Air Canada’s Aeroplan loyalty program has announced a partnership with Club Avolta, the loyalty program of Avolta, a major airport retail and food and beverage operator with a presence at over 1,900 locations across airports worldwide. Aeroplan members can now earn Aeroplan points on purchases at participating Avolta-operated duty-free shops, specialty retail stores, and restaurants in airports, converting time spent waiting for a flight into an additional points-earning opportunity. For frequent flyers who already spend money at airport shops and restaurants during layovers, this partnership adds a layer of points earning on expenditures that previously generated no loyalty return.
The partnership allows Aeroplan members to link their Aeroplan account to a Club Avolta membership, or to enroll in Club Avolta through the Aeroplan website if they are not already a Club Avolta member. Once linked, eligible purchases at participating Avolta locations earn Aeroplan points at a rate determined by both the Club Avolta earning structure and any Aeroplan-specific promotions that may apply. The earning rate varies by location, merchant type, and any active bonus campaigns.
The partnership covers Avolta-operated locations in major international airports including those in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The breadth of the network means that an Aeroplan member transiting through London Heathrow, Singapore Changi, Dubai International, or Chicago O’Hare can earn Aeroplan points at participating shops and restaurants that fall under the Avolta umbrella. The earning is independent of the credit card used for the purchase, so a member who pays with a credit card that earns its own points on dining or travel can double-dip by earning Aeroplan points through Club Avolta and credit card points through the card.
Aeroplan points are among the more versatile airline loyalty currencies, with transfer partners that include over 50 airlines across the Star Alliance and beyond, and a redemption model that allows mixed-cabin itineraries and stopovers on award tickets. Adding an airport spending channel to the existing Aeroplan earning ecosystem, which already includes Air Canada flights, co-branded credit cards, the Aeroplan eStore online shopping portal, and Aeroplan partner earning with retailers and services, expands the number of touchpoints where a member can accumulate points without flying.
The incremental value depends on how much a traveler typically spends in airports. A frequent flyer who passes through airports multiple times per month and regularly buys meals, drinks, reading material, or duty-free items can accumulate a meaningful number of Aeroplan points over the course of a year. At a conservative earning rate of 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent, a traveler who spends $200 per month at airport shops and restaurants earns 2,400 Aeroplan points per year, roughly enough for a short-haul award within North America when combined with other earning sources.
For travelers making decisions about which loyalty program to prioritize for earning, the addition of an airport earning channel through Club Avolta adds a marginal but nontrivial argument in favor of Aeroplan over competing programs that lack a similar partnership. The decision is most relevant for travelers who fly Air Canada or Star Alliance carriers frequently and who already value Aeroplan points for redemptions. For a traveler who is indifferent between Aeroplan and another transferable currency such as American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards, which also transfer to Aeroplan, the airport earning channel does not change the calculus because those points can be transferred to Aeroplan when needed anyway.
The partnership is more impactful for travelers who earn Aeroplan points primarily through flights and co-branded cards and who value incremental earning opportunities. It also creates a reason to choose an Avolta-operated shop or restaurant over a competing airport vendor when both are available at a given terminal, assuming prices are comparable.
This article draws on public announcements from Air Canada Aeroplan and Avolta regarding the partnership, the Aeroplan program terms, and publicly available information about the Avolta retail and food and beverage network as of July 2026. Partnership terms, earning rates, and participating locations are subject to change. Confirm current details on the Aeroplan and Club Avolta websites.
Q: Do I need a separate Club Avolta membership card? A: The partnership typically allows linking your existing Aeroplan account to Club Avolta, and the earning may be triggered by providing your Aeroplan number at the point of sale or by paying with a linked credit card, depending on how the integration is implemented.
Q: Are all airport shops and restaurants part of this partnership? A: No. The partnership covers only Avolta-operated locations. Other airport retailers and restaurants operated by different companies, such as HMSHost, SSP, or independent operators, are not included.
Q: Can I earn Aeroplan points through Club Avolta on purchases made before linking my accounts? A: Typically no. Earning is only available on purchases made after the accounts are linked, and retroactive credit is not guaranteed.