Air Transat has a new rewards program, and it is built differently from most airline schemes. The Montreal-based leisure carrier announced Staria on Nov. 2, and enrollment is open now. Members collect points they can spend on flights and vacation packages, plus a second currency, called stars, that unlocks small perks on board.
The release leaves out a lot of what frequent flyers will want to know. It gives no earn rates, names no elite tiers and mentions no lounge benefits. What it does lay out is the basic structure, a family pooling feature and a co-branded credit card coming in 2027.
How Staria points work
Members earn points on eligible purchases. Transat says those points can cover part or all of an eligible Air Transat flight or a Transat vacation package. Taxes and airport fees are excluded, so even a fully "free" ticket will still cost something at checkout.
The ability to pay for part of a fare matters. Many travelers never collect enough for a whole ticket, and a points-plus-cash option lets a modest balance chip away at the price. Because Transat also sells packages that bundle flights with hotels, the points can stretch to a full holiday rather than just a seat.
What the release does not say is how many points a dollar of spending earns, or what a point is worth when you redeem it. Until Transat publishes those figures, it is hard to compare Staria with Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards or a flexible bank program. Travelers should read the terms on the airline's site before they plan around a balance.
Stars: perks for playing along
The second layer is unusual. Members collect stars by taking part in what Transat calls "interactive activities." The release does not describe those activities.
Stars then unlock rewards for an upcoming trip. Transat gives three examples: seat selection, a meal from the Bistro menu on board, or bonus points on a future purchase. Those are modest perks, but on a leisure airline that sells seat selection and Bistro meals, they are extras many passengers would otherwise buy.
The design looks aimed at keeping members engaged between trips. Leisure travelers tend to fly less often than business flyers, often on a winter sun holiday or a summer trip to Europe. A program that offers small wins in between may hold their attention better than a points balance that grows slowly.
Constellations: pooling for families and friends
Staria also lets up to nine members combine their points into a shared balance, which Transat calls a constellation. The release frames it as a way to fund trips taken together.
That is a real benefit for the airline's core market. Families and groups of friends traveling to the Caribbean, Mexico or Europe often book as a party. Pooling means several small balances can add up to something useful, instead of each person sitting on a few points that never reach a redemption.
Aeroplan already offers family sharing, so Staria is not the first Canadian program to do this. Still, a group of up to nine is a generous size for a leisure booking.
A credit card is coming in 2027
Transat says Desjardins and Visa will offer co-branded credit cards that earn Staria points on everyday spending. They are due later in 2027. No fees, earn rates or welcome offers have been announced.
For many members, the card will be the main way to build a balance. Without one, Staria depends on how often a traveler books with Transat. Watch for whether the card adds anything travel-specific, such as a free checked bag or a lounge benefit, since the release mentions none for the program itself.
What about lounges?
The release mentions no lounge access for Staria members. Air Transat is a leisure airline outside the big three alliances, so its passengers do not get oneworld, Star Alliance or SkyTeam lounge reciprocity either.
If you are flying Air Transat from Montreal, check our Montréal-Trudeau guide for the lounges you can reach with a credit card or a paid pass. The airline's other main base is Toronto Pearson, where the same approach applies.
Why Transat is doing this
Transat's management sees loyalty as a business line, not just a perk. In the release, CEO Annick Guérard describes Staria as a driver of growth and of new revenue for the company. That echoes the strategy of larger airlines, which earn steady income by selling points to bank partners. The Desjardins and Visa card deal is the clearest sign that Transat wants a share of that market.
For travelers, the immediate takeaway is simple. Sign-up is open now, and points build on eligible purchases. The real test comes when Transat publishes earn and redemption rates, and when the credit card terms land in 2027.
How to join
Enrollment is open on the Air Transat and Transat websites. Members should check the program terms there for which purchases earn points and which flights and packages qualify for redemption.
