Aeroplan Points Expiry Rules Canada 2026

Q: "Do points expire if I have an Aeroplan credit card?"

"Not as long as you use the card. Any credit card purchase that earns Aeroplan points counts as qualifying activity. If you stop using the card entirely for 18+ months, expiry could occur — but this is an unusual scenario for active cardholders."

Q: "My points are about to expire. What's the quickest way to save them?"

"The Aeroplan eStore is the fastest option. Make any qualifying purchase at a participating retailer through the Aeroplan eStore, and the points are credited to your account within a few days, resetting the clock immediately."

Q: "Can I get expired points reinstated?"

"Aeroplan's official policy is that expired points are not reinstated. Some users have reported success contacting Aeroplan customer service shortly after expiry (within a few days), but there is no guarantee. The only reliable strategy is to prevent expiry in the first place."

Q: "Do bonus points from promotions count as qualifying activity?"

"Yes. Receiving a bonus point award (from a promotion, referral, or status bonus) counts as earning activity and resets the clock."

Q: "If I transfer hotel points to Aeroplan, does that reset expiry?"

"Yes. Transferring points from a partner program (e.g., Marriott Bonvoy or Amex Membership Rewards) to Aeroplan is a qualifying earning activity that resets the 18-month window."

Q: "Does Aeroplan send an expiry warning?"

"Yes. Aeroplan sends email notifications approximately 30 days before expiry. However, do not rely solely on these emails — ensure your contact information is current and actively monitor your account."

Aeroplan points don’t last forever — but keeping them active is far simpler than most people think. Under the current program rules, your points are safe as long as your account has at least one qualifying transaction every 18 months. This guide explains exactly when Aeroplan points expire, what counts as qualifying activity, and the easiest ways to ensure your balance never lapses.

Do Aeroplan Points Expire?

Yes — Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of account inactivity. This means if you go 18 consecutive months without any qualifying earning or redemption activity, your entire Aeroplan point balance is forfeited.

The 18-month inactivity rule was updated when Aeroplan relaunched in November 2020. The original program had a 12-month inactivity window — the current policy is more generous.

Key rule: Points do not expire on a per-transaction basis. You don’t need to use points earned in a specific window. You simply need at least one qualifying activity every 18 months to keep the entire balance alive.

What Counts as Qualifying Activity?

Any of the following transactions reset the 18-month expiry clock:

Earning activity

Earning Aeroplan points from an Air Canada or partner airline flight
Earning points on a credit card transaction (TD Aeroplan, CIBC Aeroplan, or Amex Aeroplan card)
Earning points through an Aeroplan retail, dining, hotel, or car rental partner
Earning points through the Aeroplan eStore (online shopping portal)
Receiving a bonus point promotion or referral award

Redemption activity

Redeeming Aeroplan points for a flight award
Redeeming points for hotel stays, car rentals, or merchandise
Donating points to a charity through Aeroplan

What does NOT reset the clock

Simply having an Aeroplan account with a positive balance
Receiving marketing emails or logging into your account
Having an Aeroplan credit card that is not actively used

Qualifying Activity Quick Reference

Activity	Resets Expiry Clock?
Credit card purchase (TD, CIBC, or Amex Aeroplan card)	✓ Yes
Air Canada or Star Alliance partner airline flight	✓ Yes
Aeroplan eStore purchase	✓ Yes
Esso/Mobil fuel purchase (linked account)	✓ Yes
Dining at an Aeroplan dining partner	✓ Yes
Hotel or car rental through Aeroplan travel portal	✓ Yes
Redeeming Aeroplan points (any type)	✓ Yes
Transfer from hotel or credit card program to Aeroplan	✓ Yes
Receiving a bonus promotion award	✓ Yes
Logging in to your Aeroplan account	✗ No
Receiving Aeroplan marketing emails	✗ No
Holding an Aeroplan credit card without using it	✗ No

The Easiest Ways to Keep Aeroplan Points Active

If you have a dormant Aeroplan account and are approaching the 18-month mark, any of the following will reset the expiry clock — most can be done in under five minutes.

1. Make a small Aeroplan eStore purchase

The Aeroplan eStore (aircanada.com/en/aeroplan/earn/eshop/) lets you earn bonus points on purchases from hundreds of Canadian retailers. Even a small purchase of $10–$20 at a participating retailer will earn a few points and reset the expiry clock.

This is the easiest method if you don’t have an upcoming Air Canada flight or active Aeroplan credit card.

2. Use your Aeroplan credit card

If you hold a TD Aeroplan, CIBC Aeroplan, or Amex Aeroplan credit card, every purchase earns Aeroplan points. Regular card use ensures your account is always active. Even a single small transaction per year is enough to reset the clock indefinitely.

3. Dine at an Aeroplan dining partner

Several restaurant chains and dining networks participate in Aeroplan. Registering your credit card with the Aeroplan dining program and dining at a partner restaurant earns bonus points and resets the clock.

4. Earn points through a retail partner

Presenting your Aeroplan card or number at a participating retail partner (Esso, certain grocery stores, LCBO, etc.) earns points on transactions. See Aeroplan Partners: Where to Earn Points for a full list.

5. Book a hotel or car rental through Aeroplan

Booking a hotel stay or car rental through the Aeroplan travel portal (on aircanada.com) earns points on the transaction and resets the clock.

What Happens When Points Expire?

If your account reaches 18 months of complete inactivity:

You receive a warning email from Aeroplan before the expiry date (typically 30 days prior)
If no qualifying activity occurs, your entire Aeroplan balance is forfeited on the expiry date
The account itself remains open — only the points are lost
You can continue earning new points after expiry, but the old balance is gone permanently

Expired points cannot be reinstated. Aeroplan does not restore forfeited points except in extraordinary circumstances, and any reinstatement is at Aeroplan’s sole discretion.

Within a Family Sharing group, each member manages their own account activity independently. Contributing points to a shared booking counts as activity for the accounts whose points were used — but does not affect accounts that didn’t contribute points.

Practical tip: If a family member has a small, otherwise inactive Aeroplan balance, deliberately routing a booking through their account (drawing some of their points) counts as activity and resets their expiry clock.

Tracking Your Expiry Date

You can check your account’s expiry status by:

Logging in to aircanada.com with your Aeroplan credentials
Navigating to your Aeroplan profile / account summary
Looking for “Points expire” or “Last qualifying activity” in your account details

Aeroplan also sends email notifications before expiry. Ensure your email address is current in your profile and that Aeroplan emails aren’t going to your spam folder.

The Impact of COVID-19 Extensions

During 2020–2022, Aeroplan extended expiry dates across the board due to reduced travel activity caused by the pandemic. These extensions have expired, and the standard 18-month inactivity rule now applies. Do not rely on future extensions — assume the standard policy is in effect.

Aeroplan Points Expiry FAQ

Do points expire if I have an Aeroplan credit card? Not as long as you use the card. Any credit card purchase that earns Aeroplan points counts as qualifying activity. If you stop using the card entirely for 18+ months, expiry could occur — but this is an unusual scenario for active cardholders.

My points are about to expire. What’s the quickest way to save them? The Aeroplan eStore is the fastest option. Make any qualifying purchase at a participating retailer through the Aeroplan eStore, and the points are credited to your account within a few days, resetting the clock immediately.

Can I get expired points reinstated? Aeroplan’s official policy is that expired points are not reinstated. Some users have reported success contacting Aeroplan customer service shortly after expiry (within a few days), but there is no guarantee. The only reliable strategy is to prevent expiry in the first place.

Do bonus points from promotions count as qualifying activity? Yes. Receiving a bonus point award (from a promotion, referral, or status bonus) counts as earning activity and resets the clock.

If I transfer hotel points to Aeroplan, does that reset expiry? Yes. Transferring points from a partner program (e.g., Marriott Bonvoy or Amex Membership Rewards) to Aeroplan is a qualifying earning activity that resets the 18-month window.

Does Aeroplan send an expiry warning? Yes. Aeroplan sends email notifications approximately 30 days before expiry. However, do not rely solely on these emails — ensure your contact information is current and actively monitor your account.

Aeroplan program terms, including expiry rules, are subject to change. Always verify current policies at aircanada.com/aeroplan.