Newbie Basic Questions
 

I just posted in the Visa section and now I have questions about Aeroplan. My DH and I do have an Aeroplan card, however we rarely use it to gain points.

Is there a quicker way to build Aeroplan points? I have 3 small kids and would like to fly to Italy within the next couple of years using points for at least one of the flights.

I'm a total newbie to this, so ANY advice from you guys would be helpful

My advice?
Don't use Aeroplan if you are collecting to use points.
Use a credit card that will allow you to redeem for any airlines including discounted fares which you can use to pay the whole cost of the ticket.
With Aeroplan you will have no availability for the dates you want (unless you make Super Elite) and you will be paying around $500 in scamcharges for each ticket.

unless your schedule is extreme flexible (or you are an SE as mendy7511 says) you won't be able to redeem for flights, i also doubt you will be able to find 5 tickets for the same flight

given that when redeeming you only save the base fare of a ticket, you don't stand to gain much unless you redeem for a business or first class ticket, cut your losses and go with another card that gives you flexibility

for the points you've already earned you can redeem a short haul flight to the US

Thanks guys. I thought as much. My MIL just buys stuff with her points, but I'd rather be collecting something that helps us fly.

I agree that Aeroplan is effectively useless for travel to Italy, especially if you want tix for a family. My advice: get a Visa Avion card. Once or twice a year you can convert the Avion points to BA points at 1.5:1, then use those to get to Italy on BA or a oneWorld partner.

Thanks for the advice. Since I'm so new I will have to check if BA flies direct to Italy. We are lucky because my inlaws own there and if we flew for free or much cheaper all we'd be paying for is a rental car.:)