Bell to offer free messaging for Aeroplan members on Air Canada flights

Air Canada and Bell are coming together to offer free messaging for all Aeroplan members worldwide on Wi-Fi-equipped airplanes, in an announcement made Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

Bell will sponsor inflight Wi-Fi services across the airline’s fleet starting May 15, 2023.

This allows passengers to send and receive messages via Apple’s iMessage, Meta’s WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, Rakuten’s Viber and Messages by Google over Wi-Fi.

In a smart move, you don’t have to be a Bell user to utilize this service. If you’re an Aeroplan member with a Wi-Fi capable device, you’re all good, said Bell.

Strategic partner airline loyalty members, including United MileagePlus, Lufthansa Group Miles & More and Emirates Skywards, are also included when their account numbers are associated with an Air Canada booking.

Select flights will see Bell offer complimentary mobile SIM cards to international travellers arriving in Canada, enabling them to be connected when they deplane.

“For those new to Canada or visiting, we recognize how important it is to stay connected with family and friends, and the new opportunities being connected can bring,” Bell executive vice-president of marketing Claire Gillies said in a news release.

The two companies said this will create added benefits for Aeroplan customers, including offering new promotional rewards and expanding Air Canada’s Live TV service on flights to the U.S., starting later this summer.

Airline analyst Robert Kokonis said this “helps to strengthen the Aeroplan brand both for fully engaged Aeroplan members and perhaps Aeroplan members that aren’t as engaged.”

He also compared this as a response to Porter Airlines announcing in late 2022 that it would offer free Wi-Fi on its Embraer E195-E2 fleet. Interestingly Porter’s move covers all web browsing rather than only messaging.
However, “If they started to see perhaps unacceptable erosion of market share to Porter on certain select routes, you could see Air Canada decide to go back and roll out free Wi-Fi, not just text message,” said Robert Kokonis, president of AirTrav Inc.