Summary
Aeroplan has confirmed sweeping award chart increases effective June 1, 2026, with 32 redemptions rising and only 9 falling — the program’s most aggressive repricing since its 2020 relaunch. Transatlantic first class jumps 20% from 100,000 to 120,000 points, while business class to Asia climbs 13.3% to 85,000 points. No grandfathering applies; pricing is determined by booking date, not travel date.
The May 31 deadline to lock in old rates has passed, making this a permanent shift. Flying Blue‘s concurrent 25% Amex transfer bonus through June 30 now positions it as the stronger option for casual redemptions.
Air Canada‘s Aeroplan program crossed a threshold this week that points holders have been watching approach for months. The new award chart — effective June 1, 2026 — raises prices on 32 redemptions while cutting only 9, and the distribution of those changes tells the real story: 11 first class awards, 10 business class awards, and 11 economy awards moved higher, while short-haul economy picked up the modest reductions.
The headline number is transatlantic first class, now priced at 120,000 points one-way — a 20% jump from 100,000. That single move erases Aeroplan’s longstanding pricing advantage over United MileagePlus, which charges the same 120,000 points for the same cabin on the same routes. The program that once offered a meaningful discount on Star Alliance premium space now matches its primary competitor on the most aspirational redemptions.
Business class to Asia in the 5,001–7,000 mile band rises from 75,000 to 85,000 points, a 13.3% increase that affects some of the program’s most-searched partner space. The 2026 changes are measurably more severe than the 2024 devaluation, which raised partner business class to Europe by 10% and first class by 15%. This cycle runs 15–20% on premium cabins across the board.
The window to book at old rates closed May 31. Anyone holding Aeroplan points for long-haul premium redemptions is now operating under the new chart.
The details: what changed, what didn’t, and what it costs
The full scope of the repricing is documented in Air Canada’s updated Flight Rewards Chart, which shows the complete before-and-after across all distance bands and cabin classes. The structure of the changes rewards a specific type of redeemer — and penalizes everyone else.
Short-haul economy (0–4,000 miles) actually got cheaper, dropping from 35,000 to 32,500 points. That’s a genuine improvement for domestic North American redemptions. But the program’s most coveted use cases — overnight transatlantic business, long-haul Asia first class, premium partner space on Lufthansa, United, and Emirates — absorbed the largest increases. The 2026 chart confirms a deliberate repositioning: Aeroplan is optimizing for the premium long-haul specialist, not the occasional upgrader booking a handful of trips per year.
The no-grandfathering rule is the sharpest edge of this change. Pricing is determined by booking date, not travel date — meaning awards booked on or after June 1 pay the new rates regardless of when the flight departs. There is no mechanism to lock in old pricing retroactively.
| Route/Band | Cabin | Old Price (points) | New Price (points) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transatlantic (4,001–6,000 mi) | First class | 100,000 | 120,000 | +20% |
| Asia (5,001–7,000 mi) | Business class | 75,000 | 85,000 | +13.3% |
| Transatlantic (4,001–6,000 mi) | Business class | 70,000 | 75,000 | +7.1% |
| Short-haul (0–4,000 mi) | Economy | 35,000 | 32,500 | −7.1% |
| Australia–Europe (7,001+ mi) | Business class | 110,000 | 130,000 | +18.2% |
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Why this devaluation matters beyond the chart numbers
The 2026 repricing isn’t just a price increase — it’s a program identity statement. Aeroplan’s new first class to Europe at 120,000 points now matches United MileagePlus exactly, eliminating the pricing arbitrage that made it attractive for Star Alliance premium redemptions. The program that once offered a meaningful discount on the same partner space now charges the same rate as booking directly through the operating carrier’s own program.
That convergence matters for how points holders should think about transfer decisions. Air Traveler Club’s analysis of Aeroplan’s award chart trajectory tracks how the program’s third devaluation since its 2020 relaunch has systematically narrowed its competitive advantage on Star Alliance premium space — the very redemptions that justified maintaining an Aeroplan balance in the first place.
Flying Blue emerges as the clearest beneficiary of this shift for casual redeemers. Delta domestic business class remains at 60,000 points — 10,000 fewer than Aeroplan’s equivalent — and the June 2026 Amex 25% transfer bonus makes the math more compelling. Turkish Miles&Smiles prices Asia business class at 90,000 points, still cheaper than Aeroplan’s new 85,000 on shorter bands but worth comparing on specific routing.
The historical pattern reinforces the concern. The 2024 devaluation raised transatlantic business 10% and first class 15%. This cycle runs 7–20% depending on cabin and distance band. If the pattern holds, a Q3 2026 partner chart update could push Asia first class above 100,000 points — a threshold that would trigger a broader reassessment of the program’s value proposition for premium long-haul specialists.
How to position your points balance after the June 1 repricing
The devaluation is permanent and the booking window has closed — but the strategic response is straightforward for anyone holding transferable points currency.
- Existing Aeroplan balances targeting premium long-haul: The program remains viable for specific itineraries where partner space is confirmed and the route has no cheaper alternative. Search 330 days out via Roame.travel; Lufthansa and Swiss business class on Aeroplan still prices below cash fares on most transatlantic routes even at 75,000 points.
- Transferable points (Amex, Chase) without a confirmed Aeroplan booking: Default to Flying Blue for Delta domestic and European routes through June 30, 2026, while the 25% Amex transfer bonus is active. Delta domestic business at 60,000 points represents the program’s best casual-use sweet spot.
- Asia premium cabin targets: Turkish Miles&Smiles at 90,000 points for business class to Asia is worth comparing against Aeroplan’s new 85,000 on shorter distance bands — the site is cumbersome, but the pricing gap on longer routes can justify the friction.
- Alaska miles (100% bonus through July 5, 2026): At approximately 1.88 cents per mile purchased, this only makes sense for topping off a confirmed near-term redemption. Purchased miles carry execution risk — award space can move while miles are posting.
- Forward watch: Monitor Aeroplan’s Q3 2026 partner chart update. A second consecutive cycle of 15%+ increases on Asia premium cabins would signal a structural shift away from the program’s remaining competitive advantages.
FAQ
Does the Aeroplan devaluation affect awards already booked before June 1, 2026?
No. Awards booked before June 1, 2026 are priced at the rate in effect on the booking date and are not affected by the new chart. The no-grandfathering rule applies only to new bookings made on or after June 1 — travel dates are irrelevant to pricing.
Which credit card transfer partners feed Aeroplan, and how long do transfers take?
Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy all transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Chase and Amex transfers typically complete in 1–2 business days. There is no current transfer bonus to Aeroplan from any major bank as of June 2026.
Is Flying Blue a reliable alternative for Star Alliance redemptions, or only for SkyTeam partners?
Flying Blue books Air France, KLM, and Delta metal directly, plus a limited set of SkyTeam partners. It does not provide access to Star Alliance carriers like Lufthansa, Swiss, or United. For Star Alliance premium cabin redemptions, Aeroplan remains the primary transferable-points option despite the devaluation — the alternative is booking directly through United MileagePlus at equivalent pricing.
What is the best tool for searching Aeroplan partner award space?
Roame.travel is the most efficient tool for searching partner award availability across Star Alliance carriers bookable through Aeroplan. ExpertFlyer provides more granular availability data but requires a paid subscription. Award space on premium partner cabins is released up to 330 days in advance; early searches on that window yield the best availability on high-demand routes.
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