Summary
Air Canada‘s Aeroplan program has confirmed sweeping award chart increases effective for all new bookings made on or after June 1, 2026 — the program’s third devaluation since its 2020 relaunch. Business class redemptions on Australia–Asia routes (2,001–5,000 miles) rise from 45,000 to 52,500 points one-way, while Australia–Europe awards in the 7,001+ mile band jump from 110,000 to 130,000 points — an 18% increase on one of the program’s most-used long-haul sweet spots. Changes affect fixed-rate partner bookings only; Air Canada’s own flights and select partners using dynamic pricing are unaffected.
Existing awards booked before June 1 are grandfathered at current rates. Points holders have fewer than 21 days to lock in pre-devaluation pricing on Star Alliance business class space.
Aeroplan has long been the quiet achiever of Star Alliance frequent flyer programs — fixed charts, generous stopovers, and 50+ airline partners made it a go-to for Australian points holders navigating a market dominated by Qantas and Velocity. That value proposition just got measurably smaller.
Air Canada confirmed the award chart revision on May 11, 2026, with changes taking effect for all new redemptions from June 1, 2026. The increases are concentrated precisely where Australian members extract the most value: long-haul business class to Asia, Europe, and North America. Australia–London business class climbs 20,000 points to 130,000 points one-way. Australia–US and Canada routes in the 7,501–11,000 mile band rise from 87,500 to 102,500 points. Australia–Asia business class in the core 2,001–5,000 mile band adds 7,500 points, landing at 52,500 points one-way.
The changes apply exclusively to fixed-rate partner airline bookings — Star Alliance carriers, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, and other non-dynamic partners. United Airlines, Emirates, and Etihad Airways, which already price on dynamic models, are unaffected by this announcement.
This is not a minor calibration. For a points holder sitting on 200,000 Aeroplan points and planning a business class run to Europe, the effective purchasing power of that balance just dropped by roughly one full redemption’s worth of headroom.
What the new award chart actually costs you
The revised Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart effective June 2026 shows increases across nearly every zone combination relevant to Australian flyers, with a handful of modest decreases in shorter economy bands. The Atlantic–Pacific zone table is the hardest hit, with price increases across every single distance band — no exceptions.
Business class from Australia to the United States or Canada (7,501–11,000 miles) rises from 87,500 to 102,500 points, a 17% increase. The same routing in premium economy climbs from 70,000 to 85,000 points. Australia–Europe business class in the 7,001+ mile band — the program’s flagship long-haul redemption — moves from 110,000 to 130,000 points, an 18% jump that erases years of competitive positioning against Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and ANA Mileage Club.
Not every change is negative. The Pacific zone’s longest band (7,001+ miles, covering routes like Tokyo–Auckland) actually decreases by 5,000 points in both economy and business class. Short-haul economy within the Pacific zone under 1,000 miles holds flat. These bright spots are real but narrow — they don’t offset the damage to the routes most Australian members actually target.
| Route zone | Distance band | Cabin | Old rate (pts) | New rate (pts) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific (AUS–Asia) | 2,001–5,000 mi | Business | 45,000 | 52,500 | +7,500 (+16.7%) |
| Pacific (AUS–Asia) | 2,001–5,000 mi | Economy | 25,000 | 30,000 | +5,000 (+20%) |
| Atlantic–Pacific (AUS–Europe) | 7,001+ mi | Business | 110,000 | 130,000 | +20,000 (+18%) |
| North America–Pacific (AUS–US/Canada) | 7,501–11,000 mi | Business | 87,500 | 102,500 | +15,000 (+17%) |
| North America–Pacific (AUS–US/Canada) | 7,501–11,000 mi | Premium Economy | 70,000 | 85,000 | +15,000 (+21%) |
| Pacific (Tokyo–Auckland) | 7,001+ mi | Business | 90,000 | 85,000 | −5,000 (−5.6%) |
Flight deals most people never see
Our AI monitors 150+ airlines for pricing anomalies that traditional search engines miss. Air Traveler Club members save $650 per trip per person on average: see how it works.
Each deal saves 40–80% vs. regular fares:
Where Aeroplan still holds its edge — and where it doesn’t
Context matters here. Even after the devaluation, Aeroplan doesn’t collapse as a program — it recalibrates to a more competitive-but-not-dominant position. Australia–Asia business class at 52,500 points still undercuts KrisFlyer‘s dynamic pricing, which regularly spikes above 78,000 points on the same routes. The 5,000-point stopover fee on one-way awards remains intact, a feature no comparable program matches at this price point.
Where the calculus genuinely shifts is on Australia–Europe. At 130,000 points, Aeroplan now sits above Virgin Atlantic Flying Club’s 95,000-point rate for the same routing — and without the stopover advantage closing that gap. For members who’ve historically used Aeroplan specifically for the Europe sweet spot, the program’s competitive moat on that corridor has narrowed substantially.
Air Traveler Club’s analysis of the North America–Pacific business class increases highlights that the 7,501–11,000 mile band jump to 102,500 points represents the steepest proportional hit in the entire chart revision — a 67% increase from the pre-2022 baseline when accounting for cumulative changes since relaunch. That’s the number that should recalibrate how Australian members think about accumulating Aeroplan points versus alternatives like ANA Mileage Club (88,000 points fixed for Australia–Japan business) or United MileagePlus dynamic pricing, which can undercut on short-haul but swings unpredictably on transpacific routes.
This is also the third chart revision since 2020 — a pace that signals Aeroplan is actively managing its liability book rather than protecting member value as a strategic priority.
How to lock in award space before the June 1 deadline
This is an action story with a hard deadline. Every day between now and May 31, 2026 is a day to search, hold, and book — not evaluate. Here’s how to execute efficiently.
- Search now, book within 24 hours: Business class award space on Star Alliance partners releases 330–355 days out. Use aircanada.com’s award search or ExpertFlyer (filter for Y and B inventory classes on partner carriers) to identify available seats on your target route before they’re absorbed by the pre-devaluation rush.
- Transfer points before booking: If your Aeroplan balance is short, transfer from Amex Membership Rewards, CIBC Rewards, or TD Rewards immediately — transfers typically process within 24–72 hours. Rove Miles currently offer a 25% transfer bonus to Aeroplan through June 6, 2026, making every 1,000 Rove Miles worth 1,250 Aeroplan points — the most efficient transfer path currently available.
- Prioritize Australia–Europe and Australia–US: These corridors absorb the largest absolute point increases (+20,000 and +15,000 respectively). Australia–Asia business class at +7,500 points is a meaningful hit but less urgent than the long-haul routes.
- Short-haul Pacific routes can wait: Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand domestic/trans-Tasman business class redemptions are unaffected. Don’t burn urgency on routes that aren’t changing.
- Watch for a post-devaluation transfer bonus: Aeroplan has historically partnered with Amex and Marriott on transfer bonuses following chart revisions. A Q2 2027 bonus announcement would signal an accumulation push — useful for members building balances, but not a reason to delay current redemptions.
FAQ
Do the new Aeroplan rates apply to awards I’ve already booked?
No. Awards booked before June 1, 2026 are fully grandfathered at the rates in effect at the time of booking. The new pricing applies only to new redemptions made on or after June 1, 2026. Standard change and cancellation fees still apply if you modify an existing booking.
Does the devaluation affect Air Canada’s own flights?
No. Air Canada uses dynamic pricing on its own flights, as it does for select partners including United Airlines, Emirates, and Etihad Airways. The June 1 changes affect only fixed-rate partner airline bookings — Star Alliance carriers, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, and other non-dynamic partners.
Which Aeroplan transfer partners can I use to top up my balance before June 1?
Aeroplan accepts transfers from Amex Membership Rewards, CIBC Rewards, TD Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Rove Miles, among others. All transfer at a 1:1 ratio except Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 with a 5,000-point bonus per 60,000 transferred). Rove Miles currently offer a 25% transfer bonus through June 6, 2026, making them the highest-yield path to Aeroplan points right now. Most transfers process within 24–72 hours.
Is Aeroplan still worth using after June 1?
Yes, with caveats. Australia–Asia business class at 52,500 points still undercuts KrisFlyer’s dynamic rates on the same routes. The 5,000-point stopover fee remains intact. However, Australia–Europe business class at 130,000 points now sits above Virgin Atlantic Flying Club’s 95,000-point rate for comparable routings, narrowing Aeroplan’s long-haul competitive advantage significantly. The program remains useful — it’s no longer the clear best option on every corridor it once dominated.
Read more
