The Aeroplan devaluation 2026 takes effect June 1. The program is raising the price of some of its best longhaul premium cabin redemptions by as much as 17 to 20 percent. If you’ve been holding Aeroplan points for a transatlantic business class seat or a North America to Asia first class ticket, the next five weeks may be the best time to book.
Air Canada published the new Flight Reward Chart with a single line on its website noting that “as of June 1, 2026, we’re making a few changes to the number of points you may need to redeem for a reward.” In true Canadian fashion, that’s a very polite way of saying that partner business and first class are getting more expensive on most of the routes Americans actually book.
What’s Actually Changing With The Aeroplan Award Chart
Aeroplan still uses a zone-based, distance-banded chart with two prices per cell: a “starting at” rate (the minimum you might pay) and a median (what most members actually pay). The four zones are unchanged: North America, Atlantic, Pacific, and South America. What’s changing is the price within those bands, and the increases concentrate in two places: longhaul business class on partners, and longhaul first class on partners.
Two structural notes worth understanding before you scroll the tables. First, Air Canada flights and “Select Partner” flights share one price column, while “all other partners” have a separate, usually higher column. Select Partners are United Airlines, Emirates, Flydubai, Etihad Airways, Canadian North, Calm Air, Bearskin Airlines, and Provincial Airlines. Star Alliance carriers like Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines, EVA, and Turkish all sit in the “all other partners” column, which is the column most US-based award bookers care about.
Second, this is a chart-based program with published prices, but Aeroplan reserves the right to charge above the starting rate when demand is high. The medians published in the chart hint at how often that happens, and they’re often dramatically higher than the starting rates.
The Transatlantic Damage Is Real But Targeted
For Americans, the most consequential change is between North America and the Atlantic zone, because that covers most flights to Europe, Africa, and India.
Short transatlantic flights of 4,000 miles or less are spared. Business class stays at 60,000 points and first class stays at 90,000 points on partners. That’s the band that covers East Coast departures to Western Europe, including New York to London, Boston to Dublin, and similar routes. If your bucket list trip is in that distance band, you got lucky.
The 4,001 to 6,000 mile band is where most Americans get hit. Business class on partners moves from 70,000 to 75,000 points, a 7.1 percent increase. First class on partners moves from 100,000 to 120,000 points, a 20 percent increase. This band covers a huge chunk of the US-to-Europe market, including most flights from the central US and West Coast.
The 8,001+ mile band, which covers things like Los Angeles to Johannesburg, sees first class on partners climb from 140,000 to 165,000 points, a 17.9 percent increase.
North America To The Pacific Took The Worst Hit
If transatlantic was a targeted strike, North America to Pacific took collateral damage across the board.
The 7,501 to 11,000 mile band, which is the bread and butter for trips like West Coast to Tokyo or East Coast to Seoul on partners, jumps from 87,500 to 102,500 points in business class. That’s a 17.1 percent increase and pushes Aeroplan into six-figure territory for routes that used to be one of the program’s signature sweet spots. First class on partners in the same band climbs from 120,000 to 140,000 points.
Even longer bands didn’t escape. The 11,001+ band on partners moves from 100,000 to 115,000 points in business class.
The good news, such as it is, is that the shorter Pacific bands (5,000 miles or less) are largely intact, including the band that covers most West Coast to Hawaii flights on partners.
Where Aeroplan Redemptions Got Cheaper
A handful of categories actually moved down or stayed flat, and they’re worth noting because they signal where the program still wants you to redeem.
Within North America, the entire chart is unchanged. Short and medium intra-Atlantic business class came down slightly. Long intra-Pacific business saw modest reductions. The lowest-tier economy redemptions in several bands held flat or dropped marginally. Some short economy hops between North America and Europe got cheaper.
These aren’t the redemptions most members are sitting on points for, but if you’ve been eyeing intra-Europe positioning flights or domestic Canadian itineraries, this isn’t the devaluation that ruins your plan.
How The New Aeroplan Award Chart Compares To The Old One
Here’s a side-by-side of the bands most US members actually book. Numbers reflect “all other partners” pricing, which is what you pay flying Star Alliance carriers like Lufthansa, ANA, EVA, Singapore, Swiss, and Turkish.
| Distance Band | Cabin | Old | New (June 1) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4,000 mi | Business | 60,000 | 60,000 | No change |
| 0–4,000 mi | First | 90,000 | 90,000 | No change |
| 4,001–6,000 mi | Business | 70,000 | 75,000 | +7.1% |
| 4,001–6,000 mi | First | 100,000 | 120,000 | +20.0% |
| 6,001–8,000 mi | Business | 87,500 | 90,000 | +2.9% |
| 6,001–8,000 mi | First | 130,000 | 150,000 | +15.4% |
| 8,001+ mi | Business | 100,000 | 110,000 | +10.0% |
| 8,001+ mi | First | 140,000 | 165,000 | +17.9% |
| Distance Band | Cabin | Old | New (June 1) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 mi | Business | 55,000 | 55,000 | No change |
| 0–5,000 mi | First | 90,000 | 90,000 | No change |
| 5,001–7,500 mi | Business | 75,000 | 75,000 | No change |
| 5,001–7,500 mi | First | 110,000 | 120,000 | +9.1% |
| 7,501–11,000 mi | Business | 87,500 | 102,500 | +17.1% |
| 7,501–11,000 mi | First | 120,000 | 140,000 | +16.7% |
| 11,001+ mi | Business | 100,000 | 115,000 | +15.0% |
| 11,001+ mi | First | 140,000 | 150,000 | +7.1% |
The percentage increases in those tables are the actual numbers from the new published chart, not estimates.
What This Means If You Have An Aeroplan Balance
If you’re sitting on Aeroplan points earmarked for a specific longhaul premium cabin redemption, you have until May 31 to lock in current pricing. Bookings made before June 1 use the old chart even if travel is later.
A few practical moves to consider.
If you have a transatlantic business class trip in mind in the 4,001 to 6,000 mile band, book it before June 1 and save 5,000 points one-way, or 10,000 round-trip.
If you have a transatlantic first class trip in mind, the savings are bigger. Booking before June 1 in the 4,001 to 6,000 mile band saves 20,000 points one-way (40,000 round-trip).
If your target is a North America to Pacific business class redemption in the 7,501 to 11,000 mile band, book before June 1 to save 15,000 points one-way (30,000 round-trip).
If you don’t have a specific trip in mind but want to stockpile, this devaluation is also a reminder that points are a depreciating asset. The program has now devalued in September 2022, March 2025, and June 2026. Sitting on a large balance with no plan is the most expensive thing you can do.
The Bigger Picture On Aeroplan Devaluations
The honest read on this is that Aeroplan is converging toward United MileagePlus pricing on partner awards. That’s not surprising given that United is one of Aeroplan’s named Select Partners and the two programs share a Star Alliance backbone.
It’s also worth remembering that this is the third Aeroplan award chart change in about four years. The 2022 chart adjustment was modest. March 2025 was significant. June 2026 is significant again. The pattern suggests another adjustment is more a question of when than if, which is the strongest argument for redeeming points rather than hoarding them.
That said, even after the June 1 changes, Aeroplan still beats United MileagePlus on most partner premium cabin redemptions out of the US. A 120,000-point Aeroplan first class ticket from Munich to Los Angeles is still cheaper than the same seat at 165,000 United miles. Aeroplan also has lower fuel surcharges than most European programs, no award change fees within most windows, and broad partner access that includes Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore, EVA, and Turkish.
The program is definitely becoming worse, but it’s not worthless.
The Bottom Line
The Aeroplan devaluation 2026 is real, it concentrates on the redemptions members care most about, and the deadline is firm: book by May 31, 2026 to lock in current pricing. The Pacific business class band took the steepest hit at over 17 percent. Transatlantic first class in the middle band took a 20 percent hit. Short-haul transatlantic business class came out unscathed.
If you have a target trip and the points to cover it, book it soon. If you don’t, treat this as a reminder that every airline currency is a depreciating asset, and the cure is redemption, not accumulation.
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