Air Canada’s Aeroplan Brings Loyalty Points to Restaurant Reservations Through Expanded DINR Partnership

DINR Premium adds rewards for eligible bookings and culinary experiences alongside priority access to sought-after Canadian restaurants.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Aeroplan and DINR have expanded a partnership launched in October 2025 to award points on eligible DINR Premium dining activity.
• A first eligible paid DINR Premium membership earns 1,000 bonus Aeroplan points, while each eligible completed reservation earns 100 points.
• Premium subscribers receive priority access at select restaurants, personal reservation assistance and early invitations to chef-led events.
• Members must link matching Aeroplan and DINR accounts; cancellations and no-shows are excluded from reservation rewards.

A table at a sought-after restaurant can now contribute to a traveller’s next Aeroplan redemption. Air Canada has expanded the relationship between its Aeroplan loyalty programme and Canadian restaurant-booking platform DINR, introducing points for eligible reservations and culinary purchases made by members of the paid DINR Premium service.

The expanded partnership, announced on 15 October 2026, awards 1,000 bonus Aeroplan points for a first eligible paid annual DINR Premium membership and 100 points for each eligible restaurant reservation that is booked and completed through the platform. Selected event tickets, chef collaborations and other eligible DINR purchases also offer points, bringing dining experiences into a rewards programme more commonly associated with travel.

Priority access remains the centre of the membership

Points are an additional feature of a service built around access. DINR Premium members can seek priority reservations at participating, in-demand restaurants, including selected same-day and exclusively allocated tables. The membership also includes personal booking assistance, early access to DINR Supper Club dinners and opportunities to buy tickets for private dining events, culinary retreats and chef-led collaborations.

The offering extends to curated editorial material about restaurants, chefs and the wider food scene. For travellers visiting Canadian cities, these features can help make a restaurant booking part of a destination experience; for members dining closer to home, the same access benefits apply without requiring a flight or hotel stay. Availability and special inventory, however, depend on participating restaurants and individual events rather than extending to every table on the platform.

Scott O’Leary, Air Canada’s Vice President, Loyalty and Product, positioned the arrangement as a way for Aeroplan members to discover restaurants, experience them in person and collect rewards. Jennifer Tremblay, DINR’s chief executive, emphasised the combination of booking assistance, sought-after dining opportunities and access to a community of Canadian travellers and restaurant-goers.

How the new points work

The distinction between a standard DINR account and the paid Premium membership matters. According to Air Canada’s published earning rules, the 1,000-point joining bonus is available only on the first eligible paid membership year; complimentary or trial memberships and subsequent annual renewals do not qualify for that bonus. The 100-point restaurant reward applies to each eligible completed reservation, not simply to making a booking. Cancelled reservations and no-shows earn no points.

On other eligible purchases through DINR, including selected culinary experiences, the published terms provide for one Aeroplan point per dollar spent, excluding taxes, deposits and delivery fees. Aeroplan members must add their membership number to their DINR account, with both accounts registered under the same name. Points can take up to 30 days to appear, and certain products or transactions may be excluded. The partners’ programme terms should be checked before a purchase.

From restaurant discovery to a wider travel-loyalty proposition

The new earning arrangement is an extension, not the start, of the companies’ relationship. Aeroplan and DINR began their strategic partnership in October 2025, linking Air Canada’s travel rewards audience with DINR’s reservations and dining experiences. DINR also serves as operating partner for Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants programme, which connects the airline’s brand to Canada’s culinary scene.

Aeroplan says it has more than 10 million active members worldwide and offers earning and redemption opportunities across airlines, accommodation and other partners. Adding DINR Premium provides another way for members to earn points during everyday or destination dining, although it does not make every restaurant visit eligible and does not remove the cost of an annual Premium subscription.

For diners, the practical value will depend on how frequently they use DINR, whether its restaurant selection and booking access suit their plans, and which transactions qualify for rewards. For the travel and hospitality sectors, the partnership illustrates how an established airline loyalty programme can extend its reach into restaurant discovery and experience-led services while keeping the new benefits tied to a specific paid platform.