How to Maximize Aeroplan for Economy Class Flights

Once in a while, we need to get back to our roots.

I started in my travel game as a pure budget traveller, the type of person who would suffer leg cramps in economy (I’m 6’2″) in order to save a few bucks.

I’ve since been spoiled by many business class cabins thanks to the value in loyalty programs like Aeroplan. This doesn’t stop a basic fact: there is, unquestionably, a huge amount of untapped value in Aeroplan’s economy class redemptions.

Today, I want to take you through a few examples of such, and get you in the headspace you need to maximize your travel goals using Aeroplan points.

Which Do You Value: Comfort vs. Quantity?

Most people pay cash for their travel, and this usually means flying in coach. It’s much more affordable for the average person, and the discomfort is often offset by the savings which one can then proceed to spend at their final destination.

With the power of earning and redeeming points, however, many of us can unlock a standard of luxurious travel unavailable even to frequent flyers – one that enables us to jet off in business class or First Class to far-flung destinations.

If you’re fortunate enough to have collected a sizeable nest of egg of Aeroplan points, this leads to a logical question: do you want a higher-priced premium flight experience you’d normally not pay cash for, or do you want more flights that have fewer frills?

There is no accounting for taste, but consider the analogy of a buffet.

It’s pretty rare you’ll find a buffet whose individual dishes can beat Michelin-starred restaurants. What might lack in individual quantity, though, is made up for by both the variety of available delicacies, as well as the quantity you can consume.

It’s a similar bag with the Aeroplan economy award chart: the coach products available from Air Canada and its cohorts aren’t as delightful as their premium counterparts, but you can choose to fly more of them across a much greater spread of potential routes and partners.

And of course, nothing is stopping you from mixing things up between economy and business every now and then!

Elite Status & Credit Cards: Your Secret Weapons in Economy Class

Before we analyze some of the best economy class routes for maximizing your hard-earned Aeroplan points, let’s take a look at something else of value for those at the back of the jet: Aeroplan Elite…