Plain-English guides for Canadians who are new to travel rewards. No jargon, no fluff — just clear steps to free travel.
Everything you need to know to earn your first free flight — explained clearly, step by step. This is the guide we wish we had when we started.
Read the Full Guide →Every transfer ratio for Amex MR, RBC Avion, Chase, Capital One and Amex US — verified from Prince of Travel and r/CreditCards.
Quick Reference
Not all loyalty programs are created equal. Some miles vanish after 12 months of inactivity — others never expire. Know before they disappear.
| Airline / Loyalty Program | Miles & Points Expiration |
|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 18 months of inactivity |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 24 months of inactivity |
| Alaska Mileage Plan | ✓ Never Miles do not expire |
| All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club | 📅 Fixed Expire 36 months after earning |
| American AAdvantage | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 24 months of inactivity |
| Avianca LifeMiles | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 12 months of inactivity |
| British Airways Club Avios | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 36 months of inactivity |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 18 months of inactivity |
| Copa ConnectMiles | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 24 months of inactivity |
| Delta SkyMiles | ✓ Never Miles never expire |
| Emirates Skywards | 📅 Fixed Expire approximately 3 years after earning |
| Etihad Guest | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 18 months of inactivity |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | 📅 Fixed Expire 36 months after earning |
| Finnair Plus Avios | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 18 months of inactivity |
| Frontier Miles | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 12 months of inactivity |
| Iberia Club Avios | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 36 months of inactivity |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | ✓ Never Points never expire |
| Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank | 📅 Fixed Expire 36 months after earning |
| Korean Air SKYPASS | 📅 Fixed Expire approximately 10 years after earning |
| Lufthansa Miles & More | 📅 Fixed Expire 36 months after earning |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 18 months of inactivity |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 36 months of inactivity |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | 📅 Fixed Expire 36 months after earning |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | ✓ Never Points never expire |
| Spirit Airlines Free Spirit | ⏱ Inactivity Expire after 12 months of inactivity |
| Turkish Miles&Smiles | 📅 Fixed Expire 36 months after earning |
| United MileagePlus | ✓ Never Miles never expire |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | ✓ Never Points never expire |
Quick Reference
Before you book, know what it costs to change your mind. Fees vary wildly across programs — some charge nothing, others take back up to 75% of your miles.
| Airline / Program | Change Fee | Cancellation Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 100 CAD | 150 CAD |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 70 EUR | 70 EUR |
| Alaska Mileage Plan | None | None |
| ANA Mileage Club | None | 3,000 miles |
| American AAdvantage | None | None |
| Avianca LifeMiles | $150 | $50–200 |
| British Airways Executive Club | $55 | $55 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | $50 | $120 |
| Delta SkyMiles | None | None |
| Emirates Skywards | $25 | $75 |
| Etihad Guest | 400 AED | Up to 75% of miles |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | $50 | None |
| Finnair Plus | 50 EUR | 50 EUR |
| Iberia Plus | 25 EUR | 25 EUR |
| Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | Not allowed | 3,100 JPY |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | None | None |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 5,000 pts | 6,000 pts |
| Qatar Privilege Club | $25–100 | $25–100 |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | $0–50 | $50–75 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | None | None |
| Turkish Miles&Smiles | $70 | $70 |
| United MileagePlus | None | None |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | $100 | $100 |
Quick Reference
How much is each point actually worth? All values are in Canadian dollars (CAD). Values last reviewed May 2026. These are general planning estimates, not guaranteed redemption values. Actual value depends on route, cabin, availability, program rules, taxes, and fees.
| Program | Value (¢ CAD / pt) | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Membership Rewards (CA) Best transferred 1:1 to Aeroplan or British Airways Avios |
2.2¢ | |
| Aeroplan Premium cabin partner flights regularly hit 3–10¢; domestic economy ~1.5–2¢ |
2.1¢ | |
| RBC Avion Best via British Airways Avios or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles transfers |
2.0¢ | |
| AIR MILES Cash Rewards redeemed at 95 miles = $10 baseline |
10.5¢ per mile, not per point |
| Program | Value (¢ CAD / pt) | Bar |
|---|---|---|
| CIBC Aventura Up to 2.2¢ via Airline Rewards Chart; 1¢ via travel portal |
1.0¢ | |
| Scene+ (Scotiabank) Fixed value — great for hotels, cars, travel portal purchases |
1.0¢ | |
| MBNA Rewards Travel portal; useful for car rentals & independent hotels |
1.0¢ | |
| National Bank À la carte 1¢ via travel portal; 0.83–0.91¢ as statement credit |
1.0¢ | |
| WestJet Points Fixed-value; 1¢ toward WestJet base fares |
1.0¢ | |
| BMO Rewards Travel agency or investment account at 150 pts = $1 |
0.67¢ | |
| TD Rewards Best via Expedia for TD at 0.5¢; lower for gift cards/merch |
0.5¢ |
Values are guidelines based on best-case redemptions, not guarantees. Premium cabin awards can far exceed these figures. Values last reviewed May 2026. Source: Prince of Travel.
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