Aeroplan is jacking up partner business class award prices effective June 1, 2026. Bookings made before then lock in the current chart. Long-haul redemptions to Europe and Asia take the biggest hits, with increases of 7-17% on many routes — and up to 25% in certain cross-zones. If you've been eyeing a Star Alliance lie-flat seat without bleeding excessive points, the window is closing.
Current vs. New Pricing: The Numbers That Matter
For North America to Europe (Atlantic zone) on partners like Lufthansa, United, or Swiss, the 4,001-6,000 mile band — think Chicago to Frankfurt or New York to London on a great routing — rises from 70,000 to 75,000 points one-way in business. That's a modest 7% but adds up on round-trips. Longer hops (6,001-8,000 miles) move from 85,000 to 90,000. First class gets smacked harder, jumping 20% in that mid-Atlantic band from 100,000 to 120,000.[[1]](https://liveandletsfly.com/aeroplan-devaluation-2026-award-chart-changes/)[[2]](https://viewfromthewing.com/air-canada-aeroplan-raises-award-prices-june-1-long-haul-business-class-hit-hardest/)
Asia and Australia (Pacific zone) fare worse for the distances that actually deliver value. The 5,001-7,500 mile band climbs from 75,000 to 85,000 points. The real gut punch is 7,501-11,000 miles — West Coast to Southeast Asia via a clever connection, or East Coast to Tokyo — from 87,500 to 102,500. That's 17% more for the same metal. Shorter Pacific hops under 5,000 miles stay at 55,000, but those rarely get you to the interesting parts of Asia.[[1]](https://liveandletsfly.com/aeroplan-devaluation-2026-award-chart-changes/)
Cross-zone plays, like Europe to Asia, see even steeper relative increases in some bands, up to 25-33%. Overall, the "starting at" prices are climbing while medians (what people actually pay) are rising faster in many cases. Air Canada is politely calling it an "update." We call it predictable.
How It Stacks Up Against Star Alliance Cousins
United MileagePlus has been variable and often stingier on partners for years, with business class to Europe frequently north of 80,000-100,000+ miles depending on demand. Lufthansa Miles & More? Good luck — their dynamic pricing and surcharges make Aeroplan's fixed (for now) chart look like a bargain, even post-deval. The current Aeroplan rates still beat paying cash for most premium cabins, but that gap narrows in June.
The program's stopover and open-jaw rules remain generous. You can still add a free stop in Europe en route to Asia at current pricing if you ticket before the deadline. After June 1, that same itinerary costs noticeably more. Sweet spots like short transatlantic hops at 60,000 or certain sub-5,000-mile Pacific legs are untouched, but the long-haul Asia-Europe corridors that made Aeroplan legendary are getting less sweet.
Booking Window and Flexibility: Use It or Lose It
Aeroplan awards can be booked up to 355 days out, and changes or cancellations are possible until two hours before departure (with points refunded, though partner fees may apply). The 24-hour risk-free cancellation helps. This flexibility is rare and valuable — especially when locking in awards for summer 2027 or peak travel before prices rise.
Don't wait for award space to magically appear closer in. Premium cabins on United, Lufthansa, ANA, and Singapore Airlines move fast. Search now, book what works, and cancel later if something better surfaces. The points are refundable; the old rates won't be.
Opinion: This isn't apocalyptic, but it's a clear signal. Aeroplan has been one of the better transfer targets from Chase, Amex, and Capital One for Star Alliance redemptions. After June, it loses some edge on the routes that matter most to business class travelers — the ones where cash fares hit five figures. The devaluation isn't 30% across the board as some headlines scream, but 15-20% on your favorite long-haul runs still hurts.
Action item: Log into your Aeroplan account today. Pull up your target routes to Europe and Asia for travel through 2027. Book the business class awards that fit your schedule before June 1. Prioritize the 75k-90k sweet spots that become 85k-102.5k. The lie-flat seats aren't getting cheaper.