Using eUpgrades for Aeroplan Tickets – Canadian Air Miles Guide

With the recent launch of the Aeroplan program, many are on the lookout for the best redemption options to maximize the value of their hard-earned points. This new program allows members to achieve elite status without the need to fly, utilizing co-branded credit cards like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card. A significant perk of the new system is the ability to use eUpgrades on certain Aeroplan award tickets, which enhances the value of your points even further.

If you possess one of these credit cards and engage in sufficient qualifying transactions, you may have the opportunity to use eUpgrades for Aeroplan redemptions in economy class. This can save you thousands of points when flying business class. It’s an excellent option that also provides access to a greater selection of flights and serves as a compelling incentive to attain Aeroplan Elite status.

Step 1: Achieve Aeroplan Elite 25K Status

This year, many individuals achieved 25K status, either as Aeroplan Distinction Diamond members or through Air Canada’s Travel At Home promotion.

For those without status, the new Aeroplan program enables you to earn Aeroplan Elite 25K status without flying, via Everyday Status Qualification, beginning January 2021.

To attain 25K status, you must collect 100,000 Aeroplan points from eligible transactions, which is distinct from status qualifying miles that primarily come from flying.

The most straightforward way to accrue qualifying Aeroplan points for status is through co-branded credit cards issued by CIBC, TD, and American Express. Most people who qualify for status through non-flight activities will likely do so using this earning method.

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite serves as the primary mass-market card for many members, currently offering a signup bonus of 10,000 points and a Buddy Pass for travel within North America.

Source: TD

The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card is an ultra-premium option designed for frequent Air Canada travelers.

To learn more about what qualifies as an eligible transaction for Everyday Status Qualification, please refer to the relevant Air Canada page. Primarily, the major exclusions from qualifying transactions include:

• Points earned through sign-up or welcome bonuses associated with Aeroplan credit cards
• Points accrued through conversion from other loyalty programs

This means that points accumulated through membership rewards cards, such as the American Express Business Platinum Card, which offers the highest sign-up bonus in Canada at 75,000 points, will not count.

Importantly, points earned from spending on co-branded credit cards will qualify. The Aeroplan Reserve Card from American Express earns 3x points on Air Canada purchases, 2x points on eligible dining and food delivery, and one point per dollar spent on all other transactions.

The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card earns 1.5 points on purchases made at gas stations, grocery stores, and Air Canada, as well as one point per dollar on all other purchases.

Cardholders should aim to spend mid-five figures annually to achieve status, a goal that is attainable for many consumers. The benefits are, in my opinion, well worth it.

Aeroplan Elite 25K status comes with numerous benefits, but the most valuable for travelers include:

• Priority services when flying with Air Canada
• Two complimentary checked bags on Air Canada flights
• Star Alliance Silver status

However, there are two additional benefits that are particularly helpful for redemptions:

• A discount on Air Canada redemption rates, ranging from 10-15% off the prices seen by non-elite members, and potentially up to 40% on specific itineraries
• 25 eUpgrade credits (20 base credits and 5 as a select benefit), which can be utilized to upgrade from economy to business class

Step 2: Utilize eUpgrades on Aeroplan Redemptions

Under the new Aeroplan program, you can redeem for different classes: Standard, Flex, or Latitude, each having varied cost tiers and behaving similarly to revenue fares.

If you opt for Latitude bookings, you will enjoy several advantages:

• Free changes and cancellations
• Fewer eUpgrade credits required to access business class
• Upgradability at the time of booking
• No cash supplement for eUpgrades on Aeroplan Latitude tickets

Though flexibility may not seem like a standalone advantage, the savings on eUpgrade credits allow you to fly business class at significantly reduced costs.

Before diving into specific examples, let’s review the eUpgrade chart. At the end of the chart, it indicates that all status levels can upgrade Latitude bookings anytime. The preceding sections detail costs for various fares spanning different zones (be sure to look at the “Aeroplan flight rewards” section for accurate details).

A North American transcontinental flight requires 4 eUpgrades in each direction, irrespective of connections (for example, SFO-YVR-YUL-YYZ is also 4, just like SFO-YYZ). International flights will require either 11 or 13 credits each way, depending on their distance. If you have only 25 credits, a round-trip upgrade might not be feasible, but you can always book one-way tickets without penalties in the new program, allowing you to redeem for business on one leg and either upgrade to premium economy or fly economy on the other leg.

Here’s an example of a flight from Toronto to Vancouver on April 14, showing 12,800 points for a Standard booking and 23,800 points for Latitude, available to an Elite 50K member.

eUpgrades on Aeroplan (Toronto – Vancouver)

Upgrades from Latitude Reward bookings to business class mainly come from R class inventory, which is what both paid customers and those who upgrade share. You can check flight availability using a third-party resource, such as ExpertFlyer.

The flight above indicates R6, meaning there are currently 6 seats available for upgrade to business class. For this example, Latitude costs 22.3k points, whereas business class is priced at 54.5k points. You could book this flight and use 4 eUpgrade credits to attain business class, thereby cutting your points expenditure in half while still enjoying the benefits of an upgrade. Should your plans change, you can cancel the Latitude Reward booking at no cost, and your eUpgrade credits will be instantly refunded.

Here’s another example for a flight from Toronto to Tokyo on April 14:

eUpgrades on Aeroplan (Toronto – Tokyo)

This flight shows R9, meaning that at least 9 seats are available for an upgrade. It necessitates 13 eUpgrades, and by booking Latitude, you would save over 13k points when compared to booking business class outright.

Please note that at times, there can be complications with the website when attempting to upgrade Latitude Rewards, and you may need to contact customer service. If you find yourself in this situation, simply say, “The website isn’t allowing me to submit an upgrade request for business class; could you please assist me with that?” Keeping it straightforward tends to lead to successful troubleshooting. People who have been pushy have reported negative experiences, so it’s best to maintain a calm approach.

This benefit is even more valuable when there are instances where R class is available, but I class is not. This means the cost of a business redemption could be significantly higher than described above. In those cases, opting for an upgrade can save you a substantial amount of points compared to a standard business redemption, reminiscent of the old Priority Rewards structure for Super Elites.

Conclusion

Attaining Elite 25K status through qualifying credit card transactions is an effective strategy for saving on Air Canada business class flights by leveraging eUpgrades for Aeroplan redemptions. Given the limited number of eUpgrade credits available, it’s advised to utilize these for North American flights, as the cost is capped at 4 credits each way. Nevertheless, this strategy also applies well for one or two international flights.

All that’s needed is to earn 100,000 points through credit card spending or alternative means (keeping exclusions in mind), and you’ll achieve 25K status, which allows further upgrades to your Latitude Rewards, preserving your Aeroplan points for future use.

Using credit cards like the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite and the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card provides additional discounts on redemptions.