Starting March 25, 2025, Aeroplan is introducing key changes to its flight reward charts, expanding Air Canada’s dynamic pricing model to select partner airlines and refining how redemption costs are displayed.
While this could mean better availability, it might also come with higher redemption costs.
Here’s what you should know before these changes take effect.
Expanded Partner List and New Pricing Structure
The most notable change is that United Airlines, Emirates, Flydubai, Etihad Airways, Calm Air, Canadian North, and PAL Airlines will now fall under the same dynamic pricing model as Air Canada flights.
This means their award rates will no longer follow the fixed-price partner award chart but instead be subject to fluctuating pricing based on availability and demand.
While this could lead to higher pricing for some flights, there’s a potential upside—greater access to award seats on these carriers.
If you’ve ever struggled to find availability on United or Etihad, these changes could make redemptions easier, though potentially at a steeper cost.
Additionally, Etihad Business Class awards are back. After being unavailable for some time, Aeroplan members will once again be able to book Etihad Business Class systemwide.
Availability for Etihad First Class redemptions, however, remains unchanged.
The New Air Canada and Select Partners Reward Chart
Aeroplan’s Air Canada reward chart is being rebranded as the Air Canada and Select Partners chart.
This update comes with:
- Simplified Pricing: Instead of displaying wide point ranges, the new chart will show a starting price (which remains unchanged) and a median price based on past redemptions.
- Quarterly Median Updates: The median price will be refreshed every quarter, based on redemption data from the previous four quarters.
- Preferred Pricing for Elite Members and Credit Cardholders: Aeroplan Elite members and those with Aeroplan co-branded credit cards will continue to get discounted rates when booking through this new chart.
This change is meant to provide members with a clearer expectation of typical redemption costs, rather than an unpredictable range.
However, median prices won’t be displayed for First Class redemptions or routes outside North America, as lower redemption volumes in these categories could result in significant fluctuations over time.
Aeroplan has provided a sample chart for redemptions within North America, with full details on other zones expected soon.
What Stays the Same?
For those worried about Aeroplan’s traditional fixed-price partner chart, there’s some good news. The fixed pricing for all other partner airlines remains unchanged.
This means airlines like ANA, EVA Air, and Lufthansa will still follow the predictable fixed-price model.
What This Means for Award Travellers
These changes could be a double-edged sword for Aeroplan members. On one hand, expanded partner availability means more redemption opportunities—especially for premium cabins on airlines like Etihad and Emirates.
But on the flip side, dynamic pricing can make redemptions more expensive, particularly for last-minute bookings or high-demand routes.
We’ll be keeping an eye on how these changes impact redemption values and availability once they go live.
In the meantime, if you’ve been eyeing flights on United, Etihad, or regional Canadian airlines, you might want to lock in your bookings before March 25th to take advantage of the current fixed partner pricing.
Personally, I’ll be looking to book flights to explore Arctic Canada and experience the northern lights before the new pricing kicks in.
For example, a round-trip flight from Winnipeg to Churchill with Calm Air hovers around $2,000 (all figures CAD) in cash fare, but with Aeroplan, it can be booked for 15,000 Aeroplan points and around $300 in taxes.
That’s a stunning redemption value for an unforgettable trip to see polar bears and the aurora borealis in Churchill, Manitoba.
Another option I’ll be looking into is exploring the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
A flight from Ottawa to Iqaluit often hovers around $900 in cash fare, but with Aeroplan, it’s just 10,000 Aeroplan points and $90 in taxes.
With these redemptions potentially affected by the pricing update, now is a great time to book if you’ve been considering these adventures.
Conclusion
With these changes, Aeroplan is doubling down on dynamic pricing for key partners, while trying to balance it with better availability.
For travellers who value predictability in their redemptions, this shift may come as a disappointment. On the other hand, the return of Etihad Business Class rewards and potentially deeper partner inventory could be a silver lining.
These updates will take effect on March 25, 2025, so if you have Aeroplan points to burn, now might be the time to lock in flights under the existing system.
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This story originally appeared on princeoftravel
