Air Canada is changing its award chart effective June 1. This is a devaluation, and don’t let that be muddied by claims of ‘some awards are increasing, while others are decreasing’.
The Air Canada and ‘select partners’ like United chart sees increases especially in business class median pricing for North America – Atlantic and North America – Pacific.
Premium cabin long haul goes up quite a bit. For instance,
- North America – Pacific between 7,501 and 11,000 miles on most partners in business class goes up 15,000 from 87,500 to 102,500 for a 17.1% increase.
- North America – Atlantic first class on most partners sees the longest band go from 140,000 – 165,000 (one way!) for a 17.9% increase.
There are some (very) modest positives such as lowest price economy, short- and medium- intra-Atlantic business class, long intra-Pacific.
| Increases | Decreases | Largest increase | Largest decrease | |||||
| Air Canada / Select Partners — starting prices | 15 | 8 | 40,000 | -5,000 | ||||
| Air Canada / Select Partners — median | 24 | 6 | 21,800 | -3,700 | ||||
| Other Partners — fixed prices | 32 | 9 | 25,000 | -5,000 |
Here’s a rundown of changes to Air Canada and Select Partner starting price changes:
| Market | Distance band | Cabin | Current | New | Δ | % | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 0–4,000 | Economy | 35,000 | 32,500 | -2,500 | -7.10% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 4,001–6,000 | Economy | 40,000 | 42,500 | 2,500 | 6.30% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 4,001–6,000 | Business | 70,000 | 75,000 | 5,000 | 7.10% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 6,001–8,000 | Business | 85,000 | 90,000 | 5,000 | 5.90% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 8,001+ | Business | 100,000 | 110,000 | 10,000 | 10.00% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 0–5,000 | Economy | 35,000 | 32,500 | -2,500 | -7.10% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 5,001–7,500 | Business | 75,000 | 85,000 | 10,000 | 13.30% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 7,501–11,000 | Premium Economy | 70,000 | 85,000 | 15,000 | 21.40% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 11,001+ | Economy | 65,000 | 70,000 | 5,000 | 7.70% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 11,001+ | Premium Economy | 80,000 | 95,000 | 15,000 | 18.80% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 0–1,000 | Business | 15,000 | 12,500 | -2,500 | -16.70% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 1,001–2,000 | Business | 25,000 | 22,500 | -2,500 | -10.00% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 2,001–4,000 | Business | 45,000 | 40,000 | -5,000 | -11.10% | ||||||
| Within Pacific | 5,001–7,000 | Economy | 37,500 | 35,000 | -2,500 | -6.70% | ||||||
| Within Pacific | 7,001+ | Economy | 55,000 | 50,000 | -5,000 | -9.10% | ||||||
| Within Pacific | 7,001+ | Business | 90,000 | 85,000 | -5,000 | -5.60% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 2,501–5,000 | Economy | 30,000 | 40,000 | 10,000 | 33.30% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 2,501–5,000 | Business | 50,000 | 60,000 | 10,000 | 20.00% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 5,001–7,000 | Economy | 40,000 | 50,000 | 10,000 | 25.00% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 5,001–7,000 | Business | 60,000 | 80,000 | 20,000 | 33.30% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 7,001+ | Economy | 40,000 | 60,000 | 20,000 | 50.00% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 7,001+ | Business | 60,000 | 100,000 | 40,000 | 66.70% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 7,001+ | First | 100,000 | 130,000 | 30,000 | 30.00% |
Air Canada Aeroplan also publishes ‘median’ prices which aren’t really award chart prices as such, but rather what they say you can usually expect to pay much of the time (could be higher, could be lower) for redemptions on ‘Air Canada and select partners’ – flights on Air Canada are priced dynamically on cost.
| Market | Distance band | Cabin | Current median | New median | Δ | % | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 0–4,000 | Business | 107,500 | 129,300 | 21,800 | 20.30% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 6,001–8,000 | Business | 107,900 | 123,600 | 15,700 | 14.60% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 5,001–7,500 | Business | 100,000 | 120,000 | 20,000 | 20.00% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 11,001+ | Premium Economy | 117,200 | 127,100 | 9,900 | 8.40% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 5,001–7,500 | Premium Economy | 95,400 | 100,600 | 5,200 | 5.50% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 6,001–8,000 | Premium Economy | 107,300 | 113,400 | 6,100 | 5.70% | ||||||
| North America–South America | 4,501+ | Business | 104,400 | 116,200 | 11,800 | 11.30% | ||||||
| North America–South America | 0–2,500 | Economy | 30,000 | 26,300 | -3,700 | -12.30% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 0–5,000 | Business | 174,000 | 171,600 | -2,400 | -1.40% |
And here are changes to fixed award prices for most partner airline redemptions:
| Market | Distance band | Cabin | Current | New | Δ | % | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 0–4,000 | Economy | 35,000 | 32,500 | -2,500 | -7.10% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 4,001–6,000 | Economy | 40,000 | 42,500 | 2,500 | 6.30% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 4,001–6,000 | Business | 70,000 | 75,000 | 5,000 | 7.10% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 4,001–6,000 | First | 100,000 | 120,000 | 20,000 | 20.00% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 6,001–8,000 | Economy | 55,000 | 60,000 | 5,000 | 9.10% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 6,001–8,000 | First | 130,000 | 150,000 | 20,000 | 15.40% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 8,001+ | Economy | 70,000 | 75,000 | 5,000 | 7.10% | ||||||
| North America–Atlantic | 8,001+ | First | 140,000 | 165,000 | 25,000 | 17.90% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 0–5,000 | Economy | 35,000 | 32,500 | -2,500 | -7.10% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 5,001–7,500 | First | 110,000 | 120,000 | 10,000 | 9.10% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 7,501–11,000 | Economy | 60,000 | 65,000 | 5,000 | 8.30% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 7,501–11,000 | Business | 87,500 | 102,500 | 15,000 | 17.10% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 7,501–11,000 | First | 130,000 | 140,000 | 10,000 | 7.70% | ||||||
| North America–Pacific | 11,001+ | Economy | 75,000 | 70,000 | -5,000 | -6.70% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 0–1,000 | Business | 15,000 | 12,500 | -2,500 | -16.70% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 1,001–2,000 | Economy | 12,500 | 15,000 | 2,500 | 20.00% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 1,001–2,000 | Business | 25,000 | 22,500 | -2,500 | -10.00% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 2,001–4,000 | Economy | 25,000 | 30,000 | 5,000 | 20.00% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 2,001–4,000 | Business | 45,000 | 40,000 | -5,000 | -11.10% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 2,001–4,000 | First | 65,000 | 75,000 | 10,000 | 15.40% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 4,001–6,000 | Economy | 35,500 | 42,500 | 7,000 | 19.70% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 4,001–6,000 | Business | 60,000 | 70,000 | 10,000 | 16.70% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 4,001–6,000 | First | 90,000 | 100,000 | 10,000 | 11.10% | ||||||
| Within Atlantic | 6,001+ | Business | 80,000 | 95,000 | 15,000 | 18.80% | ||||||
| Within Pacific | 1,001–2,000 | Economy | 12,500 | 15,000 | 2,500 | 20.00% | ||||||
| Within Pacific | 2,001–5,000 | Economy | 25,000 | 30,000 | 5,000 | 20.00% | ||||||
| Within Pacific | 2,001–5,000 | Business | 45,000 | 52,500 | 7,500 | 16.70% | ||||||
| Within Pacific | 5,001–7,000 | Economy | 37,500 | 35,000 | -2,500 | -6.70% | ||||||
| Within Pacific | 5,001–7,000 | Business | 60,000 | 72,500 | 12,500 | 20.80% | ||||||
| Within Pacific | 7,001+ | Economy | 55,000 | 50,000 | -5,000 | -9.10% | ||||||
| Within Pacific | 7,001+ | Business | 90,000 | 85,000 | -5,000 | -5.60% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 0–2,500 | Business | 40,000 | 47,500 | 7,500 | 18.80% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 0–2,500 | First | 50,000 | 55,000 | 5,000 | 10.00% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 2,501–5,000 | Business | 60,000 | 75,000 | 15,000 | 25.00% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 2,501–5,000 | First | 80,000 | 95,000 | 15,000 | 18.80% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 5,001–7,000 | Economy | 50,000 | 60,000 | 10,000 | 20.00% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 5,001–7,000 | Business | 80,000 | 92,500 | 12,500 | 15.60% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 5,001–7,000 | First | 100,000 | 120,000 | 20,000 | 20.00% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 7,001+ | Economy | 65,000 | 75,000 | 10,000 | 15.40% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 7,001+ | Business | 110,000 | 130,000 | 20,000 | 18.20% | ||||||
| Atlantic–Pacific | 7,001+ | First | 140,000 | 150,000 | 10,000 | 7.10% |
The shortest transoceanic coach awards drop by 2,500 points. That’s good I suppose. And short intra-Atlantic business class improves along with the longest intra-Pacific awards. South America fixed partner pricing really isn’ changing.
Even after the devaluation, you’ll generally find that partner awards are still cheaper than actually flying Air Canada, when those are available. But partner premium cabin sweet spots really take a hit.
Since Aeroplan relaunched six years ago, we’ve seen award chart changes in September 2022 and March 2025 and now June 2026.
Aeroplan is a good transfer program for U.S. members, and they partner broadly It’s weak actually earning points for flying just 1 Aeroplan point per CA$1 for base members, compared to 5 per US$1 as standard in the U.S. You earn fewer miles, and the miles don’t go as far as they used to.
Hi Gary -what does Thai BKK to LHR in F go to as I can’t see that included?
@James M – that’s just shy of 6,000 miles so 120k points if memory serves [and TG only has F on one of its two BKK-LHR flights]
@Gary – not included in your chart I presume because no change, but it looks like they are keeping sub-4k distance TATL business at 60k? Is that correct? And just bumping up the next category by 5k miles? As devaluations go for that category at least, I’ll take it!
No bueno. Aeroplan devaluations are tragic, because there used to be such epic value, especially on partner awards, though it’s becoming rare. Something similar has happened with Qantas, too, over the years. I’m worried Alaska will do the same; then, there will be fewer and fewer deals as everyone becomes SkyPesos. On hotels, what Hyatt is soon doing also feels like the end of an era.
A lot of these are in theory only as a plethora of partners simply remains blocked.
When was the last time a base level award existed on the most in demand routes? Most partners along with AC have gone dynamic so this is much ado about nothing!
I recently booked 2 Aeroplan in J, Western US to Munich and back with 1 stop in Denver, for 70k plus a couple hundred dollars each. If that went to 75k I’d be fine with it. My bigger fear is fewer award seats. I’m glad I used up my stranded points from another cancelled award booking.
A second devaluation after only a year is really pretty crappy. And this doesn’t even address their infuriating tiered award structure within each cabin.Not much more to be expected from an airline that at best coasts the crest of mediocrity… I really hate that they’re my primary home airline but with a chunk of Aeroplan miles I’m stuck with them till I can use them up. Which will now be faster than ever if I can find award availability.
After last year’s devaluation I figured it would be next year at the earliest before we saw another one. One thing that makes this latest devaluation better in a weird way is that since saver space in business and first class have become so much less available that the price increase becomes moot. What does it matter what the cost is of something if it’s not available? As an example, try finding a pair of business class award seats through Aeroplan on BR to Southeast Asia.
My biggest gripe with Aeroplan is the plethora of lousy mixed cabin flights still priced at the highest tier, despite the major %ge of the itinerary being Economy..
Also, making forced and unnessary connections on normal direct flights, managing to force one sector into Economy.
Lastly, making many of these forced and unwanted connections on AirIndia particularly (featuring DEL & BOM), creating in some instances ludicrous itineriaries taking one nearly halfway around the world. Not to mention many unnessarry extra hours in the air!
Get over yourself Aeroplan, no-one wants to transit in India if it’s nowhere near where one is really headed. AI is stlii a crappy airline best avoided.
Sorry, not sorry, definite dealbreaker.