Buy Aeroplan points at 1.44 cents each right now. Air Canada just dropped a promotion with up to a 90% bonus on purchases through March 19, and at the top tier, these points cost less than what they can deliver on premium cabin redemptions through Star Alliance airlines. Aeroplan is one of the most versatile loyalty programs in the world. Your points book flights on 40+ Star Alliance airlines including Lufthansa, ANA, Swiss, EVA Air, Turkish Airlines, and Air Canada itself. The sweet spots on their award chart are some of the best values in premium travel. This guide covers the current sale, when buying Aeroplan points actually makes sense, how much to buy, and the best redemptions that justify the purchase. We also track all current points sales across airlines and hotels on our Points Sales page.
How the Aeroplan Points Sale Works
Air Canada uses a tiered bonus structure. The more you buy, the bigger the bonus:
- 2,000–4,000 points: No bonus (2.75¢ per point — skip this)
- 4,000–15,000 points: 40% bonus (1.96¢ per point)
- 20,000–60,000 points: 60% bonus (1.72¢ per point)
- 70,000+ points: 90% bonus (1.44¢ per point — the sweet spot)
The annual purchase limit is 500,000 points. If you max out at the 90% tier, you’d pay CA$18,750 (approximately $13,704 USD) for 950,000 total points after bonus. The key number: you need to buy at least 70,000 points in one purchase to hit the 90% bonus tier. That’s roughly CA$1,400 (about $1,008 USD) upfront. Below 70,000 points, the cost per point jumps significantly and the math rarely works.
Check your Aeroplan account before purchasing at the public rates. Air Canada sometimes sends targeted offers as high as 100% bonus to select members, which drops the cost to approximately 1.35¢ per point. If you see a better offer in your account, use that instead.
Should You Buy Aeroplan Points?
The same rule applies here as with any points purchase: only buy if you have a specific redemption in mind where the points price beats the cash price of the ticket. At 1.44¢ per point, buying Aeroplan points makes sense when you’re booking premium cabin flights on Star Alliance airlines where the cash price is significantly higher than the cost of purchasing the required miles. For example: a one-way business class flight from North America to Europe on Lufthansa costs 70,000 Aeroplan points. At 1.44¢ per point, that’s $1,008 in purchased points for a seat that regularly sells for $3,000–$6,000 cash. The math works clearly in your favor. Where it doesn’t make sense: buying points for economy flights where the cash price is already competitive, or buying points without a specific trip in mind. Aeroplan can devalue their award chart at any time, and points you buy today could cost more to redeem tomorrow.
Best Ways to Use Aeroplan Points
Aeroplan’s award chart has some genuinely incredible sweet spots, especially for premium cabin travel on Star Alliance partners. Here are the redemptions that make buying points most worthwhile:
Lufthansa First Class: One of the most aspirational products in aviation. Aeroplan is one of the few programs that can book Lufthansa First Class, and the pricing is excellent compared to alternatives. North America to Europe in Lufthansa First runs around 90,000–100,000 points one-way depending on routing.
ANA Business Class to Japan: ANA’s business class is consistently ranked among the best in the world. North America to Japan runs approximately 88,000 points one-way in business class through Aeroplan. At 1.44¢ per point, that’s $1,267 for a seat that sells for $5,000–$8,000.
EVA Air Business Class to Asia: EVA’s Royal Laurel business class is exceptional, especially on the 777. Pricing through Aeroplan is competitive with other Star Alliance redemptions.
Swiss Business Class to Europe: Another strong Star Alliance product. Aeroplan can book Swiss business class at rates that are difficult to find through other programs.
Air Canada Business Class: Aeroplan’s own airline offers solid business class on long-haul routes, and availability for members tends to be generous, especially on off-peak dates.
Short-haul domestic flights: Aeroplan can also be valuable for expensive domestic routes in Canada and the US where cash prices are inflated. Short-haul awards start at just 6,000 points one-way.
How Many Aeroplan Points Can You Buy?
The annual purchase limit is 500,000 points per calendar year (before bonus). With a 90% bonus, that’s 950,000 total points. This resets every January 1. Points purchased through Air Canada are processed by a third party, so they won’t code as an airline purchase on your credit card. Use a card that maximizes everyday spending or one where you’re working toward a minimum spend requirement. Aeroplan points expire if your account is inactive for 18 months. Any earning or redemption activity resets the clock, including the purchase itself. So buying points counts as activity and keeps your balance safe.
Other Ways to Earn Aeroplan Points
Before buying points, make sure you’re not leaving free Aeroplan miles on the table. Several US transferable points programs transfer directly to Aeroplan:
Amex Membership Rewards transfers 1:1 to Aeroplan. If you have Amex points sitting in your account, transferring them costs you nothing and avoids the 1.44¢ per point purchase price entirely.
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers 1:1 to Aeroplan. Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, and Ink cards all qualify.
Capital One Miles transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan. Venture X, Venture, and Spark Miles all work.
Bilt Rewards transfers 1:1 to Aeroplan. Even the free Bilt account qualifies.
Marriott Bonvoy transfers to Aeroplan at a 3:1 ratio (60,000 Marriott = 20,000 Aeroplan), with a 5,000-mile bonus when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points at once (giving you 25,000 Aeroplan). Not the best rate, but useful if you have a large Marriott balance.
The smart approach: transfer what you already have first, then buy only the points you need to top off for a specific redemption. If you’re 30,000 points short of a business class booking, buying 30,000 at 1.44¢ ($432) is much smarter than buying the full 70,000+ needed for the flight.
When to Buy Aeroplan Points
Aeroplan runs bonus promotions several times a year, typically every 2–3 months. The 90% bonus is among the highest they offer publicly.
Here’s how to think about timing:
90% bonus (1.44¢/point): Best public rate. Buy if you have a redemption planned. This is where we are right now.
80–85% bonus (~1.49–1.53¢/point): Still a good rate for premium cabin redemptions. Worth considering if you have a specific trip in mind.
60% bonus (~1.72¢/point): Only worth it for very high-value redemptions like Lufthansa First Class where the cash price is astronomical.
No bonus (2.75¢/point): Never buy at this rate. Wait for a promotion. If you miss this sale, another one will come. Aeroplan promotions are frequent enough that you don’t need to panic-buy. But if you have a specific trip planned and the math works at 1.44¢, this is as good as the public rate gets. We keep our Points Sales page updated in real time with every active sale across all major airlines and hotels, so bookmark it and check before you buy.
The Bottom Line
Buy Aeroplan points only work when you have a specific premium cabin redemption in mind and the cost of purchasing points is significantly less than the cash price of the ticket. At 1.44¢ per point during the current 90% bonus sale, the math works for most Star Alliance business and first class bookings. Transfer what you already have from Amex, Chase, Capital One, or Bilt first. Then buy only the points you need to fill the gap. The sale ends March 19, and the 90% tier requires a minimum purchase of 70,000 points. If you don’t have a trip planned, wait. Another sale will come. But if you’re sitting on a Lufthansa First or ANA Business class itinerary and just need the points to book it, this is the time to pull the trigger.
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