New to travelling the world on points? The three most important loyalty programs for Canadian travelers are Aeroplan, Avios, and American Express Membership Rewards. Each offers distinct advantages, but they vary dramatically in complexity, earning potential, and ease of use.
Most people don’t realize that choosing the right program from the start can save you hundreds of hours of confusion and thousands of dollars in value. Here’s your complete guide to understanding which program makes the most sense for your first steps into travel rewards.
Understanding the Three Programs
Before diving into comparisons, let’s establish what each program actually is.
Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program and Canada’s largest travel rewards currency. You earn points by flying Air Canada and partner airlines, or through credit cards and everyday spending. Redeem for flights on Air Canada and 45+ partner airlines worldwide.
Avios is the shared currency across British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar Airways. While less prominent in Canada, it offers unique advantages for short-haul flights and specific routes. You earn Avios through flying these airlines or transferring from credit card programs.
American Express Membership Rewards isn’t an airline program—it’s a credit card points currency that transfers to multiple airline and hotel partners, including both Aeroplan and Avios. Think of it as a universal translator for travel rewards.
Point Values: What Are You Actually Earning?
Understanding point values is fundamental to making smart decisions.
Aeroplan: 1.4 cents per point
Avios: 1.4 cents per point
American Express Membership Rewards: 2.1 cents per point
What this means in practice: Earn 50,000 Aeroplan points, and you have $700 in travel value. Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points, and you have $1,050 in travel value—50% more.
This difference matters enormously when choosing credit cards and planning your earning strategy.
Earning Potential: How Fast Can You Accumulate Points?
Aeroplan Earning
Primary earning method: Air Canada flights and co-branded credit cards.
The American Express Cobalt Card leads the pack, earning 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar on eligible dining and groceries that transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan. At 1.4 cents per Aeroplan point, that’s a 7% return on these categories.
Real-world example: Spend $15,000 annually on groceries and dining with the Cobalt Card, and you’ll earn 75,000 points. Transfer to Aeroplan, and that’s enough for a round-trip business class flight to Europe (60,000-70,000 points).
Beginner-friendly factor: High. Aeroplan is everywhere in Canada. You’ll see earning opportunities constantly, from grocery stores to gas stations to online shopping portals.
Avios Earning
Primary earning method: Transferring from American Express Membership Rewards or flying British Airways and partner airlines.
Avios earning is more challenging for Canadians because there’s no direct Avios credit card available in Canada. You must earn Membership Rewards points first, then transfer them to Avios.
Real-world scenario: Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points with the Cobalt Card, transfer to Avios, and you have 50,000 Avios—enough for multiple short-haul flights within North America or Europe.
Beginner-friendly factor: Medium. The extra transfer step adds complexity, and opportunities to earn Avios directly through flying are limited for most Canadians.
American Express Membership Rewards Earning
Primary earning method: American Express credit cards.
The Cobalt Card offers 5 points per dollar on dining and groceries, 2 points on travel and transit, and 1 point on everything else. The Platinum Card provides 2 points per dollar on travel booked through Amex Travel, plus various statement credits that enhance value.
Real-world calculation: Annual spending of $12,000 on groceries, $6,000 on dining, $5,000 on travel, and $15,000 on other purchases with the Cobalt Card generates:
- Groceries and dining: 90,000 points
- Travel: 10,000 points
- Everything else: 15,000 points
- Total: 115,000 points worth $2,415 in travel value
Beginner-friendly factor: High. Earning is straightforward—use your card, get points. The flexibility to transfer to multiple programs means you’re never locked into one option.
Redemption Process: How Easy Is It to Use Your Points?
Aeroplan Redemptions
The process: Search for flights on the Aeroplan website or app, select your route, pay with points plus taxes and fees.
Award chart structure: Distance-based pricing with three zones (short-haul, mid-haul, long-haul) and seasonal variations. Business class to Europe costs 60,000-70,000 points depending on season.
Fees and surcharges: This is where Aeroplan gets tricky. Taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges can add $200-$600+ to award tickets, particularly on Air Canada flights.
Real-world example: Book a business class flight from Toronto to London for 60,000 Aeroplan points. Sounds great until you see the $600 in taxes and fees. The total out-of-pocket cost is still $600, though you’re getting a $4,000 ticket.
Partner airline advantage: Booking partner airlines like Turkish Airlines or LOT Polish often reduces fees dramatically—sometimes to just $150 for the same route.
Beginner-friendly factor: Medium-high. The website is user-friendly and availability is generally good, but understanding which airlines have lower fees requires research.
Avios Redemptions
The process: Search on the British Airways website, select flights, pay with Avios plus taxes.
Award chart structure: Purely distance-based with no seasonal variations. Short flights (under 650 miles) cost as little as 7,500 Avios in economy or 15,000 in business class.
The Avios sweet spot: Short-haul flights offer exceptional value. Vancouver to Seattle? Just 7,500 Avios. Toronto to New York? 7,500 Avios. These same flights might cost 12,500+ Aeroplan points.
Real-world scenario: You need to fly from Montreal to Boston (250 miles). With Aeroplan, this costs 12,500 points. With Avios, it’s just 7,500 points—a 40% savings.
The limitation: Long-haul flights become expensive quickly. Toronto to London costs 50,000 Avios in economy—more than Aeroplan charges for the same route.
Beginner-friendly factor: Medium. The distance-based chart is logical, but British Airways’ website can be clunky, and finding partner airline availability requires patience.
American Express Membership Rewards Redemptions
The process: You have three options:
- Book through Amex Travel: Use points at a fixed value (typically 1 cent per point for flights, 0.7 cents for hotels). Simple but offers poor value.
- Transfer to airline partners: Move points 1:1 to Aeroplan, Avios, or other partners, then book through their programs. Best value but requires understanding partner programs.
- Use for statement credits: Redeem for travel purchases at 1 cent per point. Flexible but wastes value.
Real-world comparison: You want to fly business class to Europe.
- Option 1 (Amex Travel): A $4,000 ticket costs 400,000 points
- Option 2 (Transfer to Aeroplan): The same ticket costs 60,000 Aeroplan points (transferred from 60,000 Membership Rewards points)
The difference? You save 340,000 points by understanding transfers.
Beginner-friendly factor: Low-medium. The flexibility is powerful but requires learning multiple programs. However, this complexity is what creates exceptional value for those willing to invest the time.
Fees and Surcharges: The Hidden Costs
Aeroplan
Typical fees: $150-$600 depending on airline and route
The strategy: Book partner airlines with lower surcharges. Turkish Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, and LOT Polish typically charge $150-$250 versus $400-$600 on Air Canada or Lufthansa.
Real-world impact: Two business class tickets to Europe on Air Canada: 120,000 points + $1,200 in fees. The same tickets on Turkish Airlines: 120,000 points + $300 in fees. You save $900 by choosing the right partner.
Avios
Typical fees: $100-$400 depending on airline
The challenge: British Airways is notorious for high fuel surcharges on long-haul flights. A business class ticket to London might cost 50,000 Avios plus $600 in fees.
The solution: Book Aer Lingus or Iberia flights instead, which often have significantly lower surcharges.
Membership Rewards
Fees: Depend entirely on which partner program you transfer to and which airline you book.
The advantage: You can compare fees across multiple programs before transferring points, choosing the option with the lowest surcharges.
Transfer Partners: Flexibility vs. Simplicity
Aeroplan
Partners: 45+ airlines including United, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Air India, and more.
Transfer capability: None. Aeroplan points stay in Aeroplan. You can’t move them to other programs.
Beginner impact: This simplicity is actually helpful for beginners. You don’t need to understand multiple programs—just learn Aeroplan.
Avios
Partners: British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, and various other oneworld airlines.
Transfer capability: Limited. Avios can move between British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus accounts, but this requires understanding each program’s sweet spots.
Beginner impact: The ability to move Avios between programs adds complexity but also creates optimization opportunities.
Membership Rewards
Partners: Aeroplan, Avios, Marriott Bonvoy, and several others.
Transfer capability: Extensive. Points transfer instantly to most partners, giving you maximum flexibility.
Beginner impact: This flexibility is both the greatest strength and biggest challenge. You must understand multiple programs to maximize value, but you’re never locked into poor redemptions.
Unique Features for Beginners
Aeroplan
Stopover benefit: Book a free stopover on one-way or round-trip awards. Fly Toronto to Paris with a three-day stop in Reykjavik for the same points as a direct flight.
Family sharing: Pool points with up to eight family members, making it easier to accumulate enough for big redemptions.
Beginner advantage: These features are genuinely useful and easy to understand, even for newcomers.
Avios
Household accounts: Combine Avios with family members living at the same address.
Short-haul sweet spots: The distance-based chart makes short flights incredibly affordable—perfect for weekend getaways.
Beginner advantage: The short-haul value is unmatched, making Avios excellent for your first few redemptions.
Membership Rewards
No expiration: Points never expire as long as your account remains open.
Transfer bonuses: Amex occasionally offers 20-30% transfer bonuses to specific partners, multiplying your value.
Beginner advantage: The safety of non-expiring points removes pressure while you learn the system.
Real-World Scenarios: Which Program Wins?
Scenario 1: Weekend Trip to New York
Your goal: Fly from Toronto to New York for a weekend getaway.
Aeroplan cost: 12,500 points + $50 in taxes = $225 in value
Avios cost: 7,500 points + $50 in taxes = $155 in value
Winner: Avios saves you 5,000 points (worth $70) on this short-haul flight.
Scenario 2: Business Class to Europe
Your goal: Fly business class from Toronto to London.
Aeroplan cost: 60,000 points + $200 in taxes (on Turkish Airlines) = $1,040 in value
Avios cost: 50,000 points + $600 in taxes (on British Airways) = $1,300 in value
Membership Rewards strategy: Transfer 60,000 points to Aeroplan, book Turkish Airlines = $1,040 in value
Winner: Aeroplan or Membership Rewards (transferred to Aeroplan) offers better overall value when you choose low-fee partners.
Scenario 3: Family Vacation to Hawaii
Your goal: Four round-trip tickets from Vancouver to Honolulu.
Aeroplan cost: 100,000 points + $400 in taxes = $1,800 in value
Avios cost: 80,000 points + $400 in taxes = $1,520 in value
Winner: Avios saves 20,000 points (worth $280) on this mid-distance route.
Scenario 4: Around-the-World Adventure
Your goal: Multi-city trip visiting Asia, Europe, and South America.
Aeroplan advantage: Book complex routings with a stopover, all on one award ticket.
Membership Rewards advantage: Transfer points to different programs for each segment, optimizing each leg independently.
Winner: Tie between Aeroplan (for simplicity) and Membership Rewards (for optimization potential).
The Verdict: Which Is Easiest for Beginners?
For absolute beginners who want simplicity: Aeroplan
Aeroplan offers the most straightforward path to your first award redemption. The program is everywhere in Canada, earning is intuitive, and the website is user-friendly. You’ll accumulate points quickly through everyday spending, and booking your first flight is relatively painless.
Start with the American Express Cobalt Card, earn 5 points per dollar on groceries and dining, transfer to Aeroplan, and book your first trip within 6-12 months.
For beginners willing to learn: American Express Membership Rewards
Membership Rewards requires more initial learning but delivers 50% more value per point and maximum flexibility. You’re never locked into one program, and you can optimize each redemption based on the best available option.
The learning curve is real, but the payoff is substantial. Within a few months, you’ll understand enough to consistently extract 30-50% more value than Aeroplan-only users.
For specific use cases: Avios
If you frequently take short-haul flights or have specific routes where Avios excels, it’s worth earning. However, as a primary program for Canadian beginners, it’s the least versatile of the three.
Use Avios as a complement to Aeroplan or Membership Rewards, not as your main program.
Your Action Plan: Getting Started
Month 1: Foundation
- Apply for the American Express Cobalt Card
- Set up your Aeroplan account
- Link your Cobalt Card to Aeroplan for automatic transfers (or keep points in Membership Rewards for flexibility)
Months 2-6: Accumulation
- Use your Cobalt Card for all groceries and dining (5x points)
- Track your points balance monthly
- Set a specific travel goal (example: business class to Europe in 12 months = 60,000 points needed)
Months 7-12: Optimization
- Research award availability for your target destination
- Compare Aeroplan vs. Avios pricing for your specific route
- Book your first award ticket 3-4 months before travel
Beyond Year 1: Mastery
- Consider adding The Platinum Card from American Express for additional earning and travel benefits
- Explore transfer partner sweet spots
- Join our Sunday newsletter to get weekly updates delivered straight to your inbox
Common Beginner Questions Answered
Q: Should I transfer Membership Rewards to Aeroplan immediately or keep them flexible?
Keep them in Membership Rewards until you’re ready to book. This preserves flexibility and protects against program devaluations.
Q: Can I combine Aeroplan points with Avios?
No. They’re separate programs with separate accounts. However, you can transfer Membership Rewards to either program.
Q: Which program has better availability?
Aeroplan generally offers better availability on North American routes and to Europe. Avios excels for short-haul flights and specific routes on British Airways partners.
Q: Do points expire?
Aeroplan points don’t expire with account activity every 18 months. Avios don’t expire with activity every 36 months. Membership Rewards don’t expire while your account is open.
The Bottom Line
For most Canadian beginners, start with Aeroplan through the American Express Cobalt Card. This combination offers the fastest path to meaningful redemptions with minimal complexity.
As you gain confidence, keep your Membership Rewards points flexible rather than auto-transferring to Aeroplan. This preserves the option to transfer to Avios or other partners when they offer better value for specific redemptions.
Check out our Newbie’s Guide to equip you with all the basic knowledge you need for racking up the points and travelling the world. Understanding these three programs is your foundation for leveraging travel rewards to their full potential.
Your home for smarter travel starts with choosing the right program. Make the smart choice today, and you’ll be flying business class to Europe within a year—all while spending less than those who pay cash for economy.
The knowledge is here. The opportunity is waiting. The only question is: are you ready to transform the way you travel?
