Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of Air Canada Aeroplan hub
GUIDE
How to buy back expired Aeroplan points
Air Canada Aeroplan is Air Canada's Aeroplan points programme. Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of account inactivity, and Air Canada says points that have already expired can be bought back for a fee within six months of expiry. [3]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Air Canada says expired points may be bought back for a fee within six months of expiry. [3]
- An Aeroplan balance stays usable only while the account is active: at least one point has to be earned or redeemed within an 18-month period, and donating, transferring or converting points also counts. [3]
- Expired points can be bought back for a fee within six months of expiry; Air Canada says it will reinstate all of them if the member flies with Air Canada inside those six months, and that points can also be reinstated by getting an Aeroplan credit card. [3]
- Expiry is paused for now: points that would have expired up to 29 November 2026 are being kept, and the normal policy returns on 30 November 2026. [6]
Can you buy Aeroplan points from Air Canada?
Air Canada's inactivity page says that to reinstate expired points, a member may buy back the expired points for a fee within six months of expiry. [3]
The Aeroplan dashboard is where a member checks the clock on the balance: Air Canada's instructions are to log in to the Aeroplan account, click the Activity tab and scroll down to see the points inactivity date. [3]
How long do Aeroplan points stay in your account?
Aeroplan points expire only where an account has been inactive for 18 months. [3] Staying active takes one point earned or redeemed within an 18-month period, and Air Canada also lists donating, transferring and converting points as activity that keeps the account live. [3]
The earning routes it names are flying with Air Canada with the Aeroplan number on the booking, booking with airline partners including the whole Star Alliance network, booking a hotel room or a car rental, and shopping through the Aeroplan eStore or at retail partners. [3] On the redemption side it lists flight rewards paid with Points + Cash, hotel rooms and car rentals booked with points, gift cards and events, and extras and upgrades such as in-flight Wi-Fi. [3]
Members are warned by email up to 60 days before points would expire, and the inactivity date sits in the Activity tab of the Aeroplan dashboard. [3]
Primary TD Aeroplan credit cardholders, American Express Aeroplan cardmembers and CIBC Aeroplan credit cardholders can prevent points from ever expiring, and so can members who hold Aeroplan Elite Status. [3]
Expiry is paused at the moment. Air Canada says points that would have expired between now and 29 November 2026 will not expire, and that from 30 November 2026 the normal policy applies, so points expire where no eligible transaction has been completed before that date. [6]
Can you buy back expired Aeroplan points?
For points that have already expired, Air Canada lists three ways to get them back within six months of expiry: buying the expired points back for a fee, flying with Air Canada, or getting an Aeroplan credit card. [3] It says it will reinstate all the points if the member flies with Air Canada within six months of expiry, and that points can be reinstated by getting an Aeroplan credit card. [3]
The flying route has a timing catch: the booking may be made after the points expire, but the travel itself has to take place inside the six-month period. [3]
Members can also request missing points for past purchases made with travel partners before the points expired, even if the Aeroplan number was not given when booking. [3] Hotel stays and car rentals can be claimed for the last six months, and flight bookings within 11 months of the departure date, with some exceptions. [3]
What can Aeroplan points be redeemed for?
Aeroplan points can be redeemed for flight rewards with Air Canada and its partner airlines, booked at aircanada.com. [5] Air Canada states that every seat on every Air Canada flight is available, with no restrictions and no cash surcharges on Air Canada flight rewards. [5]
Beyond flights, points can go towards hotels, where HotelSavers is advertised at up to 30% off hotel redemptions, car rentals at more than 11,000 locations worldwide, Air Canada Vacations packages, activities and travel experiences, merchandise and gift cards. [5]
Exceptions and limits
- The expiry pause ends on a fixed date. Points that would have expired up to 29 November 2026 are protected, but from 30 November 2026 the normal rule returns and points expire where no eligible transaction has been completed before that date. [6]
- Reinstatement is time-limited. Air Canada lists buy-back, the flying route and the credit card route among the ways to get points back within six months of expiry, and on the flying route the travel, not just the booking, must fall inside those six months. [3]
- Buy-back carries a fee. Air Canada says expired points may be bought back for a fee. [3]
- Reminders depend on your contact details. The 60-day warning is sent by email, so the address on the Aeroplan account needs to be current. [3]
- Elite Status runs on a separate measure. Aeroplan Elite Status is reached by meeting Status Qualifying Credit requirements within a calendar year, with those credits earned from eligible Air Canada and Star Alliance flights, select Aeroplan credit cards and travel and everyday partners. [4]
Frequently asked questions
Do Aeroplan points expire if you stop using the account?
Yes, but only after 18 months of inactivity. Earning or redeeming at least one point inside that period keeps the balance alive, and donating, transferring or converting also counts. [3]
Can you buy Aeroplan points after they have expired?
Yes. Expired points can be bought back for a fee within six months of expiry; Air Canada says it will reinstate all of them if the member flies with Air Canada inside those six months, and that points can also be reinstated by getting an Aeroplan credit card. [3]
How will you know Aeroplan points are about to expire?
Air Canada emails members up to 60 days before expiry, and the inactivity date appears in the Activity tab of the Aeroplan dashboard. [3]
Are Aeroplan points expiring at the moment?
No. Air Canada has paused expiry until 30 November 2026, so points that would have expired on or before 29 November 2026 are being kept. [6]
What can you spend Aeroplan points on?
Flight rewards with Air Canada and partner airlines, hotels including HotelSavers, car rentals, Air Canada Vacations packages, activities and travel experiences, merchandise and gift cards. [5]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. This page covers Air Canada's Aeroplan programme only.
- Air Canada Aeroplan: keeping your points active, checked 18 October 2026
- Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Status, checked 18 October 2026
- Air Canada Aeroplan: redeem points, checked 18 October 2026
- Air Canada Aeroplan: points expiry suspended, checked 18 October 2026