When Air Canada relaunched Aeroplan in November 2020, they built what is now widely considered the best mileage program in Star Alliance — and one of the most transparent mileage programs in commercial aviation. Published distance-based chart. Explicit surcharge policies. Stopovers allowed at 5,000 miles. Transfers from nearly every major US credit card program.
Why Aeroplan is different
Most major airline mileage programs have moved toward dynamic award pricing and hidden charts. Aeroplan chose the opposite path: publish everything, make the pricing transparent, and differentiate on policy quality rather than on fare-hunting friction.
For Star Alliance partner redemptions (Lufthansa, Swiss, Singapore, ANA, Turkish, Thai, United, and others), Aeroplan is frequently the cheapest and cleanest booking program available — more so than United MileagePlus, which is the other US-accessible Star currency.
The distance-based award chart
Aeroplan pricing depends on two factors: the distance flown, and whether the operator is Air Canada or a partner. Round numbers for Air Canada short-haul:
| Distance | Within North America economy | Within North America business |
|---|---|---|
| 0-500 mi | 6,000 miles | 15,000 miles |
| 501-1,500 mi | 10,000 miles | 25,000 miles |
| 1,501-2,750 mi | 12,500 miles | 35,000 miles |
For trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific partner redemptions, the chart differs. Sample partner redemption costs:
- North America to Europe economy: 35,000-40,000 miles
- North America to Europe business: 60,000-70,000 miles
- North America to Asia economy: 35,000-50,000 miles
- North America to Asia business: 75,000-87,500 miles
- North America to Asia first class: 100,000-140,000 miles
The stopover benefit
Aeroplan allows one stopover on a one-way award or round-trip for just 5,000 additional miles. This is unique in Star Alliance — United, Lufthansa, and Singapore KrisFlyer have all removed or restricted their stopover benefits.
A practical example: Seattle → Frankfurt (stopover 3 days) → Bangkok. Priced as a one-way economy trans-Pacific-ish, plus 5,000 for the stopover. Total: roughly 70,000 miles. For that single redemption, you visit Germany and Thailand on one ticket.
Transfers from US credit cards
- Chase Ultimate Rewards — 1:1, instant.
- Amex Membership Rewards — 1:1, instant.
- Capital One Miles — 1:1, instant.
- Bilt Rewards — 1:1, instant.
Universal US-card access is a significant practical advantage. Nearly any US credit card ecosystem can feed Aeroplan directly.
Surcharge policy
Aeroplan publishes its surcharge policy explicitly: no surcharges on Air Canada, ANA, United, Singapore. Surcharges applied on BA (as expected), Lufthansa (trans-Atlantic), and some Asian carriers. Knowing which carrier to route on avoids the "I didn't expect this extra $500" problem that plagues BA Avios for casual users.
Elite status (Aeroplan 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K)
Aeroplan's elite tiers are earned via "Status Qualifying Miles" (from paid flights on Air Canada or Star partners). Top-tier benefits include priority check-in, lounge access in premium cabins, bonus earning, complimentary upgrades on Air Canada, and priority reward seat availability.
Credit card status paths: the TD Aeroplan cards (Canadian) grant status benefits with high annual spend. US-based Aeroplan status chasers typically rely on actual Star Alliance flying rather than credit card shortcuts.
Best specific redemption sweet spots
- North America short-haul in economy — 6,000 miles for sub-500mi flights. Equal to or cheaper than BA Avios for many routes, with better operator flexibility.
- Turkey/Europe to North America — Aeroplan miles on Turkish Airlines partner metal are among the cheapest trans-Atlantic business redemptions available.
- Stopover routing — split any award trip into two effective vacations for 5k miles. Examples: US → Tokyo + Bangkok, Berlin → NYC + Miami.
- Partner first class on Lufthansa or Singapore — 100k-140k miles for flights that would cost $8-15k cash.
- Domestic Canada routing — 12,500 miles in economy for Toronto-Vancouver class flights.
Limitations
- Canadian domestic pricing varies. Some short-haul Canadian routes price higher than comparable US routes because of distance calculations.
- Not all Star partners honor full Aeroplan access. Singapore Saver and some ANA first-class redemptions are restricted.
- No US co-brand card. US members rely entirely on transferable points for Aeroplan acquisition.
- Fuel surcharges on specific carriers. BA, Lufthansa trans-Atlantic, and some Asian carriers still apply. Route planning matters.
FAQ
Is Aeroplan the best Star Alliance currency?
For most US-based flyers, yes. United MileagePlus has similar alliance access but more expensive partner awards and no stopover benefit. ANA Mileage Club has the round-the-world chart but no US co-brand earning. Aeroplan hits the best balance of pricing, policy, and US accessibility.
How do stopovers work exactly?
On a one-way award, add one city between origin and destination for 5,000 miles. The stopover can be 24 hours to 45 days. On a round-trip, add up to two stopovers (one in each direction). Routing must make logical geographic sense per Aeroplan's rules.
Can I mix partners on one itinerary?
Yes. You can book origin on one Star carrier and destination on another. Availability is the gating factor rather than booking rules.
What's the best source for Aeroplan miles?
Transfer from whichever US currency has the highest balance. Chase UR, Amex MR, and Capital One all transfer 1:1 instantly. Occasional transfer bonuses elevate specific routes.
Do Aeroplan miles expire?
Aeroplan miles do not expire as long as your account has qualifying activity within 18 months. Transfers in, flights flown, and partner earnings all count.
Last verified April 2026.