Aeroplan updates its program terms and conditions

The Aeroplan program has updated its terms and conditions to clarify specific points and prevent abuse, particularly about Aeroplan credit card churning.

For current members, these terms will be effective as of December 19, 2022. For new Aeroplan members after December 19, 2022, the terms and conditions will take effect immediately.

Three major points are revised:

• Changes to the conditions of transferring points from another rewards program to the Aeroplan account
• Specify prohibited activities
• Clarify the actions that will be taken by Aeroplan if abuse is detected

When an Aeroplan member makes a transaction with an Aeroplan partner, every effort will be made to ensure that the cardholder receives the points in their own Aeroplan account. This could be a transaction on the Aeroplan eStore, for example.

Or that the Aeroplan points of the Aeroplan credit card holder are credited to their own Aeroplan account. This is to prevent them from being transferred directly to the account of a spouse, relative or friend.

In addition, Aeroplan specifies that the conversion of points from another loyalty program must be remitted to the same Aeroplan member. One thinks of a person transferring American Express Membership Rewards Points or Marriott Bonvoy Points to their Aeroplan account.

Here are the changes announced by Aeroplan:

In Section 6, we clarified that Aeroplan Points will only be credited to the Aeroplan Account of the Aeroplan Member who conducts a transaction with an Aeroplan Partner, and will not be credited to the Aeroplan Account of another Aeroplan Member. Similarly, with respect to Aeroplan Credit Cards, Aeroplan Points will only be added to the Aeroplan Account of the primary Aeroplan Credit Card holder used in a transaction with an Aeroplan Partner and will not be added to another Aeroplan Member’s Account. This section has also been amended to include new provisions for the conversion of points earned under other loyalty programs into Aeroplan Points.

In fact, Aeroplan reserves the right to take action on any suspect Aeroplan account.

This can be by:

• Limiting the number of welcome bonuses received from TD, CIBC and American Express during a given period
• Paying a Welcome Bonus only to a member who has not already received the same bonus on the same Aeroplan credit card
• Detecting people who quickly open and close Aeroplan credit cards after receiving a welcome bonus
• Aimed at people who abuse purchases and returns on the eStore
• Targeting excessive behavior by individuals who willfully circumvent the new Program Terms and Conditions

Here are the changes announced by Aeroplan:

From time to time, Aeroplan and the financial institutions that issue Aeroplan co-brand credit cards (an “ Aeroplan Credit Card ”), together with their respective affiliates and business partners, may offer an incentive or bonus of Aeroplan Points (a “Welcome Bonus” ) to incentivize a Member to become a holder of an Aeroplan Credit Card or acquire products or services (“ Products and Services ”) offered from time to time as part of the Aeroplan Program by such parties.

In connection with a Welcome Bonus being made available for becoming a holder of an Aeroplan Credit Card, such Welcome Bonus is intended as an incentive for a Member to become a holder of an Aeroplan Credit Card where that Member is not then a holder of the specific type of Aeroplan Credit Card for which the Welcome Bonus is being offered. Similarly, in connection with bonus or incentive Aeroplan Points being offered as an incentive related to Products and Services, such bonus Aeroplan Points incentives are intended for a Member who has not previously received bonus Aeroplan Points for the same Products or Services, to acquire such Products or Services.

Aeroplan may, in its sole discretion, choose to limit the number of Welcome Bonuses or similar bonuses or incentives a Member may receive in any period, and, in addition to the other remedies set forth in these Terms and Conditions, reserves the right to suspend, revoke or terminate the Account of any person who engages in a behaviour of excessive use of the Welcome Bonus offers. Such behaviours include but are not limited to: (i) applying for multiple Aeroplan Credit Cards across one or more product types or across one or more financial institutions that issue an Aeroplan Credit Card; (ii) a pattern of cancelling, or disengaging in, an Aeroplan Credit Card shortly after receiving a Welcome Bonus or similar bonus or incentive; and (iii) a pattern of purchasing and then cancelling or returning any product or service for which Aeroplan Points were issued.

Finally, Aeroplan clarifies the actions to be taken if it catches a member in default.

There will be 3 options:

• Suspend the member’s account while waiting for the outcome of an investigation
• Refuse to give or redeem Aeroplan Points
• Close the account without notice and the accumulated points will be lost

Here are the changes announced by Aeroplan:

Aeroplan Membership is a privilege that can be suspended, revoked, or terminated at any time, for any reason, and without compensation. Reasons for suspension, revocation or termination include, but are not limited to: (i) a circumstance where a Member intentionally engages in a pattern of activity or behavior that, in the reasonable opinion of Aeroplan, is intended to circumvent or work around these Terms and Conditions, or the terms and conditions of any Aeroplan partner; (ii) any abuse by a Member of any of these Terms and Conditions, any additional applicable terms and conditions or any benefit, privilege or reward associated with the Aeroplan Program; (iii) any misrepresentation by a Member to Aeroplan, its affiliates, participating partners or suppliers or to any entity associated with or participating in the Aeroplan Program; and (iv) any other actions or conduct of a Member deemed by Aeroplan, in its sole discretion, to be damaging to Aeroplan, the Aeroplan Program or the interests of Aeroplan’s affiliates, participating partners or suppliers, including, but not limited to: (i) applying for multiple credit cards across different product types (e.g., Entry, Core, Premium), across multiple financial institutions that issue an Aeroplan Credit Card in order to circumnavigate these Terms and Conditions or the terms and conditions of any such financial institution issuing an Aeroplan Credit Card thereby receiving multiple Welcome Bonuses; and (ii) a behaviour of cancelling, or disengaging in, an Aeroplan Credit Card shortly after receiving a Welcome Bonus.

Where, in the reasonable opinion of Aeroplan, a Member has violated these Terms and Conditions, Aeroplan may, at any time and in its sole discretion, take one or more of the following actions: (i) freeze the Account of any Member while Aeroplan investigates suspected activity on the part of that Member; and (ii) refuse to credit the Account of any Member, or debit the Account of any Member.

In the event a Member’s participation in the Aeroplan Program is terminated by Aeroplan in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, all accumulated Aeroplan Points will immediately be forfeited.

Aeroplan reserves the right to restrict or refuse Aeroplan Membership in the Aeroplan Program for any reason, in its sole discretion, including, if you do not meet the requirements set forth in these Terms and Conditions, if you are suspected of fraud or illicit conduct or have had an Aeroplan Membership previously revoked or terminated by Aeroplan.

Unauthorized reproduction of any Aeroplan Membership card or number, or fraudulent misrepresentation of an Aeroplan Membership is prohibited and can result in legal action. Aeroplan Membership cards and Membership numbers belong to Aeroplan and may be revoked at any time in its sole discretion.

Those testing the limits of the program are clearly targeted by these changes. These amended Aeroplan terms and conditions give the program administrators more power to act on abuse.

A member and Aeroplan credit card holder who behaves normally has nothing to worry about. For example:

• Use your Aeroplan credit card regularly to pay for purchases
• Keep your Aeroplan Credit Card for at least one year
• Don’t close your Aeroplan credit card right after you get the Welcome Bonus

We will always say that earning points is a marathon, not a sprint.

Therefore, with these new Aeroplan terms and conditions, it is not recommended to have two Aeroplan credit cards, even if they are issued by different institutions or are of different types (base, core or premium). However, it will, of course, be possible to get an Aeroplan business credit card in addition to your consumer card. Such as the American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Business Reserve Card.

Just as it will always be possible to get multiple American Express Membership Rewards credit cards and transfer Membership Rewards points to your Aeroplan account. For example from the American Express Cobalt^® Card, the American Express^® Gold Rewards Card or the Platinum Card^®.

Or even Marriott Bonvoy credit cards: you can convert 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points into 25,000 Aeroplan points. Such as from the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card and the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^®* Card.

See our complete guide and comparison of American Express cards that earn Aeroplan points.

Finally, if you are a family, it will still be possible for each family member to get an Aeroplan credit card and access your mutual points through the Aeroplan Family Sharing feature.