Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchYou can cancel or downgrade an Aeroplan credit card without automatically closing your Aeroplan membership, but you must keep the membership open and prevent it from becoming inactive. Air Canada says points in an inactive account are forfeited after 18 consecutive months without earning or redeeming, while points left in a membership you close are forfeited immediately. Before changing the card, check whether your issuer permits a downgrade and whether you would lose card benefits or risk affecting pending points or a recent bonus.
First, separate the credit card from your Aeroplan account
Your credit-card account is with the issuing bank or American Express; your Aeroplan membership is a separate loyalty account. Closing the card is not described in Air Canada’s general Aeroplan terms as automatically closing your membership. Keep the Aeroplan account open if you want to retain its points.
Air Canada’s General Terms and Conditions say that points in an inactive account are forfeited. The account can become inactive after 18 consecutive months with no accumulation or redemption of points. Separately, if you terminate the Aeroplan membership and close the account, remaining points are immediately forfeited. Cancelling the card does not remove the need to manage that activity clock.
Downgrade or cancel: what to check
Neither choice is universally better. A downgrade may preserve a relationship with the issuer, but availability and consequences depend on the issuer and card. Cancelling ends the card account, but it does not itself resolve Aeroplan inactivity or guarantee what happens to pending rewards. Ask the issuer about the specific card and proposed change before proceeding.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
| What to compare | Downgrade | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Issuer-specific; ask whether it will allow a product change to a particular lower-fee card. | Ask the issuer how to close the specific card account. |
| Card-based points-expiry protection | Ask whether the proposed product still qualifies. Protection depends on the applicable issuer terms and cardholder status. | Once cardholder-based protection no longer applies, keep the Aeroplan account active through qualifying point activity. |
| Unused card benefits | Air Canada says unused Flight Benefits or coupons are cancelled when downgrading from a higher-tier Aeroplan card to a lower-tier card. | Air Canada says unused Flight Benefits or coupons are cancelled on card closure. |
| Pending points or recent bonus | Check the card agreement and offer terms; do not assume a product change leaves pending points or bonus eligibility untouched. | Check the agreement and offer terms before closing, especially if points or a bonus have not posted. |
| Aeroplan account activity | Keep the membership open and track activity if card-based protection ends. | Keep the membership open and track activity if card-based protection ends. |
Steps to take before changing the card
- Identify your issuer and card tier. Find the exact card name and whether it is issued by TD, American Express, or CIBC. Downgrade eligibility and the available destination card are issuer-specific; the official terms do not establish a universal product-change route.
- Ask the issuer about the proposed change. Confirm whether a downgrade is available and ask what happens to the account number, annual fee, points-earning features, and card benefits. Review the current cardholder agreement and any offer terms that apply to you.
- Check your Aeroplan account and pending rewards. Note your current activity or inactivity date in the Aeroplan dashboard and check whether card-earned points or a bonus are still pending. The applicable issuer agreement and offer terms govern accrual and possible reversals, so do not count unposted points as guaranteed.
- Review unused benefits. Check the AC Wallet for unused Flight Benefits or coupons before closing or downgrading. Air Canada’s New Card Benefits terms say these are cancelled when a card is closed or downgraded from a higher tier to a lower tier. Other card-linked perks may also change; verify the current terms for your card.
- Keep the Aeroplan membership open. Do not close the loyalty account if you intend to keep its points. If you are closing the Aeroplan account for another reason, redeem the points first because remaining points are immediately forfeited at membership closure.
- Set a reminder for account activity. If you will no longer have card-based expiry protection, earn or redeem at least one point within each 18-month period and monitor the inactivity date shown in your dashboard.
How to keep Aeroplan points from expiring after the card change
Air Canada’s Inactivity policy says to earn or redeem at least one Aeroplan point within an 18-month period to keep the account active. It also lists donation, transfer, and conversion among activity types. If you are unsure whether a particular transaction qualifies under the current terms, check the policy or contact Aeroplan before relying on it.
Air Canada says it may send an email notice up to 60 days before points expire. Treat that as a backup, not your tracking system: check the dashboard’s inactivity date and keep your contact details current.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
How cardholder expiry protection differs by issuer
Issuer pages describe protection tied to continuing to hold a qualifying Aeroplan card as the primary or Basic Cardmember, subject to the applicable terms and the Aeroplan account being in good standing where specified. That protection is not a substitute for checking whether a particular downgrade qualifies.
- TD: TD says points do not expire while you are the primary holder of a TD Aeroplan card and your Aeroplan account is in good standing. Review the TD cardholder agreements and Aeroplan rewards terms for the product you hold.
- American Express: Amex says points do not expire while you remain the Basic Cardmember of an Amex Aeroplan card and the Aeroplan account is in good standing. Check the agreement for your specific product through the American Express cardmember agreements.
- CIBC: CIBC says points do not expire while you continue to hold a CIBC Aeroplan card as the primary cardholder. Check the current agreement and benefits material for your card.
These issuer statements explain cardholder-based expiry protection; they do not promise that every card tier can be downgraded or that all benefits survive a product change. Air Canada also lists the relevant issuer card pages for TD, American Express, and CIBC; confirm current card-specific terms with the issuer before acting.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Could a downgrade or cancellation affect a bonus?
Do not assume a product change has no effect on a welcome or other card bonus. Aeroplan’s terms describe repeated product changes and cancelling shortly after receiving a bonus as examples of conduct that may lead to a bonus being withheld or revoked, or other account remedies. They do not say every downgrade or cancellation triggers a clawback. Check the exact offer and issuer agreement, particularly if a bonus recently posted or is still pending.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
