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Can’t say I am surprised – award chart devaluations are not new in the loyalty world, and Air Canada held steady for 2 years since the launch of new program in August 2020. This one is a mild-to-moderate range of devaluation to the Aeroplan flight reward chart. For the most part, this round of Aeroplan devaluation is geared towards partner awards in Business and First cabins. And we will also see a couple of new distance bands for better measure, which offer lower redemption rates in some travel zones – short haul redemptions become more lucrative with this new structure.
The good news here is that the changes take effect on September 1, 2022. Aeroplan members have a month and couple of days to jam in their bookings at current rates, but avialability will continue to be a challenge, especially on partner airlines, and long-haul routes.
Air Canada’s official stance is “(changes) are designed to better align our reward pricing to our costs“. Right, lets get to it then;
Aeroplan Flight Rewards – Travel Zones
Between North America and Atlantic
- 6,001 – 8,000 mile distance band
- Business (Partner): Increases from 85,000 to 90,000
- First (Partner): Increases from 120,000 to 130,000
- 8,001+ mile distance band
- Business (Partner): Increases from 100,000 to 110,000
- First (Partner): Increases from 130,000 to 140,000
Between North America and Pacific
- 7,501 – 11,000 mile distance band
- Business (Partner): Increases from 85,000 to 87,500 pts
- 11,001+ mile distance mile band
- Business (Partner): Increases from 105,000 to 115,000 pts
- First (Partner): Increases from 140,000 to 150,000 pts
Between North America and South America
- 0 – 2,500 mile distance band (new band with reduced pricing)
- Economy (Air Canada): 20,000-45,000 pts
- Economy (Partner): 20,000 pts
- Premium Economy (Air Canada): 35,000-100,000 pts
- Business (Air Canada): 40,000-150,000 pts
- Business (Partner): 40,000 pts
- First (Air Canada): 60,000-175,000 pts
- First (Partner): 60,000 pts
- 2,501-4,500 mile distance band (prices follow the original 0-4,500 distance band)
- Economy (Air Canada): 30,000-60,000 pts
- Economy (Partner): 30,000 pts
- Premium Economy (Air Canada): 45,000-125,000 pts
- Business (Air Canada): 50,000-175,000 pts
- Business (Partner): 50,000 pts
- First (Air Canada): 80,000-200,000 pts
- First (Partner): 80,000 pts
Between Atlantic and Pacific
- 0-2,500 mile distance band (new band with reduced pricing)
- Economy (Air Canada): 25,000-50,000 pts
- Economy (Partner): 25,000 pts
- Premium Economy (Air Canada): 30,000-65,000 pts
- Business (Air Canada): 40,000-75,000 pts
- Business (Partner): 40,000 pts
- First (Air Canada): 50,000-100,000 pts
- First (Partner): 50,000 pts
- 2,501-5,000 mile distance band (updated from 0-5,000 miles)
- Premium Economy (Air Canada): 50,000-75,000 (new)
- 5,001-7,000 mile distance band
- Premium Economy (Air Canada): 65,000-80,000 (new)
- 7,001+ mile distance band
- Economy (Partner): Increases from 60,000 to 65,000 pts
- Premium Economy (Air Canada): 80,000-110,000 pts (new)
- Business (Partner): Increases from 100,000 to 110,000 pts
- First (Partner): Increases from 130,000 to 140,000 pts
Within South America
- 0-1,600 mile distance band (new band with reduced pricing)
- Economy (Partner): 10,000 pts
- Business (Partner): 20,000 pts
- First (Partner): 30,000 pts
- 1,601+ mile distance band (updated band with increases in partner pricing)
- Economy (Partner): Increases from 15,000 to 20,000 pts
- Business (Partner): Increases from 30,000 to 35,000 pts
- First (Partner): 50,000 pts (no change)
Take Away
As mentioned before, these are mild (decreases) to moderate (increases) changes to the award chat, that will impact members who redeem for premium cabins on long-haul partners the most. I expect the competition to grab Aeroplan award seats on partner airlines will go up two-folds in August, and good for you if you are able to lock in some trips at the lower rates.
2 comments
Hi there , this is a letter I sent to 4 executives at Air Canada yesterday and not one of them wrote me back as of yet .
Attention: Mr. Amos Kazzaz,
Dear Amos,
I am writing to you as a 30 plus year long standing Air Canada and Aeroplan customer and former flight attendant in 1980 and 1981!
I need to go to San Francisco for a few days to attend a meeting and asked my wife Penny to look up the fares and of course check Aeroplan and see if we have enough points and maybe we use points instead of paying cash, as that’s what they are for no ?
Well, I was shocked to say the least at what I found,
1) A regular economy non stop round trip ticket to purchase on Air Canada was $727 cash as of this morning.
2) When we checked on Aeroplan,( 8 am ) it was originally 33,000 points plus $100 in taxes for a round trip economy ticket . This seemed very reasonable.
Once we went to the redemption section it changed to 44,000 points and $700 cash.
Why on earth would anyone use 44,000 points to save $27.00 in cash?
Post covid, Aeroplan has obviously radically changed the redemption grid without telling us , the customers.
Why on earth would I continue to go out of my way to fly Air Canada when we are getting totally hosed on the points redemption model.
Your new grid is totally uncompetitive and in fact I would argue it is border line predatory.
Best regards,
Rick G
Hi Rick – Many members share the same frustration. The dynamic pricing of awards is here to stay, and unfortunately it means higher redemption rates when cash rates are high. Nothing anyone can (or will) do about it. Reat assured, even if you have not heard back from the executives, they read their emails and would have received your feedback. Thanks for sharing here as well.
P.S – I edited your comment to remove your AP# and full name, for privacy.