Where to Go With $1,500 at Air Canada or Aeroplan Points?

With a $1,500 Air Canada gift card, you pay for two round trips to Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu or Las Vegas, or one to Paris, Rome or Cancún with close to $600 left over. For February 2027, cash beats your Aeroplan points on 9 of the 11 trips: only Cancún and Vancouver with a stop let you get more out of your points.

Here you will find 11 trips departing from Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, sorted by whether you travel solo or for two. For each one, we give you the cash price, the price in points with and without an Aeroplan card, and what your point is then worth.

Your $1,500 Air Canada Budget at a Glance

Prices are for departures from February 9 to 17, 2027, in economy, taxes included. The table gives the cash price, the price in points per person and the value per point: subtract the taxes you pay with the points from the cash price, then divide the rest by the number of points.

We use 2¢ per Aeroplan point as a benchmark, the reference value from our guide to buying points. Below 2¢, pay cash. Above it, use your points.

The “with a card” prices include the 15% discount for Aeroplan cardholders, which applies to flights operated by Air Canada once you are signed in to your account. It becomes a permanent benefit on January 12, 2027, according to Air Canada. Without a card, these flights therefore cost about 15% more points, while partner flights keep the same price. You will find the details in our article on the Aeroplan cardholder discount.

Your Air Canada budget of 1,500 dollars: 11 trips in cash and Aeroplan points, February 9 to 17, 2027 (points per person)
Trip	In cash	Points with an Aeroplan card	Points without a card	Value per point	Our pick
Montreal to Paris, solo	$880	60,500 + $310	About 65,500 + $310	0.9¢	Cash
Toronto to Rome, solo	$905	72,000 + $149	About 83,000 + $290	0.7¢ to 1.1¢	Cash
Calgary to Puerto Vallarta, solo	$1,022	58,602 + $342	About 68,900 + $342	1.0¢ to 1.2¢	Cash
Montreal to Punta Cana, solo	$1,048	43,395 + $251	About 51,100 + $251	1.6¢ to 1.8¢	Cash
Montreal to London, solo	$1,080	57,366 + $374	About 67,500 + $374	1.0¢ to 1.2¢	Cash
Vancouver to Honolulu, for two	$1,254 ($627 each)	42,700 + $203	About 50,200 + $203	0.8¢ to 1.0¢	Cash
Montreal to Fort Lauderdale, for two	$1,138 ($569 each)	33,571 + $168	About 39,500 + $168	1.0¢ to 1.2¢	Cash
Toronto to Las Vegas, for two	$1,416 ($708 each)	40,730 + $167	About 47,900 + $167	1.1¢ to 1.3¢	Cash
Montreal to Barcelona, for two	$1,504 ($752 each)	56,185 + $115	About 66,100 + $115	1.0¢ to 1.1¢	Cash
Montreal to Vancouver, for two	$1,590 ($795 each)	41,718 + $93	About 49,100 + $93	1.4¢ to 1.7¢ (2.3¢ with a stop)	Points, with a stop
Montreal to Cancún, solo	$894	27,695 + $250	About 32,600 + $250	2.0¢ to 2.3¢	Points

Solo: 5 Trips That Leave a Balance

Travelling solo? These five trips pay for your round-trip ticket and leave $420 to $620 on the gift card. That balance never expires: it pays for a bag, an upgrade or your next Air Canada flight.

Montreal to Paris: $880

A round trip from Montreal to Paris costs $880 in February, taxes included, and leaves you $620 on the gift card. You spend the week between museums, neighbourhood cafés and the banks of the Seine, in the heart of the low season.

The Louvre pyramid and the Cour Napoléon in Paris, under a blue sky. — The Louvre pyramid, in Paris.

In points, the Aeroplan search for these dates shows:

With an Aeroplan card: 60,500 points and $310 (31,900 points outbound with a stop in Newark on United, 28,600 points on the nonstop return)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 65,500 points and $310

Once you subtract the taxes from the $880, a point is worth 0.9¢, with or without the card. So pay for Paris with the gift card and keep your points.

Toronto to Rome: $905

A round trip from Toronto to Rome costs $905 and leaves you $595 on the card. You land at Fiumicino, half an hour by train from the historic centre, between the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the trattorias of Trastevere.

The Colosseum in Rome under a cloudy sky, with visitors on the square. — The Colosseum, in the heart of ancient Rome.

In points, the Aeroplan search for these dates shows:

With an Aeroplan card: 72,000 points and $149 (35,800 points outbound nonstop, 36,200 points on the return with a stop in Montreal)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 83,000 points and $290, on partner flights (United outbound, Lufthansa on the return)

A point is worth 1.1¢ with the card and 0.7¢ without one: pay for Rome with the gift card and save your points for a route where they are worth 2¢ or more.

Calgary to Puerto Vallarta: $1,022

From Calgary, a round trip to Puerto Vallarta costs $1,022 and leaves $478 on the card. You trade the Alberta winter for the Bay of Banderas and the Malecón, the seaside promenade of the old town.

With an Aeroplan card: 58,602 points and $342 (20,582 points outbound with a stop in Toronto, 38,020 points on the return with two stops)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 68,900 points and $342

A point is worth 1.2¢, with stops in each direction: pay for Puerto Vallarta with the gift card.

Montreal to Punta Cana: $1,048

A round trip from Montreal to Punta Cana costs $1,048 and leaves $452 on the card. Air Canada flies you there nonstop, and you spend the week with your feet in the sand, far from the February snow.

With an Aeroplan card: 43,395 points and $251 (17,529 points outbound, 25,866 points on the return, on nonstop flights)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 51,100 points and $251

A point is worth 1.8¢ with the card, very close to our 2¢ benchmark. If your points balance is sitting idle, this trip puts it to good use; otherwise, pay cash.

Montreal to London: $1,080

London is the most expensive trip on the list: $1,080 round trip from Montreal, with $420 left on the card. The overnight flight lands you at Heathrow in the morning, ready for Westminster, the neighbourhood markets and museums where admission is free.

Westminster Abbey seen from its cloister, in London. — Westminster Abbey, in London.

With an Aeroplan card: 57,366 points and $374 (28,915 points outbound, 28,451 points on the return, on nonstop flights)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 67,500 points and $374

On the return, British taxes and fees bring the bill to $374: the point drops to 1.2¢. Pay for London with the gift card.

For Two: 5 Trips for Two Tickets

Travelling with your partner or a friend? These five trips fit two round-trip tickets on the gift card, or nearly: from Waikiki Beach to the lanes of Barcelona, you share the trip instead of paying for it twice.

Vancouver to Honolulu: $1,254 for Two

Two round trips from Vancouver to Honolulu cost $627 each, or $1,254, and leave $246 on the gift card. Air Canada Rouge flies you there nonstop, a short distance from Waikiki Beach and the trail that climbs to the top of Diamond Head.

Diamond Head crater above Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. — Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach, in Honolulu.

The gift card does not pay for a hotel booked separately: budget for your lodging, or pay for your nights with points from a hotel program.

A leaning palm tree in front of the Pacific Ocean in Maui, Hawaii, under a blue sky with scattered clouds. — The Pacific Ocean on Maui, Hawaii.

In points, the Aeroplan search for these dates shows these prices on Air Canada Rouge nonstop flights:

With an Aeroplan card: 42,700 points and $203 (17,600 points outbound, 25,100 points on the return)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 50,200 points and $203

A point is worth 1.0¢ with the card and 0.8¢ without one: pay for Honolulu with the gift card and keep your points.

Montreal to Fort Lauderdale: $1,138 for Two

Two round trips from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale cost $569 each, or $1,138, and leave you $362 on the card. Air Canada flies you there nonstop in under four hours, between the Atlantic beaches and the Everglades.

A lifeguard tower on a beach in Palm Beach, Florida, at sunset. — A beach in Palm Beach, north of Fort Lauderdale, on Florida's Atlantic coast.

With an Aeroplan card: 33,571 points and $168 (13,454 points outbound, 20,117 points on the return, on nonstop flights)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 39,500 points and $168

A point is worth 1.2¢: cash wins. With a stop in Toronto on the return, the trip drops to 25,965 points and $223, or 1.3¢ per point.

Toronto to Las Vegas: $1,416 for Two

At $708 per person, two round trips from Toronto to Las Vegas come to $1,416 and leave $84 on the card. In February, you trade the snow for the Nevada sun, the shows on the Strip and a day trip to the Grand Canyon.

With an Aeroplan card: 40,730 points and $167 (12,511 points outbound, 28,219 points on the return, on nonstop flights)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 47,900 points and $167

On the nonstop flight, a point is worth 1.3¢. However, a return on United with a stop in Denver costs 12,251 points and $80: the trip then drops to 24,762 points, and your point is worth about 2.0¢.

Montreal to Barcelona: $1,504 for Two

Two round trips from Montreal to Barcelona at $752 cost $1,504, or $4 more than your gift card. You cover the difference with another card, since Air Canada accepts two forms of payment per booking.

With an Aeroplan card: 56,185 points and $115 (28,718 points outbound, 27,467 points on the return, on nonstop flights)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 66,100 points and $115

A point is worth 1.1¢ with the card: pay for Barcelona in cash and keep your points for Cancún.

Montreal to Vancouver: $1,590 for Two

Two round trips from Montreal to Vancouver at $795 go $90 over your gift card, which you cover with another card. It is the only trip within Canada on this list, with no passport needed.

With an Aeroplan card: 41,718 points and $93 (12,511 points outbound, 29,207 points on the return, on nonstop flights)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 49,100 points and $93

On the nonstop flight, a point is worth 1.7¢ with the card. With a stop in Edmonton on the return, at 17,528 points, the trip drops to 30,039 points and $93: the point then climbs to 2.3¢, and your points are worth more than your cash.

Cancún: The Trip to Pay for in Points

A round trip from Montreal to Cancún in economy costs $894 in cash and leaves you $606 on the gift card. In points, however, it is the best return of the 11 trips in this article:

With an Aeroplan card: 27,695 points and $250 (12,511 points outbound, 15,184 points on the return, on nonstop flights)
Without an Aeroplan card: about 32,600 points and $250

A point is therefore worth 2.3¢ with the card and 2.0¢ without one, above our benchmark. If your balance allows, pay for Cancún in points and keep the gift card for another trip, for two, for example.

Prefer business class? Air Canada Rouge sells the one-way flight on February 10, 2027 from $789, and flights with lie-flat seats from $1,104. In points, the same one-way flight costs:

Air Canada Rouge nonstop, with an Aeroplan card: 35,500 points and $162
Same flight, without an Aeroplan card: about 41,800 points and $162
With a stop in Ottawa: 24,100 points and $162 with the card, but in a mixed cabin (part of the trip in economy) and with only one seat available

With an Aeroplan card, a point is worth 1.8¢ in business class, and 1.5¢ without one. Air Canada also sells this cabin as a basic fare to Mexico: see what that fare includes in our article on Air Canada basic fares.

Paying With an Air Canada Gift Card

A $1,500 Air Canada gift card pays for each flight in this article, taxes included. What’s more, it never expires, and any unused balance stays on the card for your next ticket. Here is what it covers, according to the Air Canada gift card terms:

Tickets: flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express, taxes and fees included
Flight-related services: extra checked bags, change fees, last-minute upgrades
Packages: Air Canada Vacations flight and hotel packages, except group travel

With an Air Canada Vacations package, you therefore pay for the hotel with the gift card too. However, it does not pay for a hotel booked separately, a car rental, travel insurance, or a flight operated entirely by another airline.

Buying Points With $1,500: At What Price?

Your $1,500 buys close to 69,000 points at 2.2¢ per point, the cost of an 85% bonus promotion according to our guide to buying points. That number pays for two round trips to Cancún with an Aeroplan card, at 27,695 points each. For most of the other trips, cash stays cheaper than purchased points.

Here is the maximum price per point for a purchase to beat the cash price, trip by trip:

Cancún in economy: under 2.3¢ per point, with an Aeroplan card
Vancouver, with a stop in Edmonton on the return: under 2.3¢ per point
Las Vegas, with a return on United: under 2.0¢ per point
Punta Cana: under 1.8¢ per point
The other seven trips: under 1.7¢ per point

At 2.2¢, only Cancún in economy and Vancouver with a stop justify buying points, and only just. We therefore advise you to buy points only to fill a gap, as our guide to buying Aeroplan points explains.

Earning Points Instead of Buying Them

An Aeroplan credit card lets you earn points without paying for them, and its welcome bonus sometimes covers a full round trip. Compare all the options on our page of the best credit cards.

FeaturedCompare

TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card

TD Aeroplan First-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $139
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,000Annual fee rebated$139Total$1,139Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $1,139
Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months: Up to 50,000 points

With this offer for the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card, you can get up to 50,000 Aeroplan points^† as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year^†.

Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first Purchase with your new Card^†
Earn 15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of Account opening^†.
Plus, earn a one-time anniversary bonus of 25,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of Account opening^†

This card also allows you to enjoy travel benefits, such as a free first checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions on the same reservation^†, as well as a rebate on the NEXUS program application fee (up to $100 CAD per eligible cardholder) every 48 months^†.

With the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points^† per $1 spent on:

Grocery purchases
Gas and electric vehicle charging purchases
Purchases made directly with Air Canada^® (including Air Canada Vacations^®)

You also earn 1 point^† per dollar on all other eligible purchases made with your card.

Legal

^†Terms and conditions apply.

Annual fee

Primary card$139

Additional card$75

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1.5xGas & EV
1.5xGroceries
1.5xAir Canada flights
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,714

2nd Year Value$425

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $2,000,000 / 21 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $2,000,000 / 4 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $2,500

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our Pick for Your $1,500

For these February 2027 dates, your $1,500 in cash beats your points on 9 of the 11 trips. Here is how we would use it:

For two: Honolulu ($1,254) or Fort Lauderdale ($1,138), paid with the gift card, still leave you a balance for bags
Solo: Paris ($880) or Rome ($905) in cash, with close to $600 left for a future ticket
Cancún: pay in points, at 27,695 points with an Aeroplan card, and keep the gift card for another trip
Vancouver: take the stop in Edmonton on the return, where your points are worth 2.3¢
Points to buy: buy only the ones you are missing, never the whole trip

TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card

Apply NowCompare

CIBC^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

Apply NowCompare

Welcome offer

Up to 100,000 points

Our valuation

$2,000

Annual fee

$599

Travel Insurance: The Cost to Plan For

Good travel insurance protects the $1,500 you just put into your tickets. Budget for it when you book, since an Air Canada gift card does not pay for it.

Your credit card may include travel insurance. However, check its maximum trip length and its age limit, since several cards reduce or drop emergency medical coverage from age 65. We compare these protections with soNomad in our soNomad travel insurance comparison. Discovering soNomad through our contest? Fill out the quote below: you get your travel insurance price online and can compare it with your card's coverage before you book.

Compare travel insurance with soNomad

Get a quote on soNomad

Contest: Win $1,500 at Air Canada

From October 21 to 27, 2026, soNomad is giving away a $1,500 Air Canada gift card in our Milesopedia x soNomad contest. In other words, you could pay for one of the trips in this article without using your points.

Period: from Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 9:00 a.m., to Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time
Draw: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Eligibility: residents of Canada who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory
Limit: one entry per person, free, no purchase necessary

Enter the contest with my email address

The form only asks for your email address, and your entry is confirmed on screen. You can also comment SONOMAD under the contest post on our Instagram or Facebook account. A private message then asks for your email address. Both ways to enter also sign you up for our newsletter. Before you enter, read the full contest rules.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, with the text “How far would you go? With $1,500”, Milesopedia x soNomad contest. — Milesopedia x soNomad contest, October 21 to 27, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you do with a $1,500 Air Canada gift card?

For February 2027 departures, it pays for two round trips to Fort Lauderdale ($1,138), Honolulu ($1,254) or Las Vegas ($1,416). Travelling solo, you fly to Paris ($880), Cancún ($894), Rome ($905) or London ($1,080) and keep $420 to $620. That balance never expires and pays for your next flight.

Can you pay for two tickets with an Air Canada gift card?

Yes, the gift card also pays for the ticket of the person travelling with you. When the total goes over $1,500, as with Barcelona for two ($1,504), you cover the difference with a credit card, since Air Canada accepts two forms of payment per booking.

What does an Air Canada gift card pay for, and what doesn't it cover?

It pays for flights on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express, taxes included, as well as extra bags, change fees, last-minute upgrades and Air Canada Vacations packages, except group travel. It does not pay for a hotel booked separately, a car rental, travel insurance or a flight operated entirely by another airline.

Is it better to pay cash or use Aeroplan points?

For these dates, cash wins on 9 of the 11 trips, where a point is worth less than 2¢. Your points go further on only two routes: Montreal to Cancún in economy and Montreal to Vancouver with a stop in Edmonton on the return, at 2.3¢ per point with an Aeroplan card.

What discount does an Aeroplan credit card give?

Aeroplan cardholders pay 15% fewer points on flights operated by Air Canada once signed in to their account. According to Air Canada, this discount becomes a permanent benefit on January 12, 2027. Partner flights, such as United or Lufthansa, keep the same price in points.

Should you buy Aeroplan points with $1,500?

Rarely. At 2.2¢ per point during a promotion, $1,500 buys close to 69,000 points, and only Cancún in economy and Vancouver with a stop beat that price, and only just. We advise you to buy only the points you are missing to complete a booking.

How do you enter the soNomad contest?

From October 21 to 27, 2026, enter your email address in the contest form, in the contest section of this article. You can also comment SONOMAD under the contest post on Instagram or Facebook. The contest is open to residents of Canada who have reached the age of majority, with one free entry per person, and the draw takes place on October 28, 2026.

Are the prices in this article still valid?

They apply to departures from February 9 to 17, 2027 and change with the booking date and seat availability. Before you book, run the search again on aircanada.com with and without points: the method for calculating the value per point stays the same.

Learn More

Create your free member account to unlock members-only offers and pick your newsletters
Buying Points: Is It Worth It?
Air Canada Basic Fares: What They Include
The Best Aeroplan Credit Cards

Your $1,500 Air Canada Budget at a Glance

We use 2¢ per Aeroplan point as a benchmark, the reference value from our guide to buying points. Below 2¢, pay cash. Above it, use your points.

Your Air Canada budget of 1,500 dollars: 11 trips in cash and Aeroplan points, February 9 to 17, 2027 (points per person)
Trip	In cash	Points with an Aeroplan card	Points without a card	Value per point	Our pick
Montreal to Paris, solo	$880	60,500 + $310	About 65,500 + $310	0.9¢	Cash
Toronto to Rome, solo	$905	72,000 + $149	About 83,000 + $290	0.7¢ to 1.1¢	Cash
Calgary to Puerto Vallarta, solo	$1,022	58,602 + $342	About 68,900 + $342	1.0¢ to 1.2¢	Cash
Montreal to Punta Cana, solo	$1,048	43,395 + $251	About 51,100 + $251	1.6¢ to 1.8¢	Cash
Montreal to London, solo	$1,080	57,366 + $374	About 67,500 + $374	1.0¢ to 1.2¢	Cash
Vancouver to Honolulu, for two	$1,254 ($627 each)	42,700 + $203	About 50,200 + $203	0.8¢ to 1.0¢	Cash
Montreal to Fort Lauderdale, for two	$1,138 ($569 each)	33,571 + $168	About 39,500 + $168	1.0¢ to 1.2¢	Cash
Toronto to Las Vegas, for two	$1,416 ($708 each)	40,730 + $167	About 47,900 + $167	1.1¢ to 1.3¢	Cash
Montreal to Barcelona, for two	$1,504 ($752 each)	56,185 + $115	About 66,100 + $115	1.0¢ to 1.1¢	Cash
Montreal to Vancouver, for two	$1,590 ($795 each)	41,718 + $93	About 49,100 + $93	1.4¢ to 1.7¢ (2.3¢ with a stop)	Points, with a stop
Montreal to Cancún, solo	$894	27,695 + $250	About 32,600 + $250	2.0¢ to 2.3¢	Points

Solo: 5 Trips That Leave a Balance

Travelling solo? These five trips pay for your round-trip ticket and leave $420 to $620 on the gift card. That balance never expires: it pays for a bag, an upgrade or your next Air Canada flight.