How to Link Your Aeroplan Account to World of Hyatt
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Linking Aeroplan and World of Hyatt takes a few minutes, at no cost, from the Alliances section of your World of Hyatt account. The benefits activate within 72 hours. We did it ourselves, then tested redeeming points for an Air Canada flight: it is capped at 4 exchanges per year, a limit that appears nowhere in the official documentation.
The new partnership between Aeroplan and World of Hyatt promises bonus points, free status and exchanges between the two programs. We wanted to see how it plays out in practice: we linked our own Aeroplan account to World of Hyatt, then tested redeeming points for an Air Canada flight.
Here is our full walkthrough, step by step. For the details of every offer in the partnership, start with our article on the Aeroplan and World of Hyatt partnership.
Why link your two accounts
Before we start, a quick recap. Linking the accounts unlocks several benefits, provided you hold an Aeroplan credit card or Aeroplan Elite status:
- Complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status: for holders of a premium Aeroplan card
- Bonus World of Hyatt points: on your eligible Hyatt spending with an Aeroplan card
- Air Canada flight credit: CA$20 a year for Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist members
- Point exchanges: between Aeroplan and World of Hyatt, in both directions
Step 1: linking the two accounts
Linking takes a few minutes, from either the World of Hyatt account or the Aeroplan account. We went through the Alliances section of our World of Hyatt account, where you simply enter your Aeroplan number and tick the data-sharing box between the two programs.
The first and last name on your World of Hyatt account must match those on your Aeroplan account exactly, or the link fails. Once linked, your accounts activate within 72 hours provided your Aeroplan credit card is itself linked to your Aeroplan account.
Once the link is confirmed, a message says so clearly on both sides.
Step 2: what unlocks on the Aeroplan side
Once linked, a new section of Hyatt offers appears directly in our Aeroplan account. Four options sit there: exchange World of Hyatt points for a flight certificate, exchange Aeroplan points for a Hyatt night, convert Aeroplan points to World of Hyatt, or sign up for the 90-day status challenge.
We chose to test the simplest exchange: converting World of Hyatt points into an Air Canada flight certificate.
Step 3: Hyatt points for an Air Canada flight
This exchange is also accessible from the Aeroplan site, which helps if you do not have World of Hyatt status and cannot see the option directly in your Hyatt account. Click "Redeem" in the top menu, then scroll down to the "More Travel Rewards" section: the "Introducing new benefits with Aeroplan" card leads straight to the exchange, through the "See Details" link.
On the exchange screen, you can convert 50,000 World of Hyatt points into a 30,000-point Aeroplan flight reward certificate. That certificate then applies to the base points fare of any Aeroplan flight.
Our screen showed a maximum of 4 exchanges remaining for the current year. This direction of exchange is therefore capped at a limited number of transactions per period, a detail that appears neither on the official partnership page nor in the press releases. Check your own counter before planning several exchanges.
On value, this exchange is expensive. According to our points and miles valuation, a World of Hyatt point is worth about 1.8¢ and an Aeroplan point about 2¢. Giving up 50,000 Hyatt points, worth about $900, for a 30,000-point Aeroplan certificate, worth about $600, means losing a third of the value you move. On top of that, the certificate only covers the base points fare, and any unused balance is forfeited once travel begins, according to the official World of Hyatt FAQ.
The certificate is still more generous than a plain conversion. At 2 World of Hyatt points for 1 Aeroplan point, the same 50,000 points only yield 25,000 Aeroplan points. The conversion does have one advantage: the points land in your account and work for any reward, with no risk of losing a leftover certificate balance.
This exchange makes sense mainly in one specific case: you have World of Hyatt points sitting idle, no Hyatt stay planned, and an Air Canada flight to book soon. Otherwise, keep your Hyatt points for a night.
Our take after this test
Linking the accounts is itself quick and frictionless: a few minutes, no fee, and immediate confirmation. What follows depends mostly on which Aeroplan credit card you hold. A premium card unlocks complimentary Discoverist status and generous bonus points; without one, the gains stay modest.
Before exchanging points in either direction, always check your own exchange counter and compare the value of the two programs. To review the cards that give the best rates at Hyatt, see our page of best Aeroplan credit cards. To follow the next updates to this partnership, sign up for our newsletter.
If you do not have an Aeroplan card yet, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card remains one of the most accessible entry points to the program, before considering a premium card for Discoverist status.
How do I link my Aeroplan account to World of Hyatt?
From your World of Hyatt account, in the Alliances section, enter your Aeroplan number and confirm data sharing. You can also start the link from your Aeroplan account. The first and last name must be identical on both accounts, or the link fails.
How long does it take for the link to become active?
In our case, the link was confirmed right away. Benefits tied to an Aeroplan credit card can take up to 72 hours to activate, provided the card itself is linked to your Aeroplan account.
Can I unlink my Aeroplan and World of Hyatt accounts?
Yes, by contacting the World of Hyatt Global Care Center. If you want to link your accounts again later, Aeroplan and Hyatt may impose a waiting period of at least 30 days.
How many World of Hyatt points-for-flight exchanges can I make?
The number of exchanges is limited per period: our own account showed a maximum of 4 exchanges for the current year. Neither Hyatt nor Aeroplan publishes this limit, so check your counter before planning an exchange.
Is it worth exchanging World of Hyatt points for an Air Canada flight?
Rarely. Based on our valuation, 50,000 World of Hyatt points are worth about $900, while the 30,000-point Aeroplan certificate is worth about $600. This exchange makes sense mainly if your Hyatt points are sitting idle with no stay planned and an Air Canada flight is coming up.
What Hyatt benefits does a premium Aeroplan card give?
Primary holders of a linked premium Aeroplan card receive World of Hyatt Discoverist status, 5 tier-qualifying night credits each calendar year and two yearly attempts at the 90-day status challenge. They also earn 2 World of Hyatt bonus points and up to 2.5 Aeroplan points per dollar spent at Hyatt.
