New Option for Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Members: Transfer Points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 Ratio

Air Canada Aeroplan members with elite status now have a new way to redeem their points. While it's worth noting, this option may not be the most efficient use of points.

Transfer Aeroplan Points to Bonvoy at a 1:1 Ratio

Air Canada Aeroplan members who hold elite status can now transfer their points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers can be made in increments as small as 500 points, with a daily transfer limit of 100,000 points and a weekly maximum of 250,000 points.

It’s important to note that this option is only available to Aeroplan members with elite status, regardless of whether or not they hold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy.

Use Marriott Bonvoy points to stay at the St. Regis Bangkok (Source: Marriott)

While Marriott Bonvoy has long allowed members to transfer their points to various airline programs at a 3:1 ratio (with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred), the reverse option—transferring airline miles to Bonvoy points—is far less common, making this an intriguing development.

Is Converting Aeroplan Points to Bonvoy Worth It?

While having more redemption options is always a plus, transferring Aeroplan points to Marriott Bonvoy might not be the most efficient strategy. We typically value Aeroplan points at around 1.5 cents each, while Bonvoy points are worth approximately 0.7 cents each.

Exchange Marriott Bonvoy points to Aeroplan to fly Singapore Airlines business class (Source: executivetraveller.com)

Of course, there are situations where you can extract more than 0.7 cents of value per Bonvoy point, and conversely, less than 1.5 cents of value per Aeroplan point. However, these figures represent a conservative estimate for those aiming to maximize their rewards.

It could be worth considering this transfer if you need to top off a Bonvoy account with a few thousand Aeroplan points to secure a high-value redemption. That said, Marriott Bonvoy frequently offers points for sale at competitive rates, which could be a more cost-effective way to earn Bonvoy points.

Conclusion

Aeroplan elite members now have the option to transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio. While this might not be the most optimal use of Aeroplan points, it can still be helpful in certain situations, such as when topping off a Bonvoy account for a redemption. Either way, we appreciate the flexibility of having more redemption options, as it’s rare to be able to convert airline miles into hotel points.