Imagine you’ve just won the prize of a lifetime of one million Aeroplan points.
Choose your adventure: a multi-week excursion across Indonesia, a decadent anniversary trip to Italy, or a family homecoming to Cambodia.
For three winners of the TD Aeroplan 10th Anniversary Contest, these trips are no longer the stuff of imagination, but now closer than ever, as they look to travel to their dream destinations using their Aeroplan points prizes.
To celebrate 10 years as the primary credit card issuer for Aeroplan – Canada's premier travel loyalty program – TD launched the TD Aeroplan 10th Anniversary Contest where TD Aeroplan Credit Cardholders could enter for a chance to win Aeroplan points.
There was one Grand Prize of 10 million Aeroplan points, 10 Second Prizes of 1 million Aeroplan points, 25 Third Prizes of 100,000 Aeroplan points plus many more fourth, fifth and sixth prizes that were available to be won.
Aeroplan points can be redeemed on the world's largest airline partner network of more than 45 airlines, as well as through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel, and car rental services available through the Aeroplan program.
Here's how three of the contest winners responded when they got the good news that they had won 1 million Aeroplan points and how they plan to use them:
Winner spotlight: Bobby Alam
Aeroplan points won: 1,000,000
Dream destination: Indonesia
When Bobby Alam received the call telling him he'd won a million Aeroplan points, he remembers thinking the news sounded too good to be true.
"It was pretty surreal, to be honest," said Alam, who lives in Toronto. "It took a while for me to register that it had happened."
But the person who was calling was real. And so were the points. Alam's dream trip – a multiweek excursion across Indonesia to tour ancient temples, hike in nature, and relax on Bail beaches – was suddenly within reach.
"Indonesia has been on my bucket list for so long," he said. "This country has everything I’d want in a vacation."
Now that Alam has enough points to make his trip to Indonesia happen, it's just a question of when to go.
"Obviously, with the amount of points I [now] have, it's very doable,” he said. "There's plenty of possibilities when you fly Air Canada."
As a child, Alam mostly travelled to Bangladesh, where his parents are from.
"Travelling has become more and more accessible to me, especially over the last few years," he said. "It's eye opening, what's out there."
As an adult, Alam has explored ice caves and glaciers in Iceland and wandered the streets of Kyoto, Japan.
Alam loves taking photos and videos of his adventures, usually on his smartphone. But after finding out he'd won the Aeroplan points, and would be saving thousands of dollars on future flights, he purchased more equipment to pursue aerial photography and videography.
In early 2025, he took his equipment to Guatemala, where he captured dramatic footage of volcanoes.
"My favourite thing [about travel] recently has been just seeing different spectacles in nature that I wouldn't see normally at home," he said. "In Guatemala, I saw these volcanos. I wasn't lucky enough to actually see lava, but I still saw smoke."
Alam's been a TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* credit cardholder for three years. He puts as many purchases and bills as he can on the credit card so that he can earn more Aeroplan points to put toward flights.
For his trip to Japan in 2024, Alam redeemed his points for a direct flight from Toronto.
"With how my points worked out, I was able to fly Premium Economy,” said Alam, who managed to catch the tail end of cherry blossom season in Japan.
“It was my first time flying in a class that [wasn’t Economy]. Japan really lives up to the hype. It was quite the incredible experience."
Not having to pay for the flight to Japan made the entire trip possible, Alam said, because it freed up budget to visit multiple cities, cover the cost of accommodations, and try a variety of restaurants.
"I think that would have been way above my budget," he said. “I’m super happy and super grateful to have this [credit] card, and to be a TD customer and an Aeroplan member, and to have won these points.”
Winner spotlight: Amanda Kastner
Aeroplan points won: 1,000,000
Dream destination: Italy
When Amanda Kastner found out she'd won a million Aeroplan points, the wheels started turning in her head.
"I was immediately thinking about all the things I could do with the points. It was hugely exciting," said Kastner, who lives in Toronto.
"I was at a loss for words, given the size of the prize."
When the points hit her Aeroplan account in December, she got to work planning her next few adventures.
First up is a trip to Italy with her husband. A self-proclaimed foodie, Kastner said she hopes they can be in Italy during truffle season, which usually runs from September to December.
"We're going to celebrate our one-year wedding anniversary," she said. "I've got all my flight options ready to go on Air Canada."
Japan is also on Kastner's list, plus places she already visits frequently, like Boston and New York City.
"I've got family and friends who live all across Canada and the U.S. I'll also be using the points to do more trips to visit them and remove that financial stress," she said.
For Kastner, travel isn't just about a new destination to explore or food to try. It's about getting more time with the people she doesn't see every day.
With all her Aeroplan points, Kastner said it'll be much easier to hop on a flight to NYC to see her sister for a weekend.
Even before becoming a winner of the contest, she was intent on collecting as many Aeroplan points as possible, a strategy she plans to stick to.
"If I ever have to travel outside of a route that Air Canada flies, I'll always pick Star Alliance so I can collect Aeroplan points," she said. "Then I can travel on Air Canada with the points I've earned."
Winner spotlight: Paula Ravivann
Points won: 100,000
Dream destinations: Europe and Southeast Asia
When asked where she's going to travel first after being declared one of the winners of 100,000 Aeroplan points, Paula Ravivann doesn't hesitate.
"The first stop is going to be Italy with my partner and most likely some other members of my family," said Ravivann, who lives in Ottawa. "I have family that's going to be living there."
When she got the news that she'd been declared one of the winners of 100,000 Aeroplan points in the contest, Ravivann said she was "physically shaking from the excitement."
"The timing couldn’t have been more perfect since I [redeemed] all of my points for a trip to Japan."
Before she was declared one of the winners, she was already collecting points by using her TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* credit card.
“It’s been helpful in terms of me achieving my travel goals, so I’ve been taking advantage of using my Aeroplan points as much as I can,” said Ravivann, who particularly enjoys perks like checking a bag for free.
When Ravivann goes to Italy, she hopes she can explore nearby countries like Greece on the same trip, because it's much easier to country hop in Europe compared to North America.
"I love experiencing different cultures and opening my eyes up to different ways of living. That's my main purpose for travelling these days," she said.
Looking further ahead in the future, Ravivann said Southeast Asia is a destination she'd one day like to bring her parents, ideally using her Aeroplan points.
"My parents immigrated to Canada as refugees from Cambodia," she said. "But I've never been to Cambodia or Thailand. It would be a dream come true to be able to go back to where they were born. Things have changed so much."
Ravivann said her mom is particularly passionate about her culture.
"I'd love to experience that with her. Fingers crossed one day we'll be able to accomplish that."
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