Far-Flung Destinations You Can Reach with Aeroplan Points

When it comes to redeeming points for aspirational trips, we often focus on destinations in Europe and Asia, as they’re popular places for many North American travellers, and we can usually hop on a non-stop flight to get there.

While there are certainly many unique and fascinating places to visit on those continents, there are also many other destinations – such as deep into the heart of Africa or remote island nations – that you can also access on points.

In this guide, let’s take a look at some far-flung destinations that you can book using Aeroplan points.

TAP Air Portugal to Africa and Brazil

For many of us in North America, we think of TAP Air Portugal as a carrier that can connect us to many destinations in Europe. After all, the airline reliably releases award seats on its transatlantic flights to Aeroplan and other Star Alliance programs.

But apart from bridging North America and Europe, TAP also connects Portugal with the country’s former colonies in Africa, as well as Brazil. Aside from bringing in tourists, these flights ferry immigrants and expatriates, since Portugal issues special visas for citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).

Apart from Portugal itself, Brazil, Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Principe, and Timor-Leste comprise the CPLP.

As a result, TAP Air Portugal offers flights to destinations in most of these countries, including the following:

• Belem (BEL), Brazil
• Bissau (OXB), Guinea-Bisseau
• Boa Vista (BVC), Cabo Verde
• Luanda (LAD), Angola
• Natal (NAT), Brazil
• Maceio (MCZ), Brazil
• Maputo (MPM, Mozambique
• Praia (RAI), Cabo Verde
• São Tomé (TMS), São Tomé and Principe
• São Vicente (VXE), Cabo Verde

Many of these flights, especially the ones bound for Africa, are pricey if paid with cash.

For example, a one-way ticket from Lisbon (LIS) to Boa Vista (BVC) in Cabo Verde can cost up to $1,000 (CAD) in economy, despite being just a four-hour flight. After all, many of these African destinations are underserved by major airlines.

Fortunately, you can book them piecewise or as part of a complex itinerary with Aeroplan and save a small fortune.

For instance, you can easily find availability on TAP’s Lisbon (LIS)–São Tomé (TMS) flight, which clocks in at 8 hours 45 minutes. Booking it as an à la…