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Air Canada Aeroplan is one of our favorite loyalty programs in North America and gives its competitors like AA and Delta a serious run for their money in terms of earning and redemption options. Air Canada Aeroplan extends its partnerships well beyond its membership in the Star Alliance, offering excellent sweet spots and great value for awards with a wide range of Aeroplan partner airlines.
On the downside, Air Canada still maintains an Aeroplan point expiration policy… at least on paper.
Do Aeroplan Points Expire?
Aeroplan points expire if your account has no activity for 18 months. Here's how the policy is spelled out on the Aeroplan website:
“You have 18 months before your Aeroplan points expire if there has been no activity in your account – meaning you haven’t earned, redeemed, donated, transferred, or converted any points. But so long as you stay active, your points won’t expire at all.”
However, travelers still have a temporary reprieve from this policy.
Expiration Suspension
Despite its 18-month point expiration policy, Aeroplan has suspended all point expirations. This suspension was originally put in place during Covid-19 but has since been extended several times.
Currently, the Aeroplan expiration suspension is valid through September 30, 2024. So, you have some leeway to take action if you have some points that are at risk of expiration.
How To Prevent Your Aeroplan Points From Expiring
In case Aeroplan ever reinstates its point expiration policy, here's what you need to know about generating account activity.
Earn Aeroplan points
- Credit points earned from an Air Canada or Star Alliance flight.
- Purchase something with your Aeroplan-affiliated credit card — such as the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
- Shop through Aeroplan retail partners.
- Earn points by shopping through the Aeroplan eStore.
- Transfer points from an Aeroplan bank partner such as Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1 ratio, instant transfer time), American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 ratio, instant transfer time), or Capital One Miles (1:1 ratio, instant transfer time).
- Transfer points from an Aeroplan hotel partner like Marriott Bonvoy.
Redeem Aeroplan points
- Donate your points to a charity (minimum of 1,000 points)
- Redeem your points for flight or other non-flight activities
- Redeem your points for merchandise.
Exceptions to the Mileage Expiration Policy
The mileage expiry policy is waived under certain circumstances, including:
- Members with elite status (applies to Elite 25K and above.)
- Primary cardmembers of an Aeroplan-affiliated credit card
- In Canada, available credit cards include the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite, TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card, TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum, and TD® Aeroplan® Visa Business.
- In the U.S., there is the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
Reinstating Expired Aeroplan Points
If your points have already expired, you have a couple of options. Within six months of your account becoming inactive, you can reinstate all your Aeroplan points free of charge by either taking an Air Canada flight or opening an Aeroplan credit card.
After the six-month period, you can still reinstate your points at the cost of 1 cent per mile plus a $30 administrative fee. To reinstate your points, you'll want to call the Aeroplan Contact Center at 1-800-361-5373.
Track Your Aeroplan Points Using AwardWallet
With only an 18-month expiration window, keeping a close eye on your Aeroplan points balance would serve well. Fortunately, AwardWallet can take much of the hassle out of tracking your points expirations.
All you need to do is add your Aeroplan account to your AwardWallet account. You will then receive a timely reminder letting you know if you have any points in danger of expiration.
Related: How to Track Your Rewards Using AwardWallet
Bottom Line
Aeroplan is a great program, with plenty of excellent value in its redemption sweet spots — which include 683 United routes for just 6,000 Aeroplan points. The program became even more valuable during a revamp in 2020 that eliminated fuel surcharges. Currently, the Aeroplan program regularly offers promotions.
However, if Aeroplan ever lets its point expiration suspension end, travelers need to be prepared to generate activity to save their points.
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