The Air Canada Aeroplan program is set to get a refresh starting November 8, 2020. This is great news for award travelers who need a Star Alliance program to use. In addition to Aeroplan, Star Alliance programs to consider using to book award flights include ANA Mileage Club, Avianca Lifemiles, and United Airlines.
Before diving into the new Air Canada Aeroplan program, one of the most exciting updates is fuel surcharges. Per View From the Wing, fuel surcharges are being eliminated. This means the massive taxes and fees when flying airlines like Lufthansa are going away. However, generally speaking, award prices are increasing. I cover more of the program updates below, but the removal of fuel surcharges is a welcome update.
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Credit Cards to Earn Air Canada Aeroplan Miles
Aeroplan partners with AmEx, Capital One, and Marriott. This means that you can transfer your AmEx points directly to Air Canada Aeroplan to book an award flight. Before you book, it’s important to note AmEx points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, Capital One Miles transfer at a 2:1.5 ratio, and Marriott points transfer at a 3:1 ratio.
AmEx, Capital One, and Marriott cards to keep on your radar include the AmEx Gold, Capital One Venture, and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. The AmEx Gold earns 4x points at restaurants and US grocery stores. You earn 2x miles on all purchases with the Capital One Venture card. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant earns 6x points at Marriott.
Additional Ways to Earn Air Canada Aeroplan Points
Aeroplan offers three main ways to earn its points. As a result, it’s fairly easy to earn enough points for the sweet spots covered below.
One way to earn Aeroplan points is to fly Aeroplan or its partner flights and credit those flights to your Aeroplan account. This is a great way to rack up points if you find yourself flying on these airlines.
The second way to earn points, and likely easiest for most people, is by transferring credit card points. Aeroplan partners with American Express, Capital One, and Marriott. This means that you can transfer credit card points to Aeroplan to book an award flight.
Credit card spending on co-branded Aeroplan credit cards is the last way to earn points. We’ll know more about how to earn Aeroplan points from its credit cards on November 8, 2020. This is the day Air Canada Aeroplan plans to release its credit cards for US residents. Until then, hold tight for more details.
Basic Air Canada Aeroplan Redemption Rules
With the most recent program updates, Aeroplan truly is a loyalty program we can all get excited about. The program now divides the world into regions: North America, Atlantic, Pacific, and South America.
Unlike the region-based award chart, we’re used to using, the new Aeroplan award chart is distance-based. This means that the number of Aeroplan points is based upon the distance of your flight.
In the fine print of the new award chart, there are several items to be aware of that are included below:
- Air Canada Aeroplan miles are now called points
- Points displayed on the award chart are for one-way travel
- For flight awards including travel with a partner airline, a 39 CAD (30 USD) partner booking fee will apply
- Points required for partner airline flight awards are based on the actual distance flown
- First-class flight awards on Air Canada apply only for travel in conjunction with a flight operated by a partner airline in first class
- Lap infants under the age of two are charged CAD 25 (22 USD) or 2,500 points per the direction of travel
- Fuel surcharges are being eliminated
Using the Air Canada Aeroplan Search Engine
Aeroplan, in addition to United Airlines and ANA, is part of the big three search engines to use to search for Star Alliance award flights. Most flights can be booked directly on the Aeroplan website, however, some flights like the Around the World flights, require a phone call.
Best Ways to Use Aeroplan Points
Air Canada Aeroplan is a key Star Alliance program. Not only can you book Star Alliance award flights with Aeroplan, but you can now book Etihad Airways award flights using Aeroplan miles.
1. United West Coast to Hawaii
Booking flights to Hawaii with Aeroplan points from the mainland US could be interesting. 12,500 Aeroplan points books you an economy flight between 1,501 – 2,750 miles. Generally speaking, flights from the West Coast to Hawaii price at these rates. Turkish Airlines charges 7,500 miles one-way in economy or 12,500 miles one-way in business class to Hawaii. As a result, Turkish is one of the best Star Alliance programs to use for flights to Hawaii.
In the current Aeroplan Hawaii award region, a one-way economy flight from the mainland US to Hawaii is 22,500 miles. So, the program update in November likely makes it more competitive for flights to Hawaii.
Examples of flights you can book include:
- San Francisco (SFO) > Maui (OGG)
- Los Angeles (LAX) > Lihue (LIH)
2. United US to the Caribbean
For flights from the US to the Caribbean between 1,501 – 2,750 miles, you can book a one-way economy flight with 12,500 points. Business-class can be booked with 25,000 points. Shorter flights to the Caribbean between 501 – 1,500 miles may present an even better deal at 10,000 points for an economy flight. As a result, the shorter the flight, the more competitive the program may become.
The Caribbean & Central America region in the current Aeroplan award chart includes countries like the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Saint Lucia, Turks & Caicos Islands, and US Virgin Islands.
Examples of flights within this mileage zone include:
- Chicago (ORD) > San Juan (SJU)
- Newark (EWR) > St Lucia (UVF)
- Houston (IAH) > Aruba (AUA)
3. Star Alliance US to Europe
Flights between North America and Europe in the Atlantic zone price between 35,000-40,000 points one-way in economy. You can also use 60,000-70,000 points to book a one-way business class flight. A one-way Star Alliance business class flight to Europe using Turkish Airlines miles is 45,000 miles. So, you pay more points/miles with the new Aeroplan than Turkish Airlines, however, Turkish passes on fuel surcharges while the new Aeroplan does not pass on fuel surcharges.
For context, you can currently book flights from the US to Europe 1 with 55,000 Aeroplan miles and Europe 2 with 57,500 Aeroplan miles. Europe 1 includes countries like Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Europe 2 includes countries like Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, and Hungary.
Examples of flights you can book include:
- Chicago (ORD) > Vienna (VIE) on Austrian Airlines
- Seattle (SEA) > Frankfurt (FRA) on Lufthansa
- New York (JFK) > Zurich (ZRH) on Swiss
4. Star Alliance US to Southern South America
Long-haul flights from the US to southern South America may be ones to consider booking with the new Aeroplan. With 70,000 points, you can book a one-way United business class flight to countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Another option is to use 40,000 points to book an economy flight. United charges 30,000 miles one-way in economy or 60,0000 miles one-way in business class. So, give United a look before booking any flight to South America.
The current Aeroplan southern South America region includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay. Within this award chart, you can book a one-way economy flight with 30,000 Aeroplan miles or business class flight with 55,000 Aeroplan miles.
Examples of flights you can book include:
- Houston (IAH) > Santiago (SCL) on United
- Chicago (ORD) > São Paulo (GRU) on United
5. Star Alliance US to Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific
Depending on the distance, flights from the US to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific may make sense to book with the new Aeroplan. The longer the distance of your flight, the more uncompetitive program becomes. Starting at 75,000 Aeroplan points, you can book a one-way business class flight to countries like Australia. Turkish Airlines also charges 75,000 miles. Therefore, check out Turkish Airlines as another option.
Aeroplan currently charges 80,000 miles for a one-way business class to this region. The Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific region includes Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
Examples of flights that you can book include:
- San Francisco (SFO) > Sydney (SYD) on United
- Houston (IAH) > Auckland (AKL) on Air New Zealand
Additional Ways to Use Aeroplan Points
Etihad US to Southeast Asia
With the recent Etihad partnership, a one-way Etihad first-class flight from the US to Southeast Asia costs 107,500 Aeroplan miles. However, when the new Aeroplan pricing starts, the pricing increases to 130,000 points. As a result, American Airlines at 70,000 and 110,000 miles for business and first-class Etihad flights are cheaper.
Etihad US to Australia
Business and first-class flights from the US to Australia on Etihad price at 80,000 and 110,000 miles respectively. Pricing increases to 75,000 and 140,000 respectively in the new Aeroplan program. With the new pricing, American at 80,000 and 110,000 miles for business and first-class Etihad flights is more competitive.
Conclusion on the New Program
The move to a distanced-based award chart, the addition of a partner booking fee, and the removal of fuel surcharges are several of the key updates we expect to see come November. Generally speaking, the program updates make this program more valuable.
How do you use your Air Canada points for maximum value? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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