8 Reasons Why We Love Air Canada
Sep 6, 2024
Written by
Written by
Brianna Harrison (Credit Card & Travel Writer)
Brianna Harrison (Credit Card & Travel Writer)
Table of contents
Title
Title
Title
Air Canada isn’t just any airline–it’s the biggest in Canada and our favourite for a reason (or eight!). There’s a lot to love, from the extensive rewards program to all the extras and benefits you get from flying with the best Canadian airline.
Here are eight reasons why we think Air Canada is the best airline in Canada:
The Aeroplan Rewards Program
Aeroplan is hands down one of the best airline loyalty programs out there. With this rewards program, you can earn and redeem points for free flights, vacations, travel bookings, upgrades, and more.
Getting free flights is the best way to use Aeroplan points, and you can often find amazing deals from North America to Europe and even further.
Aeroplan often runs promotions where you can earn bonus points, and they have co-branded Aeroplan credit cards with American Express, TD, and CIBC, making it even easier to earn points on everyday purchases.
Another great thing about the Aeroplan rewards program is that your points never expire as long as you keep your account active (by earning or redeeming at least 1 point every 18 months).
The next seven points get more into the Aeroplan program and why it’s definitely worth signing up for if you fly with Air Canada.
Ease of Earning Aeroplan Points
Air Canada makes it so easy to earn Aeroplan points on everyday purchases with its eight personal co-branded credit cards. They’ve partnered with TD, CIBC, and American Express to earn you up to 3x the Aeroplan points.
Another great advantage of these credit cards is their entire suite of benefits, like airport lounge access, free first-checked bags, and travel insurance coverage.
If you have an American Express credit card that earns Membership Rewards points, you can easily transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to Aeroplan points. All you need to do is log into your account and transfer a minimum of 1,000 points, and you’re all set to use them towards free flights.
Another easy way to earn Aeroplan points is shopping at select partner stores, including Starbucks, LCBO, and Uber. Just show your Aeroplan card or number when checking out, and you’ll earn points (on top of what you’ll get using your Aeroplan credit card!).
The Ability to Earn Free Flights
The best and smartest way to redeem Aeroplan points is on flights with Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners, like United, Avianca, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. Take a look at Air Canada’s flight reward chart to get an idea of how many Aeroplan points you’d need to redeem for flights across a certain distance.
There are often great deals on flights from Canada to Europe. For example, we found a flight from Toronto (YYZ) to Lisbon (LIS) for just 25.9k points. This is on the lower end of economy class for a flight under 5,000 miles, which means you’re getting a great deal swapping points for what would have been a $518 flight!
You just need to be smart about shopping around, looking for the best deals, and booking flights a few months in advance. The farther out you book, the better value you’ll get for your points. If you have enough points, it can also be worth looking at flights in business class–a completely different experience than flying in economy.
Aeroplan Elite Status
After you’ve started earning Aeroplan points, you may be wondering how you can earn more at a faster rate, allowing you to get more free flights each year. The answer to this is Aeroplan Elite Status, a higher level of the Aeroplan program for the most frequent travellers.
Elite members get access to top Air Canada benefits, including preferred seat selection, flight waitlisting, and priority boarding and check-in. The higher your tier, the more Aeroplan points you’ll earn on each booking–up to 100% extra as a Super Elite Member.
These are the five levels of Aeroplan Elite Status and how you can reach each tier:
Learn more about the benefits and how to reach Aeroplan Elite Status.
Maple Leaf Airport Lounges
Airport lounges are expensive and only for those flying business class, right? Wrong. Air Canada has lounges in 17 airports across Canada, the US, and Europe. Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges include free food and drinks, high-speed Wi-Fi, business centres, and even showers.
You don’t need to be flying business class to access these lounges–anyone can enter, including Aeroplan Elite members, Star Alliance members, those who purchase lounge access, and those who have free lounge access included in their Aeroplan credit card benefits.
Depending on your ticket class, you can purchase a one-time Maple Leaf Lounge pass for $49 to $79. Or, if you have the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, or the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, you can enter for free.
Eligible Aeroplan credit card members can also bring a guest to the lounge with the one-time guest pass.
eUpgrades
If you have Aeroplan Elite Status, you can use eUpgrades to upgrade to a higher class of service on Air Canada flight bookings. For example, you can upgrade from economy to premium economy or economy to business class.
As soon as you reach any tier of Elite Status, Air Canada will automatically reward you with 20 eUpgrade credits. You can see how many credits you’ll need to upgrade your flight and the clearance windows here.
Why should you spend extra money and upgrade? Benefits of Air Canada Premium Economy include larger seats, extra legroom, and priority airport services.
Flight Passes
Air Canada Flight Passes are pre-paid packages that allow you to purchase a certain number of one-way flights in advance at a fixed price. This saves you tons of money, especially if you’re flexible with dates or travel to the same destination often.
You can purchase the following flight passes:
For students who travel home often
Flight Passes are quite flexible, earn you Aeroplan points, and allow you to choose your seat in advance for free. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use it within a year, otherwise, it will expire.
Extensive Flight Network
Last but not least, one of the reasons why we think Air Canada is the best Canadian airline is its extensive flight network. Air Canada flies to over 220 destinations on six continents, making it the largest airline in Canada and one of the world’s leading airlines.
They have extensive coverage across Canada, including major cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Ottawa; they also serve many US and international routes.
Air Canada was one of the founding members of the Star Alliance. Whenever you fly with any of those 26 airlines, you can collect Aeroplan points from the miles of your trip, just as you would with Air Canada flights.
Bonus Reasons
Here are a few more reasons Air Canada is the best airline in Canada, in our eyes:
On top of simply being an airline, Air Canada has a division of their company called Air Canada Vacations. In this portal, you can book vacation packages, flight and hotel bundles, tours, hotels, activities, cruises, and car rentals. You can book Air Canada Vacations directly and earn Aeroplan points for the flights you take.
Another great benefit is the same-day change for Air Canada flights. If you can’t make your flight or decide to switch to another flight leaving on the same day, you can do so without paying a fare difference. However, you may need to pay a fee based on your fare class, and you can only change to another Air Canada flight. Here are the fare options and fees within Canada.
If you look at Air Canada Airlines reviews, you may find mixed reviews and people saying that their flight was delayed or cancelled or that they were denied an upgrade. These things will happen with any airline, so it’s important to do your research before booking your flight. However, we think that all the benefits and extras Air Canada offers offset the negatives.
Now you know why we think Air Canada is the best airline in Canada. None take the cake when comparing other airlines, like Air Canada vs British Airways or United Airlines vs Air Canada. Flying with Air Canada brings many perks for frequent flyers, including the top-tier Aeroplan rewards program, priority treatment, and travel insurance coverage.
If you have an Aeroplan or American Express credit card that allows you to earn points, start using it to pay rent with Chexy, so you can be on your way to getting free flights even faster. You can also build your credit and get access to top-tier features and perks.
Subscribe to our newsletter below for up-to-date credit card, travel, and rental content.
Air Canada isn’t just any airline–it’s the biggest in Canada and our favourite for a reason (or eight!). There’s a lot to love, from the extensive rewards program to all the extras and benefits you get from flying with the best Canadian airline.
Here are eight reasons why we think Air Canada is the best airline in Canada:
The Aeroplan Rewards Program
Aeroplan is hands down one of the best airline loyalty programs out there. With this rewards program, you can earn and redeem points for free flights, vacations, travel bookings, upgrades, and more.
Getting free flights is the best way to use Aeroplan points, and you can often find amazing deals from North America to Europe and even further.
Aeroplan often runs promotions where you can earn bonus points, and they have co-branded Aeroplan credit cards with American Express, TD, and CIBC, making it even easier to earn points on everyday purchases.
Another great thing about the Aeroplan rewards program is that your points never expire as long as you keep your account active (by earning or redeeming at least 1 point every 18 months).
The next seven points get more into the Aeroplan program and why it’s definitely worth signing up for if you fly with Air Canada.
Ease of Earning Aeroplan Points
Air Canada makes it so easy to earn Aeroplan points on everyday purchases with its eight personal co-branded credit cards. They’ve partnered with TD, CIBC, and American Express to earn you up to 3x the Aeroplan points.
Another great advantage of these credit cards is their entire suite of benefits, like airport lounge access, free first-checked bags, and travel insurance coverage.
If you have an American Express credit card that earns Membership Rewards points, you can easily transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to Aeroplan points. All you need to do is log into your account and transfer a minimum of 1,000 points, and you’re all set to use them towards free flights.
Another easy way to earn Aeroplan points is shopping at select partner stores, including Starbucks, LCBO, and Uber. Just show your Aeroplan card or number when checking out, and you’ll earn points (on top of what you’ll get using your Aeroplan credit card!).
The Ability to Earn Free Flights
The best and smartest way to redeem Aeroplan points is on flights with Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners, like United, Avianca, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. Take a look at Air Canada’s flight reward chart to get an idea of how many Aeroplan points you’d need to redeem for flights across a certain distance.
There are often great deals on flights from Canada to Europe. For example, we found a flight from Toronto (YYZ) to Lisbon (LIS) for just 25.9k points. This is on the lower end of economy class for a flight under 5,000 miles, which means you’re getting a great deal swapping points for what would have been a $518 flight!
You just need to be smart about shopping around, looking for the best deals, and booking flights a few months in advance. The farther out you book, the better value you’ll get for your points. If you have enough points, it can also be worth looking at flights in business class–a completely different experience than flying in economy.
Aeroplan Elite Status
After you’ve started earning Aeroplan points, you may be wondering how you can earn more at a faster rate, allowing you to get more free flights each year. The answer to this is Aeroplan Elite Status, a higher level of the Aeroplan program for the most frequent travellers.
Elite members get access to top Air Canada benefits, including preferred seat selection, flight waitlisting, and priority boarding and check-in. The higher your tier, the more Aeroplan points you’ll earn on each booking–up to 100% extra as a Super Elite Member.
These are the five levels of Aeroplan Elite Status and how you can reach each tier:
Learn more about the benefits and how to reach Aeroplan Elite Status.
Maple Leaf Airport Lounges
Airport lounges are expensive and only for those flying business class, right? Wrong. Air Canada has lounges in 17 airports across Canada, the US, and Europe. Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges include free food and drinks, high-speed Wi-Fi, business centres, and even showers.
You don’t need to be flying business class to access these lounges–anyone can enter, including Aeroplan Elite members, Star Alliance members, those who purchase lounge access, and those who have free lounge access included in their Aeroplan credit card benefits.
Depending on your ticket class, you can purchase a one-time Maple Leaf Lounge pass for $49 to $79. Or, if you have the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, or the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card, you can enter for free.
Eligible Aeroplan credit card members can also bring a guest to the lounge with the one-time guest pass.
eUpgrades
If you have Aeroplan Elite Status, you can use eUpgrades to upgrade to a higher class of service on Air Canada flight bookings. For example, you can upgrade from economy to premium economy or economy to business class.
As soon as you reach any tier of Elite Status, Air Canada will automatically reward you with 20 eUpgrade credits. You can see how many credits you’ll need to upgrade your flight and the clearance windows here.
Why should you spend extra money and upgrade? Benefits of Air Canada Premium Economy include larger seats, extra legroom, and priority airport services.
Flight Passes
Air Canada Flight Passes are pre-paid packages that allow you to purchase a certain number of one-way flights in advance at a fixed price. This saves you tons of money, especially if you’re flexible with dates or travel to the same destination often.
You can purchase the following flight passes:
For students who travel home often
Flight Passes are quite flexible, earn you Aeroplan points, and allow you to choose your seat in advance for free. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use it within a year, otherwise, it will expire.
Extensive Flight Network
Last but not least, one of the reasons why we think Air Canada is the best Canadian airline is its extensive flight network. Air Canada flies to over 220 destinations on six continents, making it the largest airline in Canada and one of the world’s leading airlines.
They have extensive coverage across Canada, including major cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Ottawa; they also serve many US and international routes.
Air Canada was one of the founding members of the Star Alliance. Whenever you fly with any of those 26 airlines, you can collect Aeroplan points from the miles of your trip, just as you would with Air Canada flights.
Bonus Reasons
Here are a few more reasons Air Canada is the best airline in Canada, in our eyes:
On top of simply being an airline, Air Canada has a division of their company called Air Canada Vacations. In this portal, you can book vacation packages, flight and hotel bundles, tours, hotels, activities, cruises, and car rentals. You can book Air Canada Vacations directly and earn Aeroplan points for the flights you take.
Another great benefit is the same-day change for Air Canada flights. If you can’t make your flight or decide to switch to another flight leaving on the same day, you can do so without paying a fare difference. However, you may need to pay a fee based on your fare class, and you can only change to another Air Canada flight. Here are the fare options and fees within Canada.
If you look at Air Canada Airlines reviews, you may find mixed reviews and people saying that their flight was delayed or cancelled or that they were denied an upgrade. These things will happen with any airline, so it’s important to do your research before booking your flight. However, we think that all the benefits and extras Air Canada offers offset the negatives.
Now you know why we think Air Canada is the best airline in Canada. None take the cake when comparing other airlines, like Air Canada vs British Airways or United Airlines vs Air Canada. Flying with Air Canada brings many perks for frequent flyers, including the top-tier Aeroplan rewards program, priority treatment, and travel insurance coverage.
If you have an Aeroplan or American Express credit card that allows you to earn points, start using it to pay rent with Chexy, so you can be on your way to getting free flights even faster. You can also build your credit and get access to top-tier features and perks.
Subscribe to our newsletter below for up-to-date credit card, travel, and rental content.