Don’t Waste Your Miles: How to Unlock the Best Value with Aeroplan
Understand how to find redemptions that easily help exceed that elusive 2 cents per point
CPP Calculator here if you want to find out how close your flight is to 2cpp
You always hear about folks mentioning, “never redeem for less than 2cpp” or that “redeeming for economy flights isn’t worth it” but what many don’t realize is that there’s always a good redemption to be found if:
You’re travel dates are somewhat flexible (This does not mean fly out in the next week)
You’re open to any destination given a theme.
What is CPP?
CPP, or Cost Per Point, is a metric used to determine when redeeming points for a flight is worthwhile compared to purchasing a ticket with cash.
The formula to help us calculate CPP is:
The general rule of thumb is that anything over 2 CPP represents a better deal than paying a cash fare. Conversely, anything below that threshold may indicate that cash is a more valuable option. If you need to travel from Point A to Point B on short notice and only have points available, you may prioritize just getting to your destination rather than worrying about CPP.
When comparing ticket prices, it’s crucial to ensure you are doing a like-for-like comparison. Simply finding the cheapest flight on Google Flights defeats the purpose of understanding CPP, especially when booking through a specific airline and their partners or using points with any carriers that are part of the same alliance.
Examples of some great CPP finds
Here’s an example of how we can find deals above the elusive 2 CPP in Economy!!
Toronto (YYZ) - Austin, Texas (AUS)
In cash, we’d be looking to pay around $1042.76 for an Economy Standard Flight.
Now this same flight in Aeroplan points, would work out to just 28,800 giving us a CPP of 2.92.
Route: Toronto (YYZ) to Seoul (ICN)
Cash price for Air Canada’s Business Class Lie Flat product: approximately $6,560.13
Aeroplan points required for a round-trip: 154,700
Giving us an effective CPP of 4.11
This highlights how having flexible dates can lead to significantly higher CPP values!
Want to learn more about how you can maximize your points and earning strategy within Canada, Click to book a 1-1 Points consulting here!
I personally prefer the Asiana J meals and catering and wouldn’t mind a quick one-night getaway to New York to explore the city before heading over.
Deals of the Week
EVA Business Class from Chicago to Narita: Departing August 21st, 2026. Average cash fares are approximately $5,400, providing an effective CPP of 6.05.
ANA Business Class from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh: Departing August 9th, 2026. Average cash fares are about $4,400, resulting in an effective CPP of 4.85.
If there’s a specific topic you’d like to see covered or if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or send a message. I’m here to help you understand more about award travel and points.
For those planning to travel and needing assistance, I can help with:
Finding the best award availability and providing one-on-one support with bookings. (We’ll work together, and I’ll guide you through all aspects.)
Navigating Canadian credit cards to maximize your current spending and earnings.
Discovering hacks and legal loopholes that can reduce ticket costs by 20-70%.
I’ll be offering 1-1 Points consulting here for anyone that wishes to learn more! Each session will provide detailed feedback and access to any future guides created by a Budget Points Guy.