Points Miles and Bling (blog) contains referral or affiliate links. The blog receives a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support. Credit Card issuers are not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details, current product information, and Terms and Conditions, click the link included.
As of yesterday, PAL Airlines (PAL) is Aeroplan’s newest airline partner. As one of Eastern Canada’s largest independent airlines, and strengthens Aeroplan roster of 45+ airline partnership even more, giving members access to more destinations in Canada.
PAL Airlines – Feet and Route Map
PAL operates an all-economy class fleet throughout Quebec and the Maritimes from its hubs in Goose Bay, St. John’s and Wabush. Their current fleet includes The De Havilland Dash-8, and Beechcraft 1900 aircraft, both twin engine turboprop, which connects several cities in eastern Canada;
PAL Dash-300 V3
Aeroplan airline partner – PAL Airlines
With this new partnership, Aeroplan members will be able to earn and redeem points with PAL Airlines. Aeroplan accrual chart for flights operated by PAL Airlines will be as following;
- Freedom (Y, R): 125%
- Flexible (V,L,H,U): 75%
- Standard (T,K,D,A,C): 25%
- Basic (O,M,F): Not applicable
Note that members will earn Aeroplan points based on distance flown on all scheduled flights operated by PAL Airlines. And the points earned will not be applicable towards Aeroplan Elite Status.
Aeroplan Flight Rewards on PAL Airlines will be priced based on Aeroplan’s pricing for partner airlines for a limited time. Aeroplan has confirmed that all regional Canadian partners will be transitioned to a new chart for reward pricing, later in 2023. Until then;
- Members will be able to book PAL flights online at aircanada.com, through the Air Canada mobile app, or via Aeroplan’s Contact Centre.
- Flights can be combined with flights operated by Air Canada and our other international airline partners.
- The partner booking fee will apply for flight rewards for travel on PAL.
Aeroplan airline partner – Regional Reward Chart
Aeroplan’s current roster of regional airline partners include;
- Air Creebec
- Calm Air
- Canadian North
- PAL Airlines (as of yesterday)
A dedicated reward chart for regional partners sounds ominous, tbh. Given the remote areas of Canada these airlines cover, I will not be surprised to see Aeroplan add a premium to redeem on these niche routes. Most of the routes and region covered by these partners can be expensive when paying in cash, and a regional award chart by Aeroplan could well “address” the sweet-spots that currently exist in the distance based all-encompassing partner award chart.
For example: A one-way flight on PAL from Gander, NL to GooseBay, NL prices at ~$500, while on Aeroplan points, that would be 6,000 points, due to the relatively short distance! And you can see why no one would opt for an AC flight on that route, or within the region;
My recommendation would be to book your flights with regional partners sooner than later.
Take Away
Aeroplan continues to add meaningful partners to the program, to enhance member experience within the program. However, the news of a separate reward chart for regional partners comes as a surprise, and could well mean some form of ‘devaluation’. You have been warned. Book now, worry later.
Title Image: PAL Airlines
