In recent years, Air Canada’s Aeroplan program has teamed up with a bevy of brands and companies, including Starbucks and Parkland gas stations and convenience stores, to allow members to earn points on everyday spending.
Among the big-name partnerships Aeroplan has also forged is with Uber, one of the most ubiquitous rideshare and food delivery apps in the world.
Through this partnership, Uber customers can earn and redeem Aeroplan points on eligible Uber rides, as well as Uber Eats deliveries, groceries, and more.
In this guide, let’s explore the partnership between these two big brands.
What Is the Aeroplan and Uber Partnership?
The partnership between Aeroplan and Uber was launched in 2020, and has expanded further in recent years.
At the outset, Aeroplan members could only earn Aeroplan points on Uber rides, but as the partnership progressed, Aeroplan members have been earning Aeroplan points with Uber Eats deliveries, groceries, and more.
Members can also redeem Aeroplan points for Uber Cash, Uber gift cards, and Uber One memberships, either through the app or the Aeroplan eStore.
Uber Rides
The Aeroplan/Uber partnership lets you earn Aeroplan points on its rideshare services in Canada, with elevated earning rates on some rides to and from Canadian airports.
Previously, US airport rides were also eligible for earning Aeroplan points; however, they’ve been excluded as part of a tranche of recent changes.
You’ll earn the following Aeroplan points per dollar (CAD) spent before promotions and discounts, and excluding taxes, fees, and tips, on eligible Uber rides:
- 3 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on Uber Premium Reserve trips that depart from or arrive at a Canadian airport
- 2 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on Uber Reserve trips that depart from or arrive at a Canadian airport
- 2 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on all Uber Premium rides that depart from or arrive at a Canadian airport
- 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on non-Premium Uber rides (excluding UberX Share) that depart from or arrive at a Canadian airport
- 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on all Uber Premium rides taken in Canada
- 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on all Comfort Electric and Business Comfort trips
Uber defines its various rideshare services as follows:
- Uber Premium rides include Uber Comfort, Uber Comfort Electric, Uber Business Comfort, Uber XL, Uber Premier, Uber Premier SUV, Uber Black, and Uber Black SUV
- Uber Reserve lets you book a ride up to 90 days in advance
- Uber Comfort Electric rides are on premium zero-emission cars
- Uber Business Comfort is similar to Uber Comfort in offering spacious vehicles, but it’s only available to those using a business profile
Uber Eats
It’s also possible to earn Aeroplan points for eligible orders placed through Uber Eats. This includes restaurants, retail, and grocery orders placed through the app.
Importantly, you’ll need to spend a minimum of $40 (CAD) before promotions, discounts, taxes, fees, and tips to earn Aeroplan points on eligible restaurant orders through Uber Eats; however, there’s no minimum for eligible retail or grocery delivery orders.
By placing an order through the Uber Eats app, you’ll earn the following amounts of Aeroplan points on eligible orders:
- 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on all Uber Eats restaurant, alcohol, and convenience store deliveries made in Canada
- 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on Uber Eats pickup orders made in Canada
- 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on Uber Eats groceries and retail orders made in Canada
New User Bonus
You can also earn additional bonus Aeroplan points if you create an Uber account, link your Uber and Aeroplan accounts, and use Uber or Uber Eats for the first time.
For Uber rides, you’ll get a bonus of 1,000 Aeroplan points after completing your first-ever ride in Canada or in the US, excluding UberPool.
For Uber Eats, you’ll also earn a bonus 1,000 Aeroplan points after you make your first-ever food delivery, food pickup, grocery delivery, or retail delivery in Canada.
To be eligible for the bonus Aeroplan points, your account must’ve not had an Uber or Uber Eats transaction anywhere in the world.
“Uber Hat Trick”
The “Uber Hat Trick” offer provides you with a bonus of 250 Aeroplan points upon completing all of the following in a calendar month:
- An eligible Uber ride
- An eligible Uber Eats delivery or pickup order
- An eligible Uber Eats grocery or retail delivery order
Eligible Uber rides and Uber Eats orders are those that earn Aeroplan points, as defined above.
Air Canada Flight Credit
In addition to Aeroplan points, you can earn Air Canada flight credits through the Aeroplan and Uber partnership.
You’ll earn a $20 (CAD) Air Canada flight credit code with every 10 Uber rides, excluding UberPool, taken in Canada and the US.
Keep in mind that the Air Canada flight credit code isn’t the same as an Air Canada gift card, as it comes with a slew of terms and conditions.
Only one flight credit can be used for either a one-way or a round-trip booking. If you use the flight credit for a one-way booking, it’ll only be worth $10, whereas it’ll be worth $20 for a round-trip booking.
What’s more, flight credits can’t be used on Aeroplan bookings, or on any flights operated by non-Air Canada aircraft.
If you have a credit available, you’ll find it listed under the “Benefits” tab in your Aeroplan dashboard. This is where the promo code will be listed, which you’ll need to apply when making an eligible booking.
Redeeming Aeroplan Points through Uber
In addition to earning Aeroplan points through Uber, you may also redeem Aeroplan points for Uber Cash, Uber gift cards, and Uber One memberships.
For starters, you can redeem Aeroplan points for Uber Cash on the Uber app at a rate of 3,000 Aeroplan points = $25 (CAD) in Uber Cash.
This works out to a value of 0.83 cents per point (CAD) on this exchange, which is a fair bit lower than our valuation of Aeroplan points at 2.1 cents per point (CAD).
It’s worth noting that this redemption option is slightly better than redeeming 3,500 Aeroplan points through the eStore for a $25 Uber gift card..
You can also redeem 3,575 points for a three-month Uber One membership, valued at $29.97. Among the benefits of an Uber One membership are $0 delivery fee on Uber Eats, and 5% on eligible rides with Uber in Canada.
This works out to a value of 0.84 cents per point (CAD), which isn’t necessarily the most valuable way to redeem points.
How to Link Your Aeroplan and Uber Accounts
If you don’t have an Uber and/or an Aeroplan account yet, your first step will be to create those accounts on their respective websites or apps.
Once you have both accounts, you can link them either through your Uber app, or through the Air Canada app or website.
On the Uber app, you can link your accounts by selecting “Settings” and scrolling down to the “Rewards” section, where you’ll find the Aeroplan option if you’re currently located in Canada. You’ll then be asked to sign into your Aeroplan account.
Meanwhile, on the Air Canada app, click “Aeroplan” in the bottom right corner, and scroll down to the Uber section under “Offers”, where you’ll find the “Link Now” button. This deeplink will redirect you to the Rewards section on the Uber app.
If you’re on the Air Canada desktop website, you’ll need to navigate to “My Aeroplan” and then to “Everyday” listed under “Your exclusive offers”. From there, simply scroll down until you find “Link to unlock Uber offers”.
You’ll be prompted to scan a QR code which will lead you to the Rewards section on the Uber app.
How to Maximize the Aeroplan and Uber Partnership
To make the most of the Aeroplan and Uber partnership, you’ll want to make sure you’re pairing your Uber rides and Uber Eats orders with the right credit cards.
To start, you can use Aeroplan co-branded credit cards for your Uber purchases to earn even more Aeroplan points. You’ll earn points through the partnership, as well as through your co-branded credit card spending.
| Credit Card | Best Offer | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
Up to 100,000 Aeroplan points† $599 annual fee |
Up to 100,000 Aeroplan points† | $1,068 |
Apply Now |
Up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† $139 annual fee |
Up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† | $840 |
Apply Now |
Up to 100,000 Aeroplan points $599 annual fee |
Up to 100,000 Aeroplan points | $819 |
Apply Now |
45,000 Aeroplan points $120 annual fee |
45,000 Aeroplan points | $720 |
Apply Now |
Up to 60,000 Aeroplan points† First Year Free |
Up to 60,000 Aeroplan points† | $714 |
Apply Now |
90,000 Aeroplan points $599 annual fee |
90,000 Aeroplan points | $611 |
Apply Now |
Up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† First Year Free |
Up to 50,000 Aeroplan points† | $609 |
Apply Now |
110,000 Aeroplan points $599 annual fee |
110,000 Aeroplan points | $609 |
Apply Now |
Up to 20,000 Aeroplan points† First Year Free |
Up to 20,000 Aeroplan points† | $434 |
Apply Now |
10,000 Aeroplan points† $0 annual fee |
10,000 Aeroplan points† | $210 |
Apply Now |
However, you’ll earn even more points if you use a credit card that has a category bonus for Uber and Uber Eats. Note that Uber rides may qualify under the daily transit or travel spend category, while Uber Eats deliveries usually count as restaurant spending.
The American Express Cobalt Card and the Scotiabank Gold American Express cards are two great options.
With the Amex Cobalt, you’ll earn 2 Membership Rewards (MR) points per dollar spent on rideshares, and 5 MR points per dollar spent on food delivery.
With the Scotiabank Gold Amex Card, you’ll earn 3 Scene+ per dollar spent on rideshares, and 5 Scene+ points per dollar spent on food delivery. Plus, if you happen to use Uber abroad, the card won’t charge you a foreign exchange fee.
Remember that Amex MR points earned on the Cobalt Card can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, while Scene+ points can be redeemed against Uber purchases at a fixed value of 1 cent per point.
Lastly, to earn even more Aeroplan points, you should also keep an eye out for promotions that Uber and Aeroplan jointly run, such as bonus points on Uber rides and Uber Eats deliveries.
Is the Aeroplan and Uber Partnership a Good Deal?
Earning Aeroplan points through Uber and Uber Eats falls squarely in the low-hanging fruit category.
While you won’t likely earn a significant amount of Aeroplan points through the partnership, you’re still getting them on rides and food delivery – everyday expenses that you might be making anyway.
Aeroplan points earned through Uber and Uber Eats also count towards Everyday Status Qualification (EDQ), which could help propel you towards Aeroplan Elite Status.
However, keep in mind that you’re only getting points on certain rides, including Uber Premium, which typically cost more than regular UberX rides.
The price difference is usually quite significant, and possibly so much so that the nominal number of Aeroplan points you’re getting aren’t enough to justify the difference.
Therefore, it’s worth getting an an Uber Premium ride if you need the added comfort or the extra space, but not because of the Aeroplan points you’ll get.
It’s also worth considering that food, products, and groceries could be more expensive with Uber Eats than ordering directly from restaurants or shopping at grocery stores. Even if there are some extra points up for grabs, you shouldn’t feel forced to fork over more money on groceries and food than you otherwise could.
However, if you’re going to take a ride with Uber or order anything through Uber Eats, the partnership is another way to earn Aeroplan points on everyday purchases.
As for redeeming your Aeroplan points for Uber credits or for an Uber One membership, the value you’re getting is frankly much less than what you could get for redeeming points for flights instead.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who engages with Uber and Aeroplan in any capacity, it’s worth linking your accounts to earn points, as there are really no downsides to doing so.
Conclusion
The Aeroplan and Uber partnership allows members to earn points on eligible everyday transactions with Uber and Uber Eats. The Aeroplan points earned through Uber and Uber Eats count towards Everyday Qualification (EDQ), which may help you reach Aeroplan Elite Status.
Linking your accounts can easily be done in under 60 seconds, and once you’re linked, you’ll automatically earn Aeroplan points on eligible Uber rides and Uber Eats deliveries.
To maximize your rewards on Uber and Uber Eats, you’ll want to make sure you’re using the right credit cards – particularly ones that reward you more on eligible rideshares and deliveries.
