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Canadian Program Offers More Miles for Shopping

Canadians and others who participate in Canada’s premier loyalty program, Aeroplan, we have not forsaken you! More accurately, since we only report the news—we don’t make it—Aeroplan hasn’t forsaken you.

Like many of the airline programs immediately south of Canada’s border, Aeroplan is offering extra miles for holiday shopping.

Through December 15, Aeroplan members can earn up to 1,000 bonus miles at the program’s mileage mall, the Aeroplan eStore.

Members earn 500 bonus miles for shopping at one eStore merchant, 750 bonus miles for making purchases at three merchants, and 1,000 bonus miles for shopping at four or more stores.

Separately but also in time for Christmas shopping, program members can now earn one mile per dollar spent on gift cards from the eStore’s Gift Card Boutique. According to the Aeroplan website, gift cards are available from Winners, HBC, Banana Republic, Cineplex, Home Hardware, Starbucks, The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, and The Body Shop, among others. The gift cards can only be shipped within Canada.

Deal or No Deal

Compared to the shopping promotions in place from the programs of American, Delta, United, and US Airways, this is lackluster at best.

Consider:

  • A December 15 cut-off date for Christmas shopping … what are these guys thinking? The norm for holiday shopping promotions is to keep them in place through the end of the year.
  • While the Aeroplan eStore boasts “over 150 retailers to choose from,” that’s far fewer participating merchants than other mileage malls.
  • The base payout for shopping at eStore retailers is one mile per dollar spent—very conservative by the standards of other mileage malls, whose merchants typically award more miles.

Bottom line: Even with the extra miles on offer, Christmas shoppers can do better at the mileage malls affiliated with other mileage programs.

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