Canada has some of the most underrated points redemptions in the world — both for travel within Canada and for international routes that depart from Canadian cities. Here's where your points go furthest as a Canadian cardholder.
Why Departing from Canada Matters
Award pricing is often set by origin city. Flying from Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal to the same destination can sometimes cost a different number of points than flying from a US gateway — sometimes more, sometimes less. Always check departure options if you're within driving or short-flying distance of multiple major airports.
Best International Routes from Canada on Points
All point costs below are approximate one-way in the cabin noted. Round trips are generally double.
| Route | Program | Cabin | Points (One Way) | Why It's Great |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto / Seattle → Tokyo (ANA) | Aeroplan | Business | ~87,500 | ANA "The Room" is one of the world's best business class products — fixed chart pricing |
| Canada → Europe (YYZ / YVR / YUL) | Aeroplan (Swiss / Lufthansa) | Business | ~60,000–70,000 | Multiple Star Alliance options; Swiss charges no fuel surcharges. First class ~90,000–100,000 |
| Toronto → Bangkok / Southeast Asia | Aeroplan (EVA Air) | Business | ~87,500 | EVA's Royal Laurel is outstanding with consistent award availability |
| Toronto → Singapore | Aeroplan (Singapore Airlines) | Business | ~87,500 | Singapore Business Class is world-class; Suites (First) also bookable |
| Toronto → Delhi / South Asia | Aeroplan (Air India / Turkish) | Business | ~90,000 | Air India's new A350 business class is greatly improved; Turkish excellent via Istanbul |
| Toronto → Dubai / Middle East | Aeroplan (Turkish Airlines) | Business | ~90,000 | Turkish Business on 787 is excellent with strong onward Middle East connections |
| Vancouver → Sydney | Aeroplan / Asia Miles | Business | ~90,000 | Pacific zone routing; Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) also strong for this route |
| Toronto → Cancun / Caribbean | Fixed-value (TD / Scotia / BMO) | Economy | Varies at 1¢/pt | Short-haul sun routes where fixed-value programs often beat complex loyalty programs |
Fixed-Value Points for Canadian Domestic Travel
For travel within Canada and short-haul North American routes, complex loyalty programs often don't offer enough value to justify the effort. This is where fixed-value currencies like TD Rewards, BMO Rewards, and Scene+ shine:
- Scene+ (Scotia) — most flexible: redeem at 1¢/pt for any travel purchase, no blackout dates, no availability restrictions
- TD Rewards — good for booking through Expedia for TD at strong redemption rates
- BMO Rewards — solid for general travel redemptions via the BMO travel portal
The practical rule: if the award redemption on Aeroplan is less than 1.5¢/pt for a flight, you're better off paying cash or using a fixed-value currency.
Non-Chain Hotels: The Fixed-Value Sweet Spot
Boutique and independent hotels (including Fairmont, Ritz Paris, and small luxury properties) can't be booked through Marriott or Hilton. This is where Canadian fixed-value currencies earn their keep — you can use TD Rewards, Scene+, or Aventura points to book any hotel at 1¢/pt without needing to be in a specific loyalty program.
Sun Destinations at Christmas
Christmas and NYE are peak pricing periods — which is exactly when your points are most valuable. The Caribbean and Southeast Asia see their highest cash prices during this window, which means your CPP on a points redemption is at its best. Key considerations:
- Book Aeroplan awards for Caribbean/Mexico/Bali routes at least 6 months ahead — award space fills fast on holiday departure dates
- Consider the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) — reliably good weather, accessible from Toronto on Air Canada and WestJet, and not oversaturated with award demand vs. Cancun or Punta Cana
- Bali via Singapore (SIN) or Tokyo (HND/NRT) — 2 connections from Toronto but the destination justifies it; book Aeroplan via Singapore Airlines connection