For my fellow Canadian points aficionado, here’s my travel‑savvy cheat sheet.
Tracking Tools for Canadian Travellers
| Tool | What It Offers | Why It Shines for Canadians |
|---|---|---|
| AwardWallet | Tracks miles, hotel points, elite status, updates, and alerts across many programs—including Aeroplan. | Supports key programs like Air Canada (Aeroplan), major hotel chains, and more. Convenient dashboard for all your balances. |
| Point.me | Real-time award flight search across 100+ airlines; flat lay of retail vs. points value; concierge add-on. | Great for complex itineraries or tapping into Star Alliance and beyond—from our Canadian base. |
| Seats.aero | Tracks award availability (e.g., Air Canada eUpgrades, premium cabins). Pricy! | Ideal for landing those coveted cabin upgrades on routes most of us fly (like YYZ–YVR or YYZ–LHR). |
| Gondola | Very easy to set up. Tracks miles, hotel points, elite status, updates, and alerts. | Completely free, with the option to manually add Canadian programs. |
| Spreadsheet + Manual Tracking | Classic method for control and customization. Frugal Flyer | Full disclaimer: if you love organizing, but you will be managing it yourself. |
Canadian Context & Bonus Tools
-
Aeroplan Changes in 2026
Starting 1 January 2026, Aeroplan switches to a spend‑based earn model: 1 point per CAD 1 spent, with higher earning tiers if you’re elite. This makes tracking both spending thresholds and point earnings extra important—tools like AwardWallet or MaxRewards (US only) help you see both sides of that coin. For an excellent review, check out: - Aeroplan Tools from Air Canada
Air Canada offers a Points Finder and Points Predictor Tool, designed to display the potential of your redemptions visually. Great for inspiration and planning where your points can go. -
Reddit Truth Bomb
People are not loving AwardWallet lately, and I agree with this comment:“The airlines are making it harder and harder for AwardWallet to stay connected … I don’t find it worth the fee anymore.”
— Reddit userSo while it’s powerful, newer authentication methods from airlines are making auto-updates more finicky—expect some manual input or glitches unless combined with vigilant monitoring.
Strategy Blueprint: Pick the Right Weapon
-
To auto-track and ease your brain load?
-
AwardWallet—broad coverage (including Aeroplan, hotels). However, be prepared to manually double-check balances when updates fail (thanks to 2FA).
- Use Gondola in conjunction to monitor against each other.
-
-
Bonus-tracking and credit card points?
-
There isn't one for Canada at the moment, so I set up an Excel spreadsheet.
-
-
Hunting hard for award availability—especially premium seats?
-
Point.me provides a visual, powerful flight search across alliances.
-
Seats.aero for monitoring premium upgrade windows on Air Canada and partners.
-
-
Planning—meet Aeroplan’s own tools
-
Use Air Canada’s Points Finder/Predictor to see what your points might unlock—especially helpful when working out if the spending-based earn is worth it for your next trip.
-
-
Feeling old-school but in control?
-
Embrace a custom spreadsheet, where you can track point balances, expiration dates, and spending thresholds—especially useful when paired with manual checks from Aeroplan or credit-card portals.
-
If you’re in Canada, tracking bonus points (especially credit card welcome offers, category multipliers, and promotional bonuses) is trickier than in the U.S., but not impossible.
Here’s the playbook:
Step 1 — Start with the Card Issuer
Your bank or credit card portal is your most reliable source of information.
Most Canadian issuers now have an “Activity” or “Rewards Summary” tab where you can see:
-
Points earned from spending
-
Points from bonuses
-
Promotional multipliers
Pro tip:
For American Express (Cobalt, Gold, Platinum), log in → “View Transactions” → filter by “Membership Rewards” to see bonus-earning categories.
Step 2 — Use Loyalty Program Dashboards
If your card points feed into a program (Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton, etc.):
-
Aeroplan: Shows base points vs. bonuses for each transaction (Air Canada flights, eStore purchases, credit card multipliers).
-
Marriott Bonvoy: Displays “Base” vs. “Elite Bonus” points separately.
-
WestJet Rewards: Shows Tier Qualifying Spend and bonus % from status.
Step 3 — Create a Manual Bonus Tracker
Since tools like MaxRewards are not available in Canada, the most flexible option is a spreadsheet or a tracker app. Here is a sample you can use
| Column | Example Entry |
|---|---|
| Date | 2025-08-15 |
| Card/Program | Amex Cobalt → MR Points |
| Offer / Promo | 5x grocery multiplier |
| Spend Amount | $120 |
| Expected Bonus Points | 480 |
| Posted Points | 480 (match ✅) |
| Notes | Promo ran until 1 September |
Apps like Google Sheets, Notion, or even Airtable make this painless.
Step 4 — Set Bonus Expiry Alerts
Some promotions require you to meet a spending target by a specific date (e.g., spend $5,000 within 90 days for 70,000 Aeroplan points).
-
Add the deadline to Google Calendar with a reminder one week in advance.
-
If tracking multiple offers, colour-code them by urgency.
Step 5 — Use Canadian-Friendly Tracking Helpers
While they don’t track bonuses perfectly, they help with balances and expiry:
-
AwardWallet — Tracks points across Aeroplan, Marriott, Hilton, and WestJet.
- Gondola — Similar to AwardWallet but no Canadian credit cards
-
Seats.aero — Ideal if your bonus goal is a specific Air Canada or partner award seat.
💡 Insider Tip:
Whenever you get a new Canadian travel card, take a screenshot of the bonus offer and requirements. Banks sometimes change wording, which can keep you informed if points don’t post.
