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Aeroplan is my favourite program for long-haul premium cabin redemptions. It’s also the default program I recommend to friends and family who want to accumulate frequent flyer miles. The award chart is now changing — mostly for the worse — in June 2026, so let’s dive into the changes and see if it’s still my favourite program by the end.
What’s Changing
In a quick summary, the most popular Aeroplan redemptions are not changing, while many aspirational ones are. Flying within North America and to sun destinations will remain the same price, as will any trip touching South America.
Redemptions to Europe and Asia, especially in premium cabins, are noticeably pricier. The charts below reflect the entire list of changes for partner awards, meaning it does not show the “Air Canada and/or Select Partners” price that is always dynamic, anyway (charts that are not changing are not depicted):
Between North America and Atlantic zones
I did feel a breath of relief to see that the business class award price for flights between 0-4,000 miles is staying the same at 60,000 points. This means short transatlantic flights like Montreal–Zurich will continue to cost 60,000 points.
| Distance (miles) | Cabin | Old Price | New Price | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4,000 | Economy | 35,000 | 32,500 | -7.1% |
| 0–4,000 | Business | 60,000 | 60,000 | 0% |
| 0–4,000 | First | 90,000 | 90,000 | 0% |
| 4,001–6,000 | Economy | 40,000 | 42,500 | 6.3% |
| 4,001–6,000 | Business | 70,000 | 75,000 | 7.1% |
| 4,001–6,000 | First | 100,000 | 120,000 | 20.0% |
| 6,001–8,000 | Economy | 55,000 | 60,000 | 9.1% |
| 6,001–8,000 | Business | 90,000 | 90,000 | 0% |
| 6,001–8,000 | First | 130,000 | 150,000 | 15.4% |
| 8,001+ | Economy | 70,000 | 75,000 | 7.1% |
| 8,001+ | Business | 110,000 | 110,000 | 0% |
| 8,001+ | First | 140,000 | 165,000 | 17.9% |
YUL-ZRH stays the same at 60,000 points
Probably the most popular business class redemption is in the 4,001-6,000 miles distance band, and the price there is increasing from 70,000 to 75,000 miles. Honestly, this isn’t terrible all things considered and won’t stop me from making this particular redemption. At this distance band, you can add on positioning flights in North America and Europe, so 75,000 points isn’t bad.
You might think you can redeem just 60,000 Flying Blue miles, but keep in mind the fuel surcharges have increased to $500 ex-Canada and $700+ ex-France. Aeroplan does not pass on fuel surcharges.
First class was particularly hard hit. With transatlantic, all eyes are on Lufthansa, and my recommendation is to book the shortest flights, like Frankfurt–Boston, for 90,000 points (no change). Book your positioning flights separately to avoid the price jumping up to 120,000.
Business class flights in the top two distance bands are staying the same, so flights to the Indian Subcontinent or Sub-Saharan Africa won’t cost any more than they do today.
Between North America and Pacific zones
Not too many changes on this one, albeit one is probably the most painful change on the entire chart.
| Distance | Cabin | Old Price | New Price | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | Economy | 35,000 | 32,500 | -7.1% |
| 0–5,000 | Business | 55,000 | 55,000 | 0% |
| 0–5,000 | First | 90,000 | 90,000 | 0% |
| 5,001–7,500 | Economy | 50,000 | 50,000 | 0% |
| 5,001–7,500 | Business | 75,000 | 75,000 | 0% |
| 5,001–7,500 | First | 110,000 | 120,000 | 9.1% |
| 7,501–11,000 | Economy | 60,000 | 65,000 | 8.3% |
| 7,501–11,000 | Business | 87,500 | 102,500 | 17.1% |
| 7,501–11,000 | First | 130,000 | 140,000 | 7.7% |
| 11,001+ | Economy | 75,000 | 70,000 | -6.7% |
| 11,001+ | Business | 115,000 | 115,000 | 0% |
| 11,001+ | First | 150,000 | 150,000 | 0% |
Continuously touted as the best sweet spot on the entire Aeroplan award chart was 87,500 miles for flying between 7,501 and 11,000 miles. To demonstrate how good this is, you can fly from Montreal to India via Europe for 110,000 points, or add a flight to Bangkok to lower the price to 87,500. For what it’s worth, it will still work in this updated chart, but the lower price would be 102,500 — still savings, but less.
Flying Singapore Airlines will cost more come June 1, 2026
102,500 points is an incredibly painful 17.1% increase, especially as going to Asia from Europe is more common these days, with the dire situation that is transpacific premium cabin award space. This one was just too good to be true, and we’re lucky it stuck around for so long.
The fantastic sweet spot of Vancouver–Tokyo for 55,000 points in business class remains on the chart. West coast flights like San Francisco–Taipei also remain the same at 75,000 points.
Between Atlantic and Pacific
Judging by the number of bolded lines, this chart was hit the hardest.
| Distance | Cabin | Old Price | New Price | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2,500 | Economy | 20,000 | 20,000 | 0% |
| 0–2,500 | Business | 40,000 | 47,500 | 18.8% |
| 0–2,500 | First | 50,000 | 55,000 | 10.0% |
| 2,501–5,000 | Economy | 30,000 | 30,000 | 0% |
| 2,501–5,000 | Business | 60,000 | 75,000 | 25.0% |
| 2,501–5,000 | First | 80,000 | 95,000 | 18.8% |
| 5,001–7,000 | Economy | 50,000 | 60,000 | 20.0% |
| 5,001–7,000 | Business | 80,000 | 92,500 | 15.6% |
| 5,001–7,000 | First | 100,000 | 120,000 | 20.0% |
| 7,001+ | Economy | 65,000 | 75,000 | 15.4% |
| 7,001+ | Business | 110,000 | 130,000 | 18.2% |
| 7,001+ | First | 140,000 | 150,000 | 7.1% |
My take here is not to redeem Aeroplan for flights between the Atlantic and Pacific zones. It is seriously expensive to pay 130,000 points for a 7,000+ mile flight, and this is the only chart that has increases in the top distance band for business class redemptions.
If you’re going to redeem for Taipei–Milan on EVA business class and pay 92,500 points, you might as well tag on flights to North America, such as Milan–Frankfurt–Toronto, for just an additional 10,000 points. This is true in the current award chart (pay 80,000 or 87,500 when adding on flights to North America) and remains true going forward.
When booking EVA from Taipei to Milan, add a flight to North America for just 10,000 more points
For Europe-to-Asia redemptions, consider other programs like American AAdvantage (transfer from RBC Avion) where you book Paris–Abu Dhabi–Singapore in first class for 90,000 miles.
Within Atlantic
0–1,000 miles
- Business: 15,000 → 12,500 pts (-2,500)
1,001–2,000 miles
- Economy: 12,500 → 15,000 pts (+2,500)
- Business: 25,000 → 22,500 pts (-2,500)
2,001–4,000 miles
- Economy (Partner): 25,000 → 30,000 pts (+5,000)
- Business: 45,000 → 40,000 pts (-5,000)
- First (Partner): 60,000 → 75,000 pts (+15,000)
4,001–6,000 miles
- Economy (Partner): 35,500 → 42,500 pts (+7,000)
- Business (Partner): 60,000 → 70,000 pts (+10,000)
- First (Partner): 90,000 → 100,000 pts (+10,000)
6,001+ miles
- Business (Partner): 80,000 → 95,000 pts (+15,000)
Just like the “Between Atlantic and Pacific” chart, long flights within the Atlantic zones have increased significantly in price. Again, I would stay away from these redemptions and use other programs, like Avios, to hop around. Flights like Frankfurt–Dubai on Lufthansa first class increase from 60,000 to 75,000 points.
Business class flights under 1,000 miles have decreased to 12,500 points, which is a pleasant surprise and makes it easier to justify the splurge for intra-Europe business class.
Within Pacific
1,001–2,000 miles
- Economy (Partner): 12,500 → 15,000 pts (+2,500)
2,001–5,000 miles
- Economy (Partner): 25,000 → 30,000 pts (+5,000)
- Business (Partner): 45,000 → 52,500 pts (+7,500)
5,001–7,000 miles
- Economy (Partner): 37,500 → 35,000 pts (-2,500)
- Business (Partner): 60,000 → 72,500 pts (+12,500)
7,001+ miles
- Economy: 55,000 → 50,000 pts (-5,000)
- Business: 90,000 → 85,000 pts (-5,000)
Aeroplan’s intra-Pacific award chart was arguably a little too generous in the past, and the changes are as expected. Flights like Tokyo–Sydney used to cost just 45,000 points for nearly 10 hours of flight time. The increase is to 52,500 points, which is still an excellent value.
If you can’t find award space on the direct ANA flight, a layover in Taipei will cost you. Going over 5,000 miles brings the price now to 72,500 points (used to cost 60,000).
Before paying 72,500, I’d look for award space on Japan Airlines, as American AAdvantage charges just 40,000 miles in business class for flights from Japan to Australia. From Southeast Asia to North Asia, it only costs 30,000 miles.
Business class (and economy) in the top distance band, decreasing by 5,000 points is nice, so taking a detour to Bangkok when flying from North Asia to Australia will now cost a bit less.
My Take on Aeroplan Changes
Aeroplan is Still Competitive
Here’s the thing: Aeroplan has just devalued, but in the past six years, since their last award chart change, other programs have also devalued. When it comes to Star Alliance, Aeroplan remains the best value most of the time, even though it now costs more. Case in point: LifeMiles have been devalued 3 times in the past year and a bit, with the most recent change three days ago.
At least Aeroplan is giving us a few months of notice, so book everything you can before June 1, 2026. Aeroplan does charge change and cancellation fees, but still better to lock in any speculative bookings now to avoid the points hike.
I’m curious how much Air Canada business class will cost once the B787-10 cabins roll out…
On the topic of notice, it was a mistake that the new award chart was published over the weekend, and Aeroplan has confirmed that it is not supposed to go live until June 2026.
Fuel and Cash Prices
The Aeroplan change I expected and did not see was the introduction of fuel surcharges. It would be an easy justification in current times — fuel is literally so expensive that airlines are cancelling their flights. We’ve seen Porter and WestJet introduce fuel surcharges on their companion passes. Granted, I do think fuel costs played a part in the significant price increases in the “Between Atlantic and Pacific” award chart, but it’s hard to say how long Aeroplan has been working on these changes.
With rising fuel costs and reduced capacity, cash prices have increased on many routes, so it only makes sense that points redemptions go up as well. One thing to be happy about is that Aeroplan is still keeping an award chart and not going fully dynamic on all partners. Award charts offer transparency and a points goal to strive towards. Dynamic rates make it easy for programs to devalue with no notice.
A Few Decreases
It would be remiss not to mention that prices did decrease in a few instances, like short economy redemptions from North America to Europe and economy redemptions from North America to Asia in the 11,000+ distance band. However, the decreases are at most 5,000 points, and Aeroplan was never competitive for long-haul economy redemptions to begin with, so the changes are negligible.
Don’t redeem Aeroplan for economy
Takeaway
Aeroplan’s planned changes for June 2026 are mostly a devaluation, no ifs or buts. However, the reality is that other programs like Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer have also devalued in the past few years, so Aeroplan still remains very competitive. When it comes to premium cabin redemptions, I’ll still direct my friends and family to Aeroplan given it’s relatively easy to accrue in Canada and being able to get positioning flights on the same ticket makes it easy for first-time redeemers.
Since business class prices in the top distance band haven’t changed for both the Atlantic and Pacific zones, the maximizing play may now be to book six segments and cover as much distance as possible on a single one-way bound. When the price difference between the middle and longest distance bands is so small, it’s time to go big or go home.
