If you fly Canada-India even a few times a year, Air Canada’s Aeroplan is usually the stronger core program to build around, since it’s Canada-based, easier to earn on everyday Canadian spending, and \u2014 because Air Canada and Air India both belong to Star Alliance \u2014 you can still credit qualifying Air India flights to your Aeroplan account. Air India’s Flying Returns is worth joining too if you fly Air India often, mainly for elite-tier perks like baggage allowance, lounge access, and priority boarding on the airline you’re actually flying.<\/p>\n
If you’d rather skip the math and just get the seat that actually earns and redeems well on your specific Canada-India route, call or WhatsApp Metairfare at +1-877-700-0520 and we’ll check availability across both airlines’ award and cash fares for you.<\/p>\n
Aeroplan earns points mainly through everyday spending \u2014 Air Canada flights, the Aeroplan credit cards, and non-airline retail partners \u2014 which suits Canada-based flyers who don’t fly constantly. Flying Returns still leans more on flight activity: base miles\/points per flight plus revenue-based bonuses since its 2025-2026 program overhaul, which lowered the segment and spend thresholds needed to reach elite tiers. If most of your flying is Canada-India round trips on Air India, Flying Returns rewards that pattern directly; if your spending is broader and Canadian, Aeroplan usually accumulates faster. If you’re also comparing booking channels rather than just loyalty programs, see our Metairfare vs Skyscanner<\/a> breakdown.<\/p>\n Because Air Canada does not fly nonstop Canada-India, most Aeroplan redemptions on this route are on partner metal (often Air India or another Star Alliance carrier) at partner award rates \u2014 solid for business-class redemptions if you can find saver-level partner space. Flying Returns redemptions are strongest on Air India’s own inventory, especially now that revenue-based earning makes points faster to accumulate, but published award charts and taxes and surcharges can eat into the value more than Aeroplan’s partner chart typically does. Neither program guarantees availability, so check both before committing points to one route.<\/p>\n Yes \u2014 Air India is a Star Alliance member, so you can generally credit eligible Air India flights to your Aeroplan account and redeem Aeroplan points for Air India partner awards, subject to fare-class eligibility and seat availability. Always confirm the specific fare class earns Aeroplan miles before booking, since not every Air India ticket type qualifies.<\/p>\n Aeroplan’s elite tiers are 25K, 35K, 50K, and 75K, based on qualifying miles or segments earned mostly through Air Canada and partner flights. Flying Returns uses Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers, and its 2025-2026 revamp lowered the flights and spend needed to reach each tier, making elite status realistically achievable for people who fly Air India a handful of times a year rather than dozens.<\/p>\n Join Aeroplan first if you live in Canada \u2014 it’s free, useful year-round, and still credits your Air India flights. Add Flying Returns only if you fly Air India specifically and often enough to chase Silver or Gold status for the baggage and lounge perks. Most Canada-India travellers are better served by comparing actual fares and award availability trip-by-trip than by committing loyalty to one airline. For more on planning the trip itself, see our Canada to India flights guide<\/a>, and if you’re weighing a travel agency against booking direct, our breakdown of Metairfare reviews<\/a> and red flags to avoid with any Canada-India travel agency<\/a> can help you compare.<\/p>\n Metairfare holds a 5.0 rating across 600+ Google reviews and more than 1,500 Trustpilot reviews, and our agents can check live fares and seat availability across Air Canada, Air India, and other Star Alliance carriers for your specific Canada-India dates \u2014 whether you’re booking with points or cash.<\/p>\n Yes. You can hold both memberships and choose which one to credit a given flight to, but most tickets can only be credited to one program per flight, so pick the program you want the miles or points in before you book.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n Aeroplan points don’t expire as long as you have some account activity within the specified period; check Aeroplan’s current terms for the exact inactivity window before assuming they’re safe indefinitely.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n Yes, joining Flying Returns is free, and Air India’s 2025-2026 program overhaul made elite tiers easier to reach through either flight segments or qualifying spend.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n For a single trip, loyalty program choice matters less than finding the best fare or the best available award seat \u2014 join whichever program the airline you’re actually flying uses, so the trip at least earns something.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n Yes, subject to partner award availability and eligible fare classes, since Air India is a Star Alliance partner of Air Canada.<\/p>\n<\/details>\nWhich program gives better redemption value on Canada-India routes?<\/h2>\n
\n\n
\n \nFeature<\/th>\n Air Canada Aeroplan<\/th>\n Air India Flying Returns<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Alliance<\/td>\n Star Alliance (Air Canada)<\/td>\n Star Alliance (Air India)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Best for<\/td>\n Canada-based spending & broad travel<\/td>\n Frequent Air India flyers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Earning style<\/td>\n Spend-based (flights, cards, retail)<\/td>\n Flight-based, revenue-weighted since 2025-26 overhaul<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Canada-India nonstop on own metal<\/td>\n No \u2014 partner redemption required<\/td>\n Yes, on Air India’s own network<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Elite tiers<\/td>\n 25K \/ 35K \/ 50K \/ 75K<\/td>\n Silver \/ Gold \/ Platinum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Good fit if…<\/td>\n You live in Canada and fly various airlines<\/td>\n You mostly fly Air India to\/from India<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table> Do Aeroplan points work on Air India flights?<\/h2>\n
What are the elite status tiers in each program?<\/h2>\n
Which program should Canada-India flyers actually join?<\/h2>\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
Can I combine Aeroplan and Flying Returns on the same trip?<\/summary>\n
Do Aeroplan points expire?<\/summary>\n
Is Air India Flying Returns free to join?<\/summary>\n
Which program is better for a one-time Canada to India trip?<\/summary>\n
Can Aeroplan points book Air India flights to India?<\/summary>\n