If you’ve flown with an airline like Air Canada or stayed at a hotel chain like Marriott, there’s a good chance you’ve already earned airline or hotel points before.
These points are part of loyalty programs that reward travellers for flights, hotel stays, everyday spending, and other partner purchases.
In Canada, some of the most popular programs include:
- Aeroplan
- WestJet Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Hilton Honors
- VIPorter
In this guide, we’ll explain how airline and hotel points work, how people earn them, and when these types of rewards make the most sense.
How Airline and Hotel Points Work
Airline and hotel points are loyalty rewards tied to a specific travel program. Depending on the program, points can be earned through:
- Flights or hotel stays
- Co-branded credit cards
- Shopping portals and retail partners
- Travel bookings and promotions
- Everyday spending with participating partners
Those points are deposited directly into your loyalty account and can typically be redeemed for:
- Flights
- Hotel stays
- Seat upgrades
- Other travel rewards within that program’s ecosystem
For example, Aeroplan points earned through flights, partners, shopping portals, or credit cards are all deposited directly into your Aeroplan account and follow the program’s standard redemption and expiry rules.
Airline and Hotel Points vs Transferable Points
| Airline & Hotel Points | Transferable Points |
| Tied to a specific loyalty program | Can transfer to multiple programs |
| Limited to the redemption options within that program | More redemption flexibility |
| Best for travellers loyal to a brand | Best for broader travel options |
Both types of points can be valuable—it depends on how you travel and which programs you use most often.
What Are Transferable Points?
👉 Learn more
When Airline and Hotel Points Make the Most Sense
Airline and hotel loyalty programs can be especially valuable when:
- You regularly fly with the same airline or stay with the same hotel brand
- You want travel perks tied to a specific program, such as free checked bags or hotel benefits
- You already earn points organically through travel and want to accelerate those balances through partners or co-branded credit cards
Airline and hotel points are at the core of many travel rewards programs.
In many cases, transferable points are eventually moved into airline or hotel loyalty programs in order to book flights, hotel stays, and other travel rewards.
For Canadians, programs like Aeroplan often become especially useful because of their broad airline network and redemption options.
At the same time, relying too heavily on a single program can feel limiting, which is why many travellers combine airline and hotel loyalty programs with transferable points for added flexibility.
