travel pass air canada

Air Canada Flight Pass: How does it work?

What is an Air Canada Flight Pass?

An Air Canada Flight Pass is a prepaid package that allows travelers to purchase in advance a certain number of one-way flights (called credits), to a fixed destination and at a fixed price.

This has the advantage of “freezing” a price, for someone who is flexible with dates, who travels at the last minute or very often to the same destination.

A flight pass can contain flight credits or offer unlimited travel during a given period. These passes are available for different geographical regions and can be used for business trips, family vacations or frequent travel.

One flight credit = one one-way flight per person, including stopovers where applicable.

The Flight Pass gives access to Standard Economy, Latitude, Flex or Business Class fares, which may vary according to destination and zone. The Stand-by option can even be used for certain passes.

Some passes are for a single traveler only, while others can be shared between several travelers.

What’s more, the Flight Pass is valid for 12 consecutive months after purchase, most of the time. If a pass’s credits are not used after the given period, they are lost forever and will not be refunded.

Only Aeroplan Members may purchase a pass. It is important to always check in the small print whether the pass can be used on peak season dates, and if so, at what cost.

Aeroplan credit cards for travel with a Flight Pass

One of the best ways to pay for a Flight Pass is with an Aeroplan credit card. Since the purchase is made directly on the Air Canada website, you’ll earn more Aeroplan points. Here are a few examples:

• TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card : 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 purchase with Air Canada
• American Express ® Aeroplan ® Prestige Card* : 3 Aeroplan points per $1 purchase with Air Canada

So, for a flight pass costing $2,000, your credit card will earn :

• TD ® Aeroplan ® Visa Infinite* Card : 3,000 Aeroplan points ($2,000 X 1.5 points)
• American Express ® Prestige Aeroplan ® * Card : 6,000 Aeroplan points ($2,000 X 3 points)

Depending on the pass purchased, Aeroplan Points, Status Qualifying Miles ( SQMs ) and Status Qualifying Dollars (SQDs ) will also be awarded after the flight, according to Aeroplan’s fare class and distance rules.

Flight Pass sales period

Sometimes Air Canada flight passes are sold for a limited time only. This offer is valid for a limited period, often just a few weeks.

But more often than not, flight passes for Sun destinations, students and business are available for purchase at any time.

There are often more than fifty flight pass options on the Air Canada website .

Benefits of purchasing an Air Canada Flight Pass

Air Canada Flight Pass offer many advantages to frequent travellers, business travellers or families who want to save money on their airline tickets:

• Savings potential
• Flexibility
• Easy to book online, by phone or via the Flight Pass mobile application
• Wide choice of destinations with some 50 Flight Passes adapted to different geographical regions

What’s more, eUpgrades can be used on a ticket purchased with flight credit, which can greatly increase its value!

People with Aeroplan Elite status who purchase a Flight Pass will earn, according to their status and for each eligible activity linked to a Flight Pass :

• Between 4 and 12 credits eUpgrades
• Between 750 and 2,500 Status Qualification Miles (SQM)

How do Air Canada flight passes work?

Air Canada flight passes work on a credit system or by unlimited travel over a given period.

Travelers purchase a number of credits, which can be exchanged for flights to specific destinations.

Once the traveler has purchased a Flight Pass, flight credits are available 24 hours after purchase. They can then book their flights online, by phone or via the Flight Pass mobile application.

Passes offer flexibility by allowing travelers to use a credit up to 2 hours before departure or to modify their reservations, subject to seat vacancies. This is extremely practical for travelers whose plans may change at the last minute, especially when the last plane tickets are more expensive than normal.

Some illimited flight passes may award Qualifying Miles to a Status each month (as mileage accrual is not applicable) or upgrades to Business class free of charge.

How to book a flight ticket with a Flight Pass

The easiest way is with Air Canada’s Flight Pass mobile application. In just six clicks, your reservation is complete! This is also where you can manage your Pass, upgrade, change or cancel a flight.

The Flight Pass mobile application can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play .

Or, on the Air Canada home page, select the Flight Passes tab.

Is the Flight Pass worth it?

For example, the Second Home flight pass contains 8 credits for a maximum of 4 travellers. A single travel zone can be chosen between Morocco, Algeria, South Korea, France, the UK, etc., at the time of purchase.

So these 4 people will be able to share 8 one-way flights between France (CDG) and Canada at a total cost of $3,592. To be profitable, the cost of each one-way ticket would have to average more than $449 ($3,592 divided by 8 credits).

We ran a comparison test without the Flight Pass. In the example below, where the four people travel together on the same round trip, this trip would cost $4,613, or $1,021 more than with a flight pass ($4,613 – $3,592):

It’s very important to check the terms and conditions of each pass, as these flight credits can only be used on Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Canada Express (Jazz) and certain international airlines for code flights.

In addition, you need to pay attention to the dates of peak periods. For the example above, each use of a credit during dates designated as high season costs an additional $300 per credit.

In another situation, let’s say you often go to Orlando to enjoy the magic of Disney or because you have a second home there. You could buy a Flight Pass to Florida .

If you click on Comfort fare, you’ll see that it costs $4,788, including 8 flight credits for 2 people, with free seat selection and modifications. For this pass to be profitable, the cost of a one-way ticket would have to be more than $498.50 ($4,788 divided by 8 credits).

When you click on View flight availability , you can analyze the flights where you can use the Florida pass for a given date. For a sunny getaway on April 1, several flights and seats are still available thanks to the Flight Pass.

The cheapest round-trip flight from April 1 to 13 would cost $2,003 for 2 people in Comfort class on Air Canada Rouge. With the Flight Pass, this would cost 4 credits out of the 8.

If we decide to make a short getaway to Florida over the May long weekend, the flight would cost $2,181 . The Flight Pass would use the last 4 remaining credits.

For this example, paying $4,788 for a Flight Pass is not worth it for flights that would have cost $4,184 ( $2,003 + $2,181) if purchased separately. The person would have overpaid $604.

That’s why it’s important to calculate the cost of flights for your future travel year based on your usage!

Someone who often has to meet with clients at the last minute, an athlete with tournaments all over North America, or a student who often wants to go home for long weekends could save money with an unlimited Flight Pass or flight credits.

Other Flight Pass fees

The Flight Pass has a number of criteria to meet and if the traveler requires more flexibility, there will be additional costs depending on the fare (Standard, Flex, Latitude) and zone, such as:

• Reservation changes: $0 to $125 per one-way trip
• Name change on Flight Pass: $125
• Fees for travel during peak periods : Up to $300
• Flight Pass validity extended for a further 3 months: Up to $350
• Cancellation: $0 to $50

Is it worth buying a Flight Pass?

Air Canada flight passes can be a convenient and cost-effective way for travelers to plan their trips.

For those looking for a convenient and affordable way to fly often to a particular destination or on dates when tickets are expensive, Air Canada flight passes are an option to consider.

The important thing is always to calculate carefully, as in the examples above, to see if it’s right for you!

All posts by Caroline Tremblay

Suggested Reading

Air Canada Launches an All-You-Can-Fly Pass for Unlimited Travel

You can buy a one-, two-, or three-month plan

Courtesy of Air Canada

Another day, another aviation deal for travelers. Air Canada has just announced a special one-week-only sale on unlimited flight passes, meaning for a fixed price, you'll be able to fly as many times as you want between more than 60 airports across Canada for a set period.

The Infinite Canada Flight Pass is offered in one-, two-, and three-month installments that begin immediately after purchase. It also comes in three different tiers which provide various perks, from higher fare classes to extra Altitude Qualifying Miles (one of the necessary parts to earning loyalty status with the airline) to complimentary upgrades: the price ranges from CAD$2,260 per month to CAD$5,650 per month, or about $1,715 to $4,290.

"Air Canada recognizes that as air travel begins to return to normal, customers want flexibility and certainty," said Lucie Guillemette, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Air Canada, in a statement. "Our new Infinite Canada Flight Pass provides both by enabling customers to easily book and change their travel plans without any blackout restrictions or change or cancellation fees while locking in the price of their flights for up to three months with one flat fee."

Of course, there's a lot of fine print with this offer. First, you must be a resident of Canada with an Aeroplan membership (Air Canada's loyalty program) to purchase the pass. Second, availability is limited to specific fare classes, so even though a plane might have seats available, if they're not in your specified fare class, you're out of luck. (Air Canada does let you preview flight availability before you purchase the pass.) And finally, you won't be able to earn additional Altitude Qualifying Miles beyond the flat rate advertised for each pass, nor will you earn redeemable Aeroplan miles to put towards future bookings. You can find some terms here , but others are only listed on the booking page .

There's also the consideration of the pandemic: Some provinces have quarantine requirements for those traveling from specific regions within Canada, which could severely hinder your potential travel plans. Then, there's the always-looming issue of health and safety, both for you and those around you. 

But if you're a Canadian resident and you've decided that the Infinite Canada Flight Pass has more pros than cons, it's time for you to move quickly on this deal: the pass is only on sale from today through Sept. 23. Check it out here .

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September 2010 was hands down one of the most memorable months of my life. Having scored JetBlue's coveted " All You Can Jet Pass ," I spent 30 days flying around the U.S. and beyond, including my very first visits to Bermuda , Costa Rica , the Dominican Republic and St. Martin .

Now, Air Canada just launched an unlimited travel pass of its own. While it's not nearly as flexible as JetBlue's discontinued offering — and considerably more expensive — it could be a reasonable option for someone looking to travel extensively within Canada for one flat rate. Do note that it is only open to Canadian residents.

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The pass is being sold in one, two or three-month increments, with pricing starting at $2,260 CAD (about $1,715 USD) per month. Customers can cancel or change their flights without penalty up to one hour before departure. Three pass types are available right here , as outlined below.

Terms for the Standard pass break down as follows:

• Unlimited travel for 1 month
• Complimentary advance seat selection
• Complimentary any time changes
• Upgrades permitted using eligible Air Canada eUpgrade Credits
• Fixed monthly payments
• Earn 5,000 Altitude Qualifying Miles every month (Accumulation of miles based on distance flown is not applicable)
• Flight credit bookings are subject to availability for the Standard fare option (S booking class)

The Flex pass adds an additional 5,000 Altitude Qualifying Miles each month, and M booking class access, while the Latitude pass adds complimentary upgrades within 48 hours of departure, access to Maple Leaf Lounges when upgraded, a total of 15,000 Altitude Qualifying Miles each month and access to the Y booking class.

The airline's Infinite Canada Flight Pass is available to purchase between now and Sept. 23, 2020. Customers must be active Aeroplan members with Canadian residency and a valid address in Canada. The pass becomes valid immediately after purchase, and will run through 11:59 p.m. GMT (7:59 p.m. ET) on the date of expiration.

What Is The Air Canada Home Away from Home Flight Pass?

• Air Canada offers a Home Away from Home Flight Pass for two or more people on select international routes.
• The pass works with credits, min 4 and max 12, priced by region, available only in economy class.
• Pass routes include South Korea, France, UK, North Africa, Brazil, Colombia, and China.

There are several ways that frequent travelers can save money on regular flights. Many airlines offer discounts or negotiate special rates or contracts. Multiple-sector or “round the world” tickets make sense for some travelers. And passes or some form of prepaying are another common offering from airlines.

Air Canada has several such flight pass options – including an innovative “Home Away from Home” pass for frequent travelers on select international routes. This targets the leisure or VFR market. There are several limitations and restrictions, but it can still make sense for some.

Home Away from Home Flight Pass

The Home Away from Home Flight Pass is a product offered by Air Canada that gives (potential) lower fares for two or more people traveling together on certain international routes. It works using a system of credits. You purchase a number of credits for the region or route you are traveling. Each credit gives a one-way flight for one person.

The minimum purchase is four credits – this would give two people two return flights. The maximum purchase for one pass is twelve credits. This could be used for two people for six flights, or other combinations up to six people for two flights.

Get all the latest aviation news for North America here.

The pass is priced by region of Canada (east or west) and destination, number of credits, and for standard or flex tickets (flex books into a higher inventory/booking class and will have better availability). It is only available in economy class.

The regions/airports available are:

• France: Bordeaux–Mérignac (BOD), Lyon (LYS), Marseille (MRS), Nice (NCE), Paris (CDG), Toulouse (TLS),
• United Kingdom: Dublin (DUB), Birmingham (BHX), Edinburgh (EDI), Glasgow (GLA), Manchester (MAN), London Heathrow (LHR)
• North Africa: Casablanca (CMN), Algiers (ALG)
• Brazil: São Paulo (GRU)
• Colombia: Bogotá (BOG)
• South Korea: Seoul (ICN)
• China: Hong Kong

So far, Air Canada has offered the pass as a seasonal offer. In 2024, it was launched in early March and must be purchased by 12th April. The last sale period was in October and November 2023. Flights credits are valid for 12 months from purchase.

The pass routes and prices

For the March and April 2024 offer, the full pricing and routes are as follows:

Standard Pass prices (in Canadian Dollars):

Flex Pass prices (in Canadian Dollars). These rates are significantly higher but will offer much better availability. This is particularly important for those that need flexibility or want to make last-minute changes (but availability is still not guaranteed).

Home Away from Home Flight Pass rules and restrictions

As you would expect, there are many important terms and conditions with a travel pass such as this. Some of the most important (particularly those which affect its value) are listed below. For more details, see the Air Canada website.

• The pass is available for two to 4 people traveling together and is not available for solo travelers. This makes it more of a leisure or VFR-targeted offer.
• You must be an Air Canada Aeroplan member to purchase a pass.
• Credits expire 12 months after the purchase date. They can be extended once for three months for a fee.
• Flights must be flown on Air Canada, Air Canada Express, or Air Canada Rouge.
• Connecting flights (within Canada) are permitted at no extra cost.
• The flight pass price includes all taxes and charges.
• Seat reservations are included.
• Bookings can be changed or canceled free of charge.

Love learning about points and miles? Read more of our loyalty news and guides here .

Does the Home Away from Home Flight Pass make sense?

To even make the pass an option, users would need to be flying the same route (or region) at least twice in one year, with two or more people together.

It is then a case of how the pricing and restrictions look based on your circumstances. Generally, you will pay less for flights booked this way (although there could be exceptions if you are always able to travel on the absolute lowest fare or purchase during sales).

It works best for travelers who have some flexibility and plan ahead. You will, of course, be losing out if you can’t use the credits due to lack of availability. This is mitigated either by booking in advance (remember you can change dates free later), having flexibility in exactly when you travel, and by needing to travel more times per year.

While the destination list may seem limited, remember that many of these destinations served by Air Canada are regional hubs. Other tickets can, of course, be used to continue travel. Also, bear in mind that regional connections within Canada are included, so those traveling from locations other than the main hubs could benefit here.

Other passes from Air Canada

The Home Away from Home Flight Pass is clearly very restricted, appealing only to those who fly regularly on certain international routes. Air Canada offers a number of other travel passes. These include:

• The Weekend Pass. This offers flight credits for two or more people traveling together between select cities in Canada and the United States on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• The Student Pass. Available for a wide range of regional and international routes for students to travel to/from home locations regularly. This is available for solo travelers.
• Flight Pass for Business Travel. These are high-volume passes (with 30 to 200 credits) for regional or international routes that can be shared between multiple employees.

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Have you used the Air Canada Home Away from Home Flight Pass? Are you thinking about purchasing one? Feel free to discuss further in the comments section below.

IATA/ICAO Code: AC/ACA

Airline Type: Full Service Carrier

Hub(s): Calgary International Airport, MontralTrudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport

Year Founded: 1967

Alliance: Star Alliance

CEO: Michael Rousseau

Country: Canada

Region: North America

• Book Travel
• Credit Cards

How Does the Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass Work?

The Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass is granted upon meeting a certain spending threshold on the premium Aeroplan credit cards.

In this article, let’s take a look at how the Annual Worldwide Companion Pass works and how to redeem it for maximum value along your travels.

Annual Worldwide Companion Pass: The Rules

In this article, we’ll refer to the Annual Worldwide Companion Pass as simply the “Companion Pass” for short.

(Note that this should be distinguished from the Air Canada Buddy Pass , which was a similar but ultimately separate product.)

The Companion Pass allows a second passenger to travel on a discounted base fare when the first passenger pays full price for an Air Canada economy class ticket to anywhere in the world. The following rules govern its use:

• Canada or the United States (excluding Hawaii): $99 (CAD)  base fare
• Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean: $299 (CAD) base fare
• South America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa: $499 (CAD) base fare
• Asia, Australia, and New Zealand: $599 (CAD)  base fare
• It can be redeemed on one-way or round-trip flights (although there is no residual value if used on a one-way flight).
• It can be redeemed on an Economy Standard, Flex, Comfort, or Latitude fare.
• It must be redeemed on flights marketed and operated by Air Canada only, and cannot be used on codeshare flights or itineraries involving partner airlines.  
• It must be redeemed on revenue fares only, and cannot be used in conjunction with an Aeroplan award. 
• There are no blackout dates or other usage restrictions; the Companion Pass can be redeemed on any Air Canada flights on any date of the year.
• It will be deposited into your Aeroplan account up to 10 weeks after your cardholder renewal date (more on this below), and it will have a one-year validity period from that date.
• During the validity period, the Companion Pass can be used to book flights over the upcoming one-year period, meaning that a Companion Pass can effectively be used to book travel within a two-year period from the day it’s earned.

The Annual Worldwide Companion Pass must be redeemed in its original form for a set of Air Canada flights with at least two passengers on the booking within the validity period, or you’ll lose it.  

Which Credit Cards Offer the Annual Worldwide Companion Pass?

The Companion Pass is offered as a threshold benefit upon spending $25,000 in a membership year on one of the four Aeroplan premium credit cards.

As noted above, the Companion Pass gets deposited into your Aeroplan account “up to 10 weeks after your cardholder renewal date”, which means that you may need to pay a second year’s annual fee before receiving the Companion Pass in the “Benefits” section of your Aeroplan account.

However, there are mixed data points among Aeroplan premium cardholders that they’ve seen the Companion Pass deposited into their accounts soon after they reach the $25,000 (CAD) spending threshold.  

It appears to be mostly down to luck or chance, and you don’t exactly have recourse to call in and ask for a Companion Pass to be expedited, since the terms do say it can take up to 10 weeks after your renewal date.  

Among the three issuers, American Express is the only one that provides a progress tracker in the monthly statements for your $25,000 spending threshold. With the TD and CIBC Visa Infinite Privilege cards, you’ll have to keep track on your own.  

Maximizing the Annual Worldwide Companion Pass

The logic behind maximizing the Annual Worldwide Companion Pass is the same as any other companion voucher-style product: the more the first passenger pays, the more savings the second passenger gets.  

The value proposition increases proportionally to your willingness to spend. From a user’s perspective, these types of offerings can be very useful if you’re willing to spend a fair bit of cash on flights in the first place.

On the other hand, the upside is more limited if you’re looking to minimize your out-of-pocket spending and get as much as you can for “free”.

That’s especially because you’re still on the hook for taxes and fuel surcharges that may comprise a significant chunk of an economy ticket, given the price of fuel these days.

Still, if you’ve earned a Companion Pass, you may as well give some thought as to how to extract maximum value from it rather than letting it expire unused. Let’s take a look at some of your options.  

Travel in Peak Season or Last-Minute

When travelling during off-season, fares will often be cheap enough that redeeming the Companion Pass makes very little sense.

For example, consider this off-season, round-trip fare from Toronto to Dublin, whose base fare is $205 (CAD) on Economy Standard. In this case, you’re wasting your Companion Pass because the base fare of $205 (CAD) is lower than the $499 (CAD) flat-rate base fare you’re supposed to pay.

On the other hand, fares tend to skyrocket if you’re travelling during peak season or on a last-minute basis. Again, the more the first passenger pays, the more the second passenger saves.

While you’d never choose to pay more than you need to, if you simply must travel (as tends to be the case for those who do travel during peak season or who embark on last-minute trips), the Companion Pass could save you a good chunk on the second passenger’s fare.  

Take, for example, a teacher who plans vacations around the school year. If they want to maximize their time away, they’d often end up paying very high cash fares.

In the example below, a round-trip base fare from Toronto to Mexico City during Christmas break is $1,266 (CAD), but the second passenger would pay only $299 (CAD) plus taxes and surcharges with a Companion Pass, thus saving the household $967 (CAD) . 

Or consider a Toronto-based couple who needs to travel to Amsterdam this coming weekend for a family emergency. Since only Economy Flex fares are available, the round-trip base fare is $1,480 (CAD).

Applying the Companion Pass, the second passenger would only pay $499 (CAD) plus taxes and surcharges, saving $981 (CAD) on this unexpected expense.  

Indeed, if you don’t have any better uses for your Companion Pass, then keeping it around for some big savings in case of unexpected last-minute trips can be a solid backup strategy.  

Which Region Is the Best Value?

You’ll notice that different parts of the world come with different base fares under the Companion Pass. We can ask the question of which region might be most valuable for redeeming the Companion Pass by taking a rough estimate of Air Canada fares around the world and comparing them to the discounted base fares.

First off, for Canada and the US, you can easily find something that would exceed the $99 (CAD) round-trip base fare of the Companion Pass, especially for longer, transcontinental flights.

For example, a round-trip base fare for a transcontinental Toronto–Los Angeles flight is typically around $200–300 (CAD) .

But often, especially for competitive routes served by ultra-low-cost carriers, the round-trip base fare ends up being too low for a Companion Pass to result to substantial savings.

For Central America and the Caribbean, Air Canada’s round-trip base fares from its major hubs tend to fall in the vicinity of $500–700 (CAD) non-peak times.

Compared to a discounted base fare of $299 (CAD), your savings might land in the region of $200–400 (CAD). That’s not insignificant, but the savings might be more meaningful with long-haul flights.

Looking at South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, base fares to these regions tend to price out at around $900–1,100 (CAD)  during non-peak times.

Compared to a discounted base fare of $499 (CAD), you’d save about $400–600 (CAD)  depending on the exact flight.  

Finally, with the sheer size of Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, there tends to be much greater variance in terms of the average fares to different destinations.

Vancouver–Seoul can be booked for as little as $1,000 (CAD) all-in, meaning that your $599 (CAD) discounted base fare wouldn’t be discounted by all that much.

Meanwhile, Toronto–Delhi regularly sells for $1,500–1,900 (CAD) round-trip, making it an excellent use of the Companion Pass that can unlock $1,000+ (CAD)  in value without even applying any of the more advanced strategies.

On paper, the Asia, Australia, and New Zealand region unlocks the greatest value for the Annual Worldwide Companion Pass, even though its base fare is the highest – and that’s very much in keeping with the nature of the product itself.  

Book Higher Fare Categories

With the above exercise, we’ve taken into account the cheapest fare categories in economy class to each destination.

However, since the Companion Pass can be redeemed for any economy class flight, it would fetch higher value if you’re in the habit of booking Flex or Comfort fares – perhaps for Aeroplan Elite Status considerations.

After all, Flex, Comfort, and Latitude fares earn significantly more Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) and Status Qualifying Segments (SQS) compared to Basic and Standard fares (100%+ of the distance flown vs. 25%).

If, say, both you and your spouse are looking to climb the status ranks, a Companion Pass can help you save a good chunk on the Flex or higher fares, reducing the out-of-pocket spend required to earn status. 

Even if you’re a solo flyer who books Flex fares or higher for status purposes, you could team up with a fellow Aeroplan Elite Status member on an end-of-year mileage run to Europe or Asia, while splitting the savings that you get from the Companion Pass.

However, keep in mind that these strategies would be most useful if you’re pursuing SQM/SQS more than Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD), since the Companion Pass will naturally reduce the SQD earned by the second passenger. 

Use eUpgrades for Premium Economy or Business Class

That brings us to the final way to boost your value from the Companion Pass: use the voucher to book two Latitude Economy fares at a heavily discounted rate for the second passenger, and then apply Air Canada eUpgrades to fly in premium economy or business class instead.  

Consider a couple who wants to fly business class from Montreal to London for a week in September. The cheapest business class fare clocks in at $6,384 (CAD) round-trip, so it would be $12,768 (CAD) for two passengers.  

Let’s imagine both travellers have earned Aeroplan 25K status, and therefore hold 25 eUpgrade credits in each of their accounts.

That gives them enough eUpgrades to confirm an instant upgrade from Economy (Latitude) to business class on both legs of their journey, which would cost 11 eUpgrade credits per person per direction based on the eUpgrades chart.

The Latitude Economy fare is $3,730 (CAD). When applying the Companion Pass, the first passenger would pay this fare in full, whereas the second passenger would pay a $499 (CAD) discounted base fare plus $909 (CAD) in taxes and fees.

The total all-in pricing for both passengers is $3,730 + $499 + $909 = $5,138 (CAD), allowing them to save a whopping $7,630 (CAD) on their round-trip business class flights.

Now, you might be wondering: couldn’t the couple simply redeem Aeroplan points for their flights instead, and avoid paying a meaningful sum of cash, let alone $5,138 (CAD)?

Here’s the picture when it comes to redeeming Aeroplan points for the same flights. Immediately, we see that Air Canada’s dynamic pricing has reared its ugly head on the direct outbound flight (as it often does these days), making it a non-starter if you’re looking to get good value from your points.

Well, we could still adopt the “Latitude Attitude” , redeem Aeroplan points for Latitude Economy, and apply eUpgrades to that booking, right?

Indeed, this would cost 121,100 Aeroplan points + $478 (CAD)  per person for the round-trip.

But if we calculate the value on this redemption compared to a $5,138 (CAD) cash fare for two passengers, we end up with a redemption value of 1.73 cents per point (cpp).

That’s not bad, but not great either – in fact, it falls short of our target valuation of 2.1 cpp (CAD) for Aeroplan points .

Unless you had more Aeroplan points that you could spend, it might be a better idea here to pay $5,138 for the Latitude Economy flights using the Companion Pass and apply eUpgrades to confirm a business class seat.

Then, you could save your 242,200 Aeroplan points for a more powerful future use – perhaps on a partner airline, where the fixed pricing tends to result in higher redemption values and the Companion Pass wouldn’t be applicable anyway.

Of course, this conclusion also assumes that you’d choose to pay $5,138 (CAD) for business class seats in the first place, rather than accepting a seat in economy class on this trip or not taking the trip at all.

Again, we’re back to the central principle: the Companion Pass will be a lot more useful for those who are willing to spend some cash in pursuit of elevated travel, rather than those who are looking to keep their expenses to a bare minimum.  

What’s the Value of the Annual Worldwide Companion Pass?

With the above in mind, can we pin down a valuation for the Annual Worldwide Companion Pass? On average, across all use cases, how much is this benefit worth?

While it’s always a fun thought exercise to nail down a specific valuation, I think it’d be more meaningful to consider two valuations depending on the type of traveller: those who wouldn’t be averse to paying a few thousand dollars for the comfort and convenience of Air Canada business class flights, and those who’d scoff at the idea and suck it up in economy.

In the former case, the possibility of applying eUpgrades to a Latitude Economy booking can unlock significant value as outlined above.

Given the dollar savings against purchasing a business class fare directly, as well as the flexibility to save Aeroplan points for future trips by using a Companion Pass to outperform a “Latitude Attitude” points booking, it’s fair to peg the fair value of the Companion Pass at a minimum of $1,000 (CAD).

For the latter type of traveller, the thought of parting ways with a few grand in cash for business class flights just doesn’t sit right. They’d rather follow a defined strategy of using points for business class and paying cash for economy.  

In this case, it’d be fair to value the Companion Pass somewhere in the region of $500 (CAD). As we saw, any long-haul flight outside of North America can realistically unlock this valuation, while flights to Air Canada’s most distant destinations can easily achieve higher value.  

With these two valuations in mind, we’re looking at a rough Return on Spend of either 4% or 2% on the $25,000 (CAD) spending needed to earn the Companion Pass in the first place.  

If you’re the type of traveller who isn’t averse to paying for a business class flight here and there, and who engages with Aeroplan enough to earn eUpgrades through elite status, you’ll get much more out of the Companion Pass than someone who’s purely treating it as an incremental benefit.  

And since this is a threshold reward on the premium Aeroplan credit cards after all, that’s probably the way the Companion Pass was intended to be.  

The Air Canada Annual Worldwide Companion Pass provides another avenue towards expanding your travel possibilities, allowing you to book a second passenger for a fixed based fare when you pay full price for the first passenger.

In general, the more you spend on Air Canada cash fares, the more benefit you’ll get out of the Annual Worldwide Companion Pass. If you have eUpgrades at your disposal, you can also use it to unlock a pathway towards discounted business class tickets as a duo. 

The benefit is cleverly designed to reward high-end travellers and Aeroplan Elite Status members with the greatest value, and in that respect, it’s very much a fitting spend-based perk on the premium Aeroplan credit cards.

• Earn 80,000 MR points upon spending $15,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn  40,000 MR points  upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
• And, earn 1.25x MR points on all purchases
• Also, receive a $200 annual travel credit
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• Annual fee: $799

17 Comments

Great Article Ricky! Mostly validated my current use if AC-CP for Status + Latitude/Attitude. QUESTION? I have VISA Infinite Privilege but considering adding AMEX Aeroplan Reserve. Does anybody have both & receive 2 x Companion Passes or does AC/Aeroplan given anybody grief over the double up?

You also should factor in the hefty annual fee of about $599 , to see if it makes sense to keep card just to get companion pass deposited. By the time you factor in the annual fee and base fares, its kinda not worth it.

Guessing you can’t combine the companion pass along with paying with points on a flight?

For the Amex Aeroplan Reserve, do you have any data points on if you spend the $25K earlier you receive the Annual Companion Pass earlier (i.e. 8-10 weeks after you hit the $25K threshold vs. 8-10 weeks after the card anniversary date, which may be much longer)?

I have a TD infinite privilege card and am a 35K member and can’t seem to find ANY flights that could apply for my companion pass on Air Canada’s web site… tried different dates, different destinations… anyone else having a hard time being able to redeem this benefit? Thanks

Can you earn 2 passes for $50k spend or 3 for $75k etc?

Nope, one per card per year.

I may have missed this, but if your Pass is close to the expiry date, can you book a flight with it that would occur past that expiry date?

For example – Airfare for 2 to LHR. Expiry Date would be August 31st, 2021, but we’d like to travel in October 2022.

Booking must be made before the Companion Pass expiry date; travel may occur after the Companion Pass expiry date subject to flight schedule availability at the time of booking.

From: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/credit-cards/companion-pass.html

Great review of this benefit – thank you. As regards the Progress Tracker for the CIBC card, I use the “CIBC CreditSmart Spend Report – Year to Date” as my calculator since it is a new card this year. Based on your analysis, I will keep the Companion Pass on hand for emergency/last minute travel when it loads into my account. I appreciate the Latitude Attitude reminder in your article to extract max value from a benefit that in my mind was geared only towards Economy Class travel. Now I see the benefit in a new light. And if I’m in the E-Upgrade window for booking this last minute flight, maybe I can even book in a lower fare class and still get instant upgrade confirmation.

That’s a great shout Richard!

Keep in mind that if you’re already spending $10k for the status promo, it’s only $15k more which yields a slightly higher return on spending.

The T&C for annual companion pass states…

“The pass may not be used with premium cabin fares, or in conjunction with Aeroplan flight rewards, Flight Pass, group travel bookings, Air Canada Vacations bookings, or any other discounts or promotion codes.”

Applying eUpgrade is not considered as Aeroplan flight rewards? If so, then can we upgrade the companion ticket with points (to business) instead of using eUpgrade?

Does the companion pass cover Carrier Surcharges? (e.g. the london itinerary posted in the “Travel in Peak Season or Last-Minute” section has a carrier surcharge of $450 as part of the Air transportation charges & not the taxes).

I’ve read the T&Cs but they state: “The Companion Pass entitles a companion to accompany the primary cardholder for a fixed base fare (plus taxes, fees, charges, and surcharges)…”

Bit of a head-scratcher that one.

Just got my companion pass. That carrier surcharge is not covered under the pass so the pass is greatly devalued in my eyes.

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Entering Canada

On this page, by private boat, required identification, permanent residents, travelling with children, you and the border services officer.

Whether you’re returning home or visiting, you’ll follow the same 3 steps to enter Canada:

Step 1. Pre-arrival: Use Advance Declaration or complete a Declaration Card

If you’re arriving by air at one of Canada’s participating international airports, you can save time at the border. Submit your customs and immigration declaration online using Advance Declaration up to 72 hours before you arrive in Canada.

If you choose not to submit your declaration in advance, you can complete it at an airport kiosk or eGate. If you’re landing at an airport without kiosks or eGates, you’ll receive a Declaration Card on board the aircraft or other conveyance. Read the instructions and complete the card before you arrive. Have it ready to present to Canadian officials at the airport, along with your identification and other travel documents. If you're travelling with children, please have their documentation ready as well.

If using a Declaration Card, detach and discard the instructions. To help us serve you faster, do not fold the card.

Everyone arriving in Canada must complete a declaration. You can list up to 4 people living at the same residence on one card, or 8 people per Advance Declaration submission.

The Declaration Card or Advance Declaration submission tells us what we need to know about you, your travels and what you’re bringing into the country.

Connecting to another flight

If you’re connecting to another flight or travelling on to another destination and re-boarding the same plane, follow the signs. At some airports, you may have to check your baggage and have it screened again.

If you travel frequently our trusted traveller programs can help

If you're a member of a trusted traveller program, you can skip Step 2 and go directly to the automated kiosks or eGates for faster processing.

Step 2. Arrival: First CBSA checkpoint

When you arrive at the terminal, follow the signs to the first Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) checkpoint, also called “primary inspection.”

If you used Advance Declaration, go to a kiosk or eGate to retrieve your confirmed declaration receipt. Up to 5 people may use a kiosk as a group upon arrival.

Next, a border services officer will examine your:

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• your identification
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The officer may ask you a series of questions to determine:

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• the type of any goods you're bringing with you
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Goods not properly declared that are restricted or prohibited in Canada can, under the law, be seized.

Newcomer or coming to Canada to study or work

If you’re a newcomer to Canada, coming to study or work in Canada, you may need to present further documentation. The officer will help guide you through this process. You may ask the officer for help if you don’t speak English or French well.

Step 3. Baggage and second CBSA checkpoint

Go to the baggage claim area. If you must pay duty and taxes, you can pay at most major airports while waiting for your luggage.

Once you’ve picked up your luggage:

• go to the next CBSA checkpoint
• Declaration Card, Advance Declaration kiosk or eGate receipt
• receipt, if you paid duty and taxes for your goods

The officer may direct you to a secondary inspection area.

Here, officers may ask you:

• for detailed information about your travels
• to present your luggage and goods for examination

This is a normal part of the travelling process. Your cooperation is appreciated and helps us ensure the safety of Canada, its economy and its residents.

If you’re arriving by land, follow the signs to the first checkpoint, also called “primary inspection.” Here, a border services officer will examine your identification and other travel documents and take your verbal declaration.

Visit U.S. to Canada border wait times for estimated wait times at certain locations.

If you’re arriving by private boat, go directly to a designated marine telephone reporting site and call the CBSA Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) at 1-888-226-7277 to obtain clearance.

Private boaters that meet certain conditions may report to the CBSA by calling the TRC using cell phone from their location in Canadian waters.

Learn more about reporting requirements for private boaters.

Make sure you carry proper identification for yourself and any children travelling with you to help confirm your legal right to enter Canada. Canada has introduced a new entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), for certain international travellers who fly to Canada.

Read about the changes and how they may affect you.

The Government of Canada recommends that Canadian citizens travel with a valid Canadian passport because it’s the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel.

International transportation companies such as airlines may require travellers to present a passport before boarding. Canadian citizens may face delays or may not be allowed to board the plane or other conveyance if they present other documents such as a:

• Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)/Enhanced Identification Card (EIC)
• NEXUS card (used where the program is available)
• Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card used in FAST lanes
• Canadian citizenship card
• Certificate of Indian Status
• Birth certificate in combination with either a driver's licence or a government-issued photo identification

Permanent residents (immigrants living in Canada who are not yet Canadian citizens) need a valid permanent resident card to return to Canada. Check the expiry date on your card.

Note that a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document.

See Canadian Citizenship for further details.

Parents who share custody of their children should bring copies of the legal custody documents to the border when travelling with their children.

A consent letter should be used for all cross-border travel when a child is travelling:

• with only 1 parent or guardian
• in the care of friends or relatives
• with a group, such as a sports, school, musical or religious group

Example of a consent letter to permit travel by a child with a single custodian or parent.

When travelling with a group of vehicles, parents or guardians should arrive at the border in the same vehicle as the children.

Adults who aren’t parents or guardians should have written permission from the parents or guardians to supervise the children. The consent letter should include addresses and telephone numbers where the parents or guardian can be reached.

Border officers watch for missing children, and may ask detailed questions about the children who are travelling with you.

You may occasionally find yourself going through a more detailed inspection. In some cases, this simply means that you may have to complete a form. In other cases, the border services officer will need to identify the goods you’re bringing into the country or examine your luggage.

Border services officers are legally entitled to examine your luggage as part of their responsibility to protect Canada's safety, economy and environment. You are responsible for opening, unpacking and repacking your luggage.

By making your goods easily accessible for inspection and having your receipts handy, you will be helping the CBSA to help you. It’s a good idea to keep all your receipts for accommodation and purchases, and for any repairs done to, or parts bought for, your vehicle. The border services officer may ask to see them as evidence of the length of your stay and of the value of the goods or repairs.

If you disagree with the amount of duty and taxes that you have to pay, please ask to speak with the CBSA superintendent on duty. A consultation can often resolve the issue quickly and without cost. If you’re still not satisfied, our officers can tell you how to make a formal appeal.

Border services officers may arrest an individual for an offence under the Criminal Code (for example, impaired driving, outstanding arrest warrants, stolen property, abductions/kidnappings) and for infractions under other acts of Parliament (for example, the Customs Act , the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act ).

If you’re arrested, you may be compelled to attend court in Canada. You should note that anyone arrested in Canada is protected by and will be treated in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms .

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September 3, 2021 : Border changes

Effective September 7, foreign nationals who qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption can enter Canada for discretionary (non-essential) travel.

Check if you qualify for the exemption

August 9, 2021 : Border changes

Travellers are no longer required to book a 3-night hotel stopover when entering Canada.

• Check if you qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption

Fully vaccinated foreign nationals will be allowed to enter Canada for discretionary travel on the following dates if they meet specific criteria:

• August 9 : American citizens and permanent residents of the United States , currently residing in and arriving from the United States, and who qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption
• September 7 (intended start date): All other foreign nationals who qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption

October 1, 2022 : COVID-19 emergency border measures ended

Refer to COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders for details.

CANPASS Corporate Aircraft and CANPASS Private Aircraft are programs that speed up border crossings for frequent, low-risk, pre-approved travellers from the United States into Canada.

Validity and cost

You must pay using Visa, MasterCard and American Express, or send a certified cheque or money order in Canadian funds payable to the Receiver General for Canada. Do not send cash.

Choose the mode of CANPASS that best suits you

There are two different CANPASS programs available to you.

• Choose CANPASS Air if you often fly by commercial airline.
• Choose CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft if your company frequently uses aircraft for business purposes.
• Choose CANPASS – Private Aircraft if you operate a private aircraft.

Marine travel

Do you travel by private pleasure boat? If so, the CANPASS – Private Boats program for marine travel could be for you.

The CBSA has updated the CANPASS application forms and has resumed processing of CANPASS applications. New applicants and existing applicants with expired memberships who wish to continue in the program must submit a new CANPASS application using the new form. If you submitted an application after March 2020 , you do not need to re-submit a new application.

Once you have submitted an application, the Canadian Processing Centre will contact you and will ask you security questions based on the content provided in your application. That is how both parties will authenticate the call.

Applicants should submit their applications early, as there may be significant processing delays due to the accumulated backlog.

Discontinuation of the CANPASS Air and CANPASS Private Boats programs

The CANPASS Air and CANPASS Private Boats programs have been discontinued. Current members will be able to maintain privileges until their membership expires. Check to see if you are eligible to join NEXUS instead as it offers similar or even greater benefits when travelling across the Canada-U.S. border.

Other CBSA programs, such as CANPASS – Private Aircraft, CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft, and Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) are not affected by this discontinuation.

Flying to Canada? Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. do not need an eTA.

CANPASS members who are also lawful permanent residents of the U.S. (Green Card holders or equivalent valid proof of status in the United States) do not need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) when flying to or transiting through Canada. U.S. and Canadian citizens are exempted.

Be prepared: Always carry with you a valid proof of your lawful permanent resident status of the U.S.

You do not need an eTA when you enter by land or sea.

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When booking an international trip, travelers can choose from a lot of different airlines. While many Americans focus on U.S.-based airlines, there can be significant value in considering international competitors like Air Canada.

As Canada’s largest airline, Air Canada flew more than 37 million passengers around the globe in 2022. To give you an idea for whether Air Canada is a good match for your trip, let’s go over the experience of flying with the airline, the benefits of its loyalty program and other considerations that could help you make your decision.

What is Air Canada like?

Air Canada is good for international flights, going to 189 destinations in 58 countries. Whether you're flying on an Air Canada plane or with a Star Alliance partner, you're connected to every continent.

The airline also operates Air Canada Rouge, its low-cost subsidiary.

Here's what flyers can expect:

Making reservations . Travelers can book Air Canada flights online or through its mobile app 24 hours a day. Reservations can also be made at any time by calling 888-247-2262.

Check-in . Check-in is available online or through the airline's mobile app starting 24 hours before departure. Passengers can also check in at the airport through self-service kiosks or with airport agents.

Boarding . Air Canada boards passengers according to five zones, plus pre-boarding for those needing assistance. Boarding for families and those traveling with musical instruments happens between zones two and three. Your boarding zone is based on elite status, fare class and if you hold a co-branded credit card.

In-flight experience . The airline offers three classes of service on most of its flights — economy , premium economy and business class . Your in-flight experience, including meals and beverages, will depend on your class of service. However, all passengers can access movies, TV and music options in over 15 languages. Wi-Fi is available on limited flights for a fee.

» Learn more: The guide to Air Canada partners

Air Canada fees

Passengers can expect to pay various fees depending on which Air Canada services they choose. Fees can also be influenced by ticket type and elite status. Here is a sample of the fees you may be charged when flying Air Canada.

Checked baggage fees . Starting at $30 for the first bag and $50 for the second bag (this is waived for Air Canada's credit cardholders ).

Additional or oversized bag . Starting at $100.

Seat selection fees . Starting at $14 for basic and standard fares within Canada or the U.S.

Change fees . Varies based on ticket class and time before departure. Passengers can change their flights up to two hours before departure, and fees typically range from $26 to $115.

Cancellation fees . Not all tickets are refundable, and some provide a credit instead of a refund. For international travel outside Canada and the U.S., cancellation fees can be as high as $590.

Wi-Fi . In-flight internet access is available on limited flights between Los Angeles and Toronto or Los Angeles and Montreal; it costs roughly $6-$8, depending on whether you're connecting to a single mobile device or want full internet access.

» Learn more: The guide to Air Canada baggage policies and fees

Air Canada’s loyalty program

Air Canada’s loyalty program is called Aeroplan . Members can earn points by flying, using Aeroplan's co-branded credit card or spending with Aeroplan's 50+ travel partners (via the Star Alliance and others). Points can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, vacation packages and more.

Aegean Airlines.

Air New Zealand.

All Nippon Airways.

Asiana Airlines.

Austrian Airlines.

Brussels Airlines.

Copa Airlines.

Croatia Airlines.

Ethiopian Airlines.

LOT Polish Airlines.

Scandinavian Airlines.

Shenzhen Airlines.

Singapore Airlines.

South African Airways.

TAP Air Portugal.

Thai Airways.

Turkish Airlines.

United Airlines.

There are five levels of elite status in Air Canada’s loyalty program: Aeroplan 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite. You can earn elite status based on how much you spend and either the number of segments or distance flown.

The Aeroplan® Credit Card makes qualifying for elite status easier.

Aeroplan® Credit Card

» Learn more: What to know about the Aeroplan credit card

Beyond its travel partner brands, Air Canada is a transfer partner of four flexible points programs . Members can transfer points to Air Canada from the following programs at a 1:1 ratio:

American Express Membership Rewards .

Bilt Rewards .

Capital One Miles .

Chase Ultimate Rewards® .

The number of Aeroplan points required for an award flight depends on the zone to which you’re traveling, the flight distance and ticket class. Additionally, prices on the Aeroplan award chart vary whether you’re flying with Air Canada or a partner airline.

» Learn more: Getting elite status on Air Canada with the Aeroplan credit card

Unique Aeroplan perks

Travelers wondering if Air Canada is a good airline should also take note of the unique perks its loyalty program offers.

Aeroplan’s best benefits may vary depending on what's most important to you. However, some unique offerings stand out when compared to other airlines.

Parental leave elite status extension . Members can request an extension of their elite status when expecting a baby or welcoming a new child into their family. This benefit allows you to keep your status during a time when you may not be flying as frequently.

Lifetime elite status . When you fly more than one million Lifetime Qualifying Miles (LQMs), you'll receive lifetime 50K elite status.

Aeroplan status for a friend . If you hold 75K or Super Elite status, you can grant 35K or 50K elite status, respectively, to a friend through Dec. 31 of the benefit year.

Status Pass . Those who hold 50K elite status or higher receive Status Passes, which they can use to share elite benefits with another person (and up to nine travel companions) for the duration of their trip.

» Learn more: Inside Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO

Other things to consider

Safety ratings.

Another way to determine if Air Canada is a good airline is to review its independent safety ratings. AirlineRatings.com evaluates and compares airline safety records. It’s given Air Canada its top rating, seven out of seven stars, based on incident data from the International Civil Aviation Organization and International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Reliability

Air Canada was ranked 10th by IATA for on-time performance among the 10 largest North American airlines based on 2022 performance. The airline completed on-time arrivals only 51% of the time in July 2023, which is much lower than the average on-time performance of 66%.

Customer satisfaction

In addition to official ratings, customer satisfaction scores can also indicate if Air Canada is a good airline. For example, TripAdvisor has almost 30,000 reviews from travelers sharing their thoughts on whether Air Canada is good. Although it has an average score of 3.0 out of 5.0 stars, the airline was a Travelers' Choice Winner in 2018 and 2019.

Additional customer feedback is available from Flight-Report.com. On that site, Air Canada has an average score of 7.5 out of 10 stars. However, its rating has been trending downward over the last 12 months.

General cost

Air Canada typically has competitive fares on the routes it operates. The airline offers flights to Canada from the U.S. starting at under $100 — for example, we found a $96 one-way fare from Miami to Toronto in April 2024. You can also find deals for award flights starting at less than 5,000 Aeroplan points.

Who should avoid Air Canada?

While Air Canada is good for international flights and trips within Canada, it isn't the best choice for every traveler. Here are some types of travelers who may want to select another airline for their trip.

Those who exclusively travel within the U.S. The airline does service U.S. cities, but domestic airlines tend to offer more robust flight schedules between American cities.

Those who desire first class tickets . Air Canada does not offer a first class cabin on any of its aircraft.

Those who are worried about arriving on time . According to data comparing the 10 largest airlines in North America's 2022 on-time performance, Air Canada's reliability ratings are poor (last place).

If you're considering flying Air Canada ...

Air Canada is a good airline for travelers in Canada and the U.S. The airline serves close to 200 destinations, and its Star Alliance partner network can get you to even more cities around the world. It offers competitive fares and charges reasonable fees for the common services passengers use.

Its Aeroplan loyalty program offers many benefits, is a transfer partner of flexible points programs and offers a co-branded airline credit card. If you fly the airline regularly, its credit card is worth the annual fee .

Aeroplan members can redeem points for Air Canada flights, and sometimes flights can be found for even fewer points when booking with Star Alliance partners.

(Top photo courtesy of Air Canada)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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I am an American citizen. What do I need to enter Canada?

American citizens, including American-Canadian citizens, must carry proper identification and meet the basic requirements to enter Canada . You do not need a Canadian passport, a Canadian visa or an eTA to enter Canada if you are travelling with a valid U.S. passport.

New entry requirement now in effect

Visa-exempt foreign nationals need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through Canada by air. Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travellers with a valid Canadian visa. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens , and Canadian permanent residents cannot apply for an eTA.

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• Do I need a visa if I am travelling through Canada without stopping or visiting?
• How do I help a family member or friend apply to visit Canada?
• I am travelling with my minor child without my spouse. What documents must I present?
• What’s the difference between a visitor visa and a visitor record?
• Do I need to apply for both a visitor visa and an eTA?

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Glossary term

• Admissibility