One of the most overlooked and underutilized features of the Aeroplan program is the ability to add stopovers to your reward flights. This feature allows you to visit multiple destinations on a single journey, maximizing your travel experience while saving on points. By strategically incorporating stopovers, you can turn a single flight into a multi-stop adventure, exploring more cities and cultures without significantly increasing the cost of your points redemption. Whether you're a frequent flyer or just starting with Aeroplan, understanding how to use stopovers is a game-changer for anyone looking to make the most of their travel rewards.
What is an Aeroplan Stopover?
A stopover is a stay in a connecting city for more than 24 hours before continuing on to your final destination. The Aeroplan program allows you to add one stopover to a one-way reward flight or two stopovers (one per leg) on a round-trip journey. This can be a valuable tool for creating personalized, multi-city itineraries without the need for separate bookings. While there are some guidelines for using Aeroplan stopovers, they’re easy to follow and incredibly rewarding.
Key Rules for Aeroplan Stopovers
To use Aeroplan stopovers effectively, keep these guidelines in mind:
One Stopover Per One-Way Flight: You can add one stopover per one-way flight. For a round trip, you’re allowed a stopover on each leg.
Stopover Duration: Stopovers can range from 24 hours up to 45 days. Stays shorter than 24 hours are considered layovers and incur no additional cost. However, stays over 45 days are classified as a new journey and will increase the redemption cost.
Exclusions: Stopovers cannot be booked within Canada or the United States.
Departure Restrictions: You must depart from the same city you arrived in for your stopover. If you wish to depart from a different city, this is considered an “open jaw,” which will incur a separate pricing tier for the onward journey.
Examples of Aeroplan Stopovers and Open Jaws
Aeroplan’s stopover feature offers nearly limitless travel possibilities. Here are a few examples to show how you can turn a single trip into an exciting multi-city adventure:
European Adventure: Suppose you’re flying from Montreal to Rome but want to visit Zurich along the way. The distance from Montreal to Rome is 4,103 miles, meaning the one-way partner redemption costs 40,000 points in economy or 70,000 in business class. Adding a stopover would slightly increase the cost, raising it to 45,000 and 75,000 points, respectively, giving you an affordable multi-stop trip.
Montreal to Rome with a Stop in Zurich Asia Adventure: Traveling from Toronto to Singapore? Consider adding Taipei as a stopover, allowing you to explore Taiwan before reaching your final destination in Singapore.
Toronto to Singapore with a Stop in Taipei South America on the Way to Europe: If your journey is from Toronto to Madrid, you could add a stopover in Bogota, Colombia, and experience both South America and Europe in one trip.
Toronto to Madrid with a Stop in Bogota
Why Add Stopovers?
Stopovers and open jaws greatly enhance your travel experience by adding both depth and value to a single itinerary. They allow you to explore multiple cities, immersing yourself in new cultures, cuisines, and landmarks without the need to book separate flights. This feature is especially helpful for breaking up long-haul flights, making the journey more comfortable by providing an opportunity to rest and explore along the way. Adding destinations within a single redemption also maximizes the value of your Aeroplan points, giving you a richer travel experience for the same reward ticket. Additionally, stopovers provide flexibility when reward seats are hard to find for your desired destination; a nearby stopover city can open up more availability and options, making it easier to plan your trip.
How to Book Aeroplan Stopovers and Open Jaws
You can book an Aeroplan stopover fairly easily on Air Canada’s website using the multi-city option when searching for a flight. The only drawback is that sometimes it may not show the options you’re looking for, even if the individual flights are available. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you may need to call the Aeroplan Center for assistance in putting the trip together.
Also, check out our Beginner's Guide to Redeeming Aeroplan Points: Top 10 Things You Should Know Before Redeeming for tips on getting started with Aeroplan!
Summary
Aeroplan stopovers are a highly valuable yet often overlooked feature. By using stopovers strategically, you can maximize your travel experience, explore multiple cities, and get more out of every Aeroplan point you redeem. With a little planning, you can create an unforgettable, multi-city journey without significantly increasing the cost in points.
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