You don’t need to be a frequent flyer to benefit from an airline rewards program. Find out the perks of signing up with the top programs for Canadians and explore the best airline loyalty programs for collecting air miles, earning points, and unlocking travel rewards.

Why join an airline rewards program?

Most airlines offer a loyalty program that lets customers sign up for travel rewards, earn air miles, and unlock exclusive perks. The programs are designed to reward you for choosing to fly with them, so make sure to take advantage of those rewards. 

Each airline loyalty program offers different ways to accumulate travel points, with its own methods for earning and redeeming them. Being brand loyal allows you to accumulate travel rewards that you can redeem for flights, hotels, car rentals, merchandise, airport lounge access, and seat upgrades. 

What if I’m not a frequent flyer?

Even if you aren’t a frequent flyer, you can still build up travel reward points over the years and redeem them to help reduce vacation expenses. Since most airline programs are free to join, there’s really no reason not to sign up.

Best airline rewards programs for Canadians

As a Canadian traveller, you don’t just have to stick with Canadian airline rewards programs. The best loyalty program for you depends on which airline you prefer to fly with. Doing a quick comparison of airline rewards programs can help you determine which is the right fit for you. For example, if you always fly with Delta, joining the SkyMiles program would make more sense than signing up for a partner airline’s program, even when flying with carriers like WestJet.

Most major Canadian airlines have their own loyalty programs, and you can often earn and redeem these rewards across their global airline partners as well.

Tips for choosing an airline rewards program

Here’s all you need to know about airline rewards programs and choosing the right one for you. Below, we will go over some of the highlights of the flight loyalty programs available in Canada to help you decide which points program best suits your travel habits and priorities. 

Choose one rewards program and stick with it

Signing up for every single airline rewards program only really works if you are a frequent flyer with all of the different carriers. The best way to earn frequent flyer points is to choose one airline loyalty program and fly with that airline (or its partners) whenever possible. 

Focusing on earning airline miles or points in a single program is the best way to maximize your perks. Not only will you reach higher point levels faster, but many airline loyalty programs also offer different membership tiers. With each higher tier, there are even more benefits to unlock. 

Check which airlines you fly with most frequently

If your company books your work travel, a simple solution is to sign up for the rewards program for the airline you fly with most often. If you book your own flights, compare different airline mileage programs to find one that matches your travel habits, destinations, and preferred perks.

Pick a program that works with credit card rewards

Some programs base their points on mileage flown, while others award points based on how much you spend on tickets. Many also partner with travel credit cards, hotels, and retailers, allowing you to earn points without even stepping on a plane. It’s also worth checking whether points expire after a period of inactivity or remain valid indefinitely.

Decide what type of rewards you want

Different airline rewards programs offer different perks, so you need to determine which travel rewards are most important to you. Do you need lounge access or a better points-to-dollars value? Is it a budget airline, or do you have to spend a lot on plane tickets to see any perks? These are all things to consider when signing up for a dedicated travel reward program. 

What about hotel and car rental rewards programs?

Airlines aren’t the only companies that provide travel rewards. Hotels, car rental companies, and travel rewards programs like AIR MILES also offer Canadians opportunities to collect points and save on future trips. If you stay at the same hotel brand regularly or rent a car from the same company, joining their loyalty program can help you unlock discounts, upgrades, and exclusive perks.

The great part about joining airline, hotel, and car rental rewards programs is that you can earn perks across your entire trip. Sometimes, you can even exchange a program’s reward points for another program’s, getting more out of your travels.

Aeroplan loyalty program

Aeroplan is the official rewards program for Air Canada and one of the most popular loyalty programs for Canadians. Members can earn and redeem points on Air Canada flights, Star Alliance partner airlines, hotel stays, car rentals, vacation packages, and even everyday purchases with their participating partners. They also offer perks like flight upgrades, preferred pricing, and access to elite status benefits.

WestJet loyalty program

WestJet Rewards is WestJet’s loyalty program, offering Canadians the opportunity to earn and redeem points on WestJet flights, vacation packages, hotel stays, car rentals, and partner purchases. While it’s not part of a major global airline alliance, the program has specific partnerships with Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, and Qantas.

You can earn WestJet points and redeem them for flights with the above airlines, vacation packages, and to cover government taxes and fees. If you have a WestJet RBC Mastercard credit card, you can also earn points on everyday purchases to save on your next trip.

AAdvantage, SkyMiles, and MileagePlus loyalty programs

Our neighbouring country has quite a few airline loyalty programs, and the good news is that Canadians can sign up and redeem points as they wish. The most popular loyalty programs are AAdvantage, SkyMiles, and MileagePlus.

Each loyalty program is associated with hundreds or thousands of partners, so you can earn miles beyond just flying. Before committing to one airline rewards program, compare the perks, redemption options, and partner network to see which one best suits your needs.

Find more ways to save with Skyscanner

Looking for more ways to save on your next trip? Check out Skyscanner’s search engine for the best deals on flights, car rentals, and hotels. You can compare prices, discover cheap travel dates, and score travel reward points with your preferred loyalty program. 

Booking the best deals while accumulating points at the same time? That’s a win-win for any traveller.