Buy Aeroplan Points With a 90% Bonus + Amex Fixed Points Travel Is Ending

A lot happened in the points world this week - and one deadline is staring you in the face right now. If you hold Aeroplan points or an Amex Membership Rewards card, keep reading before you close this tab.

Aeroplan is running one of its best-ever points purchase promotions, and it expires this Thursday, October 29. You can buy Aeroplan points with up to a 90% bonus, which works out to an effective cost of about 1.98 cents per point (CPP). That's a meaningful rate if you have a specific redemption in mind - think business class to Europe or a partner hotel award - where Aeroplan points regularly deliver 2–3 CPP or more.

The 90% bonus kicks in at higher purchase tiers, so crunch your numbers before buying. Purchased points don't earn elite qualifying miles, but they do count toward your Aeroplan balance and can be used for any award. If your account has been dormant, buying points also resets the expiry clock.

If you have an upcoming redemption in mind and you're short on Aeroplan points, this is one of the few times buying them outright makes financial sense. Don't sleep on it - the sale ends October 29.

Big news for Canadian Amex Membership Rewards cardholders: the Fixed Points Travel (FPT) redemption option is being discontinued for the Cobalt, Gold Rewards, Green, and Business Gold Rewards cards. Only Platinum and Centurion cardholders will retain access to the program going forward.

Fixed Points Travel let cardholders redeem a set number of MR points for flights at a predictable rate - a useful fallback when transfer partners weren't the right fit. Losing it narrows the redemption toolkit for everyday cards like the Cobalt, which is one of the most popular earn cards in Canada.

If you were relying on FPT for upcoming travel, start exploring MR transfer partners like Aeroplan, Avios, and Air France/KLM now. Transfers to Aeroplan in particular can deliver outsized value on Air Canada and Star Alliance awards.

Great news for Albertans: Discover Airlines (part of the Lufthansa Group) is launching nonstop flights between Edmonton (YEG) and Frankfurt. Lufthansa is also adding two new US routes - Columbus and Phoenix - to its North American network this round.

A direct YEG–Frankfurt connection is significant for Edmonton-area travellers who have historically had to connect through YYZ, YYC, or YVR to reach Europe. It also opens up more options for Aeroplan redemptions on Star Alliance partners, since Aeroplan miles can be used to book Lufthansa Group flights.

If you're in Edmonton and dreaming of Europe in 2027, check whether this route lines up with your plans - and consider whether your Aeroplan balance could cover the award ticket on Discover Airlines through Star Alliance partners.

Marriott Bonvoy is rolling out a new feature in its app that lets elite members see exactly where they stand in the complimentary upgrade queue before check-in. Canadian properties are included in the first wave of the rollout, which is welcome transparency for Bonvoy Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador members who've long wondered how the upgrade list actually works.

This doesn't change how upgrades are awarded, but seeing your position in the queue helps you set realistic expectations - and decide whether it's worth requesting a paid upgrade instead. Keep an eye on the Marriott app update over the coming weeks.

October is the sweet spot for booking winter sun travel with points, and a new playbook breaks down the best ways to redeem miles for Caribbean and Mexico flights from Canadian airports. Whether you're departing from YYZ, YUL, YYC, or YVR, there are solid Aeroplan options - plus some Air Transat and WestJet routes - worth considering before seat availability tightens up.

If a Cancún, Nassau, or Montego Bay trip is on your radar this winter, now is the time to search award space. Aeroplan short-haul redemptions to sun destinations can be among the best value in the program.

• ALL Accor 2X Points in Canada: Register and stay 2+ nights at any of 27 eligible Canadian Accor hotels by December 31, 2026 to earn double Reward points. Full details at milesopedia.com/en/news/hospitality/all-accor-2x-points-americas/

• ALL Accor+ Mega Bonus: Voyager and ibis subscribers can earn up to 9,000 bonus Reward points on their first eligible stay - enough to offset the subscription fee. Register and book by November 20, 2026, stay by January 22, 2027. Details at princeoftravel.com/deals/all-accor-plus-mega-bonus/

• Air Canada App Wins Best Airline App: The Air Canada mobile app took home the Best Airline App award at the 2026 World Aviation Festival - good news for Aeroplan members who rely on it for award searches and boarding passes. Story at pointsmilesandbling.com/air-canada-app/

• Triangle Rewards & WestJet Rewards Partnership: The two programs have a partnership that delivers additional value with minimal effort for members of both. If you shop at Canadian Tire or Sport Chek and fly WestJet, it's worth understanding. Breakdown at frugalflyer.ca/blog/triangle-rewards-and-westjet-rewards-partnership/

That's your week in Canadian miles and points - see you next Sunday. Safe (and rewarding) travels! ✈️

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