Air Canada Aeorplan is one of the most useful frequent flyer programs out there, thanks to the reasonable award pricing, the huge number of airline partners, and the ability to have stopovers for 5,000 points, among other things. Unfortunately the program just became a bit less useful.
Several weeks ago, Air Canada Aeroplan announced plans to make some award chart updates, impacting award travel on select partner airlines. Well, the changes are now live. Up until now, we didn’t know how bad the updates would be… unfortunately they’re pretty tough, and worse than I was hoping.
In this post:
New “Air Canada and Select Partners” award chart
Air Canada Aeroplan publishes zone based award charts, with distance based pricing within each chart. For example, below is the standard award chart within North America. As you can see, there’s consistent pricing on partner airlines, and then there’s a range of pricing on Air Canada. Up until now, as far as partner airlines go, we’ve only seen dynamic award pricing on Emirates and FlyDubai.
Unfortunately the number of partner airlines on which dynamic award pricing applies has just increased, as of March 25, 2025. Specifically, Aeroplan has introduced dynamic award pricing on more partner airlines:
- In addition to Emirates and FlyDubai, dynamic award pricing has been expanded to two more global airline partners — Etihad and United
- Dynamic award pricing has also been added to Canadian regional partners — Calm Air, Canadian North, and PAL (Provincial Airlines)
With the introduction of award pricing ranges on more airlines, there’s also preferred award availability with select partners. While the pricing under the new chart can be higher than the fixed partner award chart and sometimes vary from one itinerary to another, it will also result in greater availability for reward seats on at least some of these partner airlines, compared to before.
For example, as part of these changes, we’re seeing Aeroplan again have access to Etihad business class awards worldwide (though not Etihad first class awards).
With this new chart, there are no longer pricing ranges for these partners. Instead, there are starting prices (unchanged from the previous values) and a new median amount, based on historical member redemptions with these carriers. Note that:
- Median amounts aren’t being displayed for ranges outside North America or for first class awards, as lower redemption volumes in these categories could result in significant fluctuations over time
- The median amounts will be updated quarterly, based on redemptions from the previous four quarters, ensuring greater accuracy
Aeroplan Elite members and credit card members receive discounted redemption rates on these awards as well. Below is an example of what the updated award chart looks like, with price ranges.
Aeroplan’s award pricing updates are pretty rough
Up until now, we didn’t really know what these changes would look like. The way I viewed it up until this point:
- Previously, most Etihad business class awards weren’t actually bookable through Aeroplan, so I guess availability at any price is better than no premium availability at all
- For United, I was curious if the introduction of dynamic award pricing would be in situations where there’s actually saver level award availability, or if this would be a situation where Aeroplan would have access to non-saver awards on United, but at higher costs (as we frequently see with Alaska Mileage Plan)
- For Aeroplan’s Canadian partners, they generally had very limited inventory, so the idea is that this opens up lots more availability, but at a higher cost
Now that the changes are live, how bad are they? Well, they’re pretty rough, there’s no way to sugarcoat it. It appears that Aeroplan doesn’t actually have access to more United award availability, but instead, the pricing is just higher in many situations.
For example, up until now, a one-way award on United from Los Angeles to San Francisco would cost 6,000 points in economy or 15,000 points in business class, while now the cost is 10,000 points and 30,000 points, respectively. Ouch.
Meanwhile up until now, a one-way award on United from Newark to London would cost 35,000 points in economy or 60,000 points in business class, while now the cost is 40,000 points and 80,000 points. No bueno!
Even worse is that up until now, a one-way award on United from Houston to Buenos Aires would cost 43,000 points in economy or 60,000 points in business class, while now the cost is 45,000 points and 100,000 points.
Now Aeroplan does have access to Etihad award space, but at highly inflated costs. For example, a one-way Abu Dhabi to Paris business class ticket costs 117,300 Aeroplan points, when the same award would cost 42,500 American AAdvantage miles.
I’d consider this to be a major devaluation to Aeroplan awards on United, so that’s unfortunate. Meanwhile in the case of Etihad, it’s more of a mixed bag. The pricing isn’t good, but at least Aeroplan has access to these seats.
So, what’s causing these changes to Aeroplan’s award pricing? All we can do is speculate, though I have to imagine this reflects the underlying economics of these redemptions. I don’t know if United has greatly increased its reimbursement rates with Aeroplan, or has somehow forced Aeroplan’s hand in these changes, though I imagine there’s a very specific reason for this update.
Bottom line
Aeroplan has made major changes to award pricing on select partner airlines. Awards on both Etihad and United, as well as on Canadian regional partners, now have award pricing ranges, rather than fixed costs.
The worst news here is United, where it appears that Aeroplan still only has access to the saver level award availability, while charging much higher costs. Meanwhile with Etihad, Aeroplan finally has access to premium awards again, though the redemption rates aren’t very attractive.
This is a pretty significant devaluation to the Aeroplan program. As I’ve written about before, the miles & points world has changed, as many airlines get savvier, and I imagine there’s a specific reason these changes were made.
What do you make of these Aeroplan award chart changes?
If you're based in Canada, Aeroplan is still the way to go since you're captive to AC, and some points on the table is better than no points on the table. And it still has decent redemptions for Canada domestic flights.
But otherwise, MileagePlus is the way to go for Star. No expiration, pooling, no redeposit fees, elite point earnings on redemption flights, no surcharges, but to name a few. Also, easier to gain elite...
If you're based in Canada, Aeroplan is still the way to go since you're captive to AC, and some points on the table is better than no points on the table. And it still has decent redemptions for Canada domestic flights.
But otherwise, MileagePlus is the way to go for Star. No expiration, pooling, no redeposit fees, elite point earnings on redemption flights, no surcharges, but to name a few. Also, easier to gain elite status with partner flying. And can use for upgrades etc etc.
Yes, it's been devalued, but so have most all other mileage programs. Just condition your mind that miles are worth in the 1.0 to 1.1 range, and you won't be as disappointed.
Lucky, Perhaps its time to review what Star Alliance is best for business class and/or first class redemptions. You have a lot of readers in North America and Europe. I would appreciate if you could give guidance based on whether you are Europe/UK based or North American based.
In my case I will be based in Italy starting this year. ITA is about to join Miles and More and Star Alliance next year. I...
Lucky, Perhaps its time to review what Star Alliance is best for business class and/or first class redemptions. You have a lot of readers in North America and Europe. I would appreciate if you could give guidance based on whether you are Europe/UK based or North American based.
In my case I will be based in Italy starting this year. ITA is about to join Miles and More and Star Alliance next year. I fly business about 9x to Toronto Canada, 15X to London and 2 to 3 trips to one of or more of Asia/Africa/Caribbean/Mexico a year.
I am BA GGL but will not spend enough to maintain it. I am thinking of switching to Star Alliance. with the devaluation I am not sure AC is great but Miles and More just had a huge devaluation and I don't travel to the USA so UA does not seem to make sense.
Would love to see you update your review of Star Alliance from the point of view of Americans and European based readers.
I really enjoy your website. Thank you for all your efforts.
I’m curious by what you mean that you believe this is happening for a specific reason.
Lifemiles also made some adjustments with the UA inventory pricing and moved some routes to that 80k transatlantic business. I would submit that these changes, happening at the same time, are not an accident.
@Lucky. I know it is unrelated, but have you heard anything why LifeMiles website seem to be not working properly recently, like not showing any availability for months ahead for many routes? When I googled it, it said that there is a scheduled maintenance ending either on 3/28 or 4/28, but when I called Avianca, they do not know anything about it. They had plenty of availabilities for the days I looked at, but their LifeMiles website showed none.
Thank you.
Etihad is back from being blocked!
At 150k for a 5 hour flight....
I wonder if the other blocked airlines will come back slowly with outrageous pricing as well.
Garbage airline and program
I checked some Canadian North flights from Iqaluit to Ottawa and Montreal yesterday and today to see if there would be more availability today.
And it looks like the answer is that there has been no change to availability, but award have risen from 10k one way for both routes to 18.1k for the Ottawa route and 17.7k for the Montreal route - and it's the same whichever day is chosen.
I have 100k in my aeroplan account because of a cancellation last year. Now worth a third less.
It's as if all airlines have decided to devalue their frequent flyer programmes/Miles game.
With Dynamic pricing close to the value of a cash ticket you wonder if it is even worth it collecting miles. Soon it'll be skypesos all around.
While sad, it was a given since the points and miles game has moved from a niche hobby to pretty mainstream thanks to social media
Scott Kirby sends his regards
All aeroplan is doing is showing basically the same saver rates as United, it’s a better deal to book with United directly now especially since you don’t have any cancellations fees on award bookings
Between North America and South South America it increased from 60K to 100K on Business and from 40K to 45K on Economy (United flights).
The Business class increase is outrageous (67%), economy is ok (12.5%)
It's a shame but not unexpected.
So what's the best StarAlliiance program now, for business class awards in particular?
I second that question, particularly for this if us who usually transfer MR points...
I mean if you're looking to redeem on UA and can book round trip, ANA while annoying has pricing that no one comes close to.
I mean if you can’t tell what’s happening UA won’t let partners book for significantly cheaper than them. They will simply block ANA from having the space. Partner booking arbitrage is nearly dead at this point.