# Free Spirit vs Air Canada Aeroplan: historical points and current travel alternatives

By AwardTool | Updated 2026-11-09

Canonical URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit

Spirit ceased operations on May 2, 2026. Free Spirit is included here to explain historical balances and records, rather than as an active alternative to Air Canada Aeroplan. Confirm current travel independently with the operating airline and the program issuing the ticket.

Best for: Travelers separating historical Free Spirit records from a new trip using Air Canada Aeroplan.

## At a glance

- Aeroplan is a useful comparison for Air Canada and eligible partner journeys, including trips outside Canada. Price the full itinerary against other booking programs.
- Use this guide to understand an existing Free Spirit balance or historical reservation and locate the official updates.
- This is a historical comparison. Do not buy, transfer or collect Free Spirit points to fund a new Spirit booking. Keep old ticket, payment and account records separate from the budget for replacement travel. Any claim or refund process follows its own official instructions; an unused points balance is not automatically a cash refund.
- Save the ticket issuer, operating airlines, fare or award product, cash total and cancellation deadline with your quote. Refundable miles do not necessarily become bank points again, and returned miles may retain their original expiry date. Paying a change fee does not guarantee replacement award seats.

[Read the Air Canada Aeroplan guide](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-guide)

## Free Spirit vs Air Canada Aeroplan: historical points and current travel alternatives

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#historical-status

This is a historical comparison. Do not buy, transfer or collect Free Spirit points to fund a new Spirit booking. Keep old ticket, payment and account records separate from the budget for replacement travel. Any claim or refund process follows its own official instructions; an unused points balance is not automatically a cash refund.

## The practical decision at a glance

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#comparison-table

Use this table to distinguish historical Free Spirit information from the active Air Canada Aeroplan account you might use for a new trip. Old balances, former benefits and a past booking are records to investigate, rather than proof of a currently available flight.

| What to compare | Air Canada Aeroplan | Spirit Free Spirit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rewards currency | Aeroplan points | Free Spirit points (historical program) |
| Associated airline | Air Canada | Spirit Airlines; operations ceased May 2, 2026 |
| Alliance or partner framework | Star Alliance | No active flight-redemption network |
| When to consider it | Aeroplan is a useful comparison for Air Canada and eligible partner journeys, including trips outside Canada. Price the full itinerary against other booking programs. | Use this guide to understand an existing Free Spirit balance or historical reservation and locate the official updates. |
| Important limitation | Do not confuse a 2026 points earning calculation with SQC qualification, or treat the temporary expiry pause as a permanent no-expiry policy. | Do not acquire points or rely on pre-shutdown credit-card and award-booking instructions to arrange new Spirit travel. |

## Start with the records, then plan new travel

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#choose-for-your-trip

This is a historical comparison. Do not buy, transfer or collect Free Spirit points to fund a new Spirit booking. Keep old ticket, payment and account records separate from the budget for replacement travel. Any claim or refund process follows its own official instructions; an unused points balance is not automatically a cash refund.

- Air Canada Aeroplan: Travelers comparing Air Canada and partner itineraries or planning an eligible international stopover.
- Spirit Free Spirit: Former Free Spirit members checking an old balance or booking after Spirit’s shutdown.

## Separate former Spirit journeys from new confirmed flights

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#network-and-availability

Treat the former Spirit itinerary as a record of a past booking or disruption, rather than as currently bookable inventory. Search replacement travel independently. Confirm the operating airline, the program issuing any new award and the conditions attached to that new ticket.

## How Air Canada Aeroplan prices its awards

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#first-award-pricing

Aeroplan's flight reward chart uses travel zones and distance bands, with conditions that depend on the operating airlines. Air Canada's own rewards can vary in points. Do not assume that every partner or every combination of airlines uses an identical fixed-price rule: consult the current chart notes for the itinerary you are building.

A detour can change the distance traveled and therefore the relevant band. A connection that seems geographically minor can also change the set of carriers involved. Search the complete itinerary and compare its final price with a simpler route; adding the prices of independently available flights is a planning exercise, not proof Aeroplan will issue one ticket at that sum.

[Read the current Aeroplan flight reward chart](https://aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/loyalty-content/documents/flight-rewards-chart-en.pdf)

## Historical Spirit Free Spirit award and account rules

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#second-award-pricing

Spirit’s May 2 announcement said it would automatically process refunds to the original payment method for flights purchased directly with a credit or debit card. It directed travelers who booked through an agent to that agent. The announcement treated other payment methods separately: compensation involving vouchers, credits or Free Spirit points would be determined through the bankruptcy process.

Those statements describe the company’s announced process; they do not establish the current outcome of an individual claim or promise a particular recovery for a points balance. Keep your ticket receipt, payment record, account statements and any case correspondence together when checking the official information.

Spirit’s wind-down homepage also states that the normal customer call centre and email service are no longer available. Use the links in the official notice for current case information rather than telephone details copied from an old award-booking article.

[Spirit’s official wind-down information](https://www.spiritrestructuring.com/)

## Which bank points can fund each program directly?

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#bank-transfer-comparison

The table uses AwardTool’s tracked U.S. bank-transfer directory, reviewed November 6, 2026. It covers the six listed bank currencies, not every funding option worldwide. A direct transfer relationship is separate from an airline partnership, and your particular card must permit the transfer. Estimated posting times do not reserve seats.

There is no shared direct bank source for this pair in the six-currency directory. Compare the balances and eligible cards you actually hold. A program without a listed route may still have other earning options, but those must be confirmed separately before planning to fund a time-sensitive booking.

An empty direct route is not a promise that a hotel conversion, another airline or a promotional offer will bridge the gap. Check the complete chain, eligibility, fees and loss of flexibility. There is no general ability to exchange unrelated airline currencies or combine them at one checkout.

| Bank currency | Air Canada Aeroplan | Spirit Free Spirit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| American Express Membership Rewards | 1:1 · Instant | No direct transfer in the tracked directory |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 · Instant | No direct transfer in the tracked directory |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 · Instant | No direct transfer in the tracked directory |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 · Instant | No direct transfer in the tracked directory |
| Citi ThankYou Points | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | No direct transfer in the tracked directory |
| Wells Fargo Rewards | No direct transfer in the tracked directory | No direct transfer in the tracked directory |

[Compare all six bank currencies](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/compare-bank-transfer-programs)

## Old payments and new ticket conditions

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#fees-and-servicing

Separate amounts previously paid to Spirit from the cost of a new trip. Save the old payment method, ticket number, cancellation correspondence and any official instructions about claims. Do not assume that buying a replacement ticket establishes reimbursement or that an old points balance can pay the new airline.

## Ticket conditions to check in Air Canada Aeroplan

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#first-ticket-conditions

Aeroplan’s fee structure makes the booking channel part of the price. A reservation completed online has no reservation service charge. The Contact Centre charges CAD 30, including when the reservation cannot be completed online. An itinerary with an eligible partner-operated flight also attracts a CAD 39 partner booking fee per ticket. These charges are separate from the trip’s taxes and any change or cancellation charges.

For a hypothetical two-person booking that needs the Contact Centre and includes partner flights, the reservation and partner charges alone total CAD 138: two times CAD 69. That is an arithmetic illustration of the published fees, not a flight quote. Add the taxes shown for your actual itinerary and compare the combined cash amount with alternatives before moving points.

## Ticket conditions to check in Spirit Free Spirit

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#second-ticket-conditions

Create one folder per booking or account rather than relying on access to a single app. Save original emails, receipts, account statements you can lawfully access and any subsequent refund confirmation. Include the date and substance of each enquiry. Keep sensitive account information out of public forum posts; a public complaint rarely needs your complete booking code, membership number or payment details.

Use the official guest page and current case notices to identify the process that applies. The shutdown statement said direct card purchases would be refunded to the original payment method, while non-card methods and points were to be addressed through the bankruptcy process. Those announcements do not establish the result for every individual record. Check subsequent notices and the actual payment account before marking an issue resolved.

## Historical balances and rules for new travelers

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#expiry-and-family

Keep a record for every affected traveler, including separate ticket numbers, payments and account balances. Historical household or status features do not establish current refund rights. For replacement travel, check the active program’s own nominee, child, infant and family-account rules.

| What to compare | Air Canada Aeroplan | Spirit Free Spirit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reward validity | The normal inactivity limit is 18 months, but expiry is paused through November 29, 2026 and resumes November 30. Eligible earning or redemption maintains activity. Aeroplan Elite members and primary holders of the specified TD, CIBC and American Express Aeroplan cards have protection while eligible. | The immediate issue is the shutdown and treatment of points through the bankruptcy process. The former activity-based expiry policy should not be presented as a way to preserve usable flight awards. Follow current official restructuring notices for any update affecting a balance or an existing points booking. |

## Family and traveler rules in Air Canada Aeroplan

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#first-family-rules

Family Sharing combines the points of up to eight verified family members while preserving individual accounts. A member must have belonged to Aeroplan for at least six months to join; the Family Lead must be at least 18. Pool creation and invitations require account verification, so a brand-new account is not an immediate solution to a balance shortfall.

Every member’s existing and newly earned points enter the shared balance. The lead controls which members can redeem, and redemptions draw proportionally from participating balances. This makes Family Sharing different from moving a chosen number of points between two accounts. Members generally remain for at least three months and must wait six months before another pool. Discuss permissions before joining, particularly if one person is saving for a different trip.

## Family and traveler rules in Spirit Free Spirit

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#second-family-rules

After Spirit's May 2, 2026 shutdown, the useful question is what transaction or balance your records represent. An unused ticket, a travel voucher and an unredeemed points balance are different records. They should not be merged into one dollar total by applying a historical points-value estimate. The company's guest information treats payments made by credit or debit card separately from vouchers, credits and Free Spirit points.

Start with the original confirmation and payment receipt. Record the passenger, flight dates, booking reference, amount paid in money and points used. If you booked through an agency, identify that agency as well as Spirit. An app that still displays a reservation does not establish operating service: the official shutdown notice canceled all flights. Preserve the record because it describes the purchase, not because it promises a future flight.

## Historical status and future earning plans

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#earning-and-status

The historical earning and status information below explains old account records. It is not an invitation to collect new Free Spirit points or a claim that former benefits apply to another airline. Evaluate any future paid-flight earning and award bookings under the active program’s current rules.

| What to compare | Air Canada Aeroplan | Spirit Free Spirit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Status qualification context | In 2026, Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) track Aeroplan Elite Status separately from redeemable points. SQC can come from eligible flights and selected card or partner activity. Status provides benefits such as baggage allowances, airport priority and alliance recognition; transferring a redeemable points balance does not itself demonstrate qualification. | Free Spirit formerly offered Silver and Gold recognition, earned through Status Qualifying Points under the then-current rules. Those labels explain old statements and benefits. They do not establish current airport services following the operational shutdown. |

## Organize records and book replacement travel

Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-vs-free-spirit#comparison-booking-workflow

Treat the former Spirit itinerary as a record of a past booking or disruption, rather than as currently bookable inventory. Search replacement travel independently. Confirm the operating airline, the program issuing any new award and the conditions attached to that new ticket.

1. **Preserve the old booking and payment records** Save each traveler’s ticket and booking references, dates, points transactions, receipts and relevant official correspondence. Distinguish a points-only balance from cash paid for a ticket or optional service.
2. **Confirm replacement travel independently** Search the trip you now need through Air Canada Aeroplan. Confirm seats, traveler eligibility, the complete price and ticket conditions with the new issuing program before making a transfer or payment. Keep the new ticket and any historical claim as separate records.

[Read the complete Air Canada Aeroplan guide](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-guide)

[Read the complete Spirit Free Spirit guide](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/spirit-free-spirit-guide)

## Common questions

### Is Spirit still flying?

Spirit announced an immediate wind-down and cancelled all flights on May 2, 2026. Its official notice says travelers should not go to the airport for those flights.

### Will Free Spirit points be refunded?

The shutdown announcement said compensation involving Free Spirit points, vouchers or credits would be determined through the bankruptcy process. It did not promise a specific recovery; consult the current official case information.

### Can I follow an older Free Spirit booking guide?

Older booking instructions are historical and do not establish a current redemption opportunity after the shutdown.

### Does a reservation still visible in the Spirit app mean my flight will operate?

No. Spirit's official wind-down announcement canceled all flights. A saved record can be useful purchase evidence, but it does not establish current flight service.

### Do I have to fly through Canada to use Aeroplan?

No. Aeroplan offers rewards on its airline partners as well as Air Canada. Availability and routing must still qualify under Aeroplan's rules.

### Does an award on another Star Alliance site prove Aeroplan can book it?

No. Use another program's results as a lead, then verify the exact itinerary with Aeroplan. Programs can show different inventory and use different pricing rules.

### Can a new Aeroplan member immediately join Family Sharing?

No. The current Family Sharing page requires at least six months of Aeroplan membership and verification. A lead must also be at least 18.

## Sources and further reading

Sources reviewed 2026-11-09. Publisher dates are shown where available.

- [Air Canada: redeem points for flights](https://www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/aeroplan/redeem/air-canada.html)

- [Aeroplan flight reward chart](https://aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/loyalty-content/documents/flight-rewards-chart-en.pdf)

- [Aeroplan current flight reward policy](https://www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/aeroplan/legal/aeroplan-flight-reward-policy.html)

- [Air Canada: 2026 flight points earning](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/earn/air-canada.html)

- [Air Canada: SQC and Aeroplan status](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/status.html)

- [Aeroplan: inactivity policy](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/your-aeroplan/inactivity-policy.html)

- [Aeroplan: expiry pause ends November 30, 2026](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/news/points-expiry-suspended.html)

- [Aeroplan: current flight reward and fee policy](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/legal/aeroplan-flight-reward-policy.html)

- [Aeroplan: verified Family Sharing eligibility and operation](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/aeroplan/family-sharing.html)

- [Aeroplan: current reward-chart categories and Select Partners](https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/loyalty-content/documents/flight-rewards-chart-june2026-en.pdf)

- [Spirit Airlines: shutdown press release — May 2, 2026](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spirit-airlines-begins-orderly-wind-down-of-operations-302760586.html)

- [Spirit: official wind-down information](https://www.spiritrestructuring.com/)

- [Spirit Aviation Holdings: SEC filing — May 2, 2026](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1498710/000095010326006723/dp246246_8k.htm)

- [Spirit: May 2, 2026 wind-down announcement filed with the SEC](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1498710/000095010326006723/dp246246_ex9901.htm)

- [Spirit: official wind-down announcement](https://www.spiritrestructuring.com/resources/Spirit-Airlines-Begins-Orderly-Wind-Down-of-Operations.pdf)

- [Free Spirit: historical program terms](https://content.spirit.com/Shared/en-us/Documents/free-spirit-terms-and-conditions.pdf)

- [Spirit: guest information, payment methods and loyalty balances](https://spiritrestructuring.com/guests)

- [U.S. Department of Transportation: May 2026 Spirit passenger relief](https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-secures-relief-spirit-airlines-flyers)

## Before you book

Award availability and prices can change. Confirm the exact itinerary, cabin, traveler count, points, and cash total with the loyalty program before transferring points or booking. Search access and limits depend on your plan.

[See current plans](https://www.awardtool.com/pro)

## Related guides

- [Air Canada Aeroplan guide: award pricing, partners and how to book](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/aeroplan-guide)
- [Free Spirit points after Spirit’s shutdown: status and next steps](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/spirit-free-spirit-guide)
- [Compare Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, Bilt and Wells Fargo transfers](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/compare-bank-transfer-programs)