Aeroplan members suing over expired points

 A Quebec Superior Court judge has approved a class-action lawsuit against Aeroplan over its decision to implement expiry dates on its loyalty program points.

The lawsuit was filed in July 2009, two and a half years after the company brought in the new expiry dates to its program.

The Montreal-based company started canceling points accumulated by members who didn’t contribute or redeem points on their account for one year.

Expired points can be reinstated, but members have to pay a fee.

Members of the class action suit are suing Aeroplan, which was spun off of Air Canada, for the reinstatement of expired points, reimbursement of money spent to reinstate points, $50 in compensatory damages and an undetermined amount of exemplary damages.

In a statement, Aeroplan said it "has strong arguments against the class action and will vigorously defend against it."

Aeroplan said it could still be two years or more before the case is heard in court.