Aeroplan Program Guide for Newcomers to Canada
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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.
What is the Aeroplan program?
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.
How do I get an Aeroplan membership number?
Aeroplan enrolment is designed to be accessible and straightforward for everyone, including newcomers to Canada. The process is entirely online, with no annual fee, and takes just a few minutes. Other than basic personal information, there are no special requirements, allowing newcomers to start earning Aeroplan points immediately.
Here are the step-by-step instructions for enrolling in the Aeroplan program.
- Access the Air Canada website: Open your web browser and go to the official Air Canada website.
- Look for the enrolment option: On the home page, locate the “Enrol in Aeroplan” link, usually at the top right of the screen under “Sign in.” Click on it to access the enrolment form.
- Fill in the registration form: Enter your personal information such as name, e-mail address, phone number and other required details.
- Choose a secure password: Create a solid password to secure your Aeroplan account. Also, activate 2-factor authentication.
- Accept terms and conditions: Before finalizing your enrolment, read and accept Aeroplan’s terms and conditions carefully.
- Finalize registration: After filling in all the required fields and accepting the terms of use, click the “Create my account” button to complete your registration.
Why join Aeroplan as a newcomer?
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.
Come back and visit your family with your Aeroplan 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!
Book a flight for your loved ones with your Aeroplan points
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.
Discover North America with your Aeroplan points
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, or Harbour Air to fly along the West Coast by seaplane.
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.
Explore the world from Canada with your Aeroplan points
Beyond North America, Canada is an ideal departure point for visiting different parts of the world, thanks to Air Canada’s global network:
All these destinations are accessible directly with Air Canada, and you can use your Aeroplan points to travel there.
For example, I’ve been to Dubai, Tokyo, and Shanghai, and I know several expatriate families who, thanks to their Aeroplan points, have visited Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, and Casablanca!
Get an Aeroplan credit card
Aeroplan partners with several financial institutions in Canada. These institutions issue Aeroplan credit cards, which allow you to earn Aeroplan Points on eligible purchases.
But some of these Aeroplan credit cards also offer you a variety of benefits, one of which is particularly appreciated by newcomers: free first checked bag for you and up to 8 travel companions weighing up to 23 kg when travelling on Air Canada.
This benefit can save you tens or even hundreds of dollars with free baggage every year, if you travel regularly on Air Canada. Indeed, when you return to your home country to visit family, don’t forget the maple syrup canes or the Kraft peanut butter jars! Sure, these credit cards charge an annual fee, but that’s more than made up for by these benefits and more.
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.
Shop Online via Aeroplan eStore
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.
How does Aeroplan work?
For more detailed information, please consult Milesopedia’s beginner’s guide to Aeroplan.
Bottom Line
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.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | |||
| $0 | |||
| $599 | |||
| $599 |
