Loyalty programs · By Points Frog Editorial ·
Air Canada’s public Aeroplan Family Sharing page currently says new pools cannot be created, including by telephone. It describes the restriction as temporary and says existing pools continue to operate, including adding and removing members.
That status notice is important when planning a family redemption. Instructions explaining how a pool normally works should not be mistaken for confirmation that a new group can be created today.
Identify whether the family already has a pool
An existing pool and a proposed new pool are different situations under the notice. Members should check their account’s current Family Sharing status before making a booking plan that depends on combined points.
The page describes sharing for up to eight family members, with individual accounts retained and permissions controlling redemption. Members should read the current terms and account settings for the group they are actually using.
If the family does not already have a pool, a plan based on creating one needs to be reassessed against the restriction. The program has not supplied a reopening date in the cited notice, so a booking should not assume one.
Search the trip before reorganizing balances
Suppose a hypothetical family has individual balances of 20,000, 15,000 and 10,000 points. Their combined total is 45,000, but that arithmetic does not establish that those points are currently available to redeem as one balance.
The account arrangement and redemption authority need to support the proposed booking. A theoretical total and a usable shared balance are different measures.
Search the actual passenger count and dates as well. Combining points does not guarantee that the desired number of reward seats can be booked at the available price.
Review who may redeem
For an existing pool, check the members’ roles and the person authorized to complete the booking. The family’s agreed travel purpose should be reflected in how the group manages the balance.
Also retain a record of the points and cash required for the proposed reservation. That helps members understand what a redemption will use and what balance will remain.
Any alternative method of moving or obtaining points needs its own terms and costs reviewed. It should not be treated as identical to Family Sharing simply because it can help fund the same trip.
Use the current notice as the starting point
The public restriction may change, so a member should recheck the program page and account before acting. A future update would be the relevant evidence for new-pool availability.
For now, the practical distinction is between a functioning existing group and a group that still needs to be created. Assess the booking using the points that can actually be redeemed under the current arrangement. That avoids treating a summed family balance as a confirmed purchasing option before the program’s account rules allow it.
Plan the rest of the journey
Use the Aeroplan calculator and program directory for broader rewards context. The calculator’s valuation is an estimate; the actual booking supplies the points required and cash charges. For the flight segment, Lounge Frog’s airline page and YYZ airport guide provide existing travel resources. Check the lounge directory separately: an award booking alone does not establish entry to every lounge.
Source: Official program information. Checked October 13, 2026. Numerical examples are hypothetical unless explicitly identified as a published program rule.