Air Canada's loyalty program has once again pushed back the date that unused points will expire. Aeroplan points expiration has been paused until 30SEP, 2024.
That means that, between now and 29SEP, 2024, any Aeroplan points which would have expired will not. The program issued a statement on Air Canada's web site on 31MAR. Under the new policy, effective 30SEP, 2024, the program's normal expiration policy will once again apply, and points will expire if an eligible transaction has not been completed prior to this date.
This is the latest extension of points or mileage expiration. When Aeroplan returned to Air Canada ownership, it extended the expiration date of unused points from 12 to 18 months. Then during the pandemic, like other travel loyalty programs, Aeroplan deferred expiration of points, until last summer, when travel resumed in full force, when it announced that unused points would start expiring again on 31MAY, 2023.
That's just around the corner.
Of course, all a client who is a member of Aeroplan has to do - other than travel with Air Canada or another Star Alliance airline - to accumulate more points and keep their Aeroplan account active and all previously accumulated points available, is make a purchase from one of Aeroplan's retail partners. A simple cup of coffee at one of Aeroplan's highest profile partnerships - Starbucks - will do the trick.
One article in aviation trade publication View From the Wing makes the point that extending the grace period for points expiration isn't just a good deed on the part of Aeroplan or Air Canada. It's likely savvy business, too.
There's really no longer any reason like the pandemic to keep extending points expiration. But the article notes that points expiration is "the number one thing that angers members."
The article also points out that none of U.S. airlines Delta, JetBlue, United, or Southwest expire miles for their loyalty customers. Could Aeroplan members soon see points expiration drop altogether?
