Travel points and airline miles can make flights, hotels and other travel expenses significantly more affordable — but only when they are earned and redeemed strategically.
For travellers in Canada, programs such as Aeroplan, American Express Membership Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, British Airways Avios and other loyalty programs provide multiple ways to earn rewards without constantly flying.
In fact, one of the biggest misconceptions about points and miles is that you need to be a frequent flyer to build a meaningful balance.
Everyday spending, credit-card rewards, online shopping portals, hotel promotions and loyalty partnerships can all contribute.
This guide explains how the system works, where the real opportunities are and how beginners can start earning travel rewards responsibly.
Quick answer: Start with one flexible travel-rewards ecosystem, earn points on purchases you would make anyway, link your loyalty accounts to eligible partners, use shopping portals when they offer additional points, watch for transfer and travel promotions, and redeem strategically. Never spend extra or carry expensive credit-card debt simply to earn points.
What Are Travel Points and Miles?
Travel rewards are loyalty currencies issued by airlines, banks, hotels and other companies.
Depending on the program, they may be redeemed for:
- Flights
- Hotels
- Seat upgrades
- Travel credits
- Car rentals
- Gift cards
- Merchandise
- Other travel benefits
But not all points have the same value or flexibility.
Three Main Types of Travel Rewards
Airline Points
Examples include Aeroplan points and British Airways Avios. These are usually most closely connected with airline travel and partner-airline redemptions.
Bank Points
Programs such as American Express Membership Rewards can provide flexibility because eligible points may be transferred to participating airline and hotel programs.
Hotel Points
Programs such as Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt allow members to earn and redeem within their hotel networks and through selected partners.
Fixed-Value Rewards
Some programs allow points to be applied against eligible travel purchases at a more predictable value rather than transferring them to an airline.
1. Start With One Program
Beginners often make the mistake of joining every rewards program they see.
The result can be small balances scattered across many accounts.
Instead, consider choosing one primary ecosystem based on the travel you actually expect to book.
For many Canadians, Aeroplan deserves consideration because of Air Canada’s network and its airline and retail partnerships.
But your best starting point depends on where you live, where you travel and which airlines you normally use.
2. Aeroplan Is More Than Air Canada
Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program, but earning and redeeming points extends beyond simply buying Air Canada tickets.
Members can earn through eligible flights, partner airlines, hotels, car rentals, credit cards, retail partners and online shopping.
This is one of the most important concepts for beginners:
You do not have to earn all your airline points by flying.
3. How Aeroplan Flight Earning Changed in 2026
Aeroplan changed the way points are earned on eligible Air Canada flights beginning January 1, 2026.
For eligible Air Canada travel under the current structure, base Aeroplan members earn based on eligible dollars spent rather than simply using the old distance-based model.
Air Canada currently states that regular members earn 1 Aeroplan point per eligible Canadian dollar spent on the base fare and carrier surcharges, excluding applicable taxes, fees and third-party charges.
Aeroplan Elite members can earn additional points through status multipliers.
Old articles about earning Aeroplan points based primarily on flight distance may no longer describe current Air Canada earning correctly. Always check current program rules before calculating expected points.
4. Earn Points Without Flying
One of the easiest ways to grow a rewards balance is to earn on purchases you already make.
Aeroplan has everyday partners that allow eligible members to earn points through normal spending.
Current partnerships include categories such as transportation, food, fuel and retail.
The specific earning rates and offers can change, so check the program before making a purchase solely because of a promotion.
5. Link Your Loyalty Accounts
Some rewards opportunities only work after two loyalty accounts are connected.
Aeroplan currently offers account-linking opportunities with selected partners.
This is particularly useful because, once properly linked, qualifying everyday activity can automatically contribute to your travel-points balance.
Spend a few minutes reviewing the partnerships available in your primary loyalty program and connect the ones you genuinely use.
6. Learn to “Double Dip”
One of the most useful rewards concepts is earning from more than one layer of the same legitimate purchase.
For example, an eligible transaction might earn loyalty points from a participating retailer while the credit card used for payment also earns its own rewards.
Aeroplan explicitly promotes this concept with participating partners: members may be able to earn through the partner and again through an eligible Aeroplan credit card.
This is sometimes called stacking or double dipping.
7. A Simple Stacking Example
Imagine you were going to make a $200 purchase anyway.
Depending on the retailer and current offers, you might potentially earn from:
- Your credit card
- A shopping portal
- A retailer promotion
- A linked loyalty account
Not every offer can be combined, so always read the terms.
The principle is to maximize rewards on existing spending — not to create new spending.
8. Use Online Shopping Portals
Before buying something online, check whether your loyalty program has a shopping portal.
The Aeroplan eStore, for example, allows members to begin an online purchase through the portal and earn additional Aeroplan points at participating retailers.
Bonus rates can vary and promotional multipliers may appear at different times.
9. Why Shopping Portals Are Powerful
Suppose you are already planning to buy a laptop, luggage or another expensive item.
Instead of going directly to the retailer’s website, you may be able to access that retailer through a loyalty shopping portal.
If the purchase qualifies, that can generate an additional layer of points without changing the product you were planning to buy.
The key is remembering to check the portal before purchasing.
10. Watch for Promotional Multipliers
Shopping portals sometimes increase earning rates temporarily.
A retailer that normally earns a modest number of points per dollar may offer a significantly larger multiplier during a promotion.
If you already planned to make the purchase, waiting for a stronger promotion can sometimes increase the rewards substantially.
Do not buy something unnecessary simply because the points multiplier looks attractive.
11. Credit-Card Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses can be one of the fastest ways to accumulate a large number of travel points.
A typical offer may provide bonus points after a new cardholder meets specific spending or account requirements within a defined period.
But this is where responsible spending becomes especially important.
12. Evaluate the Entire Credit Card
Do not choose a card based only on a large number in the advertisement.
Evaluate:
- Annual fee
- Minimum spending requirements
- Regular earning rates
- Travel benefits
- Insurance
- Baggage benefits
- Lounge access when applicable
- Foreign transaction costs
- Transfer partners
- Whether you will keep using the card after the first year
13. Flexible Points Can Be Extremely Useful
Flexible bank rewards can be valuable because they may provide more than one redemption path.
American Express Membership Rewards in Canada is one example.
Eligible Membership Rewards points can be transferred to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs.
That flexibility allows travellers to wait until they know which program best fits a particular trip before transferring points.
14. American Express Membership Rewards to Aeroplan
As of 2026, American Express Canada lists Aeroplan as a 1:1 Membership Rewards transfer partner.
That means:
1,000 eligible Membership Rewards points = 1,000 Aeroplan points.
American Express also lists British Airways Executive Club at a 1:1 transfer ratio.
Other partners can use different ratios, so never assume every transfer is 1:1.
15. Don’t Transfer Points Too Early
This is an important beginner strategy.
Flexible bank points often become less flexible once transferred into an airline program.
Instead of moving points immediately, consider keeping them in the flexible program until you have identified the redemption you want and confirmed availability.
Transfers may also be irreversible.
16. Understand Transfer Bonuses
Occasionally, rewards programs offer temporary bonuses when transferring points to a specific partner.
For example, a promotion might award additional airline miles for a qualifying transfer.
These offers can improve value, but only when the destination program is actually useful for your travel plans.
A transfer bonus is not valuable if the resulting miles sit unused.
17. Airline Miles Can Unlock Partner Flights
Airline loyalty programs frequently have partnerships that extend beyond their own aircraft.
Aeroplan, for example, includes a broad network of airline partners.
That means Aeroplan points are not limited to Air Canada flights.
Understanding airline partnerships can significantly increase the number of destinations available when searching for reward travel.
18. Search With Flexible Dates
Award availability can vary substantially from one day to another.
A traveller who must fly on one exact date has fewer options than someone who can leave a day earlier or later.
When searching for award flights:
- Check nearby dates
- Compare different departure times
- Consider nearby airports
- Compare partner airlines
- Check one-way combinations
Flexibility is one of the most powerful tools in points travel.
19. Compare Points With the Cash Fare
Just because a flight can be booked with points does not mean points are the best way to pay.
Always compare the reward cost with the actual cash price.
If a ticket is unusually inexpensive in cash but requires a large number of points, paying cash and saving the points for another trip may make more sense.
20. Calculate the Value You’re Getting
A simple way to evaluate a redemption is to compare the cash cost avoided with the number of points used.
For example, suppose an eligible trip would otherwise cost approximately $600 and the comparable reward requires 30,000 points plus $100 in unavoidable charges.
The approximate value obtained from the points would be:
($600 − $100) ÷ 30,000 = about 1.67 cents per point.
This is only a simplified comparison, but it helps prevent blindly assuming that every points redemption is a bargain.
21. Don’t Ignore Taxes and Fees
A reward ticket is not always completely free.
Taxes, airport charges and other applicable fees may still need to be paid.
Compare the total out-of-pocket cost — not simply the number of points displayed.
22. Hotel Programs Can Be Valuable Too
Travel rewards are not limited to airlines.
Hotel loyalty programs can provide:
- Points on paid stays
- Reward nights
- Promotional bonus points
- Elite benefits
- Credit-card earning opportunities
Programs such as Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt frequently run targeted or public promotions.
23. A Real 2026 Hyatt Example
A current World of Hyatt promotion illustrates why it is worth checking promotions before booking a hotel.
Members who register for the eligible 2026 promotion can earn 3,000 bonus points for qualifying stays of at least three consecutive nights at participating Hyatt Place and Hyatt Select properties in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean and Latin America.
Eligible stays must be completed during the promotion period, which ends September 30, 2026, and the promotion allows up to 30,000 bonus points under its terms.
The important lesson is not simply this specific offer.
Always check the promotions page of your hotel program before booking a stay you already intend to make.
24. Register Before the Stay
Many hotel promotions require registration before an eligible stay.
Simply staying at the hotel may not automatically trigger the bonus.
A useful habit is to check your hotel loyalty account before every trip and register for any relevant promotions.
25. Promotions Have Expiration Dates
Points-and-miles websites can be excellent for discovering promotions, but always verify the offer with the airline, hotel, bank or loyalty program itself before acting.
Promotions can have:
- Registration deadlines
- Travel windows
- Minimum stays
- Minimum spending
- Participating locations
- Maximum bonuses
- Excluded rates
26. Don’t Change Your Trip Just for Points
A promotion should ideally improve a trip you already planned.
Booking a more expensive hotel simply to earn a few thousand additional points can erase the value of the promotion.
Always compare the total cost.
27. Track Your Points
As you join multiple programs, balances can become difficult to remember.
Keep a simple record of:
- Program name
- Approximate balance
- Important expiration policies
- Upcoming trips
- Relevant promotions
- Credit-card annual renewal dates
You do not need a complicated spreadsheet to start. The goal is simply to prevent rewards from being forgotten.
28. Watch for Points Expiration Rules
Loyalty programs have different expiration policies.
Some points expire after a period of inactivity, while others follow different rules.
These policies can change, so check the current terms of each program rather than relying on an old blog post.
29. Don’t Hoard Points Forever
Points are not the same as cash in a savings account.
Loyalty programs can change redemption rates and program rules.
That means accumulating millions of points indefinitely is not necessarily the goal.
Earn with a purpose and redeem when the points can meaningfully reduce the cost of travel you actually want to take.
30. Buying Points Is Usually a Special-Case Strategy
Airlines and hotels sometimes sell points, occasionally with promotional bonuses.
Buying points can make sense in specific situations — for example, topping up a small balance needed for a valuable redemption.
Buying large quantities speculatively without a planned redemption can be risky because award prices and program rules can change.
31. Points Are Not Free If You Paid Extra to Earn Them
Always consider acquisition cost.
If you paid an annual fee, transaction fee or significantly higher price solely to generate points, those costs should be included when deciding whether the rewards were worthwhile.
32. Foreign Transaction Fees Matter
Canadians travelling internationally should pay attention to foreign transaction costs.
A card that earns travel points may still impose fees on foreign-currency transactions.
Depending on your travel pattern, those fees can reduce the effective value of the rewards earned.
33. Travel Insurance Can Matter More Than Points
When comparing travel credit cards, do not focus exclusively on the points multiplier.
Depending on the card, benefits may include forms of travel insurance, baggage coverage or other protections subject to eligibility, exclusions and policy terms.
Read the actual insurance certificate rather than assuming that simply owning a travel card means every trip is covered.
34. Airport Lounge Access
Some premium travel cards include airport lounge benefits.
These benefits can have real value for frequent travellers, but only if you actually use them.
Do not justify a high annual fee based on theoretical benefits that do not match your normal travel habits.
35. Free Checked Bags
Some airline-affiliated cards provide baggage benefits on eligible flights when applicable requirements are met.
For families or travellers who regularly check bags, this benefit can potentially be more valuable than a small difference in points earning.
Always verify the current card terms and eligibility rules.
36. Build Around Your Actual Travel
Someone who frequently flies Air Canada may want a different rewards strategy from someone who primarily travels internationally on other carriers.
Likewise, someone who stays at hotels 30 nights per year has different opportunities from someone who books hotels twice a year.
Your rewards strategy should follow your travel — not the other way around.
37. A Beginner Strategy for Canadians
Simple Starting Plan
- Open a free Aeroplan account if the program fits your travel
- Join the hotel programs you actually use
- Link eligible loyalty partners
- Check the Aeroplan eStore before online purchases
- Use a rewards credit card only for normal budgeted spending
- Pay the credit-card balance responsibly
- Learn how flexible points transfers work
- Check promotions before booking flights or hotels
- Compare cash prices against reward prices
- Keep your points concentrated enough to be useful
38. Example: Building Points Without Changing Your Lifestyle
Imagine a traveller who already spends money each month on groceries, transportation, online shopping, restaurants and travel.
Instead of increasing spending, that person could:
- Use an appropriate rewards card for eligible normal purchases
- Link eligible loyalty accounts
- Use a shopping portal for purchases they already planned
- Credit eligible flights to the chosen airline program
- Register for hotel promotions before planned stays
- Take advantage of legitimate transfer promotions when they match a real redemption
The spending does not necessarily increase.
The rewards strategy becomes more efficient.
39. What Not to Do
- Carrying credit-card debt to earn points
- Buying unnecessary products for bonus rewards
- Applying for cards without understanding the fees and requirements
- Transferring flexible points without a plan
- Assuming every redemption provides good value
- Booking a more expensive hotel just because it offers bonus points
- Letting points determine trips you cannot comfortably afford
40. Use Points to Reduce Travel Costs — Not Increase Spending
This is perhaps the most important principle in the entire points-and-miles strategy.
The purpose of rewards should be to extract more value from spending and travel that already make financial sense.
If chasing points causes you to spend more than you otherwise would, pay interest or book trips outside your budget, the strategy has stopped working.
Ways Canadians Can Earn Travel Rewards
| Method | Example | Main Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Flying | Aeroplan eligible flights | Current earning rules |
| Credit Cards | Travel-rewards cards | Fees, spending requirements and interest |
| Flexible Bank Points | Membership Rewards | Transfer partners and ratios |
| Shopping Portals | Aeroplan eStore | Activate portal before purchase |
| Retail Partners | Eligible linked partners | Account linking and current terms |
| Hotels | Hyatt, Marriott and others | Register for promotions |
| Partner Airlines | Aeroplan airline partners | Earning and redemption rules vary |
| Transfer Bonuses | Bank points to airline programs | Transfer only with a useful plan |
Before Using Points, Ask These Questions
Redemption Checklist
- How much would this trip cost in cash?
- How many points are required?
- How much cash is still required?
- Are there cheaper dates nearby?
- Could another airline partner offer better availability?
- Am I transferring flexible points?
- Is the transfer reversible?
- Are there transfer bonuses?
- Would I rather save these points for a more expensive trip?
- Am I booking this trip because I want it — or simply because I have points?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to fly frequently to earn airline miles?
No. Many loyalty programs allow members to earn points through credit cards, retail partners, shopping portals, hotels and other everyday activity in addition to flying.
What is Aeroplan?
Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program. Members can earn and redeem points through Air Canada and a broad range of airline, travel, financial and retail partners.
Can American Express Membership Rewards be transferred to Aeroplan?
Yes. American Express Canada currently lists Aeroplan as an eligible Membership Rewards transfer partner, with eligible transfers at a 1:1 ratio.
Should I transfer credit-card points to an airline immediately?
Usually there is no reason to transfer flexible points simply because you can. Keeping points flexible until you have identified a useful redemption can preserve more options. Always check transfer terms because transfers may be irreversible.
Is it worth using a shopping portal?
It can be. If a retailer you already planned to use participates in a loyalty shopping portal, beginning the purchase through that portal may provide additional points. Eligibility and earning rates vary.
Are flights booked with points free?
Not necessarily. Award bookings can still involve taxes, airport charges and other applicable fees. Compare the total points and cash required with the regular cash fare.
Is a large credit-card welcome bonus always a good deal?
No. Consider the annual fee, spending requirements, long-term card value and your ability to pay the balance responsibly. A welcome bonus is not valuable if earning it creates unnecessary spending or interest charges.
Should I buy airline points?
Buying points can make sense in specific situations, such as topping up an account for a planned redemption. Buying points speculatively without a clear use can expose you to program changes and poor value.
Make Your Normal Spending Work Harder
The most sustainable points-and-miles strategy is not built around constantly opening cards, buying things you do not need or chasing every promotion on the internet.
It starts with understanding where you already spend money and where you already travel.
Choose a useful rewards ecosystem, learn its partners, stack legitimate earning opportunities, monitor promotions and compare the value of points against cash before redeeming.
Done responsibly, travel rewards can reduce the cost of flights and hotels and help make trips more affordable — without turning rewards into an excuse to spend more.
