Air Canada just announced the first major changes to points redemptions since the complete overhaul of its Aeroplan rewards program in 2020. They’re related to the best redemptions: on partner airlines! No, the best redemptions are certainly not on Air Canada (but so many people still don’t know this, unfortunately).
In fact, Air Canada had already announced this change a long time ago, and we told you about it: Aeroplan award charts would no longer apply for domestic partner airlines because it gives an incredibly too high value right now.
But finally, a few other partner airlines are also moving to dynamic pricing. It’s negative for those who want it to be more lucrative. It’s positive for those who want it to be more simple.
Here are the details of the Aeroplan points redemption changes for 2025.
Basics of Aeroplan points redemptions
If you’re an Aeroplan pro who already knows that it’s with partners that you should use your points if you want to maximize their value, you can skip this section.
If not, allow me to remind you of the most important basics about Aeroplan redemptions because many travelers haven’t read the 5 Aeroplan basics that I shared on the panel I hosted with celebrity chef Chuck Hughes among others.
Aeroplan has 2 completely separate pricing systems:
- On the 40+ partner airlines
- Guaranteed fixed price not tied to cash price (award charts)
- So the price in points is limited
- Therefore, available seats are limited
- And the value you can get is not limited
- On Air Canada
- Variable price tied to cash price (dynamic pricing)
- So the price in points is not limited
- Therefore, available seats are not limited
- And the value you can get is limited
It’s really not that complicated to understand, but it’s normal not to know if no one tells you and if you don’t read about the basics of the program.
In other words:
- On the 40+ partner airlines
- More lucrative
- Less simple
- On Air Canada
- More simple
- Less lucrative
It’s a frankly very interesting system because it allows both very different types of travelers to find what works for them:
- The deal enthusiasts who want to save the most money
- Want to maximize their value
- Want to minimize the cost
- Can use their points on partners
- The vast majority of people who don’t want to rack their brains
- Want to maximize their flexibility
- Want to minimize effort and compromises
- Can use their points on Air Canada
We have a complete guide on 40+ Aeroplan partner airlines that we’ll update soon to include the newly announced changes.
The only current particularity of Aeroplan redemptions is minor: 2 of the 46 partner airlines have their own separate award chart. This allows making these airlines available at a higher price… rather than not being available at all.
A bit like the principle of having all Air Canada seats available at a higher price… rather than not being available at all.
It’s exactly this concept that will be expanded with these changes.
Overview of Aeroplan changes for 2025
I explain everything in detail below, but let’s start with an overview that gives you the essentials.
To be clear, 39 of Aeroplan’s 46 partner airlines are not affected by the changes at all. Only 7 of the 46 are affected — and 2 of the 7 already had their separate award chart. Flights on Air Canada are not affected at all either.
Here are the partners affected by the Aeroplan point redemptions changes:
- 3 domestic partners
- We already knew this was coming
- Canadian North + Calm Air + PAL airlines
- Air Creebec is excluded, though
- 1 major partner in the United States
- Not that surprising; disappointing nonetheless
- United Airlines
- 1 minor partner in the United Arab Emirates
- Not surprising either; less impact
- Etihad
- 2 already special partners in the United Arab Emirates
- They already had their own award chart
- Emirates + flydubai
It’s not exaggerated that after almost 5 years of the new program they make an adjustment (it’s far from the nearly-yearly changes for Avios points). And this Aeroplan change is not that major either. Nothing changes for the vast majority of flights.
But it will be another good reason to travel further since United flights won’t be as good of a deal! The best destinations are further away anyway! And Air Canada chose its timing well to make the news go through better, while so many people are boycotting the United States.
Here are the basics of the announced Aeroplan changes:
- These 7 partners move to dynamic pricing
- Variable prices that are not limited
- Prices in points that are tied to cash prices
- Like Air Canada flights currently
- Will give more available seats than currently
- On these 7 partners
- But not all seats, unlike on Air Canada
- Will certainly give higher prices
- Like on Air Canada currently
- Absolutely no changes to award charts
- For the other 39 partner airlines
- Effective March 25, 2025
- It’s worth booking flights before
- To take advantage of lower prices
- Especially if you want to go to Northern Canada
Basically, it’s not very complicated. Dynamic pricing will no longer be just on Air Canada; it will be on 7 partners, too.
The change therefore mainly affects those who want to travel on fixed-price flights while often getting good value on United (the world’s largest airline) and those who want to travel to Northern Canada while always getting phenomenal value on domestic partners (quite niche nonetheless).
Here are a few other things to know about the changes:
- Exclusive discounts will apply
- On these 7 partners in addition to Air Canada
- Benefit offered by Aeroplan credit cards
- And by Aeroplan elite status
- New feature to plan and predict dynamic pricing
- Median price based on actual redemptions
- Listed with partner award charts
- Updated each quarter
- Improves transparency somewhat
- Return of business class redemptions on Etihad
- Wasn’t available for a while
- But still no first class
My analysis is below, but I’ll at least say that Aeroplan is objectively one of the best airline reward programs in the world according to anyone who knows what they’re talking about.
Seriously, it’s normal to think otherwise when you really don’t know much about it… but you’re definitely wrong. Any travel rewards expert will tell you. And if an “expert” tells you otherwise; you can immediately know that they’re not actually an expert. We’re here to help you learn so you can become a pro too.
In short, these Aeroplan changes obviously don’t improve the program… but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s so much better than almost all others. Not at all, even.
Details of Aeroplan changes for 2025
Here’s more information about each aspect of the changes.
New median price for Air Canada and the 7 select partners
Here’s what the new Aeroplan award chart looks like for flights from North America to North America, with the new box showing the median price paid by Aeroplan members in the last 12 months.
Ultimately, the change simplifies things in a way. Before, Emirates and flydubai were separate. So now there are no more exceptions. There are really just the 2 pricing systems.
I repeat because it’s important: fixed prices for partners haven’t changed at all.
What changes is that the “Air Canada” section is now “Air Canada and select partners” (the 7 I just named). And that now there are median prices displayed.
For those who aren’t as good at math, median price means half of redemptions cost less than this amount and the other half cost more than this amount. It’s not the same as the average; the median is a better indicator in many cases.
The median price is to give you an idea of what price to expect and help you forecast and plan. The data is based on the last 12 months and will be updated in the award charts each quarter by Aeroplan.
We’ll update our article with Aeroplan award charts each time.
Note that the median price won’t be provided for flights outside North America, nor for flights in first class (not to be confused with business class, as many do). Simply because the sample size is too small and wouldn’t give reliable data anyway.
Prices and available seats for the 7 select partners
Prices will inevitably increase for the partners in question, but in return, seats available to book with points should increase, too. It’s the usual logic of the concept.
The big downside of dynamic pricing is that the price will be whatever the airline wants it to be. There’s no limit. No transparency. Nothing.
That’s why we’ve been telling you for years that redeeming airline points at a fixed price set by an award chart is by far the most lucrative redemption option in the entire world of travel rewards.
Dynamic pricing is not ideal at all for those who want to maximize their value. But easier-to-find seats can be good for those who want to maximize their flexibility.
While with Air Canada, dynamic pricing at least guarantees that every seat on every flight is available with points, this won’t be the case with the 7 select partners.
So it won’t be as flexible and simple as with Air Canada.
The announcement obviously promises that moving to dynamic pricing will make more seats available. But it remains impossible to validate or confirm, and we’ll have to see how significant the difference in terms of availability is, in a somewhat anecdotal way.
Discounts (preferred pricing) for Air Canada and the 7 select partners
It won’t make up for price increases, but we should still note the positive in the bad news.
Savvy travelers who have an Aeroplan credit card will now get exclusive discounts on the prices in points for flights on the 7 select partners, in addition to Air Canada flights.
Currently, this benefit only applies to Air Canada flights (because the price on all partner airlines is guaranteed and set by award charts).
Aeroplan calls this the “preferred pricing” benefit.
Premium-level cards have the biggest discounts (plus unlimited free access to Air Canada airport lounges in North America, free carry-on bags, free checked bags, etc.)
| Best credit cards Aeroplan premium level |
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 Valuation (BONUS)(≈ 5.9% back on $7.5k)
Rewards: ≈ $1041
Card fee: $599
Spend required:$7.5k in 3 mos.
Best for: Available for all income levels & higher AC earn rate
 LUCRATIVE
No min. inc.
ends August 18th
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Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 5.5% back on $10.5k)
Rewards: ≈ $1172
Card fee: $599
Spend required:$10.5k in 3 mos.
Best for: Similar to previos with no incorp. business req.
LUCRATIVE
No min. inc.
ends August 18th
|
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Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 2.2% back on $24k)
Rewards: ≈ $1126
Annual fee: $599
Spend required:$24k in 12 mos.
Best for: Best premium Aeroplan Visa & 6 DP lounge passes
LUCRATIVE
150k/200k
|
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
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Best credit cards Aeroplan premium level |
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LUCRATIVENo min. inc.
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1041
Card fee: $599 (≈ 5.9% back on $7.5k)
Spend required:
$7.5k in 3 mos.
Best for: Available for all income levels & higher AC earn rate
|
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LUCRATIVENo min. inc.
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1172
Card fee: $599 (≈ 5.5% back on $10.5k)
Spend required:
$10.5k in 3 mos.
Best for: Similar to previos with no incorp. business req.
|
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LUCRATIVE 150k/200k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $1126
Annual fee: $599 (≈ 2.2% back on $24k)
Spend required:
$24k in 12 mos.
Best for: Best premium Aeroplan Visa & 6 DP lounge passes
|
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LUCRATIVE150k/200k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $732
Card fee: (≈ 0.9% back on $15k)
Spend required:
$15k in 12 mos. (or $7k)
Best for: Lower bonus than TD version right above
|
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
Main-level cards have slightly lower discounts (plus free checked bags).
| Best credit cards Aeroplan main level |
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|
Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 14.0% back on $3k)
Rewards: ≈ $540
Card fee: $120
Spend required:$3k in 3 mos. + $1k
Best for: Available for all income levels but fewer benefits
LUCRATIVE
No min. inc.
|
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Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 5.3% back on $12k)
Rewards: ≈ $641
Annual fee: $0 $139
Spend required:$12k in 12 mos.
Best for: Highest bonus on main-level Aeroplan card
LUCRATIVE
60k/100k
|
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Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 6.1% back on $10k)
Rewards: ≈ $611
Card fee:
Spend required:$10k in 12 mos. (or $5k)
Best for: Lower bonus than TD version right above
LUCRATIVE
60k/100k
|
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
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Best credit cards Aeroplan main level |
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LUCRATIVENo min. inc.
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $540
Card fee: $120 (≈ 14.0% back on $3k)
Spend required:
$3k in 3 mos. + $1k
Best for: Available for all income levels but fewer benefits
|
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LUCRATIVE60k/100k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $641
Annual fee: $0 $139 (≈ 5.3% back on $12k)
Spend required:
$12k in 12 mos.
Best for: Highest bonus on main-level Aeroplan card
|
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LUCRATIVE60k/100k
Valuation (BONUS)
Rewards: ≈ $611
Card fee: (≈ 6.1% back on $10k)
Spend required:
$10k in 12 mos. (or $5k)
Best for: Lower bonus than TD version right above
|
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
Note that those who have Aeroplan elite status have the same benefit, but reaching airline elite status costs a lot. The complete opposite of credit cards which are free pay you to get them with their huge welcome bonuses.
Analysis of the change for domestic partners
It’s been over a year since Aeroplan had given notice that the open bar on this front would end. It’s just unsustainable to keep such low fixed prices for flights that are always worth thousands of dollars in cash.
The extreme example for Northern Canada that we’ve been sharing for years is the most telling: 15¢/pt in value!!! That’s incredibly high. It’s literally 10 times more value than our conservative Flytrippers Valuation of Aeroplan points (≈ 1.5¢/pt).
It can’t work for the program. So it’s a very understandable change. It’s already good that it lasted this long.
Very few people will be really affected. But I recommend everyone take advantage of it at least once before it’s gone forever. It’s your chance to go somewhere extremely different and remote. It will never be as cheap as with this Aeroplan sweet spot!
I’ll very soon share a detailed step-by-step guide on how to book at the fixed price before March 25 (you can fly up all the way into 2026; but you obviously need to book before the new prices take effect). Sign up for our free newsletter to receive it!
You can go see polar bears in Churchill (Manitoba) for 15,000 Aeroplan points roundtrip (about $300 in taxes/fees) instead of $2000 in cash (11¢/pt)!!! You can go all the way to Arctic Canada in Iqaluit (Nunavut) for 20,000 Aeroplan points roundtrip (about $200 in taxes/fees) instead of $2000 in cash (9¢/pt)!!!
I will for sure book one myself (I procrastinated it until I no longer had a choice, like now); the hardest will be to choose which destination to prioritize.
Note that the 4th domestic partner airline, Air Creebec, is not affected. That said, it’s the one with the least interesting network of the 4, honestly. But you’ll still be able to go from Montreal to Kuujjuarapik for just 20,000 points roundtrip!
Analysis of the change for United
This is clearly the airline where the change will have the biggest impact. I myself have used my Aeroplan points on United dozens of times.
We shared this week that United became the 1st airline in the world to have 1,000 aircraft in its fleet. It’s a huge player that was convenient for traveling to the United States obviously, but even everywhere else with a connection.
But at the same time, I understand the reasoning.
Air Canada and United don’t just have a simple partnership like with many other airlines: they have a joint venture and therefore share revenue and losses for flights between the 2 countries. It’s the closest of partnerships.
So it makes sense that the pricing system for Aeroplan points redemptions would be the same for both airlines since, for all intents and purposes, they form one single airline for operations between both countries.
(That’s why we were saying that boycotting United also hurts a Canadian airline and its employees; not unlike boycotting “American” Lay’s chips hurts the Canadians who make them and grow the potatoes here in Canada!)
In short, I’m not happy about the change, of course. But I understand it, and it’s not the end of the world either.
Analysis of the change for Emirates and flydubai
Emirates is considered one of the world’s best airlines. It’s difficult to book with airline points since it’s not part of any airline alliance.
So to make using Aeroplan points possible, the compromise was already that it had its own award chart.
It’s therefore already special for them as well as the other Emirati airline based in Dubai, flydubai (that one really isn’t considered one of the best airlines, but has the same owner and therefore the same special Aeroplan rules currently).
Now both will have dynamic pricing like the partner airlines that will newly become special. So the change is very very minor for those ones.
Analysis of the change for Etihad
Etihad is the other Emirati full-service airline. Based in the capital city of Abu Dhabi, it’s also recognized as one of the world’s best and is also not in any alliance.
So the same logic will apply to them too. Makes sense.
In the same announcement, Aeroplan confirmed the return of business class seat availability on Etihad.
One of the most wonderful things about the world of travel rewards, for those who want to travel in luxury for less, is that airline points can give you flights in business class and first class at a fraction of the price!
You should never pay for it in cash; it just doesn’t make sense. You can read my testimonial of a 13-hour flight in the world’s best business class: instead of $4,000 (!!!), I just needed the points from the increased welcome bonus of the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card (which is back since last week).
Aeroplan points are also great for premium cabin travel (often better even). Etihad, Emirates, and United will be less interesting options soon, but there will still be plenty of partners at guaranteed fixed prices.
However, Etihad first class will still not be available for now, unfortunately. It’s one of the world’s best and is extremely expensive in cash. Once again, it’s better to have access to the rest of Etihad flights without first-class redemptions than to have no access to Etihad at all.
You can still easily book Etihad’s famous The Apartment suite, which gives you access to an in-flight shower and an actual bed (not “just” a lie-flat pod seat). You can get that for a fraction of the price by transferring Amex points to the Etihad Guest program, or RBC Avion points to the American AAdvantage program.
More details to come soon if you are interested in this particular points redemption and all premium cabin experiences.
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Summary
These changes affecting Aeroplan points redemptions are the first major ones since the complete overhaul of Air Canada’s rewards program in 2020. There will now be 7 partner airlines that will work with dynamic pricing, like it’s already the case for Air Canada flights.
What would you like to know about Aeroplan changes? Tell us in the comments below.
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