This article is for you if you’ve earned Aeroplan points and would like to use them for a trip to the U.S. We’ll help you every step of the way to book your flights with your Aeroplan points. Whether you’re looking for direct flights or more complex itineraries, we’ll show you how to make the most of your points for an optimal travel experience and help you realize your travel plans to the U.S.
Aeroplan point fares to the U.S. with Air Canada are dynamic and vary according to seasonality. The advantage of booking with Air Canada is that all available seats can be purchased with Aeroplan points.
Although flights can be found at a price considered to be standard, lower or higher prices are also possible. The latter situation is more frequent during periods of high demand, such as the end-of-year vacations or spring break.
On the other hand, fares for travel between Canada and the U.S. with a partner airline are fixed, making it easier to plan your points accumulation strategy. However, the number of seats available in points for partners is limited compared with paid tickets. Therefore, if you don’t see any seats available with these during your search, it means that there are no more points tickets (or award tickets) for the date you want.
To find affordable flights to the United States with your Aeroplan points, there are several strategies to consider:
On the other hand, being flexible about your point of entry into the U.S. can be a wise move. Sometimes, it’s more cost-effective to use your Aeroplan points to land in a nearby city to start your trip (for example, aim for Los Angeles even if you want to go to San Diego or fly to West Palm Beach instead of Fort Lauderdale to go to Florida).
You will need to evaluate the value of your Aeroplan points for this transaction to decide whether it is favorable to use them for your flight to the U.S. or to pay in cash.
Aeroplan points have no fixed value when redeemed for flights; their value depends on the value of the flight you redeem your points for.
Once you’ve identified the flights you’d like to purchase with Aeroplan points, consult Google Flights or the airline’s website to compare points prices with cash prices for the same itinerary.
This is the same flight, with the same fare class and the same level of service as the one we found for a getaway to Fort Lauderdale.
Aeroplan point prices may vary depending on the date and time of search. The prices presented in this article represent the prices found at the time of writing.
To determine the value of your points when redeemed for this flight, you’ll need to perform the following calculation:
Total price: $681
Taxes and surcharges: $159.10
Aeroplan Points: 23,200 points
Valuation ($681 – $159.10) ÷ 23,200 × 100 = 2.5¢ per point
Taxes and surcharges must be deducted from the total price to be paid in cash, as they are unavoidable in both cases, and the portion of the airfare to be covered exclusively by Aeroplan points must be isolated.
Note that you can carry out this analysis with the same flight, or with the cheapest flight if that’s the one you would have chosen for your trip to the U.S. by paying cash. Know that there is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” value; it depends largely on personal preferences. However, Milesopedia has established some value references here to help you make your decision. Finally, point value is not the only factor to consider when comparing points and money. We recommend that you consult this guide for full details.
Flights to major cities in the eastern U.S. are often very expensive in terms of money, as they serve major metropolises such as New York, Boston and Washington. However, direct one-way flights between 6,000 and 10,000 Aeroplan points from Montreal are possible since these destinations are less than 500 miles away.
You should also bear in mind that flights with Air Canada are subject to dynamic pricing. On the other hand, Aeroplan points flights to our southern neighbor are usually a good deal when calculating the value of your points, regardless of the destination.
It is important to note that Aeroplan stops are not possible in North America and that stopovers must be no longer than 4 hours unless otherwise permitted.
It’s also worth noting that this is one of the most advantageous programs for families with babies on their laps, as the ticket cost is always set at 2,500 Aeroplan points, regardless of itinerary or class of service.
You can find good prices all year round, but affordable flights in points to the U.S. compared to cash prices can be found during busier periods like the holidays or spring break, as long as you plan ahead.
For this flight between Montreal and New York in economy class, we managed to obtain a value of 3.06¢ per Aeroplan point redeemed.
For this flight to Los Angeles, your Aeroplan points will be worth 2.2¢ per point.
Similarly, when traveling during the holiday season, cash flights can be very expensive. In this example to Orlando, we reach a value of 5.5¢ per point! The important thing in these cases is to make your reservations well in advance.
To get started, go to the Air Canada website and log in to your Aeroplan account (or register if you don’t already have one).
You’ll see your Aeroplan points balance at the top right of the page. Before starting your flight search, be sure to specify your departure and arrival airports, travel dates and number of passengers, then check the “Book with Aeroplan Points” box.
Once you’ve launched the search, a results page displays flight options to the U.S. You can add filters according to your preferences, such as the number of stopovers, airlines, connecting airports, eUpgrades, and other criteria such as aircraft type. For some travellers, the choice of aircraft is particularly important.
You can then sort the results by departure or arrival time, trip duration, and ascending price. By clicking on the “economy class,” “premium economy,” or “business class” categories at the top of the results columns, you can display prices in ascending or descending order for each specific category.
You’ll see a scroll bar at the top of the results that lets you quickly compare prices for nearby dates. All available Air Canada and partner flights will be displayed for you to make an informed choice.
Once you’ve chosen your flight and selected your desired class of service, a new table is displayed for you to select a fare class. The class of service determines the cabin in which you will be seated on board the aircraft, while the fare class defines the conditions of your ticket. For example, some economy class tickets offer free checked baggage, the ability to change or cancel your reservation at no charge, and the possibility of same-day standby, while others do not.
Take a look at this comprehensive guide to learn more about the different tariff classes and how to make the best choice.
Then you repeat the same process for your return flight if you have booked a round-trip itinerary, which takes you to the flight details review page. If you have chosen a one-way ticket, you will be directed to the same page where you can review your itinerary.
At the bottom of your ticket details, you’ll be asked to choose from several exchange options. The third option is generally the most beneficial, allowing you to pay the actual price in Aeroplan points plus taxes. To learn more, consult this detailed guide to Aeroplan redemption options.
Once you’ve checked all the details and everything is as expected, click “Continue” to access the payment page. It is important to note that Air Canada offers free cancellation within 24 hours of booking if you change your mind. In this case, you will receive a full refund in points and taxes.
Next, enter your personal details. You can specify any dietary restrictions or accessibility needs, such as wheelchair assistance, at this stage.
You can choose to prepay for a meal if you wish; there is no meal service included on routes between Canada and the U.S. in economy class.
Next, the cabin layout will be displayed, and you can choose your seats, for a fee or not, depending on the fare you’ve selected. If you do not wish to pay for seats, you can select your seats free of charge up to 24 hours before departure.
The final step is to review your itinerary and make your payment. You will be offered travel insurance, but be sure to check whether you are already covered by your credit card.
You can use two methods of payment: an Air Canada gift card, an eCoupon or a voucher, combined with a credit or debit card. Click on “I accept, purchase” to finalize the transaction.
In Canada, several Aeroplan co-branded credit cards allow you to earn Aeroplan points on your everyday purchases. These credit cards also offer travel benefits such as :
Please note that these advantages do not apply to all cards. When you’re looking for the card that best suits your needs, you can refer to this comparison article to help you make your choice.
What’s more, when you sign up for one of these credit cards, you can take advantage of a generous welcome bonus. This bonus alone can often cover a large part, or even all, of a round trip for a short stay in the U.S. for you and your family members, depending on the offers available and your ability to search for well planned itineraries.
Here are the welcome offers currently available for the most attractive Aeroplan credit cards:
The Membership Rewards program is also an excellent opportunity to earn Aeroplan points, as these points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio.
As a result, you can maximize your points accumulation by using these credit cards, which offer generous multipliers for certain categories of purchases such as groceries, restaurants and gas. Since there are many options available, we recommend that you consult our guide to finding the Membership Rewards credit card that best suits your needs.
You can earn points via the Aeroplan eStore at any time at participating stores. In addition, Aeroplan sometimes offers special promotions that allow you to earn additional points.
Here’s how to do it:
If you have Aeroplan Elite status, you can get even more benefits with the Aeroplan eStore. In fact, you benefit from an additional 2 bonus points per dollar spent. You’ll see this information when you log in to your profile, where your multiplier will be displayed more prominently.
To earn Aeroplan points with your flights, follow these instructions:
By following these simple steps, you can earn Aeroplan Points every time you fly with an airline partner.
Using your Aeroplan points to travel to the U.S. is a rewarding experience. By following the tips and steps described in this article, you can maximize the value of your points and get the most out of your trip. Whether you’re planning a trip in economy or business class, redeeming your Aeroplan points for flights to the U.S. can provide you with a memorable travel experience without breaking the bank. Have a good trip!
Continue reading with our travel guides to the United States :
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