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Air Canada Aeroplan recently announced changes to its partner award charts (PDF), moving to dynamic pricing with more select partners. On March 25, 2025, the charts and subsequent changes in award pricing took effect — and the results aren't good.
Let's take a look at the details.
What's changed?
Air Canada uses a hybrid zone-and-distance chart to determine award flight prices. They have divided the globe into four zones and then based points needed on the distance flown within or between regions. For example, here were prices when originating in the North America region.
Although Air Canada prices their own flights dynamically, these fixed prices on partner airlines provided a chance at a good deal. Now, Air Canada is adding the following partners airlines into the dynamic mix. They are indicated as “Select Partners” on the new award charts.
- United Airlines
- Etihad
- Emirates
- flydubai
- Calm Air
- Canadian North
- PAL Airlines
The first two obviously stand out the most, with United the most notable name for U.S.-based travelers. With these changes come several new award charts based on the various regions. Here are some examples of how much the new charts have changed.
Aeroplan Dynamic Award Charts
Within North America
This first chart can be used for flying United Airlines within North America.
You can see that now “Select Partners” have a starting award price, a median price, but no upper limit. This means that travelers can no longer rely on these awards falling within a point range — the sky's the limit — and that's disappointing news.
For example, this Washington Dulles (IAD) to Denver (DEN) flight previously cost 10,000 points in economy and 20,000 in business, as it fell in the 501-1,500 miles distance band. Now we are finding flights pricing at 15,000 in economy and 30,000 points in business — a 50% increase for both classes. These are both above the “median” price in the chart above.
Between North America and Atlantic zones
Air Canada's “Atlantic” zone covers all of Europe and Africa, making it an important region for many travelers. And the new changes really sting.
For example, this Chicago (ORD) to Zurich (ZRH) nonstop on United previously cost 35,000 points in economy and 60,000 points in business class. Now we are seeing awards for 40,000 points (15% increase) in economy and 80,000 points (33% increase) in business. These fall right at the median price on the chart above.
This example now costs the same as booking the same flight directly through United, effectively eliminating any advantage travelers had of booking through Air Canada Aeroplan. Although more flexible currencies transfer directly to Air Canada Aeroplan, United has a much friendlier cancellation policy. This makes booking through Aeroplan less enticing now.
Thankfully, many other Star Alliance partners fly between North America and Europe that can be booked through Air Canada. So focusing on flights with Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and TAP Portugal — among others — will still price out on the fixed, “All other partner” part of the award chart.
Between North America and Pacific zones
Finding flights to Australia and New Zealand — part of the Pacific zone — are among the holy grail of award searches. With the new chart, those are going to cost more too. This flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Sydney (SYD) checked in at 50,000 and 75,000 points previously. Now, it will cost 55,000 in economy and 100,000 in business. These are the median prices in the 5,001-7,500 mile band above.
Aeroplan's Revised Partnership With Etihad Airways
Etihad and Air Canada also have a partnership, but finding these flights online has proven difficult in the past. While we are now seeing more availability, the award prices are dynamically awful.
This Bangkok (BKK) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) flight falls in the 2,501-5,000 mile band between the Atlantic and Pacific zones. These “start” at 30,000 in economy and 50,000 in business. In practice, they are much more than that.
These prices make booking this way an unrealistic option. Looking at Etihad Guest or American AAdvantage would likely be better alternatives.
Bottom Line
There is no sugar-coating this, the news is not good. We are more frequently seeing devaluations throughout the loyalty program space, and now Air Canada has followed suit. These increases of 50% and more are tough to swallow. Plus in the searches we've done, we haven't found any awards at the “Starting at” price point. Whereas Air Canada was one of the best options for booking United flights both domestically and abroad, that is no longer the case.
Air Canada Aeroplan still has great value for booking partners, just not as much as it once did. Travelers will have to be more selective about how to best utilize this program. As we continue to monitor these award prices, we will see just how much they vary — for good or for bad.
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