enRoute Tawna, you celebrated your 40th birthday by using your Aeroplan points, and AJ, you booked an adventure with points to celebrate your upcoming 40th birthday. Tell us about those trips.

Tawna Brown For my 40th a while back, I booked a business-class ticket using Aeroplan points for a solo trip to Italy and Bali, two destinations that are really special to me. The trip was such an amazing gift to myself — a real indulgence in the spiritual sense. It was all about connecting with the people and communities there. I even returned to a silent retreat in Bali; it was such a soul-nourishing experience that I just had to go back. Looking back at the photos from my birthday trip, it’s been amazing to relive those memories.

AJ Longstreet I was able to score two business-class tickets using Aeroplan points. We’re starting with a three-day stopover in Lisbon. It’s perfect because we love food and wine, and Lisbon is an incredible place for that. Next, we’ll fly to Geneva, rent a car and spend four days around there. My big birthday plan is to ski the Vallée Blanche in France, which is the world’s longest ski run — 22 kilometres with four kilometres of elevation. We’ve booked a Michelin-starred restaurant for dinner that night. We’re really excited!

ER Did you have a strategy for booking your respective trips?

AL My strategy was to experiment with different routes and stopovers to maximize the value of my Aeroplan points. By adding that stopover in Lisbon, I was able to upgrade to business class and enrich the trip with an added destination.

TB I’ve always been strategic about earning points, from using my Aeroplan credit card to subscribing to the newsletter so that I get notified about special promotions. For my 40th birthday trip, I had 13 flight segments totalling 101 hours of flight time. The entire journey was covered by Aeroplan points.

ER How do you earn most of your Aeroplan points?

AL I earn points on general purchases, especially with my Aeroplan credit card, which is how I got my 25K status. I also check the Aeroplan eStore first when making online purchases and follow through the link to earn points.

TB I earn most of my points with my Aeroplan credit card, too. I also use the Aeroplan eStore — I have to remind myself to connect through the eStore first before shopping online.

AL I added the Aeroplan eStore browser extension, which is great because it pops up to remind me that I can earn points.

ER What motivated you to first join Aeroplan?

AL In my case, it was when they made the switch to Aeroplan at the LCBO. Back then I signed up for Aeroplan, ran it by my wife, and put a few points on the account. Then I started digging into it a bit more and realized it had way more value than I first thought.

TB I live in Yellowknife, and travelling is a little bit more expensive because we have a longer distance to go. My parents kind of raised me with the travel bug, so it became part of normal life to travel as often as I could. The Aeroplan program was something my parents were using, so I wanted to join, too.

ER Which Aeroplan perks come in most handy when you’re travelling abroad?

TB This is my first time having 35K status, and I’m thrilled about the three-suitcase allowance on Air Canada flights. I’m heading to Paris and can’t wait to shop at the world’s largest flea market and bring back those big, bulky finds I usually couldn’t.

AL For me, the premium lounge access from my credit card is a game-changer. I can’t imagine going back to flying without it. Whenever I book a flight with a connection, I make sure it’s at least 2.5 hours so I can enjoy the lounge, grab a bite to eat and even take a shower before the next flight – it’s magic.

ER Have you used Aeroplan points to treat anyone else?

AL I used Aeroplan points to book a hotel stay for my brother as a thank you for taking care of my kids on my wedding night. It was a nice way to show my appreciation.

TB I used my Aeroplan points to give my sister two tickets from Yellowknife to Edmonton as part of her wedding gift. It was a small gesture, but it helped them start their journey.

ER What is your secret travel talent?

AL I’m really good at winging it. I do some research, so I have general ideas, but I like making things up as I go once I’m there. It’s more fun, and you tend to find things you wouldn’t know about ahead of time.

TB I think that confidence and openness are my secret ingredients as a traveller. I do a certain amount of research, but like you, AJ, I enjoy discovering things on my own without having everything prescribed. One time, I was wandering around Florence and stumbled upon an amazing old shoemaker’s atelier. One of the guys there brought me out to show me his motorbike, along with a map showing the routes he had travelled.

AL You mentioned Florence, so I have to share this with you — we did a food tour on our honeymoon, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. You get a local guide, and it’s like a tasting menu, but you go from place to place, stopping for a different course and glass of wine at each restaurant. It was incredible, and now I try to do a food tour in every city I visit.

TB That sounds just perfect!

ER Do you have a dream destination?

TB I’ve always wanted to go to Africa. I could go at any time because I have contacts there, points, and savings, but as a photographer, I kept putting it off because I wanted to know everything about my camera and lenses first — so I can capture the best pictures of wildlife. But I’ve realized there’s no reason to wait anymore.

AL My dream destination is Antarctica, and we’re actually planning to fly there for our 5th anniversary. We will use Aeroplan points to save a ton of money on the flight to Buenos Aires and then take a 12-day cruise from Ushuaia.

ER What is your favourite travel souvenir?

TB Mexico is one of my favourite places — I’ve been there 17 times. My home is filled with Mexican handicrafts: handmade wine glasses, pottery, woven pieces. I love the colour and vibrancy, and each piece makes me appreciate the amazing experiences I’ve had there. Every time I go back, I bring more, and it all fits together beautifully.

AL My favourite souvenir is a beautiful chef’s knife with an olive wood handle that I bought in Tuscany. The blade was made by a local blacksmith, and the handle was made in-house. It’s something unique that I really treasure.

ER So, what’s in store for your 50th birthdays?

AL I’m planning to visit the Nagoya Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan for my 50th. I’ve always wanted to see the cherry blossoms in Japan, and the timing aligns with my birthday. I haven’t been to Japan yet, but it’s high on my list, and I’ll probably go snowboarding with friends while I’m there.

TB I’ve been thinking about whether to combine my 50th birthday with my upcoming sabbatical in 2027. I might do that trip to Africa over my year off. But I would also love to organize a small group retreat in Tuscany. Being able to share everything I’ve learned from different winemakers and restaurateurs with a small group would be a dream come true.

AL Sign us up if you do! Tuscany is incredible and we would love to go back.

ER Have you used Aeroplan to celebrate any other milestones?

AL I used Aeroplan points to book my honeymoon in Florence. We stayed in beautiful places and had amazing food experiences.

TB My whole life is a milestone! Maybe this doesn’t fit the definition, but it is memorable: I used Aeroplan points for my flights to Tuscany on a trip with my parents. It was special to share my favourite place in the world with them and I planned an itinerary to match their interests. For instance, my dad loves war history, so we went to a Commonwealth War Cemetery right near the village we were staying in.

Explore all the benefits of the Aeroplan program and join now at: aircanada.com/aeroplan.