Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.
Via Frequent Flyer Bonuses, Air Canada is offering up to a 30% bonus when you transfer hotel points to Air Canada Aeroplan miles through April 17, 2017.
If you like booking award tickets on Air Canada or Star Alliance partner airlines, like United Airlines, using Air Canada Aeroplan miles, this could be a good deal. Especially if you collect Starwood or Marriott points!
I’ll share the details of the promotion and help you decide if transferring hotel points with this bonus is worth it.
Transfer Hotel Points to Air Canada With a Bonus
Link: Air Canada Hotel Points Transfer Bonus Promotion
Link: Air Canada Award Chart
Through April 17, 2017, you’ll earn up to 30% more Air Canada Aeroplan miles when you transfer hotel points to Air Canada.
Participating hotel loyalty programs include:
- Best Western
- Choice Hotels
- Club Carlson
- Coast Hotels
- Hilton
- Le Club Accor Hotels
- Marriott
- Shangri-La
- Starwood
- Wyndham
The amount of the bonus depends on how many Air Canada Aeroplan miles you EARN from the transfer. NOT how many hotel points you transfer, because the ratios are different depending on the chain:
Normally I don’t recommend transferring hotel points to airline miles, because the transfer ratios aren’t that great. But if you collect Starwood points or Marriott points, this could be a very good deal!
And don’t forget, you’ll pay fuel surcharges for award flights on Air Canada. But they do NOT charge fuel surcharges for award seats on partner airlines like United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and more.
Make the Most of the Transfer Bonus
1. Transfer Starwood Points
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
You can transfer Starwood points to Air Canada Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. And you’ll earn a 5,000 mile bonus (25%) for every 20,000 Starwood points you transfer.
So with this deal, you could move Starwood points to Air Canada Aeroplan and earn the usual 25% bonus, then earn up to an additional 30% more miles depending on how many points you transfer.
For example, you could transfer:
- 20,000 Starwood points = 30,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles (25,000 miles + 20% bonus)
- 80,000 Starwood points = 125,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles (100,000 miles + 25% bonus)
- 160,000 Starwood points = 260,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles (200,000 miles + 30% bonus)
You could do really well with this deal if you redeem Air Canada Aeroplan miles for expensive Business or First class tickets.
For instance, by transferring 80,000 Starwood points, you’d earn more than enough Air Canada Aeroplan miles for a round-trip Business Class ticket to Eastern Europe. Or a round-trip Premium Economy ticket to Japan, China, or Korea!
Just remember, you’ll pay fuel surcharges for award flights on Air Canada. But they do NOT charge fuel surcharges for award seats on partner airlines like United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and more.
2. Marriott Hotel + Air Packages
Link: Marriott Hotel + Air Packages
If you have lots of Marriott OR Starwood points, consider moving points to Air Canada Aeroplan through Marriott Hotel + Air Packages.
You can transfer Starwood points to Marriott at a 3:1 ratio. And with Marriott Hotel + Air Packages, when you transfer Marriott points to certain airlines, you’ll get a 7-night Marriott hotel stay plus airline miles. And Air Canada is a partner.
Use Marriott Points
For example, you could transfer 270,000 Marriott points to Air Canada Aeroplan to earn a 7-night stay at a category 1 to 5 Marriott hotel plus 120,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles.
But with the transfer bonus (25%), you’ll get 150,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles (120,000 miles x 1.25%). Enough for a round-trip Business Class ticket to North Asia!
Use Starwood Points
Because Starwood points transfer to Marriott at a 3:1 ratio, you could move 90,000 Starwood points to earn 270,000 Marriott points.
Then, book the same Hotel + Air package. And get a 7-night stay in a category 1 to 5 Marriott hotel AND 150,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles.
That’s a terrific way to use Starwood points!
And don’t forget, through April 5, 2017, both the personal and small business AMEX Starwood cards are offering an amazing 35,000 point sign-up bonus after meeting tiered minimum spending requirements!
Bottom Line
Through April 17, 2017, you’ll earn up to a 30% bonus when you transfer hotel points to Air Canada Aeroplan.
The amount of the bonus depends on how many Air Canada Aeroplan miles you earn after you transfer hotel points. For most hotel chains, this isn’t a terribly exciting deal, because the transfer ratios aren’t very good.
But if you transfer Starwood points or book a Marriott Hotel + Air Package, this deal could be very lucrative!
Do you plan on taking advantage of this deal? Let me know in the comments!
Add comment