Air Canada has announced a number of new and/or updated policies today and they’re largely positive developments, with points reinstatement options being particularly interesting.
You can read the full announcement here, but here’s a quick summary of all the changes.
Points Expiration Delayed
Air Canada has once again delayed the date by which your points will expire with 18 months of inactivity to September 30, 2022.
If you get to early September 2022 and you still haven’t had any activity within 18 months, US residents can extend their expiration date through a number of methods including simply transferring in points from the following transferable currencies:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Capital One
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Bilt
If October 1, 2022 comes around and you’ve accidentally let your points lapse, all is not lost because Air Canada is introducing a couple of interesting new ways to reinstate your points.
Reinstate Points With 1 Flight Or Getting Their Credit Card
In the event you lose your Aeroplan points due to inactivity, you can have them reinstated automatically by taking an Air Canada flight within 6 months of their expiration. This is a smart policy as it encourages customers to actually fly with them again and means you don’t have to pay a large fee to reinstate your points (which is one of your other options).
They’ll also reinstate your points if you get an Aeroplan credit card. I don’t know if this option has to be done within six months too or if they provide even more leeway in that scenario, but it’s great to have that second option.
Points Never Expire For Cardholders
I don’t remember seeing this previously announced elsewhere, but Air Canada has advised that Aeroplan points will never expire for as long as you’re a credit cardholder. In the past that wouldn’t have been of note for US residents, but with the upcoming launch of the Chase Aeroplan credit card, that’s a useful added benefit which could help make it worth keeping the card beyond year one.
Waived Change Fee On Award Flights
Change fees are waived for all Aeroplan award flights booked through December 31, 2021. From January 1, 2022 onwards, Aeroplan will still allow you to make one free change to reservations made before the end of 2021. If the change results in a lower award cost, the difference will be credited to your Aeroplan account. Needless to say, if the change results in an increased cost, you’ll have to pay the difference in points.
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