Yes. Aeroplan points expire if you go 18 months without earning or redeeming any. They don’t expire while you’re the primary holder of a TD, CIBC or American Express Aeroplan card, or while you hold Aeroplan Elite Status. Air Canada has also paused expiry until November 30, 2026. Here’s how the rule works, what keeps your points active and how to get expired points back.
The 18-month rule
Air Canada’s program terms say your account becomes inactive if you haven’t earned or redeemed Aeroplan points for 18 months in a row, and all points in an inactive account are forfeited. Air Canada’s own help page puts it simply: earn or redeem at least one point within 18 months.
The terms also say that if an account stays inactive for 3 years in a row, Air Canada can close it and reassign your Aeroplan number.
What counts as activity
| Activity | Keeps points active? | Where Air Canada says so |
|---|---|---|
| Earning points (flights, cards, partners) | Yes | Program terms and help page |
| Redeeming points | Yes | Program terms and help page |
| Donating, transferring or converting points | Yes | Help page (not named in the terms) |
| A Family Sharing member redeeming from the pool | Yes, for every member with at least 1 point | Program terms |
| Buying points | Not listed | Don’t rely on it alone |
Converting points from another program into Aeroplan also earns Aeroplan points. For example, you can move American Express Membership Rewards points at 1:1, or Marriott Bonvoy points at 3:1 (see our Marriott to Aeroplan guide).
Who’s protected from expiry
Air Canada’s inactivity page says you can stop your points from ever expiring if you are:
- The primary cardholder of a TD Aeroplan, CIBC Aeroplan or American Express Aeroplan card.
- An Aeroplan Elite Status member.
Air Canada’s card benefits page says the same: points don’t expire while you’re the primary cardholder of an Aeroplan credit card. Additional cardholders aren’t named, so if your Aeroplan points sit in your own account and you’re only an additional cardholder, keep earning or redeeming as usual.
The expiry pause
Air Canada has paused Aeroplan points expiry until November 30, 2026. Points that would have expired before then won’t. Air Canada says that on November 30, 2026 the normal rule returns, and points expire if you haven’t completed an eligible transaction before that date.
Air Canada’s notice doesn’t say exactly how the 18 months are counted for accounts that went quiet during the pause. The safe move is to earn or redeem at least one point before November 30, 2026.
Calculator: when do your points expire?
Aeroplan points expiry checkerEnter the last month you earned or redeemed Aeroplan points. See roughly when your points expire and how long you’d have to get them back.
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How to get expired points back
Air Canada says you can get expired points back within 6 months of expiry in three ways:
- Fly with Air Canada. Air Canada reinstates all your points if you fly with it within 6 months of expiry. You can book after your points expire, but the flight must happen within the 6 months.
- Get an Aeroplan credit card. Air Canada lists this as a way to get your points back.
- Buy them back for a fee. Air Canada doesn’t list the fee on its help page, and its buy-back link asks you to sign in.
If points from a past flight, hotel stay or car rental never arrived, you can also ask for them. Air Canada’s help page gives 6 months for hotel and car rental claims and 11 months from the flight date for flights.
Closing your account
You can close your Aeroplan account at any time without a fee, but any points left in it are forfeited right away. Redeem them first. The terms also say Aeroplan points can’t be willed or exchanged for cash, and that membership ends when a member dies.
Not sure what your Aeroplan points are worth?
See what a point is worth →Frequently asked questions
Do Aeroplan points expire?
Yes, if you go 18 months in a row without earning or redeeming any. They don’t expire while you’re the primary holder of a TD, CIBC or Amex Aeroplan card, or while you hold Aeroplan Elite Status.
When do Aeroplan points expire?
18 months after your last earning or redemption. Air Canada has paused expiry until November 30, 2026, when the normal rule returns.
How do I keep my Aeroplan points from expiring?
Earn or redeem at least one point every 18 months. Donating, transferring and converting points also count, according to Air Canada. Being the primary holder of an Aeroplan credit card stops your points from expiring.
Do Aeroplan points expire if I have an Aeroplan credit card?
Not while you’re the primary cardholder of a TD, CIBC or American Express Aeroplan card. Air Canada’s pages name only the primary cardholder.
Can I get expired Aeroplan points back?
Yes, within 6 months of expiry. Fly with Air Canada in that window, get an Aeroplan credit card, or buy the points back for a fee.
Does buying Aeroplan points stop them from expiring?
Air Canada doesn’t list buying points as an activity that keeps your account active. Earning, redeeming, donating, transferring or converting points are the activities it names.
What happens to Aeroplan points when you close your account?
They’re forfeited right away. Redeem them before you close the account.
Related reading
- What an Aeroplan point is worth: work out the value of any flight
- Marriott points to Aeroplan: transfer ratios and the 60,000-point bonus
- Cents per point: how to compare any rewards program
- Rewards programs: what your points are worth
- Best Aeroplan credit cards: 5 picks from TD, CIBC and Amex
- Do WestJet points expire?: the inactivity rules
- Do PC Optimum points expire?: the inactivity rule
How we checked: The 18-month rule, what counts as activity, the cardholder and Elite exemptions, the 6-month reinstatement options and the missing-points windows come from Air Canada’s Aeroplan help pages and program terms. The expiry pause comes from Air Canada’s Aeroplan news page. Air Canada doesn’t publish the buy-back fee publicly. The calculator gives approximate months; your Aeroplan account shows exact dates. This page is general information, not financial advice. Sources: Aeroplan: Keeping your points active; Aeroplan program terms; Aeroplan points expiry paused; Aeroplan credit card benefits; Aeroplan: Do more with your points. Last checked October 2026.