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PSA to international travelers: Here’s why you should consider Air Canada and the Chase Aeroplan Card
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Quick summary
Air Canada offers U.S. travelers a convenient way to reach international destinations, often with shorter transoceanic flights due to Canada's geographic position.
Major Canadian airports provide U.S. Preclearance facilities, allowing travelers to clear U.S. customs during layovers and avoid long lines upon return.
The airline’s extensive route network and optimized flight schedules help maximize time at your destination and streamline baggage handling.
Air Canada's loyalty program enables booking award flights on Air Canada and over 45 global partners, with a published rewards chart for transparency.
What to consider
Preclearance is available at nine major Canadian airports, making customs processing smoother for U.S.-bound travelers.
Award flight pricing depends on route distance and class of service, with a published chart for reference.
Elite status in the loyalty program offers perks like priority check-in, free checked bags and lounge access, with requirements to maintain or upgrade status.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed guide to leveraging Air Canada's loyalty program, including elite status benefits, lounge access and strategies for maximizing award redemptions.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Although U.S. flyers are spoiled for choice when it comes to global airlines and airports from which they can connect all over the world, it might surprise you that one of the most convenient ways for Americans to travel internationally is actually on Air Canada. This is true for a number of reasons.
Thanks to Canada’s geographical position, transoceanic flights are often shorter from the country’s hub airports than from many U.S. cities, making it easier to reach far-flung destinations like Singapore, Paris and Sydney.
And that’s not the only benefit of traveling through Canada. U.S. travelers can take advantage of Air Canada’s expansive route network and expect streamlined customs clearance and baggage handling when coming home from their destination. Combine that with Air Canada’s great Aeroplan loyalty program and maximizing everyday spending with the Chase Aeroplan® Card, and you'll experience a more rewarding way to get where you want to go.
The ease of flying through Canada
An Air Canada plane taking off from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in British Columbia. ALVIN MAN/GETTY IMAGES
Air Canada flies to over 180 destinations on six continents, including dozens of cities in the U.S., thanks to its globe-spanning route network. Passengers can transit via Canadian airports in major hubs like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Since there are U.S. Preclearance facilities at nine of Canada’s busiest airports, Americans returning home can preclear U.S. customs formalities during their layover in Canada. That means it's possible to arrive back in the United States without the hassle of long waits in customs lines since that part can be taken care of in Canada. Not to mention, there is no need to recheck your bags when you arrive in Canada for your layover, as they are automatically sent to your final destination.
The airline also optimizes its schedule with convenient flight times for its long-haul destinations so that most passengers can arrive in the morning with a full day ahead of them. This way, passengers can spend more time exploring their destinations versus sitting in the airport.
Travelers looking to live it up in Singapore, for instance, can take advantage of multiple flights daily between Seattle and Vancouver and choose one that suits their schedule. One of the best parts of connecting on a flight close to home is that passengers will get their layover out of the way early on so that they can truly relax and enjoy the flight.
The ongoing flight from Vancouver to Singapore departs around midnight and arrives in the morning a day later. That means you'll have a full day to go out and explore the city rather than landing in the afternoon or evening, as is common with many flights coming from the U.S.
But there are even more reasons to consider Air Canada for your travel needs.
Leveraging Aeroplan points to fly Air Canada and 45-plus global airline partners
Marina Bay, Singapore. D3SIGN/GETTY IMAGES
Travelers (including those based in the U.S.) can also leverage the airline’s fantastic Aeroplan frequent flyer program to book award flights on Air Canada.
Aeroplan has a published flight rewards chart for its Air Canada-operated flights (and even some of its partner airlines) so that you can calculate the approximate number of points you'll need for a flight based on where you're flying and the length of the specific route. If that sounds complicated, don’t worry a bit. All you have to do is log in to your Aeroplan account on aircanada.com and search for the flights you want with the option to "Book with Aeroplan points" selected, and the program's search engine will display your options.
To put some numbers to it, if you wanted to fly Air Canada from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) via Vancouver International Airport (YVR) — a route that operates four times weekly — you could book awards starting at 50,000 points each way in economy, 70,000 points each way in premium economy or 85,000 points each way in business class.
Putting travel within reach, thanks to the Chase Aeroplan Card
CHASE
If you have not been diligently earning Aeroplan points, getting the Chase Aeroplan® Card is a faster and easier way to start.
Not only is the card a great tool to have in your wallet to reward your everyday spending, but you can also receive a welcome offer as a new cardmember, which can help you quickly earn enough bonus points to fly to another continent!
The Chase Aeroplan® Card earns 3 points per dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and on purchases made directly with Air Canada. Cardmembers can also earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases, so you can keep earning no matter what purchases you're using the card for. You can also earn an additional 500 bonus points for every $2,000 spent each calendar month (on up to $6,000 in purchases) for a maximum possible total of 1,500 bonus points each calendar month.
In short, it doesn't take long to earn enough points for that next trip, especially because primary cardmembers have access to lower, preferred pricing on award tickets. So, they often need fewer points for redemptions, which start at a mere 6,000 points.
Extra convenience and comfort during the journey
TROY HOUSE/CHASE
When you areready to travel, the Chase Aeroplan® Card offers valuable day-of-travel perks to help make the journey even smoother.
New cardmembers automatically receive Aeroplan 25K Status for the remainder of the current calendar year and the next calendar year. To maintain your Aeroplan 25K Status into the third calendar year and beyond, you must spend $15,000 on purchases during the second calendar year and each subsequent calendar year thereafter. Those who spend $50,000 or more on purchases during a calendar year can earn an Aeroplan Elite Status Level Up benefit, meaning that whatever level they qualify for with flight and spending activity for the year, they can boost up to the next-highest level, which is a unique and valuable perk.
Aeroplan 25K Status comes with benefits like priority check-in at the airport, two free checked bags and 20 eUpgrade credits to upgrade from economy to business or premium cabins on Air Canada flights. As another exciting benefit, Aeroplan 25K Status members can choose two one-time Maple Leaf Lounge passes valid for lounges in Canada and even locations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Passes can be used on or before their expiration date with a confirmed same-day departing ticket for scheduled Air Canada flights.
Having the Chase Aeroplan® Card will also help you get a first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation on Air Canada flights.
The Chase Aeroplan® Card can also make traveling more rewarding as cardmembers receive a statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee charged to their Aeroplan Card.
Going premium with Air Canada
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
Those who want to take their Air Canada experience to the next level should aim for a business-class ticket. Though these tickets tend to cost more, points can be used on all cabins, and they're an opportunity to get into Signature Class. Passengers who book an eligible fare on Air Canada, including transoceanic Business Class Flexible Rewards, can even take advantage of Air Canada's sophisticated Signature Suite lounges in Vancouver and Toronto.
These special spaces include restaurant-style dining rooms with elegant table service. Visitors can choose complimentary a la carte options from menus created by acclaimed Canadian chef David Hawksworth. You might sample dishes like seared albacore tuna tataki and juicy Canadian beef tenderloin with spinach-horseradish sauce and passion fruit mille-feuille for dessert, all accompanied by carefully selected wines and signature cocktails.
Afterward, you can freshen up with provided upscale skin care products and then board your flight refreshed and full so you can maximize your time to rest on board.
Time to plan your next trip with Air Canada
YANA ISKAYEVA/GETTY IMAGES
Connecting through Canada on Air Canada is convenient thanks to opportune flight schedules from the U.S. and the airline’s diverse network of international routes. Shorter transoceanic flight times to many destinations in Asia and Europe than when flying from the U.S., plus the prevalence of Preclearance facilities in Canadian airports, often make transiting in Canada a breeze, whether you are headed out to explore the world or on your way back home.
Although you earn Aeroplan points when you fly with Air Canada and its partner airlines, you can continue to pile up points on the ground. When you get the Chase Aeroplan® Card, you can take advantage of the current new cardmember welcome offer and earn points on everyday spending. Plus, with added benefits like efficient customs and baggage processes and Air Canada's Aeroplan loyalty program benefits, it all adds up to a seamless travel experience that easily connects passengers to their global destinations.
Mastercard, the circles design, World Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard are trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.
Chase Aeroplan credit cards are issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Accounts subject to credit approval. Restrictions and limitations apply. Offer subject to change.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
