Premium Rouge (both J,C,D; Z,P fare classes),
• 125% on Premium Economy (both O and E,N fare classes) and Latitude (Y,B classes)
• 100% on Flex (M,U,H,Q,V,W,G fare classes) 
• Tango (M,U,H,Q,V,W,G,S,T,L,A,K) can get 25% Aeroplan Miles and AQM.
• The Altitude Qualifying Segments (AQSs) earned is 1 for each of these classes of fare.
• Economy Basic (M,U,H,Q,V,W,G,S,T,L,A,K,F) fare options do not qualify for any such benefit.

For flights between Canada and USA, 

• 150% of Aeroplan Miles and AQMs on Business Class Premium Rouge (both J,C and D; Z,P fare classes) 
• 125% on Premium Economy (flexible) (O), Premium Economy (lowest) (E,N) and Latitude (Y,B classes)
• 100% on Flex (M,U,H,Q,V,W,G) and
• 50% on Tango (M,U,H,Q,V,W,G,S,T,L,A,K,F).
• For all these fare classes, the AQSs earned is 1 on both Air Canada and rouge carriers.

For the flights between Canada and Caribbean, Mexico and Central America, also called the Sun destinations, the AeroMiles and  AQMs earned are-

• 150% on Business Class Premium Rouge (both J,C and D,Z,P fare classes),
• 125% on Premium Economy (flexible) (O), Premium Economy (lowest) (E,N) and Latitude (Y,B classes),
• 100% on Flex (M,U,H,Q,V) and
• 50% on Tango (W,G,S,T,L,F,A,K) classes.
• AQSs earned are 1 for each category of flight fare class.

For the flights between Canada and other international destinations, there are no AeroMiles or AQMs to be earned for Business Class Premium Rouge (J and C,D,Z,P) on Rouge.

• 150% are earned on Business Class (flexible) (J) and Business Class (lowest) (C,D,Z,P)
• 125% are earned on Premium Economy (flexible) Premium Rouge (O), Premium Economy (lowest) Premium Rouge (E,N) and Latitude (Y,B) fare option .
• 100% on Flex (M,U,H,Q,V) and
• 50% on Tango (W,G,S,T,L,A,K)
• AQSs earned are 1 for each category of flight fare class.

Air Canada Getaway Bonus

• Aeroplan diamond: 3,000 Aeroplan miles per eligible roundtrip
• Aeroplan black: 2,000 Aeroplan miles per eligible roundtrip
• Aeroplan silver: 1,000 Aeroplan miles per eligible roundtrip

To aval these bonus miles, passengers are required to register on Air Canada Getaway Bonus every year at: https://www.aeroplan.com/status/acgetawaybonus?lang=en

Further, these are valid on eligible scheduled non-stop flights operated by Air Canada (including Air Canada Express) and by Air Canada rouge with a Saturday night stay.

Hotel Stay Bonus

250 Aeroplan status bonus miles are earned on per stay in any one of the partner hotels continously for up to 20 days, irrespective of number of check-ins or check-outs. This comes with another capping of earning 5000 Aeroplan status miles in calendar year. This is offered only for Black and Diamond Aeroplan members. 

Aeroplan eStore Bonus

2 Aeroplan status miles are earned for every single base mile earned while shopping on eStore. 

Earning With Partners

Redeeming the Aeroplan Miles

The AeroMiles can be redeemed in many ways. This is achieved by way of flight rewards, hotel bookings, car rental companies, charitable causes, carbon offsets, buying merchandise and transfer of miles. You also get benefits of at-airport services by redeeming these miles for comforts of lounges.

These ways of redemption are mentioned below:

Flight Rewards

When passengers opt for flight rewards, there is a reduction of the miles required for this purpose based on the Aeroplan status level of the passenger. The reduction level in percentage terms is given below. These are the maximum reductions and the actual reductions could be less than these.

• Aeroplan diamond: Up to 35% reduction for Market Fare Flight Rewards 
• Aeroplan black: Up to 25% reduction for Market Fare Flight Rewards 
• Aeroplan silver: Up to 20% reduction for Market Fare Flight Rewards 

Non-flight rewards: You can also redeem your Miles by shopping online for a wide array of merchandise and buying lifestyle products and services such as dining, spa, events, theater, adventure and other recreational products.

Green It Up is the carbon offset program of Air Canada. It was launched in 2007 and aims to serve environment. AeroMiles can be redeemed for carbon offsets by the environmental conscious passengers.  

Charitable causes: You can also make redemption of miles by donating to the various charities. Air Canada has a well established way of allowing you to donate for a noble cause. This program of Air Canada is called- Beyond Miles. There are 10 partner organizations and about 400 participating charities, for which AeroMiles can be redeemed.

Using the Share Miles, you can transfer the AeroMiles which you have earned to another member account instantaneously online. Applicable rate is 2 cents per miles.

Distinction Program of Air Canada

• dSilver members need 25000 eligible miles
• dBlack members need 50000 eligible miles
• dDiamond members need 100000 eligible miles

Status of a member in a particular year depends on the number of miles earned in the previous calendar year. An interesting feature of this program is that the carrier offers Distinction flights on which 100% of seats are reserved only for Distinction members so that they can redeem at ClassicFlightReward.

Bonuses

The members are also eligible for Bonus miles as per following rates for each eligible roundtrip. These are 500, 1000 and 1500 Bonus Miles for dSilver, dBlack and dDiamond members.

Bonus miles are also available to dDiamond and dBlack members for hotel stays at partner hotels (Marriott, Starwood and Fairmont). You can earn bonus of 250 miles per stay for up to 20 stays in these hotels in a calendar year. These are not the qualifying miles for the purpose of determining the Distinction status.

Bonus is also available when dDiamond, dBlack and dSilver members shop at Aeroplan eStore. The respectively get 2, 1 and 1 Distinction Bonus mile for every base mile earned. While shopping at shop.ca, the bonus is of 1 distinction bonus mile for all types of members.

Air Canada Altitude Membership

The status of Altitude membership is determined on the basis of Altitude Qualifying Miles (AQM) or Altitude Qualifying Segments (AQS) and Altitude Qualifying Dollars (AQDs). These are earned on flights operated by Air Canada and Star Alliance members. 

AQDs are earned on base fare of airline ticket and surcharges imposed by the carrier which you  pay for. Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express are the airlines on which you can earn the AQDs. These are also earned on eligible flights of Star Alliance members that are ticketed under Air Canada, eligible Flight Pass purchases and eUpgrade add-on. 

For attaining higher Altitude status, a passenger shall earn both AQMs or AQSs and AQDs. 

Benefits of Altitude Membership

Altitude membership comes with a range of benefits and exclusive privileges. Here is the list of some of these benefits.