You don’t need to set foot on a plane to build a significant Aeroplan balance. The majority of Aeroplan’s highest-earning members accumulate most of their points through credit card spending, everyday retail partners, and strategic use of earning opportunities on the ground. This guide covers every meaningful way to earn Aeroplan points without flying.
1. Aeroplan Credit Cards: The Fastest Path
Credit card spending is the single most efficient way to earn Aeroplan points without flying. Unlike flight earnings (which are distance-based and require buying airfare), credit card points accumulate on every dollar you spend on existing purchases.
Current Aeroplan credit cards in Canada
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Earn Rate | Best Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1.5x | Grocery, gas |
| TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum | $89 | 1x | General spend |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite | $139 | 1.5x | Grocery, gas, Air Canada |
| CIBC Aeroplan Visa | $0 | 1x | General spend |
| Amex Aeroplan Reserve | $599 | 3x | Air Canada |
For a detailed category-by-category breakdown, see Best Aeroplan Credit Cards by Spending Category.
Annual earning example (TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite):
| Category | Monthly Spend | Earn Rate | Annual Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $1,000 | 1.5x | 18,000 |
| Gas | $200 | 1.5x | 3,600 |
| Everything else | $800 | 1x | 9,600 |
| Total | $2,000 | 31,200 |
31,200 Aeroplan points per year from credit card spending alone — worth approximately $468–$686 in economy flight redemptions.
2. Retail Partners: Earn on Everyday Shopping
Aeroplan has an extensive network of retail partners across Canada where you can earn bonus points by presenting your Aeroplan number (or registered card) at the time of purchase. These stack on top of any credit card points.
Esso / Mobil
Esso stations are one of the most valuable Aeroplan ground partners. Earn points on fuel purchases by presenting your Aeroplan card or using the Esso Extras app. Points can be earned on fuel, car washes, and convenience store purchases.
Stack: Use your TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa at Esso AND present your Aeroplan number to earn both credit card Aeroplan points and direct Esso partner points on the same transaction.
LCBO
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario participates in Aeroplan earning. Earn points on qualifying LCBO purchases by scanning your Aeroplan card or number at checkout.
Other retail partners
Aeroplan’s partner network includes grocery banners, pharmacies, dining chains, and specialty retailers. The network changes over time — check the full list at aircanada.com/aeroplan/earn/partners for current participants.
For a comprehensive breakdown of the partner network, see Aeroplan Partners: Where to Earn Points Canada 2026.
3. Aeroplan eStore: Earn Points Shopping Online
The Aeroplan eStore (aircanada.com/en/aeroplan/earn/eshop/) is an online shopping portal that earns bonus Aeroplan points when you click through to a participating retailer’s website and complete a purchase.
How it works:
- Log in to your Aeroplan account
- Navigate to the eStore
- Find the retailer you want to shop at and click through
- Complete your purchase on the retailer’s site as normal
Points are credited to your Aeroplan account within a few days.
Earn rates vary by retailer, typically ranging from 1–10 points per dollar. Major Canadian retailers like Hudson’s Bay, Indigo, Apple Canada, and dozens of others participate.
Important: Always start your shopping session from the Aeroplan eStore to ensure points are tracked correctly. Going directly to a retailer’s website without clicking through from the eStore will not earn portal points.
The eStore is also the easiest way to reset your points expiry clock with a small purchase if your account is approaching inactivity.
4. Aeroplan Dining Partners
Aeroplan has a dining partner program where you earn bonus points by registering your credit card and dining at participating restaurants. Once your card is registered, points are automatically credited after dining at a partner restaurant — no card to present at the table.
How to enrol:
- Log in to aircanada.com/aeroplan
- Navigate to “Dining” under the Earn section
- Register your credit card(s) to the dining program
When you pay with a registered card at a partner restaurant, you earn both:
- Your credit card’s Aeroplan points on the purchase
- Additional Aeroplan bonus points from the dining program
Participating restaurants vary by city. Major urban centres (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary) have the largest selection.
5. Hotel Partners
Several hotel chains participate in Aeroplan’s earning program. You can earn Aeroplan points when you stay at a participating hotel by providing your Aeroplan number at check-in.
Key hotel partners:
- Marriott (points transfer to Aeroplan at 3:1 — better to redeem Marriott points directly, but transfers available)
- Hilton Honors (points can be converted to Aeroplan, though the conversion rate is typically unfavourable)
- Various boutique and independent hotels through the Aeroplan travel portal
Hotel stays through the Aeroplan travel portal: Booking hotel stays through the Air Canada Vacations or Aeroplan travel portal earns points on the entire booking amount, which can be more efficient than third-party hotel booking sites.
6. Car Rental Partners
Earn Aeroplan points when you rent a vehicle from participating car rental companies. Provide your Aeroplan number at booking or check-in.
Common car rental partners:
- Avis
- Budget
- Hertz (select locations)
Earn rates vary by company and rental amount. Always confirm the current earn rate with the rental company before booking.
7. Financial Partners and Transfers
Amex Membership Rewards → Aeroplan
American Express Membership Rewards (MR) points transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio — one of the best transfer rates in Canadian travel rewards. This makes Amex cards like the Gold Rewards Card and the Cobalt Card effective Aeroplan-earning vehicles, even though they’re not officially Aeroplan cards.
Example: Earn 5 Amex MR points per dollar on dining with the Cobalt Card → transfer to Aeroplan at 1:1 → effectively 5 Aeroplan points per dollar at restaurants.
Marriott Bonvoy → Aeroplan
Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 3:1 ratio (3 Marriott points → 1 Aeroplan point). This is generally a poor conversion for routine use, but can be useful if you have a large Marriott balance and want to top up Aeroplan for a specific redemption.
Bonus: Transfers of 60,000+ Marriott points to Aeroplan include a 5,000-point bonus (giving you 25,000 Aeroplan points instead of 20,000).
8. Aeroplan Promotions and Bonus Offers
Aeroplan frequently runs targeted and public bonus point promotions:
- Double or triple points at specific retail or dining partners for a limited period
- Bonus points for completing a set number of transactions at a partner
- Transfer bonuses from Amex MR to Aeroplan (periodically offered, typically 25–40% bonus)
- Shopping portal bonuses on specific retailers during sales events (Black Friday, Back to School, etc.)
Sign up for Aeroplan’s email newsletter to receive notification of promotions. You can also check the “Offers” section of your Aeroplan account profile.
How Much Can You Earn Without Flying?
A realistic annual earning estimate for a Canadian household actively using ground earning channels:
| Source | Annual Points |
|---|---|
| TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite (primary card, $2,000/month) | ~31,000 |
| Esso partner earn (stacked with credit card) | ~2,000 |
| Aeroplan eStore purchases | ~3,000 |
| Dining partner bonus | ~1,500 |
| Amex Cobalt Card dining transfers (if held) | variable |
| Conservative total | ~37,500 |
37,500 Aeroplan points is enough for a round-trip economy flight within Canada, or a meaningful contribution toward a premium transatlantic redemption when accumulated over two to three years.
FAQ: Earning Without Flying
Can I earn Aeroplan points without a credit card? Yes. You can earn through retail partners (Esso, LCBO, and others) by presenting your Aeroplan number, through the Aeroplan eStore, and via dining partners. However, credit card earning is significantly more efficient and is the primary driver of points for most members.
Do points from retail partners count toward Elite Status? No. Elite Status (SQM, SQS, SQD) is earned only on qualifying flights. Ground-earned points go into your Aeroplan balance for redemptions but do not contribute to Elite Status qualification.
Can I earn Aeroplan points on gift card purchases? Generally, gift card purchases do not earn Aeroplan credit card points (most card issuers exclude these). Retail partner earn rules also typically exclude gift card purchases.
How long does it take for ground partner points to appear? Credit card points typically appear within 2–5 business days of the statement closing date. Partner points (retail, dining, hotels) can take 4–8 weeks to post. eStore points typically appear within 3–7 business days of confirmed delivery.
Related Aeroplan Articles
- How Aeroplan Works: Complete Canada Guide 2026
- Aeroplan Partners: Where to Earn Points Canada 2026
- Aeroplan eStore Guide: Earn Points Shopping Online Canada 2026
- Best Aeroplan Credit Cards by Spending Category 2026
- Aeroplan Points Expiry Rules Canada 2026
- Aeroplan Points Value Canada 2026
- Aeroplan Elite Status: Is It Worth It? Canada 2026
- Best Aeroplan Redemptions in Canada 2026
- Best Aeroplan Credit Cards in Canada 2026
Partner earn rates and program terms are subject to change. Verify current opportunities at aircanada.com/aeroplan.