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By Alexandre Folgueras · Loyalty programs · Reviewed November 7, 2026 · 5 min read

Reviewed Nov 7, 2026 · 5 min

Do Aeroplan points expire? What changes on November 30, 2026

The pause on Aeroplan points expiry ends in late November 2026. If your account has been quiet for a long time, here is how to check your date and what to do first.

Travel accessories and an unbranded card beside a suitcase.
In this guide
  1. The exact date, according to Air Canada
  2. Who is exposed
  3. What counts as activity
  4. Who is exempt
  5. What to do before November 29
  6. If your points have already expired
  7. Sources

Yes. An Aeroplan account inactive for 18 months loses its points, unless it is exempt. Air Canada has paused that rule: points that would have expired stay protected through November 29, 2026, and “effective November 30, 2026, our normal expiration policy will apply.” At Futello’s estimate of 2.0¢ per point as of November 7, 2026, a balance of 25,000 points represents about $500.

The exact date, according to Air Canada

Air Canada’s page gives two dates that do not conflict. Expiry is paused until November 30, 2026, and points stay protected between now and November 29, 2026. November 30 is the day the normal policy returns, and November 29 is the last protected day. Sites that cite one date or the other are describing the same rule.

Air Canada adds that points will expire if an eligible transaction has not been completed before that date. Treat November 29 as a limit to stay well clear of.

Who is exposed

You are exposed if your account has had no eligible activity for a long time and none of the exemptions below applies. A member who rarely flies and whose Aeroplan card has been closed is one example.

The pages consulted do not explain how the 18 months are counted for an account that was already inactive during the pause. The only reliable reference is the date shown in your account. The general terms add that after three consecutive years of inactivity, Aeroplan may close the account and reassign its number.

What counts as activity

Under the inactivity policy, earning or redeeming at least one point within an 18-month period is enough. Air Canada lists:

  • Earning: flying with Air Canada with your Aeroplan number on the booking, booking with an airline partner, a hotel or a car rental, shopping through the Aeroplan eStore or at a retail partner.
  • Redeeming: a flight reward, including Points + Cash, a hotel, a car rental, a gift card, an event, an upgrade or an extra such as in-flight Wi-Fi.
  • Other actions: donating points to a charity, transferring points to another member or converting points from another program.

The general terms define inactivity more simply, as not earning or redeeming for 18 consecutive months. So earning or redeeming is the safest move. In a Family Sharing pool, a redemption keeps every member’s account active, as long as they hold at least one point.

Who is exempt

Your points do not expire as long as one of these applies:

  • you are the primary cardholder of a TD Aeroplan, American Express Aeroplan or CIBC Aeroplan credit card;
  • you hold Aeroplan Elite Status.

The policy refers to the primary cardholder only, so an authorized user should not count on it for their own account. If you cancel your card, the exemption tied to that card ends. Eligible cards and their value are compared on Futello’s Aeroplan page.

What to do before November 29

  1. Check your date. Log in to your Aeroplan account, open the Activity tab and scroll down to your points inactivity date. Air Canada emails members up to 60 days before points expire, so keep your address current.
  2. Make a transaction if you are not exempt. A small purchase at a partner or a modest redemption is enough, since a single point counts. Air Canada gives no posting time on these pages, so do not leave this for the last few days.
  3. Check the result. Go back to the Activity tab and confirm that the transaction and the new date appear.
  4. Decide about the rest of your balance. A later date does not protect you from a reward chart change. The guide Should you save your points or use them sooner? can help you decide, and the Aeroplan guide shows how to calculate the value of a booking.

If your points have already expired

Air Canada offers reinstatement within six months of expiry, in three ways:

  • buy the points back for a fee, the amount of which is not on the page;
  • fly with Air Canada, with travel taking place within the six months, which reinstates all your points;
  • get an Aeroplan credit card.

You can also claim missing points: partner hotel stays or car rentals from the last six months, and flights booked within 11 months of departure, with some exceptions.

Sources

Consulted on November 7, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the last protected day?

November 29, 2026. Air Canada says points that would have expired stay protected between now and that date, and that its normal expiration policy applies effective November 30, 2026.

Does an Aeroplan credit card protect my points?

Yes, as long as you are the primary cardholder of a TD Aeroplan, American Express Aeroplan or CIBC Aeroplan card. Aeroplan Elite Status also protects points. The policy does not cover authorized users.

Can I get expired points back?

Air Canada offers reinstatement within six months of expiry: buy the points back for a fee, fly with Air Canada during that period, or get an Aeroplan credit card.