Aeroplan’s New Partner-Award Pricing Is Live, and It’s Not Great

Updated: March 25, 2025, 5:48pm CDT

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Table of Contents

First Look at the New, Dynamic Aeroplan Award Prices
United Short-Haul Awards
United Awards to Europe and South America
Etihad Awards: Way Too Steep
Final Thoughts

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On March 25, Air Canada Aeroplan officially switched to dynamic pricing for certain partner awards, including those with United. There’s no way to sugarcoat it; the new pricing isn’t good news for award travelers. In some cases, prices have increased by an astounding 66%.

Let’s look at the Aeroplan changes in more detail.

First Look at the New, Dynamic Aeroplan Award Prices

The new award chart for Air Canada’s Aeroplan loyalty program is live as of today, March 25. And the changes we have seen so far are not good.

What’s new is that awards on some Aeroplan partner airlines, including United, are now priced dynamically, and those prices are higher than before the change.

There’s a new flight reward chart for Air Canada flights that now includes United, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, and Canadian regional airline partners Canadian North, Calm Air, and PAL (Provincial Airlines). The dynamic chart features “starting” and “median” (but no maximum) award rates.

Before the new chart went live, we knew that prices for Air Canada and select partner awards in North America, for example, would likely go up since the median price was higher. But what we’ve seen on the first day of the new chart is higher than expected.

Aeroplan NA Award Chart March 2025 — Here’s the new chart for flights within North America. Image Credit: Air Canada

United Short-Haul Awards

Under the old system, partner awards on United for short-haul flights were very competitive. Under 500 miles, you would pay only 6,000 Aeroplan points in economy class and 15,000 in business class.

Now, those short-haul United awards have increased to 10,000 Aeroplan points in economy and a whopping 30,000 in business class. That’s far above the median levels stated in the chart, 10,200 and 18,500, respectively.

Aeroplan United Short Haul Award new — Short-haul United awards with Aeroplan increased to 10,000 points in economy class. Image Credit: Air Canada

United Awards to Europe and South America

Before the change, UP staff were able to redeem 60,000 points to fly from the U.S. to Sao Paulo (GRU) on United in business; economy class would cost 43,000 points. Now, the awards cost 45,000 points in economy and 100,000 points in business. It’s a hike of just under 5% in economy, but a massive 66% jump in business.

Aeroplan United IAH GRU Award new — United business class with Aeroplan points is not such a great deal anymore. Image Credit: Air Canada

For flights to Europe, the change has been relatively worse in economy class. A one-way award on United from Newark (EWR) to London Heathrow (LHR) previously cost 35,000 points in economy or 60,000 points in business class until March 24. Now, those flights fetch for 40,000 and 80,000 points, respectively. That’s 14% more in economy, and 33% more in business.

Aeroplan United EWR LHR Award new — The good news is that Aeroplan has plenty of short-notice availability on United. Image Credit: Air Canada

Redeeming Aeroplan points for partner flights to Europe can still be a good idea with partners like Lufthansa, where award seats in business class can be had for 60,000 points plus $49 in taxes and fees.

Aeroplan Lufthansa EWR FRA Award new — Lufthansa’s old business class on the Boeing 747 is still a bargain at this price in points. Image Credit: Air Canada

Hot Tip:

Aeroplan still holds great value with many partners and the option to add stopovers for just 5,000 points, even after the increase in award prices. In addition, elite members of Aeroplan and holders of the Aeroplan^® Credit Card also have access to discounted award redemptions, which could make the card more attractive for U.S.-based flyers.

Etihad Awards: Way Too Steep

One of the changes introduced by Aeroplan with dynamic pricing was the return of award availability on Etihad. The Middle Eastern carrier is indeed bookable again with Aeroplan points, but the rates are frankly awful.

A search for business class from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Frankfurt (FRA) returned an award price of 108,400 points, which for a 7-hour flight is unreasonable.

Aeroplan Etihad AUH FRA new 2 — Taking a stop in Bahrain (BAH) and flying on Gulf Air would cost a far more acceptable 45,000 points. Image Credit: Air Canada

Final Thoughts

It’s clear from the first day of the new dynamic award chart that United awards booked with Aeroplan miles are far more expensive than before.

We may be able to find more attractive prices in time — the point of dynamic prices, after all, is that they fluctuate — but there’s no doubt that this is a significant devaluation.

Some partner awards booked with Aeroplan points, however, do remain attractive, like Lufthansa business class to Europe.