Making the Most of Your Points and Loyalty Programs

Most Canadians are sitting on loyalty points they’re not using well. Your travel agent helps you understand what you have, what it’s worth, and how to deploy it strategically — so your travel budget goes further.

The Loyalty Landscape Is Complicated

Aeroplan, Air Miles, Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors, American Express Membership Rewards, TD Rewards — the Canadian loyalty landscape spans dozens of programs, each with its own redemption rules, transfer partners, blackout periods, and sweet spots. Trying to navigate this alone often leads to suboptimal redemptions or points sitting unused until they expire.

Your Agent Knows Which Points Are Worth More

Not all points are equal, and not all redemptions represent good value. A travel agent familiar with loyalty programs can tell you whether redeeming your Aeroplan points for a specific flight is a great use or a poor one — and can help you find the booking path that delivers the best cents-per-point value for your particular trip.

Combining Cash and Points Bookings

Sometimes the best strategy isn’t using points for everything — it’s using them for the highest-value elements (a business class upgrade, a luxury hotel) and paying cash for the rest. Your agent helps you think through that trade-off with your specific balance and trip in mind.

Earning Points on Agent Bookings

A common misconception is that booking through a travel agent means missing out on loyalty points. In many cases, that’s not true. Your agent can often ensure your loyalty numbers are attached to bookings so you continue to earn — while also benefiting from any group rate or supplier perks they’ve negotiated on your behalf.

Protecting Points From Expiry

Loyalty points that expire unused are money left on the table. If you mention to your agent that you have a balance approaching its expiry window, they can help you find a way to use those points before they disappear — even if a big trip isn’t on the immediate horizon.