As the second-largest country in the world, one could spend a lifetime exploring Canada and still have a lot left to see.
From the coastal rainforests of British Columbia to the endless summer nights and pristine fjords of Canada’s north, from the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the majestic icebergs floating by the coast of Newfoundland – adventures abound for those who seek them.
Accessing remote places can be a difficult task, especially as major airlines may not cater to very remote destinations. In Canada, Air Creebec, Calm Air, Canadian North, and PAL Airlines are four airlines that serve Northern and remote communities – and luckily, they’re also Aeroplan partners.
As these airlines fly to very remote locations that cost a small fortune to travel to, you are likely to get significant value by using your Aeroplan points rather than booking a cash fare.
1. Canadian North
Canadian North connects 25 communities in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Nunavik (Northern Quebec) with several territorial and provincial hubs. The Inuit-owned airline is headquartered in Kanata, Ontario (just outside of Ottawa), and its fleet consists of Boeing 737 and ATR 42 turboprop aircraft.
As depicted in the above route map, passengers can access Canadian North’s flight network in Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton. Earlier this year, Canadian North also launched the Arctic Capital Express route, as well as flights to Calgary from Yellowknife.
It’s possible to combine a reservation with Air Canada with a Canadian North flight, which is a valuable option for those who don’t live in any of the provincial hubs that the airline serves.
If you’re a revenue passenger, you can earn Aeroplan points, but not Status Qualifying Miles, on Canadian North-operated flights. The airline also has an in-house loyalty program called Aurora Rewards, and interestingly, you can double-dip and earn both Aeroplan and Aurora Rewards points on paid bookings.
Canadian North is also a redemption partner with Aeroplan. You can search for and book award space on the Aeroplan website. Or, you can search for availability one week at a time using ExpertFlyer.
As flight schedules can involve overnight stops that exceed the usual 12-hour layover rule for domestic bookings, you may have to add a stopover to make the itinerary valid.
Redemptions with Canadian North are subject to the “Within North America” section of the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart. However, Aeroplan has indicated that regional airlines will be subject to their own pricing chart at some point in the future, so it’s likely worthwhile to book sooner rather than later.
For example, a one-way flight from Ottawa to Iqaluit clocks in at 1,305 miles, placing it in the second distance band on the Within North America chart. This means that a one-way flight in economy should cost 10,000 Aeroplan points.
A search on Aeroplan confirms this, along with a modest $87 in taxes and fees.
The lowest cost for a cash ticket on this same flight prices out at $566, which after taking into account the $87 in taxes and fees, would equate to a value of around 4.8 cents per point. This is well above our current valuation of Aeroplan points at 2.1 cents per point.
It’s also possible to combine Air Canada or other partner airlines with Canadian North right on the Aeroplan search engine. If you’re connecting from another Canadian city that Canadian North doesn’t serve, it will show in the search results and will be subject to dynamic pricing.
If there’s not an Air Canada flight on your itinerary, the cost won’t be subject to dynamic pricing, as you’d be flying with partner airlines only.
There are many opportunities to explore remote destinations with Canadian North. And since cash prices for these flights are usually quite high, you can stand to get excellent value from an Aeroplan redemption.
2. Calm Air
Calm Air operates flights within and between Manitoba and Nunavut, with hubs in Winnipeg and Rankin Inlet. The airline has a fleet of ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprop aircraft, and also has access to a Canadian North Boeing 737, which it uses to fly between Winnipeg and Rankin Inlet.
Calm Air is a redemption partner with both Aeroplan and Air Miles. Unlike with Canadian North, you cannot earn miles from paid Calm Air flights; however, you can earn points through an in-house program called Calm Rewards.
Unfortunately, Calm Air redemptions cannot be combined with any Air Canada flights, so you’ll have to do two separate redemptions if you need to get to any of the Calm Air destinations.
Calm Air handles all inquiries for Aeroplan and Air Miles redemptions. To check for award availability, you’ll need to look up your desired flights and then call the Calm Air contact centre to inquire about award space. In my experience, the agents are friendly and knowledgeable, with a minimal wait time.
Once you have found award space, Calm Air processes everything from their end, meaning that you won’t be subjected to the dulcet tones of Aeroplan’s hold music for once. 😉
One-way flights on all of Calm Air’s network cost 7,500 Aeroplan points plus taxes and fees. You can calculate the approximate taxes and fees by heading to Calm Air’s website, loading up your flights, and then adding all fees minus the base fare.
In the below example of a Winnipeg–Churchill dummy search, we can see that an Aeroplan redemption on the same route would cost 15,000 Aeroplan points plus around $322.02 in taxes and fees. This still offers excellent value for your Aeroplan points, working out to well over 10 cents per point.
Unless you have personal or familial connections to any of Calm Air’s destinations, the most likely sweet-spot here is booking to Churchill, Manitoba.
Suppose you live in Toronto and want to take a week-long trip to Churchill to catch a glimpse of the polar bears, kayak with beluga whales, and soak in the aurora borealis.
A low price for a round-trip booking between Toronto and Winnipeg costs around $200 with Air Canada, and the lowest cost for your flights between Winnipeg and Churchill is $1,747 (these flights can go for much, much higher), for a grand total of $1,947.
For context, the train between Winnipeg and Churchill, which takes almost two days each way, costs between $400–500 for an upright seat, or around $900 for a bed.
A good deal for a round-trip ticket from Toronto to Winnipeg costs around 20,000 Aeroplan points plus around $95 in taxes and fees.
A round-trip Aeroplan redemption with Calm Air from Winnipeg to Churchill would cost an additional 15,000 Aeroplan points plus around $330 in taxes and fees.
So, for a total cost of 35,000 Aeroplan points and $425, you are getting a very strong 4.3cpp in value. The value would be even higher if you planned your trip during peak tourist season, as the cash price of flights to/from Churchill would be much higher.
In either case, the money saved by using points can be put to good use paying for lodging, tours, and having a fulfilling once-in-a-lifetime experience.
One thing to note is that Calm Air has a different cancellation policy for Aeroplan redemption flights. If you need to cancel, you can have your points redeposited for a fee of $78.75 per passenger. Unfortunately, the taxes and fees on the redemption are non-refundable, so you may be out a fair bit of money if your plans change.
3. Air Creebec
Air Creebec is a regional airline based in Val d’Or, Quebec. The airline serves 16 destinations in Quebec and Ontario, located mainly along the shores of James Bay. Its fleet of Hawkers and Dash-8s flies out of hubs in Timmins, Val d’Or, and Montreal.
Air Creebec is both an earning and redemption partner with Aeroplan. Similar to Canadian North, you can combine Air Canada flights on the same redemption, but you’ll have to call Aeroplan to book, as Air Creebec’s inventory isn’t loaded on the Aeroplan search engine yet.
As all of Air Creebec’s destinations are within Quebec and Ontario, all flights within their network would measure less than 1,500 miles. This means that you’ll pay anywhere from 6,000–10,000 Aeroplan points for a one-way flight.
If you combine these flights with a connecting flight with Air Canada, you’ll be subject to dynamic pricing and to the other distance bands, depending on how far you fly.
While the destinations that Air Creebec serves may not be considered typical holiday destinations, you can find plenty of inspiration on the airline’s website and the region’s tourism website.
There are plenty of outdoor-oriented adventures, immersive cultural experiences, and stays in pristine natural areas at your disposal. Sometimes, it’s nice to do a digital detox, and staying in a cabin on a remote lake would fit that bill perfectly.
You can expect the taxes and fees to amount to around $150 for a round-trip flight.
4. PAL Airlines
Aeroplan’s newest Canadian regional partner is PAL Airlines, a carrier based out of Newfoundland and Labrador. It serves destinations throughout the Maritimes, Ontario, and Quebec with its fleet of De Havilland Dash 8 and Beechcraft 1900D aircraft.
The airline serves some intriguing destinations, including Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Gaspé in Quebec and Goose Bay in Labrador.
From Goose Bay, you can also depart on flights with Air Borealis to remote destinations in Labrador. Air Borealis is an airline that was formed through a partnership between the Innu and Inuit of Labrador and PAL Airlines.
For example, you can fly from Quebec City to Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine for just 6,000 Aeroplan points and $88 in taxes and fees.
PAL Airlines can also be a good option to avoid dynamic pricing with Air Canada flights.
Again, if you stand to benefit from the fixed pricing on PAL Airlines, it’s in your best interest to book sooner rather than later. Once the regional airlines are subject to a new pricing chart, the cost could increase significantly.
As with the other regional airline partners, there’s still good value to be found by redeeming Aeroplan points for flights with PAL Airlines.
For example, round-trip flights between Moncton and Goose Bay price out at around $900. The same flights booked with Aeroplan points would cost 20,000 points plus $160 in taxes and fees, netting a value of around 3.7cpp.
Given the overall good value of using points to fly with Canadian regional airlines, it’s likely that the cost in points is going to increase once Aeroplan implements the new chart.
Conclusion
Aeroplan’s domestic partners open up the possibility to travel to places where few people ever visit.
As with some aspirational flight redemptions, using points can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, while exposing yourself to unique cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable adventures without getting a stamp in your passport.
Air Canada has given advance notice that flights with Canadian regional airlines will eventually be subject to a new flight reward chart, likely later on in 2023. With this in mind, it’s important to make your redemption sooner rather than later, as the pricing is likely to go up.
I did indeed use my Aeroplan points with Calm Air last year to fly to Churchill. As you said, we booked Toronto to Winnipeg and a separate itinerary to Churchill. Calm Air was very good when calling the redemption and adjusting schedules as they constantly changed. You will likely need to overnite in Winnipeg at least one way. Make sure to see Museum of Human Rights and the new Inuit Art Museum. As for Nunavut, everyone there has an Aeroplan credit card to use for the Ottawa to Iqaluit flight with Canadian North. Best use of points in Canada
> I’ve been eyeing up a second trip to Nepal to do some trekking, but instead, maybe I’d fly into Pangnirtung (YXP) to see Thor Peak in Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island.
Just so you know, once you get to Pang you’ll need to hire a boat to get to the start of a multi-day backpacking trip to get to Thor (and Asgard and oh so many other beautiful mountains) and arrange for that boat to bring you back to Pang or Qikiqtarjuaq a week or so later. You’ll also need to convince Parks Canada that you know what you’re doing in order to get a permit. And you better actually know what you’re doing up there because if you need a rescue you’ll pay $1,000s. (And no, they don’t accept AP miles.) What I’m trying to say is that Auyuittuq isn’t for casual sightseers. But if you’ve got what it takes it’s a trip you’ll never forget.
Thanks T.J. to put the North on the map – so to speak. One of the main reason Northerners collect Aeroplan miles is to indulge themselves with a 15,000 points travel South instead of paying the excruciating fees that Canadian North asks from their trapped customers – there is no airline competition (Iqaluit-Ottawa return used to be a staggering $2,500, which makes one wonder how it can now be as low as $850). Two things to note: Ulukhatok is in NWT; and Nunavut is currently not open to visitors unless they get the ok from the territorial government and go through a mandatory 2 weeks isolation period. That said, it is beautiful and worth keeping on your bucket list for when the travel restriction are lifted.
Thanks Ricky for the article. Is it not possible to combine an Air Canada flight from YYZ with the Calm Air redemption to Churchill?
Sorry I meant thanks TJ!
Thanks Ricky for this wonderful post reminding us what we have in our own backyard. Churchill, Manitoba has been on my bucket list for two years now, I think it is time to put my points aside and plan trips to Canadian North. I had a trip to Whitehorse a few years back and loved every minute of it.
Send your thanks to TJ on this one! lol
Sorry, I meant, thank you T.J.!!!!
Great article, this is the stuff I wish I knew a few years ago. I travelled to Churchill and paid the full revenue ticket price to see the Polar Bears during season on October, it just never occurred to me they could have been an Aeroplan partner. Hope are restrictions are lifted to Northern Manitoba by this time can visit again, that’s something as a Canadian everyone should do at least once!