Do Aeroplan Points Expire? (And 3 Ways to Keep Them Active)
Complete breakdown of Air Canada’s 18-month inactivity policy, the permanent credit cardholder exemption, and 3 effortless zero-flight ways to protect your hard-earned points balance forever.
Yes, Aeroplan points expire after 18 consecutive months of complete account inactivity. If you do not earn, redeem, transfer, or donate at least 1 point within an 18-month window, your entire points balance is forfeited.
The Major Exemption: If you hold any primary co-branded Aeroplan credit card—such as the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite, or Amex Aeroplan Reserve—your points NEVER expire for as long as your card account remains open. You do not need to fly or spend monthly to maintain lifetime validity.
Few financial experiences are more frustrating than logging into your Air Canada account to book a long-awaited vacation, only to discover that 80,000 hard-earned Aeroplan points have vanished into thin air due to an overlooked inactivity timer. At an average valuation of 2.0 cents per point (CPP) (calculate your exact balance in our Aeroplan Points Value Calculator and review the Canadian Points Valuation Table), letting an 80,000-point stash expire is equivalent to throwing $1,600 CAD in free flights directly into the trash.
The good news? Air Canada makes it remarkably easy to reset the clock. You never need to book a flight or spend hundreds of dollars to keep your points safe. In this guide, we break down the exact 18-month inactivity rules, show why holding a dedicated travel credit card is the ultimate set-and-forget safeguard, and reveal 3 instant ways to refresh your balance in under 60 seconds.
The Exact Aeroplan Expiration Policy in 2026
Air Canada operates a rolling 18-month inactivity policy. Rather than points having a fixed shelf life from the date they were earned, your entire account balance remains active as long as there is at least one qualifying transaction recorded every 18 months.
Whenever a qualifying event posts to your Aeroplan account, the 18-month countdown clock resets back to day zero for all points in your wallet.
| Transaction Type | Qualifying Activity? | Does It Reset the 18-Month Clock? |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Aeroplan Credit Cardholder | Automatic Exemption | Points Never Expire While Card Is Open |
| Earn Points on Credit Card Purchases | Yes (Qualifying) | Resets Clock for Full 18 Months |
| Transfer Points from Amex MR / Chase UR | Yes (Qualifying) | Resets Clock for Full 18 Months |
| Redeem Points for Flights or Merchandise | Yes (Qualifying) | Resets Clock for Full 18 Months |
| Earn Points via Partners (Uber, Starbucks, LCBO) | Yes (Qualifying) | Resets Clock for Full 18 Months |
| Shop Through Aeroplan eStore | Yes (Qualifying) | Resets Clock for Full 18 Months |
| Donate Points to Charity | Yes (Qualifying) | Resets Clock for Full 18 Months |
| Simply Logging Into Aeroplan Account / App | No (Non-Qualifying) | Does NOT Reset Expiration Clock |
| Buying Flight Tickets with Pure Cash (No Points) | Yes (Once Miles Post) | Resets Clock on Date of Flight Posting |
The #1 Best Solution: Hold an Aeroplan Co-Branded Credit Card
By far the simplest, most effective way to eliminate points expiration anxiety is holding a primary co-branded Aeroplan credit card. Under Air Canada’s program rules, primary holders of eligible Aeroplan credit cards are completely exempt from points expiration.
Even if you do not step on an airplane, earn a single point, or swipe your card for 24 months, your Aeroplan balance will remain 100% secure as long as your credit card account remains open and in good standing.
The Standout Pick: TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite*
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is Canada’s premier everyday vehicle for earning and protecting Aeroplan points. In addition to granting lifetime expiration immunity, it delivers industry-leading everyday multipliers and travel perks:
- Permanent Points Expiration Immunity: Your points balance never expires while your TD account is active.
- Everyday Multipliers: Earn 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 spent on eligible gas, groceries, and direct Air Canada purchases, plus 1 point per $1 on all catch-all spending.
- Free First Checked Bags: Primary cardholder and up to 8 travel companions on the same booking get their first checked bag free on all Air Canada flights (saving up to $70 CAD round-trip per passenger).
- Aeroplan Preferred Pricing: Unlocks discounted award flight redemption rates on Air Canada flights, saving 5% to 15% fewer points per redemption (see real route rates in our 2026 Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart Guide).
- NEXUS Fee Rebate: Up to $100 CAD statement credit every 48 months to speed through airport security.
Read our comprehensive breakdown in the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Review (2026).
Comparing Canadian Aeroplan Credit Cards
Whether you want a daily workhorse or luxury airport lounge privileges, Canada offers co-branded cards across multiple tiers:
| Card Name | Annual Fee | Top Multipliers | Key Aeroplan Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* | $139 CAD | 1.5x Gas, Grocery, Air Canada | Free Checked Bags, Preferred Pricing, 0% Expiration |
| CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* | $139 CAD | 1.5x Gas, Grocery, Air Canada | Free Checked Bags, Preferred Pricing, 0% Expiration |
| American Express® Aeroplan® Reserve | $599 CAD | 3x Air Canada, 2x Dining & Food | Maple Leaf Lounge Access, Annual Companion Pass |
| TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum* | $89 CAD | 1x Gas, Grocery, Air Canada | Entry-level cardholder expiration protection |
3 Easy Ways to Keep Aeroplan Points Active (Without Flying)
If you do not currently hold a co-branded card and notice your 18-month deadline approaching, you can refresh your entire balance without spending more than a few dollars. Here are the 3 fastest zero-flight methods:
1. Link Uber & Starbucks Accounts
Link your Aeroplan account inside the Uber and Starbucks apps. Taking a single Uber ride, ordering Uber Eats, or reloading $5 onto your Starbucks card automatically credits Aeroplan points to your account and pushes your expiration date out another 18 months.
2. Transfer 100 Amex MR Points
If you hold the American Express Cobalt® Card or Amex Gold/Platinum, you can transfer Membership Rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio instantly. Transferring just 100 MR points triggers an immediate credit, resetting your balance clock. (See our Amex to Aeroplan Transfer Tutorial).
3. Shop via the Aeroplan eStore
Before buying everyday essentials on Amazon, Apple, Sephora, Lululemon, or Indigo, click through the Aeroplan eStore. A simple $10 purchase will earn 1–5x Aeroplan points per dollar and reset your 18-month inactivity clock.
Bonus: Donate 1,000 Points to Charity
If you are in an immediate time crunch and cannot wait for merchant shopping points to post, you can instantly donate as little as 1,000 points to Canadian charities (such as the Air Canada Foundation). This counts as a qualifying redemption and resets your remaining balance on the spot.
What to Do If Your Aeroplan Points Already Expired
If you missed the 18-month deadline and discovered that your points were removed, do not panic immediately. Air Canada provides a 6-month grace period / reinstatement policy following the date of expiration.
Within 6 months of expiration, you can restore your points balance through two options:
- Paid Reinstatement: Pay an administrative recovery fee of $30 CAD per transaction + $0.01 CAD per reinstated point (plus applicable sales taxes). For example, recovering 50,000 points would cost $30 + $500 = $530 CAD + tax. While expensive, it can still be mathematically advantageous if your 50,000 points are worth $1,000+ in business class flight redemptions.
- Free Reinstatement via Flight or New Card: Air Canada occasionally waives the per-point fee if you complete an eligible round-trip flight on Air Canada or open an approved co-branded Aeroplan credit card within 6 months of points cancellation. Contact Aeroplan customer service directly to confirm current waiver promotions.
Special Exemption Rules: Minors and Family Sharing
Air Canada features two unique program structures that protect specific groups of travellers:
1. The Under-18 Minor Exemption
Aeroplan points belonging to members who are under the age of 18 do not expire. The 18-month inactivity clock only begins counting down on the member’s 18th birthday, allowing parents to safely accumulate points for their children over years of family travel.
2. Aeroplan Family Sharing Pools
Aeroplan Family Sharing allows up to 8 family members to pool their points together into a single combined balance. When points are pooled, qualifying activity by any single family member resets the 18-month inactivity timer for all members in the pool. Furthermore, if even one member of the Family Sharing group holds a primary co-branded Aeroplan credit card, the entire pooled balance enjoys extended protection.
How WalletFit Eliminates Points Expiration and Maximizes Earning Velocity
Points expiration is simply a symptom of unoptimized rewards management. When you juggle multiple bank cards—such as RBC Avion, Scotiabank Scene+, Amex Membership Rewards, and TD Aeroplan—it is easy to forget which account is dormant, which card earns 5x on groceries, or when spending caps reset.
That is why we built WalletFit. WalletFit is Canada’s automated credit card rewards engine designed on a privacy-first, zero-bank-credential architecture.
⚡ Dynamic Balance Valuation
WalletFit continuously tracks your rewards portfolio against live Cents-Per-Point benchmarks (2.0¢ CPP for Aeroplan, 1.8¢ for RBC Avion, 1.0¢ for Scene+). You always know the exact dollar cash-equivalent value of your stored points.
🛡️ Intelligent Card Routing
Standing at checkout? WalletFit instantly tells you which card yields the highest return for every merchant category code (MCC), ensuring you constantly earn high-velocity points without dormant accounts.
Learn how to structure your multi-card wallet in our guides: The Ultimate Credit Card Trifecta Guide, RBC Avion vs TD Aeroplan Comparison, and What Is a Credit Card Rewards Optimizer?.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have before my Aeroplan points expire?
You have exactly 18 consecutive months from your last qualifying activity (earning, redeeming, donating, or transferring points). If no qualifying transaction occurs within 18 months, your points balance expires.
Does logging into my Aeroplan account stop points from expiring?
No. Simply logging into your account on the Air Canada website or mobile app does not count as qualifying activity and will not reset your 18-month clock.
Will my points expire if I hold the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite?
No. Holding any primary co-branded Aeroplan credit card completely waives the 18-month expiration policy. Your points remain active for as long as your card account is open and in good standing.
How many Aeroplan points do I need to earn to reset the clock?
Earning just 1 single Aeroplan point (from an Uber ride, Starbucks reload, or credit card swipe) is sufficient to reset the 18-month expiration clock for your entire points balance.
Can I transfer points from American Express to reset my Aeroplan points?
Yes. Transferring as little as 100 Amex Membership Rewards points into your Aeroplan account at the 1:1 ratio counts as a qualifying transaction and instantly resets your 18-month expiration timer.
Never Lose Credit Card Rewards Again
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