Downgrade or Cancel Aeroplan Card Without Losing Points

Downgrading or cancelling your Aeroplan credit card does not automatically erase your Aeroplan points—your points live in your Aeroplan account, not on the card. However, if you cancel the card outright, you may lose certain cardholder benefits like free checked bags or priority boarding, and you could forfeit any points you earned as a welcome bonus if you cancel within the first 12 months. This guide walks you through the safe steps to downgrade or cancel while protecting your points, plus what to do if something goes wrong.

What You’ll Need

• Your Aeroplan card account number (the credit card, not the Aeroplan loyalty number)
• Your Aeroplan rewards account number and password
• Access to the email linked to your card account
• Your current card balance and any outstanding fees (check your latest statement)
• A phone or the card issuer’s chat feature (for most issuers, calling is the most reliable)

Step-by-Step

1. Check your Aeroplan points balance. Log in to your Aeroplan account (not the credit card portal) and note your current points balance. This is your baseline—you’ll want to verify it after the change.
2. Review your card’s terms for downgrade or cancellation. Look for any mention of “welcome bonus clawback” or “annual fee refund.” Most issuers will claw back the welcome bonus if you close the account within 12 months of opening. If you’re within that window, consider waiting until after the 12-month mark to avoid losing those points.
3. Decide between downgrade and cancellation. Downgrading to a no-fee Aeroplan card (like the Aeroplan® Credit Card) keeps your credit history active and often lets you keep your Aeroplan points in the same account. Cancellation is simpler but may result in a small dip in your credit score and loss of cardholder perks. If you don’t want any Aeroplan card, you can still keep your points—they remain in your Aeroplan account.
4. Pay off your card balance (or at least know it). You can cancel a card with a balance, but it’s cleaner to pay it off first. If you carry a balance, the issuer may require you to pay it before closing, or they may close the card and send you a final bill. Downgrading usually doesn’t require paying off the balance, but it’s wise to reduce it.
5. Call the number on the back of your card. Ask to speak to a retention or account specialist. Say: “I’m considering downgrading my card to the no-fee version. Can you tell me if my Aeroplan points will stay in my Aeroplan account?” This gives you a clear answer from the issuer.
6. Request the downgrade or cancellation. If downgrading, ask for the specific no-fee product. If cancelling, simply state you’d like to close the account. Confirm that your Aeroplan number will remain active and that your points will not be affected.
7. Ask for written confirmation. Request an email or letter confirming the change and stating that your Aeroplan points remain intact. This protects you if a dispute arises later.
8. After the change, verify your points. Log into your Aeroplan account within 24–48 hours. Your points balance should be unchanged. If it’s lower, contact the issuer immediately.
9. If you cancelled, consider moving your points to a safe place. While your points stay in your Aeroplan account, you could also transfer them to a partner airline (like United MileagePlus) if you want extra security, but note that transfers are usually irreversible and may reduce value. Only do this if you’re sure you won’t need Aeroplan points soon.

Common Mistakes

• Cancelling within 12 months of opening. This often triggers a clawback of your welcome bonus points. Always check your cardholder agreement or call to ask.
• Assuming points are tied to the credit card. Your Aeroplan points are in your loyalty account, not on the credit card. Cancelling the card doesn’t delete them, but it does remove cardholder perks like free checked bags or priority boarding.
• Forgetting to update automatic payments. If you have bills auto-paid with that card, they’ll fail after cancellation. Update them before you cancel.
• Not asking about a retention offer. Sometimes the issuer will offer bonus points or a waived fee to keep you. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
• Closing a card with a high credit limit. This can increase your credit utilization ratio and lower your credit score. Downgrading avoids this.

Tips

• Downgrade instead of cancel if you want to keep your credit history. A downgrade keeps the account open, which helps your credit score and preserves your credit limit.
• Use up any travel credits or companion passes before you cancel. These benefits are tied to the card and vanish when you close it.
• Consider the annual fee timing. If you’ve just paid the annual fee, you may get a partial refund if you cancel within 30 days. Ask the issuer.
• Keep your Aeroplan account active. If you don’t have any Aeroplan activity for 18 months, your points may expire. After downgrading, make sure you earn or redeem a small amount of points periodically (e.g., use the Aeroplan eStore or buy a coffee with points).
• Write down the date and time of your call. If there’s a dispute, you’ll have a record.

Troubleshooting

• Your points balance dropped after cancellation. This is usually due to a welcome bonus clawback. Call the issuer and ask for the reason. If you were within 12 months, you may be able to reverse the cancellation if you act quickly, but it’s not guaranteed.
• The representative says your points will be forfeited. This is incorrect—points are in your Aeroplan account, not the card. Politely ask to speak to a supervisor or call Aeroplan directly at the number on their website.
• You can’t log into your Aeroplan account after cancelling. This is rare, but if it happens, contact Aeroplan customer service. Your account should remain active, but sometimes a system glitch occurs.
• The downgrade didn’t go through. Check your next statement to see if the annual fee was charged. If it was, call again and ask for a retroactive downgrade or fee refund.
• You lost access to your credit card’s online portal. After cancellation, you may lose access to the card’s app, but your Aeroplan account is separate and should still work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my Aeroplan points if I cancel my credit card? No. Your points are stored in your Aeroplan loyalty account, not on the credit card. Cancelling the card doesn’t delete them, but you may lose cardholder benefits like free checked bags.

Can I downgrade my Aeroplan card to a no-fee version? Yes, most issuers allow downgrading to a no-fee Aeroplan card. This keeps your credit history and points intact, though you’ll lose premium perks.

What happens to my welcome bonus points if I cancel early? Most issuers will claw back the welcome bonus if you cancel within 12 months of opening the account. Check your cardholder agreement or ask the issuer.

How long do Aeroplan points last after I cancel my card? Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of inactivity. As long as you earn or redeem points at least once every 18 months, they remain valid.

Can I transfer my Aeroplan points to another person before cancelling? Yes, you can transfer points to another Aeroplan member for a fee (currently 2 cents per point, plus tax). But it’s usually better to keep them in your account.

Will cancelling my card affect my credit score? Yes, it can lower your score temporarily because it reduces your total available credit and shortens your credit history. Downgrading avoids this.

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