If you aren’t using the Aeroplan stopover feature in 2026, you are voluntarily overpaying for your award travel. It is that simple. While most loyalty programs have eliminated free stopovers or buried them under complex routing rules, Air Canada’s Aeroplan remains the gold standard: it allows you to visit a second city for just 5,000 additional points.
This isn’t a loophole—it’s an official feature. Whether you want to turn a layover in Tokyo into a 5-day vacation on your way to Thailand, or stop in Frankfurt before continuing to Africa, the math is unbeatable. For 5,000 points (often worth ~$75 USD), you effectively get a free one-way flight that would normally cost 20,000+ points.
What Is an Aeroplan Stopover?
A stopover is a stop in a connecting city that lasts longer than 24 hours. If your connection is under 24 hours, it is simply a “layover” and is free on almost all award tickets. Once you stay past that 24-hour mark, most airlines treat the next leg as a completely new ticket, doubling your cost.
Aeroplan is different. They treat the entire journey as one award, even if you pause it for 45 days. You simply pay the point cost for the total distance flown, plus a flat 5,000-point fee. See our guide on what is a stopover flight for the basic definitions.
Aeroplan Stopover Rule Definition: As of February 2026, Aeroplan allows members to add a stopover to any one-way international award ticket for a flat fee of 5,000 points. The stopover can last up to 45 days and is available on itineraries outside of North America (excluding Canada/USA).
The 5 Core Rules You Must Know
1. The “No North America” Restriction
This is the most common confusion point. You cannot book a stopover within the United States or Canada. However, this restriction does not apply to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America.
- Allowed: New York (JFK) → Frankfurt (Stop) → Dubai.
- Allowed: Toronto (YYZ) → Mexico City (Stop) → Bogota.
- NOT Allowed: Los Angeles (LAX) → Vancouver (Stop) → Tokyo.
If you want to stop in Vancouver on your way to Tokyo, Aeroplan will price it as two separate awards: LAX–YVR and YVR–NRT. However, once you leave the US/Canada zone, almost anything goes.
2. The 45-Day Limit
Your stopover cannot exceed 45 days. If you stay for 46 days, the system breaks the ticket into two separate one-way awards, which will likely cost significantly more. For longer trips, consider booking two separate one-ways if the pricing bands work out in your favor.
3. One Stopover Per Direction
You can add one stopover on a one-way ticket. If you book a round-trip, you can have two stopovers (one on the outbound, one on the return). This allows for incredible “Mini Round-the-World” itineraries where you visit three destinations on a single ticket.
4. Total Distance Pricing
Aeroplan uses a distance-based award chart. When you add a stopover, you must calculate the total distance of all flight segments.
Example: flying Seattle to Tokyo is ~4,800 miles. Flying Seattle to Tokyo (Stop) to Singapore adds another ~3,300 miles. Your total distance is 8,100 miles, pushing you into a higher pricing band. You aren’t just paying the 5k fee; you might also pay more because you are flying further. Always check Aeroplan’s dynamic pricing charts to see where the distance bands break.
5. Partner Combinations
You can mix and match partners freely. You could fly United to London, stop for 3 days, then fly Singapore Airlines to Singapore. This flexibility is unique to Aeroplan and leverages their massive roster of over 45 partners. Learn more about the network in our Star Alliance guide.
How to Book an Aeroplan Stopover (Step-by-Step)
In the past, you had to call the contact center to book these. In 2026, the online engine is robust enough to handle about 90% of stopover requests.
Step 1: Select “Multi-city/Stopover”
Go to AirCanada.com. On the search bar, toggle “Book with points”. Instead of “One-way” or “Round-trip,” select “Multi-city/Stopover”.
Step 2: Enter Your Route
Do not manually enter “Flight 1: JFK to LHR” and “Flight 2: LHR to DXB”.
Instead, enter your Origin (e.g., New York) and your Destination (e.g., Dubai). Then, look for the field that says “Book with a stopover?”. Select “Yes” and type in your stopover city (e.g., London) and the duration (e.g., 5 days).
Step 3: Analyze the Results
The system will show you flight options for both legs. Look for “Saver” availability (often labeled as “Partner Award” or fixed price) to keep costs low. If you see exorbitant pricing (e.g., 200k points for Economy), it means one of your legs is on a dynamic Air Canada flight or there is no Saver space available.
Pro Tip: Search for availability segment-by-segment as a simple “One-way” first. Find a date where Leg 1 is available and a date where Leg 2 is available. Once you have confirmed dates, plug them into the Multi-city tool.
| Route Strategy | Itinerary | Est. Cost (Business Class) |
|---|---|---|
| Booking Separate Tickets | Flight 1: SFO to TYO (75k) Flight 2: TYO to SIN (45k) | 120,000 Points |
| Booking with Stopover | SFO to SIN (87.5k band) + Stopover Fee (5k) | 92,500 Points |
| Total Savings | 27,500 Points (~$412 value) |
Common “Gotchas” & Errors
The “Backtracking” Error: Aeroplan’s routing rules are generous, but they aren’t infinite. You generally cannot backtrack significantly. For example, flying New York → Istanbul → London likely won’t price as a single ticket because you are flying past your destination and doubling back. The routing must be somewhat logical.
Mixed Cabin Pricing: If one leg is in Business Class and the other is in Economy, Aeroplan will generally charge you the Business Class rate for the entire distance of the award. Be careful not to pay Business Class prices for a trip that is 90% Economy.
Change Fees: While the stopover fee is 5,000 points, changing your ticket later incurs standard Aeroplan change fees (approx. $100 CAD per direction) unless you booked a “Flexible” award.
Sweet Spot Examples for 2026
To maximize your Aeroplan points, you need to target regions where the distance bands are wide.
1. The Pacific Hop (North America to Asia)
Route: San Francisco → Tokyo (5-day stop) → Singapore.
Why it works: You cross the Pacific once. Both Japan and Singapore are in the “Pacific” zone. You pay the rate for North America to Pacific (Band 3: 7,501–11,000 miles), plus just 5k points to see two of the world’s best destinations.
2. The Middle East Triangle (Europe to Asia)
Route: Frankfurt → Abu Dhabi (3-day stop) → Maldives.
Why it works: Use Etihad (an Aeroplan partner). Experience the desert and the beach in one go. Since the distance between Frankfurt and Maldives (via Abu Dhabi) is under 6,000 miles, you stay within the “Atlantic” zone’s mid-tier pricing band.
3. The “Almost” Round the World
Route: New York → Lisbon (Stop) → Cape Town.
Why it works: Travel from North America to the Atlantic zone. Stop in Europe for a city break, then head down to South Africa for a safari. Note that this routing adds distance (~8,300 miles total), which may push you into the highest pricing band (8,001+ miles), but it is still significantly cheaper than booking two separate tickets.
How to Earn Aeroplan Points
Even if you don’t fly Air Canada, Aeroplan points are easy to earn in the US. They are a transfer partner of:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1 transfer). See our Chase Ultimate Rewards Guide.
- American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer).
- Capital One Miles (1:1 transfer).
- Bilt Rewards (1:1 transfer).
This means you can combine points from a Chase Sapphire Preferred and an Amex Gold card to book a single Aeroplan stopover ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a stopover to a one-way ticket?
Yes. Aeroplan is one of the few programs that allows stopovers on one-way tickets. You can add one stopover per one-way award for 5,000 points.
Does the 5,000 point fee apply to infants?
No. The 5,000-point stopover fee is per adult award. Infants traveling on a lap typically pay a flat fee (often $25 CAD or 2,500 points) for the entire ticket or per direction, depending on the specific routing, but they do not pay the stopover surcharge.
Can I stop over in the US or Canada?
No. Stopovers are strictly prohibited within Canada and the United States. You can, however, have a stopover in Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America on eligible routings.
What happens if I need to cancel a stopover ticket?
If you cancel, you will be refunded your points (including the 5,000 point stopover fee), minus the standard cancellation fee associated with your fare type (usually $150 CAD for lowest priced awards).
1 comment
Does Air Baltic allow stopovers?
I was pricing Aeroplan awards on BT.
VNO-RIX 15,000 in business
RIX-AMS 15,000 in business
The stopover was in RIX for 2 days.
I thought with the stopover it would price at 20,000 (15,000 + 5,000 for the stopover).
However, it still prices at 30,000.
I called Aeroplan and asked about stopovers and was just told you get whatever the system decides.
Does Air Baltic not participate in their stopover 5,000 mile program?
Thanks!