Air Canada Aeroplan members will once again be able to earn and redeem points at gas station across Canada! The airline has announced a new loyalty program partnership between Aeroplan and JOURNIE Rewards. JOURNIE Rewards is the loyalty program for Parkland Corporation which operates Chevron, Ultramar, Pioneer, Fas Gas, ON the RUN and Marché Express locations across Canada.
The news released today is somewhat of a teaser as there aren’t a lot of details of the partnership just yet. We know it will launch in the fall of 2023 and this all that has been provided:
- Multi-year agreement will create more ways for Canadians to earn and redeem Aeroplan points
- When partnership launches in Fall, 2023, Aeroplan and JOURNIE Rewards members who link their loyalty accounts will have increased earning and redemption opportunities and greater choice in accessing new benefits
- All Parkland’s Canadian fuel and convenience brands to participate, including Ultramar, Chevron, Pioneer, Fas Gas, and ON the RUN and Marché Express
- EV charging rewards also planned for JOURNIE Rewards and Aeroplan
How it will operate is yet to be seen. It could be like Aeroplan’s previous partnership with Esso where you would choose which points to earn on your purchases (Either Aeroplan or Esso Extra but not both) or it could take the direction of Aeroplan’s current partnership with Starbucks where you have the ability to earn in both programs. I’m leaning to the latter since they do state that “Aeroplan and JOURNIE Rewards members who link their loyalty accounts will have increased earning and redemption opportunities and greater choice in accessing new benefits”
Both of these programs have existing relationships with CIBC so for them to come together like this makes sense. CIBC Aeroplan credit card holders may have cause for extra excitement as they currently receive up 10 cents off per litre when they link their JOURNIE Rewards card with their CIBC card. Keep your fingers crossed that benefit remains in place on top of the ability to link your Aeroplan card with JOURNIE Rewards!
Wrapping it up
Air Canada Aeroplan members will once again be able to earn points at the pump after a five year hiatus in the market for gas station rewards. Although it is still a few months away, my gut is telling me Air Canada and Aeroplan are releasing this news now as that wanted to beat Scene+ to the punch, just in case the latter are planning to bring in a gas partner.
However with the Aeroplan and Journie Rewards tie up, Esso with PC Optimum, Shell still with AIR MILES, Petro-Canada with RBC it doesn’t leave any major players for Scene+ to partner with. We did ponder a few weeks ago though about the possibility of Shell jumping ship from AIR MILES to Scene+ because of Scene+ now offering Shell gift cards but that was nothing more than us pondering.