There is a compelling reason to rush if you've been thinking of travelling through Air Canada later this year, but haven't made your travel arrangements yet. Aeroplan has a bonus points promotion on select flights through 15th December, 2026, and multipliers of up to 3.5x for economy fares on most routes, though the booking deadline is fast approaching for most flights on 18th May, 2026.

The Promotion will provide a variety of benefits

The headline figure: 3.5x Aeroplan points on eligible economy flights from Canada to certain long-haul destinations such as Australia, Singapore, Argentina and Halifax, on the leg of Air Canada. There is a pretty decent multiplier on top of the base earning you would get anyway, and since there is no limit on bonus points, the more you spend, the more you will get.

Flights from Toronto City Airport (Billy Bishop/YTZ) to the U.S. cities of New York LaGuardia, Boston, Washington Dulles and Chicago O'Hare also provide 3x bonus points for shorter haul flights. The booking periods for these specific routes are slightly longer, extending until May 31 which is great for those with a limited window for booking.

Note that one of the eligibility rules is the flight must be booked prior to May 5th, 2026, and the travel date is irrelevant. The earning window for qualifying bookings is May 5 until the appropriate booking deadline, travel through December 15.

The Terms Worth Understanding Before You Book

The registration is done away with for this promotion, eliminating one friction point that prevents travellers from claiming additional credits for which they may be eligible. Your Aeroplan number just has to be added to the booking.

Here are the most important eligibility requirements to keep in mind:

• Fare type: Economy or higher basic economy is not included
• Window for booking: May 5-May 18 (for most routes), May 1-31 (for YTZ short-haul routes)
• Travel window: Until December 15, 2026.
• Qualifying flights: These are flights flown by Air Canada and its subsidiaries, codeshare flights and Air Canada Vacations bookings are NOT considered as qualifying flights.
• Booking type: One way and round trip are accepted, award tickets and points plus cash bookings are not accepted.
• Earnings basis: Bonus points are based on the base fare and not taxes and fees

People are most frequently caught by the basic economic exclusion. If you don't know what basic economy is, and you're tempted to take the lowest fare you can find, check first to ensure that your booking actually qualifies for the bonus. While basic economy does not qualify, standard economy does at least at this low price.

This Promotion Hits Differently in 2026, why?

In 2026, Aeroplan shifted to a revenue based earning system, marking a significant shift in how points are earned on Air Canada flights. With a revenue based program, the points you accumulate are tied to your spending instead of the fare class or distance you fly; therefore bonus multiplier promotions such as this one, will directly and proportionately increase the number of points earned on higher cost tickets.

Travelers who book economy fares with a 3.5 x multiplier on spending in economy fares destinations such as Sydney or Buenos Aires are getting a more significant points earning benefit than they would under the old distance based earning system, considering that the economy fares at these destinations could have a base fare of several hundred to more than a thousand dollars. The higher the cost, the more the multiplier benefits you.

This promotion is especially intriguing for those who had booked an Air Canada trip in the future, but were already considering taking it in 2026. By locking in that booking before May 18, you're only paying to travel and earning the bonus comes along as a byproduct.

What to consider when deciding if you should book now

There are a couple of factors that have contributed to the choice of booking earlier rather than later, and these are unique to each traveler.

It's easy to make an argument for booking a flight later this year on a qualifying Air Canada route. You already intended to purchase the ticket, so simply paying it early doesn't cost you anything extra. The only time to make sense of waiting is if you think that the fares are going to drop significantly, and that the potential savings is greater than the points you'll lose by not taking advantage of the promotion.

This promotion should be taken into account when considering travel, but not the only factor, for travelers who are thinking of a trip, but not yet booked dates or destinations. When you're not sure about the trip, booking it in order to earn bonus points can actually result in cancellations or itinerary changes which can reduce the value you receive. Each fare class has their own cancellation policy and if you book with basic or standard economy fares, you can easily lose the bonus points.

The most interesting scenario is a traveller who has a fairly flexible time frame for travel, and wants to book a longer haul trip to Australia, Singapore, Argentina, etc. who's able to travel now. If the ticket is refundable or changeable, it's a clean play with real upside because if you book before May 18 on a route that's 3.5x, you can lock in the booking before a convenient window of time before the December 15 deadline.

Aeroplan in the Wider Points Landscape

What stands out about this offer ties back to how far Aeroplan reaches outside Air Canada flights. It links up with big point systems like American Express Membership Rewards, not just through one path but several. Think Chase Ultimate Rewards connecting in, Capital One Miles stepping in too. Even Marriott Bonvoy plays a role here, folding into the mix. Because these networks talk to each other, stacking Aeroplan miles fits neatly beside others you’re probably already collecting. Building your total isn’t separate; it slides right into what you're doing now.

Just as strong holds on the flip side. Holding Aeroplan points gathered via flying, credit card activity, or shifting balances from Chase or Amex means solid ground when trading them in. Booking United trips? Or maybe Lufthansa business seats? Often smarter deals pop up here compared to paying through the airline’s personal loyalty path. Especially within Star Alliance circles, where pricing bends lower under this roof. Before a certain date, picking an Air Canada flight brings extra Aeroplan points without altering your usual plans. Booking early is what counts, nothing more complicated than that.

The Bottom Line

Airplane gives you as much as 3.5 times more points when you book certain Air Canada economy trips from May 5 to May 18, 2026. Some shorter routes out of Toronto City Airport keep that deal going until May 31 instead. Your trip has to finish before December 15, 2026, or it won’t count. You do not need to sign up ahead of time. Regular economy tickets and higher levels work fine, but basic economy does not apply here. Flights booked under codeshares or through Air Canada Vacations are left out too.