Your Gateway to Seamless Travel: How to Link American Express to Aeroplan
Are you ready to unlock a world of travel possibilities? Linking your American Express card to your Aeroplan account is a fantastic way to maximize your rewards, earn points faster, and enjoy exclusive travel benefits. If you've been wondering how to bridge the gap between your everyday spending and your dream vacations, you're in the right place! This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, ensuring a smooth and rewarding experience.
Why Link Your American Express and Aeroplan Accounts?
Before we dive into the "how-to," let's quickly touch upon the immense benefits of linking these two powerful programs:
Accelerated Point Earning: Many American Express cards, especially those co-branded with Aeroplan, offer accelerated earning rates on specific categories like dining, travel, and everyday purchases. Linking ensures these points automatically flow into your Aeroplan account.
Enhanced Travel Perks: Depending on your Amex Aeroplan card, you could unlock a suite of premium benefits, including free first checked bags, priority airport services (like security lanes and boarding), Maple Leaf Lounge™ access, and even annual worldwide companion passes.
Seamless Point Transfers: For American Express Membership Rewards cardholders, linking your account to Aeroplan allows you to transfer your valuable Membership Rewards points directly to Aeroplan at a favorable 1:1 ratio, providing incredible flexibility for flight redemptions.
Faster Elite Status Qualification: Certain Amex Aeroplan cards can help you earn Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) and Status Qualifying Segments (SQS) with your spending, propelling you towards Aeroplan Elite™ Status and all its associated perks.
Exclusive Offers: Be eligible for special promotions and offers tailored to linked cardholders, such as "free extra night" hotel redemptions or bonus points on specific purchases.
Ready to embark on this journey? Let's get started!
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| How To Link American Express To Aeroplan |
Step-by-Step Guide: Linking Your American Express to Aeroplan
The exact process might vary slightly depending on whether you have a co-branded American Express Aeroplan card or a general American Express Membership Rewards card. We'll cover both scenarios.
Scenario 1: Linking an American Express Aeroplan Co-branded Card
If you have an American Express Aeroplan Card (e.g., American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, American Express® Aeroplan®* Business Reserve Card), the linking process is often initiated when you receive your card or can be done directly through American Express's dedicated linking portal.
Step 1: Locate Your Aeroplan Number
First things first, you'll need your Aeroplan membership number. If you don't have one, it's incredibly easy and free to create an Aeroplan account on the Air Canada website (
Step 2: Access the American Express Linking Portal
QuickTip: Reread tricky spots right away.
American Express provides a specific online portal for linking your Aeroplan co-branded card.
Action: Open your web browser and navigate to www.americanexpress.ca/aeroplan-link (or the equivalent URL for your region, if outside Canada).
Tip: You might have received instructions or a direct link in your card's welcome package. Always refer to those first if you have them!
Step 3: Provide Required Information
On the linking page, you'll be prompted to enter specific details to connect your card and Aeroplan account. This typically includes:
Your Aeroplan Membership Number: Enter this accurately.
American Express Card Details: This may involve your card number, the 4-digit security code on the front, and the last 3 digits on the back (CVV).
Personal Information: Ensure the name on your American Express card exactly matches the name on your Aeroplan account. Any discrepancy can cause the linking to fail.
Step 4: Confirm and Submit
Carefully review all the information you've entered. Accuracy is paramount!
Action: Once you're confident everything is correct, click the "Link Account" or "Submit" button.
Confirmation: You should receive an on-screen confirmation message indicating that your request is being processed. In many cases, the linking is nearly instantaneous.
Step 5: Verify the Link and Enjoy Benefits
After submitting, it's a good idea to verify that the linking was successful and that your benefits are active.
Action: Log in to your Aeroplan account on the Air Canada website or the Air Canada mobile app.
Check: Look for indicators that your American Express card is linked, such as seeing your card's earning details or being able to access associated benefits like lounge access or free checked bags when booking Air Canada flights.
Note: While linking is often quick, some benefits might take up to 72 hours to fully activate. If you have supplementary cards, ensure each supplementary cardholder links their own personal Aeroplan number to their respective card to access benefits.
Scenario 2: Transferring American Express Membership Rewards Points to Aeroplan
If you have a general American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points (e.g., American Express Cobalt Card, American Express Platinum Card), you'll transfer your points to Aeroplan. This is a slightly different process than direct linking but equally straightforward.
Step 1: Log into Your American Express Account
This is your starting point for managing all your Membership Rewards.
Action: Go to the American Express website (americanexpress.com) and log in to your online account.
QuickTip: Pause at transitions — they signal new ideas.
Step 2: Navigate to the Membership Rewards Section
Once logged in, you'll need to find the section dedicated to your Membership Rewards points.
Action: Look for a link or tab usually labeled "Membership Rewards," "Rewards," or similar. Click on it.
Exploration: Within the Membership Rewards portal, you'll typically find options to "Explore Rewards," "Redeem Points," or "Transfer Points."
Step 3: Select "Transfer Points" and Choose Aeroplan
This is where you initiate the transfer to a partner loyalty program.
Action: Find the "Transfer Points" option. This might be under a "Travel" or "Airlines" sub-section.
Selection: From the list of transfer partners, select "Air Canada Aeroplan" (or just "Aeroplan").
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Step 4: Link Your Aeroplan Account (First-Time Transfer)
If this is your first time transferring points to Aeroplan, you'll need to link your Aeroplan account to your American Express Membership Rewards profile.
Prompt: You'll likely see a prompt to "Add Another Account" or "Link Account."
Details: You will need to enter your Aeroplan membership number and confirm that the name on your Aeroplan account matches the name on your American Express Membership Rewards account.
Important: Membership Rewards points can only be transferred into an Aeroplan account that is in the same name as your Amex account. You cannot transfer points to someone else's Aeroplan account directly from your Membership Rewards account.
Step 5: Initiate the Point Transfer
Once your Aeroplan account is linked (or if it was already linked from a previous transfer), you can proceed with transferring points.
Input: Enter the number of Membership Rewards points you wish to transfer.
Minimums/Increments: Be aware that there's usually a minimum transfer amount (often 1,000 points) and points must be transferred in specific increments (e.g., 100 or 1,000 points). The system will usually guide you on this.
Ratio: American Express Membership Rewards points typically transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio.
Review: Double-check the number of points you're transferring. Once confirmed, point transfers are generally final and cannot be reversed.
Consent: You may need to accept terms and conditions before proceeding.
Step 6: Confirm and Await Transfer
After confirming the transfer amount, submit your request.
Confirmation: You'll receive a confirmation of your transfer request.
Transfer Time: Transfers from American Express Membership Rewards to Aeroplan are often instantaneous or take up to 30 minutes. In some rare cases, it might take a bit longer, so it's always wise to allow some buffer time, especially if you're trying to book a time-sensitive flight.
Step 7: Verify Points in Aeroplan Account
Once the estimated transfer time has passed, log in to your Aeroplan account.
QuickTip: Don’t just scroll — process what you see.
Check: You should see your newly transferred points reflected in your Aeroplan balance. You're now ready to redeem them for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, or other exciting rewards!
Important Considerations for Linking and Transferring
Matching Names: As stressed earlier, the name on your American Express account must match the name on your Aeroplan account for successful linking and transfers.
Security: Always ensure you are on the official American Express and Air Canada/Aeroplan websites when performing these actions. Be wary of phishing attempts.
Promotional Bonuses: Keep an eye out for transfer bonuses that American Express or Aeroplan might offer periodically, where you get extra Aeroplan points for transferring your Membership Rewards. These can significantly boost your point balance!
Point Expiry: Familiarize yourself with Aeroplan's point expiry policy. Generally, your points won't expire as long as you have activity (earn or redeem) in your account at least once every 18 months.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check my American Express Membership Rewards point balance?
You can check your American Express Membership Rewards point balance by logging into your American Express online account and navigating to the "Membership Rewards" section. The balance is usually prominently displayed there.
How to join Aeroplan if I don't have an account?
To join Aeroplan, visit the official Air Canada website (
How to use Aeroplan points for flight bookings?
Once you have Aeroplan points, log into your Aeroplan account on aircanada.com, use the flight search engine, and select the option to "Pay with points." You can then choose from available flight rewards.
How to link a supplementary American Express Aeroplan card to my Aeroplan account?
Supplementary American Express Aeroplan cardholders can link their own personal Aeroplan number to their supplementary card by visiting
Tip: Use the structure of the text to guide you.
How to find out if my American Express card earns Membership Rewards points?
Check your American Express card benefits guide, your online account details, or the American Express website. Cards like the Cobalt, Platinum, and Gold cards are generally part of the Membership Rewards program.
How to transfer American Express points to another person's Aeroplan account?
You generally cannot directly transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to another person's Aeroplan account. The names on both accounts must match. However, you can use your points to book a flight for someone else from your Aeroplan account.
How to know if my linked American Express card benefits are active for Aeroplan?
Log into your Aeroplan account on aircanada.com or the Air Canada app. Look for your linked card details under your profile or try to book a flight and see if benefits like free checked bags or lounge access are automatically recognized.
How to avoid Aeroplan points expiry?
To keep your Aeroplan points from expiring, ensure there is at least one earning or redeeming activity in your Aeroplan account every 18 months. This can include earning points through spending, flying, or even redeeming a small amount of points.
How to contact American Express customer service for linking issues?
For issues with linking your American Express card or transferring points, you can contact American Express customer service. The number is usually on the back of your card or found on their website under "Contact Us."
How to redeem Aeroplan points for things other than flights?
Aeroplan points can be redeemed for various rewards beyond flights, including hotel stays, car rentals, vacation packages, merchandise, gift cards, and even charitable donations, all available through the Aeroplan or Air Canada websites.
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