Aeroplan is one of the most powerful frequent flyer programs in the world—and it’s criminally underrated by American travelers. While most people focus on domestic programs like United MileagePlus or Delta SkyMiles, Aeroplan offers something increasingly rare: fixed award charts with predictable pricing and access to the entire Star Alliance network.
Better yet, Aeroplan is a transfer partner of all four major US credit card programs (Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Bilt), making it one of the most accessible programs for points collectors.
Whether you’ve never heard of Aeroplan or you’re sitting on a pile of transferable points looking for the best redemptions, this guide will show you everything you need to know.
What Is Aeroplan?
Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program and one of the founding members of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance with 26 member airlines.
Key facts:
- Alliance: Star Alliance (United, Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore, etc.)
- Point currency: Aeroplan points
- Award pricing: Hybrid (dynamic for Air Canada, fixed charts for partners)
- Transfer partners: Chase UR, Amex MR, Capital One, Bilt, Marriott Bonvoy
- Points value: 1.4-1.8 cents per point average, 3-5+ cents for sweet spots
What makes Aeroplan special is its fixed partner award chart. While Air Canada flights use dynamic pricing (like United and Delta), partner airline redemptions use a predictable distance-based chart. This means you can still find incredible value when competitors have gone fully dynamic.
Transfer Partners: How to Get Aeroplan Points
One of Aeroplan’s biggest advantages is its 1:1 transfer ratios from every major US bank program:
| Program | Transfer Ratio | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 | Instant |
| Amex Membership Rewards | 1:1 | 1-2 days |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 | 1-2 days |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 | Instant |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3:1 (5K bonus per 60K) | 2-5 days |
Pro tip: Chase and Bilt transfer instantly, making them ideal for last-minute bookings. Always confirm award availability before transferring from Amex or Capital One.
The Aeroplan Award Chart Explained
Aeroplan uses two different pricing systems:
1. Air Canada Flights (Dynamic Pricing)
Air Canada’s own flights use dynamic pricing similar to United and Delta. Prices fluctuate based on demand, time of year, and fare class availability.
A one-way economy flight within North America typically ranges from:
- Short-haul: 6,000-15,000 points
- Transcontinental: 12,500-35,000 points
- To Europe/Asia: 35,000-90,000+ points
2. Partner Airlines (Fixed Chart)
This is where Aeroplan shines. Partner flights use a distance-based award chart with predictable pricing:
Partner Economy Awards (one-way):
| Distance | Points Required |
|---|---|
| 0-500 miles | 6,000 |
| 501-1,500 miles | 10,000 |
| 1,501-2,750 miles | 17,500 |
| 2,751-5,000 miles | 30,000 |
| 5,001-7,500 miles | 40,000 |
| 7,501+ miles | 55,000 |
Partner Business Class Awards (one-way):
| Distance | Points Required |
|---|---|
| 0-500 miles | 15,000 |
| 501-1,500 miles | 25,000 |
| 1,501-2,750 miles | 40,000 |
| 2,751-5,000 miles | 55,000 |
| 5,001-7,500 miles | 70,000 |
| 7,501+ miles | 90,000 |
Partner First Class Awards (one-way):
| Distance | Points Required |
|---|---|
| 2,751-5,000 miles | 70,000 |
| 5,001-7,500 miles | 90,000 |
| 7,501+ miles | 120,000 |
Star Alliance Partners: Your Options
As a Star Alliance member, Aeroplan gives you access to 26 airlines. Here are the ones worth knowing:
Premium Cabin Powerhouses
- ANA (All Nippon Airways) – Outstanding Japanese hospitality in first and business
- Singapore Airlines – Legendary service, including Suites on A380s
- EVA Air – Excellent business class to Taiwan and Asia
- Lufthansa – First Class terminal in Frankfurt, solid product
- Swiss – Great European carrier with first class availability
- Thai Airways – Underrated business class to Bangkok
- Turkish Airlines – Massive network, solid business class
Regional Champions
- United Airlines – US domestic connections
- Aegean Airlines – Cheap flights within Europe
- TAP Portugal – Gateway to Europe and Brazil
- Copa Airlines – Hub in Panama, connects Americas
- Ethiopian Airlines – Africa connections with good availability
Coming Soon
- ITA Airways – Joining Star Alliance in 2026 (Lufthansa Group acquisition)
Non-Alliance Partners
Aeroplan also has partnerships outside Star Alliance:
- Etihad Airways – Premium cabins to Abu Dhabi and beyond
- Gulf Air – Middle East connections
- Azul – Brazilian domestic flights
- Vistara – Indian domestic (merging with Air India)
These partners use separate award charts but can still offer excellent value.
The Magic of Stopovers & Mini-Trips
Here’s where Aeroplan becomes unbeatable. The program offers two unique perks for award bookings. (For a deep dive on how different programs handle stopovers and open-jaws, see our award flight routing rules guide.)
Free Stopovers
On roundtrip awards, you can add one free stopover (a stay of 24+ hours at a connecting city) at no additional cost.
Example: Flying New York → Paris → Rome → New York, you could:
- Fly JFK → CDG (Paris) – stay 3 days
- Fly CDG → FCO (Rome) – final destination
- Return FCO → JFK
The Paris stopover is FREE. You’re essentially getting two trips for the price of one.
Mini-Trips ($100 add-on)
For just $100 CAD (~$75 USD), you can add a second stopover to your itinerary. This turns a roundtrip into a multi-city adventure.
Epic example for 90,000 points + $100:
- JFK → Frankfurt (stopover 3 days)
- Frankfurt → Tokyo (destination, 1 week)
- Tokyo → Hong Kong (mini-trip, 2 days)
- Hong Kong → JFK
That’s THREE cities on one business class award.
Best Aeroplan Redemptions (Sweet Spots)
1. EVA Air Business Class to Asia (88,000 points RT)
EVA Air’s 777 business class is phenomenal—lie-flat seats, excellent food, and great service. Roundtrip from the US to Taiwan/Asia costs 88,000 points on the partner chart.
Compare to: United wants 140,000+ miles for the same route.
2. Singapore Airlines First Class (120,000 points OW)
Yes, you can book Singapore’s legendary First Class with Aeroplan—unlike Singapore’s own KrisFlyer which restricts it to their own members. Find availability on the SQ A380 routes (Singapore-London, Singapore-Frankfurt, etc.).
3. Lufthansa First Class (90,000 points OW)
Lufthansa First Class includes access to the famous First Class Terminal in Frankfurt—a private terminal with gourmet restaurants, a cigar lounge, and Porsche transfer to your aircraft.
4. ANA First Class (120,000 points OW)
ANA First Class between the US and Japan is one of the best products in the sky. Square suites with closing doors on the 777-300ER.
5. Short-Haul Europe on Aegean/Turkish (10,000 points OW)
Flights under 1,500 miles within Europe cost just 10,000 points one-way. That’s Athens to Rome, Istanbul to Vienna, or dozens of other routes.
6. Domestic Connections on United (6,000-10,000 points)
Need to position to an international gateway? Use the partner chart for United domestic flights at predictable rates.
How to Search & Book Aeroplan Awards
Step 1: Search on Aeroplan.com
The Aeroplan website lets you search all partner availability directly. Use flexible dates for the best results.
Tips:
- Select “Search by award type” and choose “Partner airline”
- Use the calendar view to scan availability across a month
- Filter by alliance partner to find specific airlines
Step 2: Confirm Availability Elsewhere
Before transferring points, double-check availability on:
- United.com – Shows Star Alliance partner space
- ExpertFlyer – Detailed fare class availability
- Point.me – Cross-program search tool
Step 3: Transfer Points
Once you’ve confirmed availability:
- Log into your transfer partner (Chase, Amex, Capital One, or Bilt)
- Navigate to “Transfer Points”
- Select Aeroplan and enter your Aeroplan number
- Transfer the exact amount needed (plus a small buffer for taxes)
Warning: Points transfers are one-way and usually irreversible. Never transfer speculatively.
Step 4: Complete Booking
Return to Aeroplan.com and book immediately after points land. Award space can disappear quickly, especially for premium cabins.
2026 Program Changes: What’s New
Aeroplan made significant changes effective January 1, 2026:
Earning Changes
- New structure: 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on eligible Air Canada flights (base fare + carrier surcharges, excluding taxes)
- Elite multipliers: Still apply on top of base earning
- Previous system: Distance-based earning is gone
This is a mixed change—heavy spenders on expensive tickets earn more, while budget travelers earning on cheap long-haul flights earn less.
Everyday Qualifying Dollars (EQD)
Status qualification now includes spend-based components. You can earn toward 25K status without flying, using credit cards and partner purchases.
Earning Aeroplan Without Flying
Credit Cards (US-Based)
There are no US-issued Aeroplan credit cards, but you can earn through transfer partners:
Best cards for Aeroplan:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve – Earn 3x on travel and dining, transfer 1:1
- Amex Gold – Earn 4x on dining and groceries, transfer 1:1
- Capital One Venture X – Earn 2x on everything, transfer 1:1
- Bilt Mastercard – Earn on rent payments, transfer 1:1 instantly
Canadian Credit Cards
If you’re in Canada or have Canadian banking:
- TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite – Earn Aeroplan directly
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa – Direct earning
- Amex Aeroplan Reserve – Premium earning + status benefits
Partner Earning
Earn Aeroplan points through:
- Air Canada flights (base fare earning)
- Star Alliance flights (credit to Aeroplan)
- Starbucks (linked account)
- Uber/Uber Eats (linked account)
- LCBO (Canada)
- Various retail partners
Aeroplan Elite Status: Worth It?
Aeroplan has four elite status tiers:
| Status | Requirement | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| 25K | 25,000 SQM or 25,000 SQD | Priority boarding, preferred seats |
| 35K | 35,000 SQM or 35,000 SQD | Lounge passes, upgrade priority |
| 50K | 50,000 SQM or 50,000 SQD | Maple Leaf Lounge access, better upgrades |
| Super Elite | 100,000 SQM or 100,000 SQD | Concierge, confirmed upgrades, Star Alliance Gold+ |
SQM = Status Qualifying Miles (earned from flying) SQD = Status Qualifying Dollars (earned from eligible spending)
For US-based travelers, achieving status through credit card spending alone is possible with the new EQD system, though it requires significant spend.
Aeroplan vs. Other Programs
vs. United MileagePlus
- Aeroplan advantage: Fixed partner charts, stopovers, lower prices on partner awards
- United advantage: Better for domestic flying, Excursionist Perk for connections
- Verdict: Aeroplan wins for international premium cabins
vs. Avianca LifeMiles
- Aeroplan advantage: Stopovers, mini-trips, instant transfers from Chase/Bilt
- LifeMiles advantage: Often cheaper Star Alliance awards, no fuel surcharges
- Verdict: LifeMiles for pure value, Aeroplan for routing flexibility
vs. Singapore KrisFlyer
- Aeroplan advantage: Can book Singapore First Class (KrisFlyer restricts this)
- KrisFlyer advantage: Direct partnership, more Saver availability
- Verdict: Aeroplan if you want Singapore First; KrisFlyer for business class
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Transferring before confirming availability – Always search first, transfer second
- Ignoring the stopover perk – Free stopovers can double your trip value
- Booking Air Canada instead of partners – Dynamic pricing on AC is often worse
- Forgetting carrier surcharges – Some airlines (BA, Lufthansa) add high fees
- Not checking United.com – Sometimes shows partner space Aeroplan misses
- Rushing transfers from Amex – Takes 1-2 days; plan accordingly
My Personal Take
Aeroplan is the program I turn to first when planning aspirational travel. The combination of fixed partner charts, incredible stopover flexibility, and access to First Class on airlines like Singapore, ANA, and Lufthansa makes it one of the best transfer destinations.
Is it perfect? No. Air Canada’s own flights have gone dynamic, and some sweet spots have eroded. But for Star Alliance partner awards—especially premium cabins—Aeroplan remains elite.
If you’re sitting on Chase, Amex, Capital One, or Bilt points and dreaming of a multi-city trip in business class, Aeroplan should be your first stop.
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