Air Canada Aeroplan: How It Works and Why Award Bookers Love It
No surcharges, published charts, cheap stopovers, and more partners than any rival — Aeroplan is the award booker's program.
By Biirdee Travel — Luxury Travel Concierge · Updated June 10, 2026
How Aeroplan Works
Air Canada rebuilt Aeroplan from scratch in 2020 and, unusually for this industry, made it better: published award charts organized by region and distance band, carrier-imposed fuel surcharges eliminated entirely, and a partner roster that has grown past 45 airlines — all of Star Alliance plus headline non-alliance partners like Emirates, Etihad, and Oman Air. Points are earned from flying, Canadian and US co-brand cards, and an enviable set of transfer routes: American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Bilt Rewards all move in at 1:1.
Awards on partner airlines price off the fixed charts; Air Canada's own flights price dynamically within published ranges, so even "dynamic" has a ceiling here. Elite status (Aeroplan Elite 25K through Super Elite 100K) is earned through a conventional mix of qualifying miles, segments, and spend, and matters mostly to Canadians flying Air Canada regularly — the redemption side is what matters to everyone else.
Points expire after 18 months of total inactivity, and any earning event — a card swipe, a transfer, a points purchase — resets the clock. For an active points household, expiry is a non-issue.
Key Takeaways
- Four of the five major US bank currencies transfer to Aeroplan 1:1 (Citi is the only holdout).
- No fuel surcharges on any award — including partners that carry heavy surcharges in their own programs.
- Published distance-band charts for partners; Air Canada's own flights price dynamically within ranges.
- Add a stopover to a one-way international award for just 5,000 points.
- 45+ partners spanning Star Alliance plus Emirates, Etihad, and other non-alliance carriers.
What Makes Aeroplan Different
| Feature | Aeroplan | Typical US program |
|---|---|---|
| Award pricing | Published charts by region and distance | Dynamic, often uncapped |
| Fuel surcharges | None on any award | Varies — heavy on some partners |
| Stopovers | 5,000 points adds one to a one-way | Rarely allowed at all |
| Partner breadth | 45+ airlines, in and out of Star Alliance | Alliance partners plus a handful |
| Bank transfer access | Amex, Chase, Capital One, Bilt | Usually one or two programs |
Where Aeroplan Value Lives
Aeroplan's superpower is breadth without surcharges. Lufthansa first class — brutally surcharged through Miles & More — books surcharge-free through Aeroplan when space reaches partners. The same applies across Star Alliance: ANA, EVA, Turkish, Swiss, and United itineraries all price off the chart with taxes-only fees. And because Emirates and Etihad sit in the partner roster, Aeroplan is one of the few Star-aligned currencies that can also reach the Gulf carriers' premium cabins.
The 5,000-point stopover is the program's signature construction: fly US–Tokyo with five days in Vancouver, or US–Singapore pausing a week in Istanbul, on a single one-way award for a nominal add-on. Combined with generous mixed-cabin and multi-partner routing rules, Aeroplan rewards itinerary creativity more than any North American program — the kind of construction work covered in our maximization playbook.
The honest caveats: distance bands mean long routings can climb into expensive tiers, dynamic pricing on Air Canada's own transatlantic flights can disappoint, and the best partner space (ANA business, Lufthansa first) remains scarce everywhere. Aeroplan makes scarce seats cheaper and cleaner to book — it does not conjure them.
How Biirdee Optimizes Aeroplan
Because four bank programs feed it, Aeroplan is frequently the best destination for whatever points a client already holds — so it features constantly in our award searches. We construct the stopover routings, watch for the partner space that makes the charts sing, time transfers so points move only against confirmed seats, and benchmark every award against the discounted business and first class cash fares we source at up to 70% off retail.
It also pairs naturally with United MileagePlus: same alliance, different charts and inventory access, so pricing both for a Star Alliance trip routinely saves five figures of points. Tell us what you hold in a flight quote and we will run the comparison.
Aeroplan FAQs
Which credit card points transfer to Aeroplan?
American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Bilt Rewards — all at 1:1, typically instantly. That makes Aeroplan one of the most accessible premium currencies in North America; Citi ThankYou is the only major program without a route in.
Does Aeroplan really have no fuel surcharges?
Correct — Air Canada eliminated carrier surcharges on award tickets in the 2020 relaunch. You pay points plus government taxes and a modest partner booking fee where applicable, which makes surcharge-heavy partners like Lufthansa dramatically cheaper through Aeroplan than through their own programs.
How does the Aeroplan stopover work?
On a one-way international partner award, 5,000 extra points buy a stopover of up to 45 days at an intermediate city. One stopover per one-way, not available on domestic Canada itineraries — and effectively two trips for the price of one when used well.
Do Aeroplan points expire?
After 18 months of no account activity. Any earn or redemption resets the clock, so active cardholders and occasional transfer recipients rarely face expiry in practice.
Is Aeroplan better than United MileagePlus for Star Alliance awards?
Often, but not always: Aeroplan's charts and stopover beat United on many routes, while United sometimes sees saver space Aeroplan does not and avoids partner booking fees. The same seat should be priced through both — which is exactly what we do for clients holding transferable points.
Biirdee · Flight Concierge
The Award Booker's Program Deserves an Award Booker
Stopovers, surcharge-free partners, and four ways in from your bank points — Biirdee builds the Aeroplan itinerary, and checks the cash fare before you burn a single point.
Questions?[email protected]
Related Guides
Airline Miles & Points
The Top Airline Mileage Programs: How They Work and Which Are Worth It
Airline Miles & Points
How to Maximize Airline Miles: The Premium-Cabin Playbook
Airline Miles & Points
United MileagePlus: How It Works and How to Spend It Well
Airline Miles & Points
Lufthansa Miles & More: How It Works and the First Class Secret