Are you planning to move to Canada, or have you just immigrated? Congratulations on this significant life change! As a new resident, you must familiarize yourself with the various opportunities to facilitate your integration and improve your quality of life in Canada. Among these opportunities, Air Canada’s Aeroplan program stands out as a program to master when it comes to saving on your plane tickets.

Whether you’re a frequent or occasional traveller, becoming an Aeroplan Member can significantly enrich your Canadian experience, as points can take you far.

In this guide, we’ll explore the Aeroplan program in detail from the point of view of a newcomer to the country.

Aeroplan is the loyalty program of Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline.

Coming to Canada from France, the Netherlands or Germany? It’s the equivalent of Flying Blue (Air France KLM) or Miles More (Lufthansa Group).

Are you coming from the UK or India? It’s the equivalent of British Airways Executive Club (British Airways) or Flying Returns (Air India).

Immigrating to Canada from the United States? It’s the equivalent of Delta SkyMiles (Delta Airlines), AAdvantage (American Airlines) or United MileagePlus (United Airlines).

In short, Aeroplan is a significant program you must participate in if you live in Canada.

The heart of the Aeroplan program lies in its innovative points accumulation system, accessible through a series of daily and travel actions, including the use of services offered by Air Canada, its many airline partners, as well as transactions made with affiliated credit cards and other partners such as Starbucks and Uber.

Aeroplan points can then be used to earn various rewards, such as airline tickets, upgrades, car rentals, and hotel stays, making it possible to book an entire trip with points.

Aeroplan is a great program for immigrants who want to maintain close ties with their families back home and discover North America and other parts of the world at a lower cost.

I immigrated to Canada in 2011 from France, and I quickly realized the possibilities offered to Aeroplan members and the importance of being part of the loyalty program for my many return trips to Europe with points.

Whether you’re a newcomer or have been in the country for over ten years, the issues are often the same: it’s essential to be able to return regularly to your country of origin to visit family and friends, whether for vacations or essential life milestones (weddings, births and, sadly, deaths).

Any expatriate will recognize himself in these lines. Living between two countries – and often two continents – necessitates air travel.

With this in mind, finding ways to travel between the two countries while saving money – or offering greater comfort is vital. And that’s where the Aeroplan program comes in!

With Air Canada and its partner airlines, you can reach virtually any corner of the globe from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary.

Air Canada’s network is as follows:

With your Aeroplan points, you can book awards for travel on Air Canada, Star Alliance, and other partner airlines (Emirates or Etihad Airways, for example).

As an expatriate, one of the most practical features of Aeroplan points is the ability to book one-way or multi-destination flights. After all, sometimes you don’t know how long you’ll be back in the country where you’re supposed to leave for point A and return from point B.

Many French people will recognize themselves here, especially those with family at different ends of the country. It’s handy to arrive from Nice and depart from Toulouse, Lyon or Paris! That’s what Aeroplan points make possible. Similarly, plane tickets to India and Pakistan can be costly in cash, but they’re much more affordable with Aeroplan points.

Even better if you can get there in business class, as it’s a long way away! It’s a comfortable way to return to your home country without breaking the bank. It’s worth noting, however, that Pakistan imposes a surcharge on all premium flights, whether for a cash or points ticket. In this situation, it may be wiser to fly to the region with your Aeroplan points and make your way to your final destination in Pakistan to save a little more without cutting back on comfort.

Having Aeroplan points in the bank for the unexpected is also essential. For life’s unpredictable events, your presence may be required at the last minute.

How many times have I been able to help out friends or colleagues who had to return to their country of origin quickly? Aeroplan Points have often proved invaluable in saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars on last-minute fares!

You can also use your Aeroplan points to purchase airline tickets for your loved ones, should they wish to visit you in Canada or visit Canada with you! Inviting loved ones to visit Canada with you is an excellent opportunity to discover the country’s wonders together.

One of this option’s main advantages is its flexibility and convenience. You can book flights for your loved ones directly from your Aeroplan account without them having to create their account or join your Aeroplan Family Share. This dramatically simplifies the process and gives you more control over travel arrangements, especially when our parents are less familiar with flight purchases and points programs!

That’s exactly what I did with my parents and parents-in-law when our children were born.

Once you’ve spent the first few months discovering your new environment in Canada, it’s natural to want to explore the country or North America in general.

Thanks to Aeroplan points, this is easily achievable.

You can travel on Air Canada to over 50 destinations in Canada alone, but you can also travel on partner carriers like Canadian North to discover the most remote regions of Canada.

It’s easy to take an Air Canada flight with Aeroplan points from Montreal to Toronto, Vancouver, or even the United States for a long weekend.

Since our family moved to Montreal, we’ve been able to discover much of the U.S. thanks to Air Canada’s various flight options to cities like New York, Washington DC, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and to destinations as far away asHawaii thanks to connections in Vancouver and Toronto.

It’s possible to obtain some of these cards with no minimum income requirement.
You can also lay the groundwork before you arrive in Canada if one of these institutions is present in your country of origin, for example; you can then transfer this history and start collecting Aeroplan points as a newcomer.

North American credit cards offer welcome bonuses and rewards on everyday purchases that are much more advantageous than in other countries like France.

A good habit for newcomers to maximize point accumulation is to shop online via the Aeroplan eStore.

By using this shopping portal, you can earn extra points on every purchase from hundreds of partner retailers – double the points you’ll earn on your credit card.

Whether you’re buying everyday items, clothing, electronics, or even travel bookings, every transaction increases the points balance in your Aeroplan account.

For more detailed information, please consult Milesopedia’s beginner’s guide to Aeroplan.

As a newcomer to Canada, joining the Aeroplan program is a great way to save on your airfare, whether you’re flying home or discovering the world.

Sign up today, get an Aeroplan co-branded credit card and start earning points to take advantage of the many opportunities the Aeroplan program offers.