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Aeroplan is Air Canada's rewards program. Its Star Alliance and additional airline partnerships support flight rewards; card transfers add points to Aeroplan rather than to every partner's own loyalty account.
Best suited for: Travelers comparing Air Canada flights with Star Alliance and selected additional partner awards who can track account activity and the final cash cost.
Airline: Air Canada (AC). Alliance: Star Alliance
Do these points or miles expire?
The normal policy is expiration after 18 months of inactivity. Expiry is paused through November 29, 2026; the normal policy resumes November 30, 2026. Complete an eligible transaction before that date if needed. Qualifying earning or redemption keeps an account active; elite and eligible primary-cardholder exceptions apply.
Which credit-card points transfer here?
- Ultimate Rewards: A direct Chase transfer partner. Requires an eligible transfer-enabled card such as Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred. Review the live ratio and transfer terms; earning Ultimate Rewards on another card alone does not establish transfer eligibility. Official transfer rules
- Membership Rewards: A direct U.S. Membership Rewards transfer partner. Eligibility, minimums, increments and ratios vary; checking-only accounts have limited partner options. Review the live quote and applicable transfer fees. Official transfer rules
- Capital One miles: Aeroplan is a direct transfer partner. Minimum 1,000 Capital One miles; account names must match. Transfers cannot be reversed. Confirm the live conversion ratio. Official transfer rules
Selected U.S. card-program transfers. Product eligibility and account terms apply; this is not an exhaustive global list. A card transfer and booking a partner flight are separate actions. Check the award first and confirm the final ratio and any fee in your issuer account.
Which partner airlines can I book?
- United Airlines
- Lufthansa
- ANA
- Singapore Airlines
- Etihad Airways
- Emirates
Selected flight-reward partners, not a complete roster. Partner inventory is subject to availability. Air Canada's partner catalog also includes codeshare relationships, which must not be treated as automatic redemption eligibility.
Ways to earn
- From January 1, 2026, eligible Air Canada flight earning is based on spend: generally one point per eligible dollar of base fare and carrier surcharges before elite multipliers. Taxes, fees and third-party charges are excluded; check fare eligibility.
- Participating Aeroplan credit cards, retail and travel partners can earn points. Qualifying bank transfers are listed above; product and market terms apply.
Ways to redeem
- Use points for Air Canada flight rewards and available partner awards. Points prices differ by itinerary and carrier; consult the current flight-reward chart.
- Air Canada flight rewards exclude additional airline surcharges, but taxes and third-party fees remain. Partner awards carry a published $39 partner booking fee per ticket on the Canadian program page; confirm the currency and total at checkout.
Important restrictions before booking
- A partner award chart does not guarantee seats. Some partners use variable pricing; check the actual itinerary before transferring.
- Flight reward changes and cancellations depend on the selected reward fare. Additional fees can apply.
- A credit-card transfer does not guarantee elite status or an upgrade. Award points and Status Qualifying Credits are different measures.
Family Sharing and account verification
The current Canadian page supports pools of up to eight verified family members. Creating or joining requires at least six months of Aeroplan membership and account verification. Members stay at least three months and must wait six months after leaving before joining a new pool. All points are shared; earning protects the individual earner's activity, while a pooled redemption affects contributing accounts. Check your dashboard for availability: some regional pages still display older suspension wording.
Elite status uses SQC in 2026
Aeroplan 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite remain the status levels. From 2026, Status Qualifying Credits provide the qualification path. Eligible flights, selected card spending and qualifying partners can contribute under separate limits. Use the current SQC rules instead of the former SQM/SQS qualification framework.
Official resources and support
- Air Canada: expiration pause through November 29, 2026
- Air Canada: official Aeroplan program
- Air Canada: normal inactivity rule and exceptions
- Air Canada: current partner catalog
- Air Canada: June 2026 flight reward chart
- Air Canada: 2026 flight points earning and fare eligibility
- Air Canada: rewards, taxes, booking and cancellation fees
- Air Canada: Canadian Family Sharing rules
- Air Canada: 2026 Aeroplan Elite and SQC rules
- Air Canada: Aeroplan general terms
- Air Canada: Aeroplan enrollment
- Air Canada: customer support
Programs, fees and benefits can change. Confirm current rules and availability with the official program before booking. Card-specific offers and unconfirmed benefits are excluded from this briefing.