Maximize your flight options with Aeroplan for a trip to the United States

How to find the best prices in Aeroplan points

Price fluctuations

Aeroplan points pricing for flights to the United States with Air Canada and United Airlines is dynamic and shifts with the season. The advantage of booking with Air Canada is that every available seat can be purchased with Aeroplan points. United offers broader availability, but its entire inventory is still not accessible through Aeroplan.

While you can find flights at what counts as a standard price, you can also find lower or higher prices. Higher pricing is more common during periods of strong demand such as the year-end holidays or spring break.

The golden rules for finding good Aeroplan prices to the United States

Several strategies are worth considering to find affordable flights to the United States with your Aeroplan points:

• Plan well in advance, or stay flexible at the last minute (ideally 7 to 14 days before departure).
• Be flexible about your dates and your destination.
• Take advantage of the times when partner airlines release their flights for sale, or book ahead when Air Canada’s dynamic pricing works in your favour.

Staying flexible about your point of entry into the United States can also pay off. It is sometimes cheaper to use your Aeroplan points to land in a nearby city to start your trip (for example, targeting Los Angeles even if you want to go to San Diego, or flying into West Palm Beach instead of Fort Lauderdale to reach Florida).

How to decide whether to use your Aeroplan points

To decide whether it is better to use Aeroplan points for your flight to the United States or to pay cash, you need to assess the value of your points for that specific transaction.

Aeroplan points have no fixed value when redeemed for flights; their value depends on the value of the flight you get in exchange for them.

Once you have identified the flights you want to buy with Aeroplan points, check Google Flights or the airline’s website to compare the price in points against the cash price for the same itinerary.

Here is the same flight, in the same fare class and the same cabin, that we found for a getaway to Fort Lauderdale.

To determine the value of your points when they are redeemed for this flight, run the following calculation:

Total price: $681

Taxes and surcharges: $159.10

Aeroplan points: 23,200 points

You have to subtract taxes and surcharges from the total cash price, because those fees are unavoidable either way, and then isolate the portion of the airfare that Aeroplan points alone will cover.

Note that you can run this analysis with the same flight, or with the cheapest flight if that is the one you would have chosen for your trip to the United States had you paid cash. There is also no “good” or “bad” valuation; it depends heavily on your own preferences. That said, Milesopedia has published reference values here to help you decide. Finally, points valuation is not the only factor to weigh when comparing points and cash. We recommend reading this guide for all the details you need.

Where to go in the United States with Aeroplan points

Sweet spots and affordable flights in Aeroplan points to the United States

Flights to the major cities of the eastern United States are often very expensive in cash terms, because they serve large metropolitan areas such as New York, Boston and Washington. That said, you can usually get direct one-way flights for between 6,000 and 10,000 Aeroplan points out of Montreal, since these destinations sit under 500 miles away.

Keep in mind that flights with Air Canada and United Airlines are subject to dynamic pricing. Even so, Aeroplan points flights to our southern neighbour are usually a good deal once you calculate the value of your points, whatever the destination.

Note, however, that Aeroplan stopovers are not available within North America, and that layovers must be no longer than 4 hours apart from a few exceptions.

It is also worth noting that this is one of the best programs for families travelling with infants on the lap, since their ticket always costs 2,500 Aeroplan points regardless of the itinerary or the cabin.

Examples of Aeroplan points deals for a flight between Montreal and the United States

You can find good prices all year long, but flights to the United States look especially affordable next to the cash price during busier periods such as the holidays or spring break, provided you book early.

On this flight between Montreal and New York in economy class, we manage to get a value of 3.06¢ per Aeroplan point redeemed.

On this flight to Los Angeles, your Aeroplan points are worth 2.2¢ each.

Likewise, cash fares can be very expensive when you travel over the holidays. In this example to Orlando, the value even reaches 5.5¢ per point. The key in these cases is to book well ahead.

How to redeem Aeroplan points for a flight to the United States

To get started, head to the Air Canada website and log in to your Aeroplan account (or sign up if you do not have one yet).

Your Aeroplan points balance appears at the top right of the page. Before starting your flight search, set your departure and arrival airports, your travel dates and the number of passengers, then check the “Book with Aeroplan points” box.

Once you have launched the search, a results page shows the outbound flight options to the United States. You can add filters based on your preferences, such as the number of stops, the airlines, the connecting airports, eUpgrades, and other criteria like the aircraft type. For some travellers, the choice of aircraft matters a great deal.

You can then sort the results by departure or arrival time, by trip duration and by ascending price. Clicking the “Economy”, “Premium Economy” or “Business” headers at the top of the results columns lets you display prices in ascending or descending order for each specific cabin.

A scrolling bar at the top of the results also lets you quickly compare prices on nearby dates. Every available Air Canada flight and partner flight is displayed so you can make an informed choice.

Once you have picked your flight and selected the cabin you want, a new table appears so you can choose a fare class. The cabin determines where you sit on board the aircraft, while the fare class sets the conditions of your ticket. For example, some economy tickets include free checked bags, the option to change or cancel your booking at no charge, and the ability to go on same-day standby, while others do not.

To learn more about the different fare classes and how to make the best choice, you can read this complete guide on the subject.

You then repeat the same process for your return flight if you booked a round trip, which brings you to the page where you review your flight details. If you chose a one-way, you land on that same page to review your itinerary.

At the bottom of your airfare details, you have to pick from several redemption options. The third option is generally the best value, because it lets you pay the actual price in Aeroplan points plus the taxes. For more on this, read this detailed guide to Aeroplan redemption options.

Once you have checked every detail and everything matches your expectations, click “Continue” to reach the payment page. Note that Air Canada offers free cancellation within 24 hours of booking if you change your mind. In that case you are fully refunded, in both points and taxes.

Next you enter your personal information. If you have dietary restrictions or accessibility needs, such as wheelchair assistance, you can specify them at this stage.

You can then choose to prepay a meal if you wish; no meal service is included in economy class on routes between Canada and the United States.

The cabin map is then displayed and you can choose your seats, with or without a fee depending on the fare you selected. If you would rather not pay for seats, you can select them free of charge up to 24 hours before departure.

Finally, the last step is to review your itinerary and complete the payment. Travel insurance will be offered, but make sure to check whether your credit card already covers you.

You can use two payment methods: an Air Canada gift card, an eCoupon or a travel voucher, combined with a credit card or a debit card. Click “I accept, purchase” to finalize the transaction.

How to earn Aeroplan points for a trip to the United States

Aeroplan credit cards

In Canada, several Aeroplan co-branded credit cards let you earn Aeroplan points on your everyday purchases. These credit cards also come with travel benefits such as:

• A free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to 8 travel companions on the same booking, on Air Canada flights;
• A statement credit for NEXUS enrolment;
• Access to Maple Leaf^™ Lounges in North America;
• Comprehensive travel insurance coverage;
• Preferred pricing for cardholders, which often means redeeming fewer points for flights;
• A Worldwide Companion Pass and much more.

Note that these benefits do not apply to every card. When looking for the card that best meets your needs, you can turn to this comparison article for help with your choice.

Applying for one of these credit cards can also earn you a generous welcome bonus. That bonus alone can often cover much or even all of a round trip for a short getaway to the United States for you and your family members, depending on the offers available and on your ability to find well-priced itineraries.

Here are the welcome offers currently available on the most attractive Aeroplan credit cards:

Transferable points to Aeroplan

The Membership Rewards program is also an excellent opportunity to build up Aeroplan points, since those points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio.

You can therefore optimize your earning with these credit cards, as they offer generous multipliers on certain spending categories such as groceries, restaurants and gas. Since several options are available, we recommend reading our guide to finding the Membership Rewards credit card that best matches your needs.

Shopping portals

You can earn points through the Aeroplan eStore at any time with participating merchants. Aeroplan also runs occasional promotions that let you collect extra points.

Here is how to proceed:

• Log in to the Aeroplan eStore with your Aeroplan account.
• Go to the dedicated page of the participating merchant.
• Click the “Shop and earn” button to reach the merchant’s online store.

If you hold Aeroplan Elite status, the Aeroplan eStore gets even better. You earn an extra 2 bonus points per dollar spent. You will see this information once logged in to your profile, where your multiplier is displayed at the higher rate.

Flights with Air Canada and its partners

To earn Aeroplan points on your flights, follow these instructions:

1. Choose from Aeroplan’s partner airlines: Aeroplan works with a range of airlines, notably Air Canada (the founding carrier), as well as members of Star Alliance. When you book a flight with one of these carriers, you have the option to earn Aeroplan points.
2. Use your Aeroplan number when booking : When you book a flight with an Aeroplan partner airline, be sure to provide your Aeroplan number at the time of booking or at check-in. This ensures the points you earn are credited to your Aeroplan account.
3. Check the points earning rates : Earning rates can vary depending on the airline, the booking class, the distance flown and other factors. Be sure to check the information provided by Aeroplan or the airline to know the points earning rates specific to your flight.
4. Take advantage of promotional offers : From time to time, Aeroplan runs promotional offers that let you earn bonus points on certain flights or by meeting certain conditions. Be sure to watch for these offers and use them to your advantage to earn even more points.

By following these simple steps, you can earn Aeroplan points every time you fly with a partner airline.

Conclusion

Using your Aeroplan points to travel to the United States is a rewarding experience. By following the tips and steps described in this article, you can maximize the value of your points and make the most of your trip. Whether you are planning to fly in economy or in business class, redeeming your Aeroplan points for flights to the United States can deliver a memorable trip without breaking the bank. Have a great trip!

Keep reading with our United States travel guides: