New World of Hyatt and Air Canada Aeroplan Partnership: Reciprocal Benefits and Fast-Tracks to Elite Status

It’s been a busy year for World of Hyatt. After introducing the first major changes to its loyalty program in years and completing another round of category updates, the program is back for more. Now, it’s introducing a new partnership with Air Canada’s Aeroplan that includes reciprocal benefits for members of both programs.

The 2 companies hosted an event at the Park Hyatt Toronto to discuss the details of the new partnership. Here’s what you need to know.

World of Hyatt Details New Partnership With Air Canada Aeroplan at Toronto Event

World of Hyatt extended an invitation to Upgraded Points to attend an event at the Park Hyatt Toronto to celebrate the launch of a brand-new partnership with Air Canada’s Aeroplan program.

Introduced by TJ Abrams, vice president, global partnerships and wellbeing at Hyatt, and Scott O’Leary, vice president, loyalty and product at Air Canada, each spoke to the group to introduce the new collaboration, saying it is the result of years of working together to bring new value to members of both programs.

Reciprocal Benefits Have Landed

Starting today, July 15, 2026, World of Hyatt and Air Canada Aeroplan members can take advantage of new reciprocal benefits when staying or flying. You must link your accounts before accessing any of the perks outlined below.

Since this partnership spans 2 countries, 2 different sets of credit card issuers, and 2 regulatory environments, there are slightly different angles for members on either side of the border. First, let’s take a look at what Canadian customers can look forward to.

Anyone with an Aeroplan co-branded credit card issued in Canada can now earn Aeroplan points and World of Hyatt points simultaneously at participating Hyatt properties, though rates differ by the type of card held:

• Aeroplan premium cardholders: Earn 2 World of Hyatt points plus 2 Aeroplan points per CA$1 spent at Hyatt properties.
• Aeroplan premium business cardholders: Earn 2 World of Hyatt points plus 2.5 Aeroplan points per CA$1 spent at Hyatt properties.
• Aeroplan core cardholders: Earn 1 World of Hyatt point plus 1.5 Aeroplan points per CA$1 spent at Hyatt properties.
• Aeroplan core business cardholders: Earn 1 World of Hyatt point plus 2 Aerpolan points per CA$1 spent at Hyatt properties.

If you’re based in the U.S. and hold the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan^® Credit Card, you’re not eligible for this double-dip opportunity. Remember, though, if you stay at a Hyatt property and pay for it with The World of Hyatt Credit Card or the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, you’ll earn up to 9 points per $1 spent on Hyatt stays, outweighing the combination earnings on Canadian-issued Aeroplan co-branded cards.

Members on both sides of the border can take advantage of new opportunities to transfer points between programs. World of Hyatt members can transfer points to Aeroplan at a 2:1 ratio. There’s a minimum transfer amount of 5,000 points, and they can be transferred in 1,000-point increments after that.

Aeroplan members can transfer points to World of Hyatt at a 2:1 ratio in increments of at least 500 points. There’s a daily limit of 100,000 and a weekly limit of 250,000 Aeroplan points that can be transferred.

Aeroplan members can also choose to forego World of Hyatt earnings and instead earn 500 Aeroplan points per stay (though we highly advise against doing so).

Direct Redemptions for Reciprocal Benefits

One of the more exciting aspects of this new partnership is the ability to make direct redemptions within one program for benefits within the other program.

For example, Aeroplan members can now redeem Aeroplan points for World of Hyatt Category 1-4 and Category 1-7 free night certificates. Rates start at 25,000 Aeroplan points but are priced dynamically, so they can fluctuate.

And World of Hyatt members can redeem points for a 30,000-point Aeroplan flight reward certificate, which can lower the price of an Aeroplan redemption — whether it’s for an Air Canada flight or one with a Star Alliance partner.

It’s neat that members can use points from their primary program to redeem these benefits directly, bypassing the additional step of transferring points to the other program first.

Fast Track to Elite Status

Status challenges for Aeroplan elite members (regardless of country of residence) and premium credit cardholders (applies only to those with Canadian-issued cards) to achieve World of Hyatt elite status are now available:

• Earn entry-level Discoverist status after 4 nights stayed
• Earn midtier Explorist status after 10 nights stayed
• Earn top-tier Globalist status after 20 nights stayed

Nights must be completed within a 90-day period to complete the challenge. Note, too, that this status challenge is available to anyone with Aeroplan elite status, including those who receive it automatically for holding the U.S.-issued Aeroplan card or those who are Marriott Bonvoy Titanium and Ambassador Elite members and take advantage of automatic Aeroplan 25K Elite status.

Additionally, Aeroplan premium cardholders will now receive Hyatt-specific benefits included in their card membership:

• Complimentary Discoverist elite status
• 5 elite-qualifying nights per calendar year
• 2 attempts to achieve the 90-day World of Hyatt status challenge

Finally, World of Hyatt elite members — regardless of tier — receive an annual CA$20 (approximately $14) Aeroplan flight credit for linking their accounts. Moreover, separate challenges for World of Hyatt members to earn a fast-track to Aeroplan elite status will be shared later this year. We’ll be sure to report on those when they become available.

Final Thoughts

This is a pretty exciting partnership from World of Hyatt and Air Canada Aeroplan that goes deeper than many other hotel-airline partnerships in the industry.

Hyatt clearly wants to make a play to expand its presence in Canada. What better way to do that than by linking up with the nation’s flag carrier and one of its most recognizable brands?

However, there’s good value and meaningful perks to be had for members on either side of the border. We’re looking forward to learning more about the upcoming status challenges for World of Hyatt members to earn Air Canada elite status later on this year, plus the future benefits this new collaboration may bring.