Air Canada Aeroplan Cardholders Secure 15% Award Flight Savings

New Points Discount for Cardholders

Air Canada's Aeroplan loyalty programme has introduced a new benefit for its co-branded credit card holders, allowing primary cardholders of the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card to redeem eligible Air Canada award flights with at least a 15% reduction in Aeroplan points.

This enhancement, effective since the card's refresh in September, means a flight reward that would typically cost 100,000 Aeroplan points for a non-cardholder would now require no more than 85,000 points for those with the card.

Air Canada confirmed that this discount applies specifically to the points portion of the base fare on qualifying redemptions, making award travel more accessible for cardholders.

Eligibility and Application Details

To access this points saving, individuals must be the primary cardholder of the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card and link their card to their Aeroplan account. The discount applies to all passengers on the booking, provided the primary cardholder made the reservation. Bookings must be made directly through Air Canada's website, mobile application, or call centre.

The reduction is valid for itineraries where at least one flight segment is operated by Air Canada or its regional subsidiaries, Air Canada Express or Air Canada Rouge. However, flights booked entirely on partner airlines do not qualify for this specific discount, and it does not affect taxes, fees, or any cash component of points-plus-cash bookings.

Stacking with Priority Rewards

Further enhancing the value for frequent flyers, the 15% points discount can be combined with Aeroplan's Priority Rewards. These rewards are vouchers offering a 50% reduction on the points cost of an eligible flight reward for one passenger, excluding taxes and fees.

Priority Rewards are earned as Milestone Benefits for elite Aeroplan members, with the eligible travel zone and cabin class determined by the member's status level at the time of earning (e.g., Super Elite members can use them for business class worldwide).

The Chase Aeroplan Credit Card also facilitates earning towards elite status, providing up to 25,000 Status Qualifying Credits annually through spending thresholds, which can help cardholders unlock these valuable Priority Rewards.

Implications for Travellers and Asian Carriers

This development from Air Canada, a Star Alliance member, could influence loyalty programme strategies across the global aviation sector, including in Asia.

For Asian travellers who frequently fly to or from North America on Air Canada, holding the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card could translate into tangible savings on future award travel, particularly given Air Canada's extensive network connecting major Asian hubs like Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong with its Canadian gateways.

While the Chase card is primarily targeted at the U.S. market, the competitive edge offered by such co-branded benefits may prompt Asian carriers with strong North American routes, such as ANA or EVA Air, to review their own loyalty programme partnerships and credit card offerings to ensure they remain attractive to their passenger base.