Apr 28, 2026
If you've been sitting on a growing Aeroplan balance, planning to cash it in for a big trip 'someday,' that someday has a new, more expensive price tag. Air Canada has updated its Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart, effective June 1, 2026, and the increases on long-haul and premium-cabin redemptions are significant (1).
The change affects every redemption zone, but some travellers will feel the bite more than others. Canadians dreaming of business class to Europe or an economy fare across the Pacific face some of the steepest increases — and the window to redeem at the old rates is closing fast.
What's actually changing on June 1
Aeroplan prices flights based on distance bands and travel zones — North America, Atlantic, Pacific and South America. The updated reward chart, published in April 2026, raises the minimum and median point costs across most zones and cabin classes.
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Some of the sharpest jumps are on routes between the Atlantic and Pacific zones. Under the new chart, business-class redemptions on those routes start at 100,000 points for Air Canada and select partners — up from a minimum that was 40,000 points lower in some distance bands.
According to analysis from @travelhacked, shared on X on April 25, 2026, the worst-hit corridor moves from a 60,000-point floor to a 100,000-point maximum — a 67% jump (2).
Transatlantic business class is also more expensive. On the closest distance band — 0 to 4,000 miles between North America and Atlantic zones — the median redemption with Air Canada and select partners rises from 107,500 points to a new median of 129,300 points per one-way flight. On the 6,001-to-8,000-mile band, the median rises from 130,000 to 150,000 points.
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Who gets hit the hardest?
Not every traveller is affected equally. Canadians flying shorter domestic or continental routes may see minimal changes — within the North America zone, many economy fares stay at their existing starting points, with median prices moving only modestly on shorter bands.
The real impact falls on three groups:
- Points hoarders saving for a premium long-haul flight — business class to Europe, Japan or Southeast Asia now costs meaningfully more
- Canadians planning round trips — a higher per-leg cost compounds quickly on a return itinerary
- Anyone redeeming through non-Air Canada partner airlines, where flat rates also rise in several zones
Economy redemptions within North America, and short hops within the Atlantic or Pacific zones, see smaller changes — in many cases, the starting rates hold. The pain is concentrated in long-haul and premium cabins.
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Why is this happening?
Aeroplan devaluations are not new, and Air Canada is not alone. As the @travelhacked post noted, nearly every major loyalty program has raised award prices in recent years, with rising fuel costs a contributing factor. Aeroplan's chart is also dynamic: point costs are based on actual distance flown, and Aeroplan sets both "starting at" floors and median redemption amounts based on real member booking data from January 2025 through December 2026 (3).
That means the chart reflects where demand and pricing pressure are highest. Premium cabins on long-haul routes — the most sought-after redemptions — absorb the steepest increases.
What should Canadians do before June 1?
The most straightforward move is to book now. If you have a trip in mind — even one that won't happen until later in the year or into 2027 — redeeming points before June 1 locks in the current award rate. Availability still applies, but the point cost freezes at the time of booking.
If you're not ready to book a specific trip, consider these steps:
- Audit your balance: Log in to your Aeroplan account and confirm your current points total, expiry status and any co-branded credit card earn rates
- Price your target redemption now: Use the Aeroplan reward chart to calculate what your intended route costs today versus after June 1 — the gap may be large enough to justify booking sooner
- Consider partner routes: Some partner airline redemptions are less affected; if your route isn't an Air Canada flight, check whether the partner rate also increases or holds steady
- Avoid letting points expire: If your balance is modest and your travel plans are distant, burning points on hotel nights or merchandise is typically poor value — look for transfer partners or lower-cost short-haul redemptions that still make sense
For Canadians who collect Aeroplan points through TD, CIBC, American Express or other co-branded cards, the earn side of the equation hasn't changed — yet. But if the program continues to raise redemption costs while keeping earning rates flat, the effective value of every point you collect goes down over time.
In the end
Aeroplan's updated Flight Reward Chart makes a clear case for acting sooner rather than later. The devaluation is not catastrophic for every member — short domestic trips and economy fares in North America remain accessible — but for Canadians holding points for a premium long-haul redemption, June 1 is a real and costly deadline.
Check your balance, price your trip and make a decision in the next few weeks. That free flight to Tokyo or Frankfurt isn't going to get cheaper.
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Romana King is the Senior Editor at Money.ca. She writes for various publications, and her book -- House Poor No More: 9 Steps That Grow the Value of Your Home and Net Worth -- continues to be an Amazon bestseller. Since its publication in November 2021, this book has won five awards, including the New York CPA Society's Excellence in Financial Journalism (EFJ) Book Award in 2022.
