New Aeroplan Changes Could Raise the Cost of Some Reward Flights in Canada

Air Canada is preparing to update its Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart, a change that matters to travellers in Canada who collect points for flights within the country and to destinations in Europe, Asia and other regions.

According to Aeroplan’s official update, the changes take effect on June 1, 2026, and will apply to reward tickets booked or reissued on or after that date. That means travellers with clear plans to use their points may want to review their options before the new chart takes effect.

Air Canada says the update includes both increases and decreases designed to align reward pricing with costs. In practice, many of the announced changes raise the number of points required for some international routes, especially long-haul premium cabin redemptions such as business class and first class.

Between North America and the Atlantic zone, which includes Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India, several rewards will cost more. For example, business class on the 4,001 to 6,000 mile band rises from 70,000 to 75,000 points, while some partner first-class rewards rise from 100,000 to 120,000 points. At the same time, economy rewards on shorter North America to Atlantic routes fall from 35,000 to 32,500 points.

The increases also affect some North America to Pacific routes, covering Asia, Australia and New Zealand. On certain longer routes, partner business class rises from 87,500 to 102,500 points, and some partner economy awards rise from 60,000 to 65,000 points. Some premium economy pricing on Air Canada and select partners is also moving higher.

One of the larger changes appears between the Atlantic and Pacific zones. For flights of 7,001 miles or more, business class on Air Canada or select partners rises from 60,000 to 100,000 points. That kind of increase could change the calculation for travellers using Aeroplan points on long or complex international itineraries.

The update is not entirely negative. Some rewards are going down, including certain shorter economy redemptions between North America and the Atlantic zone, some business-class rewards within the Atlantic zone, and some economy and business-class rewards within the Pacific zone.

For travellers, the important point is that Aeroplan points are not just a balance sitting in an account. Their value depends on the booking date, route, distance, airline, cabin and seat availability. Air Canada says partner airline flight rewards are fixed amounts based on distance, while Air Canada pricing is linked to cash ticket pricing and may vary in high-demand periods.

For Aeroplan credit cardholders, families pooling points, and travellers saving for a major trip, the practical step is to check planned redemptions before June 1, compare the current and upcoming point costs, and consider booking earlier if the desired route is affected.

The changes will matter most to travellers flying from Canada to Europe, the Middle East and Asia, especially those hoping to redeem for premium cabins or partner airlines. Travellers using points mainly for shorter or domestic flights may feel less impact, depending on the route and availability.

At its core, this is not only a technical change to a loyalty program. It is a reminder that travel points have a moving value. Smart travellers do not only collect them. They also know when to use them before the rules change.