Aeroplan

What Aeroplan does

Aeroplan is Air Canada's loyalty marketing program, operating as a wholly-owned division headquartered in Montreal. Founded in 1984 and reaching over 10 million members by 2025, Aeroplan enables members to earn points across Air Canada flights, co-branded Chase credit card spending in the U.S., and an expanding partner network spanning Star Alliance airlines, Marriott Bonvoy, fintech (Chexy for rent/bills), dining (DINR), coffee (Starbucks Canada), retail (eStore), and Bell-sponsored in-flight Wi-Fi. The core platform is a cloud-based loyalty system integrated with Air Canada's booking engine, the Air Canada mobile app, and partner ecosystems, supporting tiered Elite Status from 25K through Super Elite, points pooling via Family Sharing, two-way transfers with Marriott Bonvoy, and no-blackout-date redemptions on Air Canada flights.

The program's revenue model rests on three streams: interchange and fees from the co-branded Chase Aeroplan Credit Card in the U.S. ($95 annual fee, 75,000-point welcome bonus as of April 2026), the differential between points valuation and ticket cost on Air Canada and partner-airline redemptions, and partner integration revenue from financial institutions, hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and retail partners paying for access to Aeroplan's 10M+ member base. Aeroplan distributes through Air Canada's direct digital channels (aircanada.com and mobile app), Chase's banking channels in the U.S., and an increasingly diversified partner network. Member engagement is reinforced by tiered Elite Status benefits including Maple Leaf lounge access, priority services, extra baggage, and eUpgrade credits, with reciprocal recognition across Star Alliance carriers and Marriott Bonvoy. The Member Donation Program, established in 2006, has channeled over 1.8 billion points to 1,554 charitable organizations.

Aeroplan has won at the Freddie Awards for four consecutive years through 2026, including Program of the Year, Best Redemption Ability, and Best Promotion. The program is led by Craig Landry, who serves concurrently as President of Aeroplan and Air Canada's EVP & Chief Innovation Officer, reflecting close integration between the loyalty program and the parent airline's strategic agenda. Operationally, 88% of Air Canada's fleet has been equipped with complimentary streaming-quality Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members as of 2025, with international route expansion planned for 2026.

Name

Aeroplan

Legal name

Air Canada

Website

https://aeroplan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Aeroplan is Air Canada's loyalty program, serving over 10 million members with points earning across flights, co-branded Chase credit cards, and a diversified partner network, redeemable for travel, hotels, dining, and merchandise via a cloud-based platform integrated with Air Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Loyalty Program

akta.pro primary industry

Elite Status & Benefits (Tiers, Upgrades, Lounge Access) (THABAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Redemption Ecosystem (Flights, Partners, Non-Travel) (THABAKAE), Points/Miles Sales & B2B Monetization (to Partners) (THABAKAG), Ancillary & Paid Loyalty Products (Subscriptions, Paid Status) (THABAKAN), Promotions, Marketing & Member Engagement (THABAKAK)

Keywords

• Airline loyalty program
• Travel rewards platform
• Co-branded credit cards
• Points-based redemption
• Frequent flyer benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Co-branded Credit Card Interchange Fees: Aeroplan earns interchange revenue every time Aeroplan co-branded credit cardholders make purchases. Chase issues the Aeroplan Credit Card in the U.S. (annual fee $95) earning 3x points on Air Canada, groceries, restaurants and 1x on all other spending. The program also generates revenue from new cardholder acquisition fees and annual renewals.
2. Airline Ticket Redemptions: Members redeem Aeroplan points for Air Canada flights and partner airline tickets. Revenue is generated through the differential between points valuation and actual ticket cost, with no blackout dates or carrier surcharges on Air Canada flights making the program attractive for member acquisition and retention.
3. Partner Integration Revenue: Aeroplan generates revenue through partnerships with financial institutions, hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and retail. Partners pay for access to Aeroplan's 10M+ member base and loyalty engagement capabilities. Examples include Marriott Bonvoy two-way transfers, Chexy fintech integration, and DINR restaurant reservations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aeroplan is Air Canada's travel loyalty rewards program that lets members earn points on Air Canada flights, co-branded Chase credit card purchases, and a broad partner network (Star Alliance airlines, Marriott Bonvoy hotels, Chexy, DINR, Starbucks, eStore), and redeem those points for flight rewards, hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise, and experiences. The program includes five tiers of Elite Status (25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, Super Elite) with tiered benefits such as lounge access, eUpgrade credits, and baggage allowance, and serves more than 10 million members.

Product overview

Aeroplan is Air Canada's loyalty rewards program operating as a platform with multiple integrated modules. The core platform enables members to earn points on flights, credit card spending, and partner transactions, redeemable for flight rewards, hotel stays (HotelSavers), car rentals, merchandise, and experiences. The program includes tiered Elite Status (25K through Super Elite) providing benefits like lounge access, priority services, and baggage allowances. Complementary modules include the Aeroplan eStore for online shopping rewards, Family Sharing for pooling points, co-branded Credit Cards for accelerated earning, and complimentary Wi-Fi on Air Canada flights sponsored by Bell. The program serves over 10 million members and supports charitable giving through the Member Donation Program established in 2006.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aeroplan Loyalty Program A points-based loyalty program operated by Air Canada that lets members earn points through flights, credit card spending, and partner transactions and redeem them for flight rewards, hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise, and experiences.
• Aeroplan Elite Status A tiered status program with levels 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, and Super Elite, offering priority airport services, lounge access, extra baggage allowance, eUpgrade credits, and partnership perks with airline and hotel programs.
• Aeroplan Credit Cards Co-branded credit cards issued by Chase that let members earn accelerated Aeroplan points on everyday and travel spending in exchange for an annual fee and welcome bonus structure.
• Aeroplan eStore An online shopping portal where members can earn points with retail partners and redeem points for merchandise and gift cards, extending point earning beyond travel.
• Aeroplan HotelSavers A hotel-booking method that lets members redeem points at reduced rates compared to retail pricing, with savings up to 30% on hotel redemptions and exclusive rates on car rentals.
• Aeroplan Family Sharing A free feature that allows Aeroplan members to pool and share points with family members, accelerating point accumulation toward rewards.
• Complimentary In-Flight Wi-Fi for Aeroplan Members A free in-flight Wi-Fi benefit on most Air Canada flights for Aeroplan members, providing gate-to-gate streaming-quality Wi-Fi sponsored by Bell to enable video streaming and gaming on personal devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 consecutive Freddie Award wins including Program of the Year, Best Redemption Ability, and Best Promotion
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chase (Aeroplan Credit Card)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 April 2026Chase issues the co-branded Aeroplan Credit Card in the United States. The $95 annual fee card earns 3x points on Air Canada, groceries, and restaurants; 1x on all other spending. Welcome bonus was increased from 60,000 to 75,000 points effective April 16, 2026, with $4,000 minimum spend in first 3 months.
• DINRminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 October 2025Aeroplan partnered with DINR, a Canadian startup, to provide members with access to last-minute and exclusive reservations at top restaurants across Canada. Members can book same-day tables and enjoy exclusive dining experiences through the DINR app, expanding the Canadian lifestyle benefits of the rewards program.
• United Airlines and Lufthansa Group AirlinescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025Air Canada extended additional baggage benefits to Aeroplan 25K and 35K members flying with United Airlines and Lufthansa Group airlines, expanding cross-airline elite status recognition within the global partner network.
• Starbucks CanadaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 September 2025Partnership allows Aeroplan members to link accounts with Starbucks and earn or redeem Aeroplan points at participating Starbucks stores across Canada. Members earn bonus points through account linking and card reloads (100 points for loading $75+, 25 points for $50-$74.99). Aeroplan points also convert to Starbucks Stars at 400 points for 100 Stars.
• BellcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Bell sponsors complimentary gate-to-gate streaming-quality Wi-Fi for Aeroplan members on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and CRJ900 aircraft across North America and Sun destinations. The service supports video streaming and gaming. 88% of fleet equipped; expansion to additional fleets and international routes planned for 2026.
• ChexycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2025Multi-year partnership with Canadian fintech Chexy enables Aeroplan members to earn points on essential payments such as rent, bills, and taxes that typically do not earn rewards. New users eligible for up to 10,000 bonus points; existing Aeroplan credit cardholders can earn even more on eligible expenses. The partnership expands Aeroplan's everyday earning potential with access to one of Canada's largest loyalty programs (10M+ members).
• Marriott BonvoycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2024Expanded partnership offering mutual status matching and two-way point transfers between Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy. Aeroplan elite members receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status; Marriott Bonvoy top-tier members receive Aeroplan 25K Status. Aeroplan points convert to Marriott Bonvoy points at a 1:1 ratio, enabling greater flexibility and enhanced travel benefits for members of both loyalty programs.
• Star AlliancecoreTechnology or IntegrationAir Canada is a member of Star Alliance, the world's largest global airline network. Aeroplan members can earn and redeem points across all Star Alliance member airlines, providing global coverage for the loyalty program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United MileagePlus: United Airlines' loyalty program and a core Aeroplan partner within Star Alliance. Operates a comparable elite tier structure, Chase co-branded credit cards, and the same Star Alliance earn/redeem ecosystem that defines Aeroplan's network value.
• British Airways Executive Club: One of Aeroplan's most cited Star Alliance and transatlantic partners. Comparable tiered elite structure (Bronze/Silver/Gold), Avios currency, and the same co-branded credit card economics model Aeroplan uses with Chase.
• American AAdvantage: American Airlines' loyalty program with tiered status, Citi co-branded credit cards, and Oneworld partner redemptions. Directly comparable in scale, structure, and the airline-affiliated loyalty model Aeroplan follows.
• Delta SkyMiles: Delta Air Lines' flagship loyalty program with ~100M+ members. Directly comparable as a North American airline loyalty program with tiered elite status, co-branded American Express cards, and a broad partner network across hotels and lifestyle brands.
• Air Miles (Loyalty Ventures / Bank of Montreal): Air Canada's original competitor in the Canadian loyalty market and the closest direct competitor in Canadian household earn-and-burn. Directly comparable in targeting Canadian everyday spending on groceries, fuel, and household expenses.
• Lufthansa Miles & More: Europe's largest airline loyalty program and a Star Alliance peer. Recently extended reciprocal elite baggage benefits with Aeroplan. Comparable in airline-network-centric loyalty model, multi-airline partner reach, and tiered status philosophy.

Regional players

• PC Optimum (Loblaw Companies): Canada's largest grocery and retail coalition loyalty program with ~17M active members. Comparable as a Canadian mass-market loyalty currency but operates in a different vertical (grocery/retail) rather than travel, and competes for the same household loyalty wallet share.
• Singapore KrisFlyer: Asia-Pacific airline loyalty program with strong KrisFlyer UOB co-branded card and Star Alliance integration. Comparable as a Star Alliance-aligned program targeting premium international travelers, though geographically distinct from Aeroplan's core Canadian base.

Emerging players

• World of Hyatt: Premium-segment hotel loyalty program competing for the same high-value traveler Aeroplan targets via its Super Elite tier. Comparable in elite tiered benefits design and the strategic overlap of airline-hotel status reciprocity partnerships.
• Marriott Bonvoy: Largest hotel loyalty program globally and a direct Aeroplan partner via two-way point transfers and mutual status matching. Comparable in member-scale ambition, co-branded credit card economics, and multi-brand earn-and-burn design.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aeroplan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aeroplan