Aeroplan Award Chart Changes: Winners And Losers

Aeroplan is updating its award chart next month for the first time since the new program launched. While the changes are mostly negative and penalize some heavily-used redemptions, I’m thankful that Aeroplan remains a standout among peers in offering a valuable redemption proposition.

Aeroplan Updates Award Chart – The Losers

In terms of extracting the most value out of your miles, premium cabin redemptions between the North America and Atlantic zones are near the top of the list.

Aeroplan has a hybrid distance and zone based award chart and defines the “Atlantic zone” as:

• Europe
• Africa
• Middle East
• Portions of South and West Asia

Effective September 1, 2022, the pricing for the two highest distance tiers within the Atlantic zone will increase in price:

• Distance 6,001 – 8,000 miles
  • Business Class – 85,000 to 90,000 miles
  • First Class – 120,000 to 130,000 miles
• Distance 8,000+ miles
  • Business Class – 100,000 to 110,000 miles
  • First Class – 130,000 to 140,000 miles

Even routing rules which prohibit backtracking still leaves these redemptions tiers as some of the most-used in the Aeroplan program.

The pricing increase is modest, but it is a devaluation and further represents a higher price for what was already one of the Aeroplan’s pricier award categories. Fly Turkish Airlines from San Francisco or Los Angeles and Istanbul and the price will now be a whopping 95,000 miles each way. Turkish charges roughly half of that amount (and passes on a modest fuel surcharge) while United charges 77,000 and has no fuel surcharge.

Aeroplan will also increase some pricing between North America and the Pacific zone, though more modestly. The Pacific zone includes East Asia, Eastern Russia, parts of South Asia not included in the Atlantic zone, and Oceania.

• Distance 7,501 – 11,000 miles
  • Business Class – 85,000 miles to 87,500 miles
  • First Class – 130,000 miles (no change)
• Distance 8,000+ miles
  • Business Class – 105,000 to 115,000 miles
  • First Class – 140,000 to 150,000 miles

Aeroplan will also increase longhaul awards (7,000+ miles) between the Atlantic and Pacific zones by 5,000 in economy class (to 65,000), 10,000 in business class (to 110,000), and 10,000 in first class (to 140,000).

Finally, Aeroplan is increasing prices on longer flights within the South America region:

• Distance 1,600+ miles
  • Economy Class – 15,000 to 20,000 miles
  • Business Class –  30,000 to 35,000 miles
  • First Class – 50,000 miles (unchanged)

Aeroplan Updates Ward Chart – The Winners

While the changes above will be felt by many members, Aeroplan is also reducing prices on some awards.

Between the Atlantic and Pacific zones, Aeroplan is adding a new tier:

• Distance 0 – 2,500 miles
  • Economy Class – 25,000 miles
  • Business Class – 40,000 miles
  • First Class – 50,000 miles

Currently, the first tier is 0 – 4,500 miles.

Aeroplan is also adding a new tier between North America and South America:

• Distance 0 – 2,500 miles
  • Economy Class – 25,000 miles
  • Business Class – 40,000 miles
  • First Class – 50,000 miles

Currently, the first tier is 0 – 4,500 miles.

Finally, flights within South America will now include a lower tier:

• Distance 0 – 1,600 miles
  • Economy Class – 10,000 miles
  • Business Class – 20,000 miles
  • First Class – 30,000 miles

Aeroplan Is Still Valuable

This is devaluation – let’s not try to spin as good news. But it could be worse (impacting even more high-impact distance tiers between North America and the Atlantic zone). Importantly, Aeroplan has communicated these changes in advance and is still maintaining an award chart, which I view as essential to holding any loyalty program accountable.

With so many transfer partners and so many airline partners, I remain quite optimistic about the future of the Aeroplan program. Even so, do not expect any “sweet spots” to last. Next year, I expect a steeper devaluation which will impact more regions.

CONCLUSION

An Aeroplan devaluation will take place on September 1, 2022. Although minor, it represents the first devaluation since the introduction of the new Aeroplan program during the pandemic. To Aeroplan’s credit, it was announced in advance and the award chart will remain.

I’m not happy about the devaluation and don’t think the new tiers are particularly helpful, but I continue to see value in Aeroplan.

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