Travelling on Points Over the 2026 Holidays: When to Book and Which Program to Use
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Travelling on points over the 2026 holidays comes down to one thing: booking early, with the right program. December and early January are the busiest travel period of the year, and each program reacts to that demand differently. Aeroplan adjusts its points prices with demand, while RBC Avion and Scene+ cover part or all of the cash price of the ticket. This guide explains when to book and how to use each of these three programs over the holidays.
For priced route examples with Aeroplan, read our article on what 100,000 Aeroplan points cover over the 2026 holidays. Here, the focus is the method: the calendar, each program's rules and the mistakes that cost the most in December.
When to book a points trip for the holidays
The right time is now. In late October, there are still reward seats for Christmas week and New Year's week, but they disappear as flights fill up. At Air Canada, the points price follows demand: the more popular the date, the more the reward costs.
Booking early carries little risk with Aeroplan. Under the Aeroplan Flight Reward Policy, you can cancel up to 2 hours before departure, and online cancellation fees depend on the fare you picked:
- Economy Standard: $150 to cancel online
- Economy Flex: $75 to cancel online
- Latitude: free cancellation
The busiest dates
For the 2025-2026 holidays, Air Canada planned for more than 2.3 million customers between December 18 and January 4, with more than 140,000 travellers a day at the peak. The airline hasn't released its forecast for this year yet, but the school calendar already shows which days to avoid.
In Quebec, most school service centres end classes on Friday, December 18, 2026. Departures from December 18 to 21 and returns on January 2, 3 and 4 will therefore be among the most sought after. Check your school's calendar before you book.
If your dates are flexible, three options are worth comparing:
- Leave before school lets out: a departure early in the week of December 14 avoids the wave of the 18th.
- Fly on the holiday itself: compare flights on December 24, 25 and 31 with the days around them.
- Come back later in January: a return after January 4 falls outside the peak.
For the 2027 spring break, set for March 1 to 5 in the Greater Montreal area, the same logic applies: book as soon as your dates are set.
Aeroplan: the 15% discount runs to January 11
Aeroplan, Air Canada's program, is the most sensitive of the three to holiday demand. Air Canada flights are priced on demand, while most partner airlines follow a fixed distance-based chart, with a $39 booking fee per ticket. United, Emirates, Flydubai, Etihad and a few regional carriers stay variably priced.
This year, one benefit changes the math: on Air Canada flight rewards booked through January 11, 2027, primary Aeroplan credit cardholders pay 15% fewer points on the base fare. A booking made now for the holidays qualifies. Our guide to the Aeroplan 15% cardholder discount shows how to spot it when you book.
Three Aeroplan rules to know before you book:
- Family Sharing: up to 8 family members can pool their points for free with Aeroplan Family Sharing. According to Aeroplan, a primary Aeroplan cardholder in the pool extends their preferred pricing to the other members.
- Points + Cash: if you're short on points, you can combine points and cash at checkout. In that case, taxes and fees are paid entirely in cash.
- Partner flights: on the most expensive dates, compare with an itinerary on a fixed-price partner airline. Between North America and the Atlantic zone, for example, the chart in force since June 1, 2026 asks 32,500 points one way in economy up to 4,000 miles, and 42,500 points from 4,001 to 6,000 miles.
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RBC Avion: two ways to pay for a holiday flight
Holders of an RBC Avion Visa card, such as the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, have two ways to redeem points for a flight. Our Avion program page values points at 1.7 cents each.
The first is a fixed-points chart, published on the Avion Rewards website. Each level covers a ticket up to a maximum price, before taxes and fees. Over the holidays, this chart protects you from high prices: as long as the ticket stays under the cap, the number of points doesn't change.
| Destination | Avion points | Maximum ticket price | Maximum value per point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within your province or to a neighbouring province | 15,000 | $350 | 2.33¢ |
| Anywhere in Canada and the U.S. (except Hawaii and Alaska) | 35,000 | $750 | 2.14¢ |
| Caribbean, Bermuda and Central America | 45,000 | $900 | 2¢ |
| Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska | 55,000 | $1,100 | 2¢ |
| Europe | 65,000 | $1,300 | 2¢ |
| Asia, Oceania, Middle East, Africa and South America | 100,000 | $2,000 | 2¢ |
The second is the flexible rate: through Avion Rewards Travel, Avion Elite members redeem 100 points for $1 of travel, with no cap. That's the option to use when the ticket goes over the chart's cap, or for a hotel.
Avion also lets you transfer points to WestJet, at 1 Avion point for 1 WestJet point. Avion Elite members can also transfer to British Airways, Cathay Pacific and American Airlines. A transfer can take up to four weeks and can't be reversed: check flight availability before you transfer.
Scene+: pay for the trip, then cover it with points
Scene+ works like a fixed-value rebate: 100 points are worth $1 on Scene+ Travel. Two ways to use them over the holidays:
- Scene+ Travel, powered by Expedia: you book flights, hotels and cars directly with points, at 100 points for $1.
- Apply points to a travel purchase: with a Scene+ Scotiabank credit card, you book anywhere, then pay the purchase back with points, taxes and fees included. Under the Scene+ terms and conditions, you must redeem within 12 months of the purchase posting to your account.
The second option is the most flexible over the holidays. You book at the best price of the moment, with the airline of your choice, and decide later how many points to put toward it. For a traveller with no status or airline card, it's often the simplest way to travel on points. With a Tangerine card that earns Scene+ points, you redeem them on Scene+ Travel instead. Our Scene+ program page covers the other redemptions.
No Aeroplan, Avion or Scene+ card?
You can still travel on points this winter. Aeroplan lets you buy points to top up your account, and convert points from a partner program, such as American Express Membership Rewards, at 1 Membership Rewards point for 1 Aeroplan point. Before you buy points, compare their total cost with the cash price of the ticket: if the ticket costs less, pay cash.
Costly December mistakes
Four mistakes come back every holiday season:
- Transferring points too early: a transfer to an airline program can't be reversed. Confirm a seat is available on the date you want first.
- Ignoring taxes and fees: points cover the base fare, and taxes at some sun destinations are high. Compare the cash total before you confirm.
- Forgetting which fare you booked: an Economy Standard ticket costs $150 to cancel online. If your dates aren't firm, look at the Flex fare.
- Counting on a welcome offer that hasn't been paid yet: points from a new card arrive in stages, based on your spending. Book with the points already in your account.
Bottom line
To travel on points over the 2026 holidays, book now, compare nearby dates and choose the program based on the ticket price. Aeroplan is hard to beat when an Air Canada reward stays reasonable, especially with the 15% cardholder discount. When prices climb, RBC Avion's fixed chart and the flexibility of Scene+ take over.
If you're looking for a card to earn faster before your next trip, check our ranking of the best credit cards.
To get member-only offers and follow the best ways to travel on points, create your free member account.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $120 | |||
| $120 |
Frequently asked questions about travelling on points over the holidays
When should you book a points flight for Christmas?
As early as possible. Reward seats for Christmas week and New Year's week disappear as flights fill up, and Air Canada points prices climb with demand. With Aeroplan, you can cancel up to 2 hours before departure, and the fee depends on the fare. See our article on 100,000 Aeroplan points over the holidays for price examples.
What are the most expensive days to travel over the holidays?
In Quebec, most schools close on December 18, 2026: departures from December 18 to 21 and returns from January 2 to 4 will be among the busiest. Last year, Air Canada planned for more than 2.3 million customers between December 18 and January 4. If your dates are flexible, also compare flights on December 24, 25 and 31.
Does the Aeroplan 15% discount apply over the holidays?
Yes, for an Air Canada flight reward booked through January 11, 2027. Primary Aeroplan credit cardholders then pay 15% fewer points on the base fare. Our guide to the 15% discount explains which itineraries qualify.
How do you use RBC Avion points for a holiday flight?
Avion Elite members have two options: the fixed-points chart, which covers a ticket up to a maximum price, or the flexible rate of 100 points for $1 through Avion Rewards Travel. The chart pays off most when the ticket stays under its cap. Points can also be transferred to WestJet at 1 to 1.
Can you use Scene+ points on a flight booked elsewhere?
Yes, if the ticket is paid with a Scene+ Scotiabank credit card. You then apply your points to the purchase within 12 months of it posting to your account. With a Tangerine card, or no card at all, you can book directly with points through Scene+ Travel, powered by Expedia, at 100 points for $1.
Is it better to pay for a holiday flight with points or cash?
It depends on the value you get per point. Divide the ticket's cash price, before taxes, by the number of points required: if the result beats the usual value of your points, pay with points. Over the holidays, cash prices are high, which often makes points the better deal.