Aeroplan Complete Guide: Award Charts, Stopovers & Sweet Spots
Aeroplan is Air Canada’s frequent flyer program and one of the most useful airline loyalty programs for booking Star Alliance award flights.
The core of Aeroplan partner awards is relatively simple: travel zones + actual distance flown. Since June 1, 2026, most partner airlines continue to follow fixed award charts, while Aeroplan also allows you to add one stopover to a one-way award for 5,000 additional Aeroplan Points.
That combination creates some particularly interesting opportunities within Asia and between North America and Asia.
This guide covers how to earn Aeroplan Points, partner airlines, travel zones, the 2026 partner award charts, stopover rules, award pricing, and the basic strategy for finding Aeroplan sweet spots.
✈️ What Is Aeroplan?
| Feature | Aeroplan |
|---|---|
| Airline | Air Canada |
| Alliance | Star Alliance |
| Currency | Aeroplan Points |
| Partner award pricing | Zone + actual distance flown |
| Travel zones | North America / Atlantic / Pacific / South America |
| Stopovers | Up to 1 per direction |
| Stopover cost | +5,000 Points |
| Maximum stopover | 45 days |
| Partner booking fee | CAD 39 per ticket |
| Maximum segments | 6 per direction |
Aeroplan is useful far beyond Air Canada flights.
Its extensive access to Star Alliance and other partner airlines makes it one of the most versatile programs for international award travel.
Three concepts matter most:
Partner Award Charts, Distance Bands, and Stopovers.
Once you understand how these three pieces interact, you can use Aeroplan’s award charts to find sweet spots instead of simply memorizing individual routes.
💳 How to Earn Aeroplan Points
One of Aeroplan’s biggest advantages for U.S. travelers is how easy the points are to earn.
Several major transferable credit card currencies can be transferred directly to Aeroplan.
| Points Program | Aeroplan Transfer Ratio |
|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | 1:1 |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3:1 |
American Express Membership Rewards can be transferred directly to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio.
The same applies to Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One Miles, giving U.S. travelers several ways to build an Aeroplan balance.
👉 Compare the Major U.S. Transferable Credit Card Points Programs
Marriott Bonvoy points can also be transferred to Aeroplan at a base ratio of:
3 Marriott Bonvoy Points = 1 Aeroplan Point
The better strategy is usually not to transfer points speculatively.
Instead:
Keep transferable points with the bank → find Aeroplan award availability → transfer the required points → book.
This preserves flexibility if another airline program offers a better redemption.
🤝 Aeroplan Partner Airlines
Aeroplan has access to a large network of Star Alliance airlines plus several non-alliance partners.
For award pricing, however, there is an important distinction between fixed-price partners and airlines using starting-at pricing.
| Type | Examples | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | Air Canada | Starting at |
| Select Partners | United, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, etc. | Starting at |
| All Other Partners | ANA, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, THAI, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, etc. | Fixed Partner Award Chart |
Select Partners currently include United Airlines, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad Airways, Canadian North, Calm Air, Bearskin Airlines, and Provincial Airlines (PAL).
The sweet spots discussed in this guide therefore focus primarily on All Other Partners, where the award charts provide predictable fixed pricing.
For travelers interested in Asia, airlines such as ANA, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, and THAI are especially useful Aeroplan partners.
🌎 Aeroplan Travel Zones
Aeroplan divides the world into four travel zones.
The zones of your origin and final destination determine which award chart applies.
| Aeroplan Zone | Main Regions |
|---|---|
| North America | Canada, United States, Mexico, Caribbean |
| Atlantic | Europe, Africa, Middle East, India |
| Pacific | Asia, Australia, New Zealand |
| South America | South America |
One important detail is easy to miss:
India belongs to the Atlantic Zone, not the Pacific Zone.
For example:
Singapore → India
uses the:
Pacific ↔ Atlantic Award Chart
rather than the Within Pacific chart.
Understanding Aeroplan’s zone definitions should always be the first step before calculating an award.
📊 2026 Aeroplan Partner Award Charts
The following tables show the most relevant fixed pricing for All Other Partners, effective June 1, 2026.
All prices are for one-way awards.
North America ↔ Pacific
This chart covers travel between the United States or Canada and Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
| Total Distance Flown | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 miles | 32.5K | 55K | 90K |
| 5,001–7,500 | 50K | 85K | 120K |
| 7,501–11,000 | 65K | 102.5K | 140K |
| 11,001+ | 70K | 115K | 150K |
The 5,001–7,500-mile band is particularly interesting.
A West Coast–Asia itinerary may be able to include a stopover in Japan or another Asian hub and continue to a second destination while remaining under 7,500 total flown miles.
Business Class would then price at:
85K + 5K stopover = 90K Aeroplan Points
This distance band will be one of the main focuses of the separate Aeroplan U.S.–Asia Sweet Spots guide.
Within Pacific
For travelers based in Asia, this is arguably the most interesting Aeroplan award chart.
| Total Distance Flown | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1,000 miles | 8K | 20K | 25K |
| 1,001–2,000 | 15K | 30K | 50K |
| 2,001–5,000 | 30K | 52.5K | 60K |
| 5,001–7,000 | 35K | 72.5K | 80K |
| 7,001+ | 50K | 85K | 130K |
The most important thresholds are:
1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 miles
The first band is already a sweet spot on its own.
Partner awards of up to 1,000 flown miles cost only:
8K Economy / 20K Business
That can make Aeroplan particularly attractive for short-haul flights around Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other parts of Asia.
Stopovers can make these distance bands even more useful.
North America ↔ Atlantic
This chart applies between North America and Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India.
| Total Distance Flown | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4,000 miles | 32.5K | 60K | 90K |
| 4,001–6,000 | 42.5K | 75K | 120K |
| 6,001–8,000 | 60K | 90K | 150K |
| 8,001+ | 75K | 110K | 165K |
Within Atlantic
The Atlantic Zone itself covers a huge geographic area, including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India.
| Total Distance Flown | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1,000 miles | 7.5K | 12.5K | 25K |
| 1,001–2,000 | 15K | 22.5K | 40K |
| 2,001–4,000 | 30K | 40K | 75K |
| 4,001–6,000 | 42.5K | 70K | 100K |
| 6,001+ | 50K | 95K | 130K |
Because Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India all fall within the same Aeroplan zone, some very long partner awards can still price using the Within Atlantic chart.
Pacific ↔ Atlantic
This chart applies between Asia, Australia, or New Zealand and Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or India.
| Total Distance Flown | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2,500 miles | 25K | 47.5K | 55K |
| 2,501–5,000 | 40K | 75K | 95K |
| 5,001–7,000 | 60K | 92.5K | 120K |
| 7,001+ | 75K | 130K | 150K |
Remember that this chart is not limited to Asia–Europe travel.
Because India belongs to the Atlantic Zone, routes such as:
Southeast Asia ↔ India
also use the Pacific ↔ Atlantic chart.
🧮 How Does Aeroplan Price Partner Awards?
Aeroplan partner award pricing can be broken down into four steps:
1. Identify the zones of your origin and final destination
↓
2. Select the corresponding award chart
↓
3. Add the actual flown distance of every segment
↓
4. Find the applicable distance band
If you add a stopover:
Add 5,000 Aeroplan Points
The key concept is:
Aeroplan uses the actual distance flown, not simply the nonstop distance between your origin and final destination.
For example:
A → B → C
The pricing distance is:
A→B + B→C
If the second part requires another connection:
A → B → D → C
Aeroplan uses:
A→B + B→D + D→C
Every segment therefore consumes part of your distance allowance.
This means two itineraries with exactly the same origin and destination can price differently if one routing is significantly longer and crosses into the next distance band.
⭐ Aeroplan Stopover Rules
Aeroplan allows one stopover on a one-way award for only 5,000 additional points.
| Rule | Aeroplan |
|---|---|
| Stopovers per direction | Maximum 1 |
| Round trip | Up to 1 each way |
| Stopover definition | More than 24 hours |
| Maximum stopover | 45 days |
| Additional cost | +5,000 Points |
| Stopovers in Canada / U.S. | Not permitted |
| Stopover open-jaw | Not permitted |
| Maximum segments | 6 per direction |
| Routing restrictions | Some routings may not be permitted; final validation depends on Aeroplan |
For example:
A → B [5-day stopover] → C
can cost only:
Regular award price + 5,000 Aeroplan Points
However, finding partner award availability on both segments does not necessarily mean Aeroplan will allow them to be combined into a single stopover itinerary.
The practical approach is to use the award charts and total flown distance to identify potential routings, then verify the complete itinerary through Air Canada.
⭐ How to Find Aeroplan Sweet Spots
There are two basic ways to find value in Aeroplan’s award charts:
1. Take advantage of inexpensive short-haul distance bands
2. Use stopovers to maximize the remaining distance within a band
Under 1,000 Miles Is Already an Aeroplan Sweet Spot
Within the Pacific Zone, partner awards of no more than 1,000 flown miles cost:
| Cabin | Aeroplan Points |
|---|---|
| Economy | 8K |
| Business | 20K |
| First | 25K |
That means short nonstop partner flights can already represent excellent Aeroplan redemptions without using a stopover at all.
This is particularly useful around Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other parts of Asia.
The same distance band becomes even more interesting when combined with Aeroplan’s 5K stopover.
Think of Each Distance Band as a Mileage Budget
Suppose a Business Class distance band ends at:
5,000 miles
and your first flight uses:
3,500 miles
You theoretically have:
5,000 − 3,500 = 1,500 miles
of remaining distance before moving into the next pricing band.
The goal is therefore not simply to find the longest flight.
Instead:
Use as much of the available distance band as possible without crossing into the next one.
However, fitting within a distance band does not guarantee that Aeroplan will accept the routing. The complete itinerary still needs to be tested through Air Canada.
A Real Within-Pacific Example
Consider:
OKA → TPE [Stopover] → HKG
The total flown distance remains within the first Within Pacific distance band.
Business Class therefore costs:
20K + 5K stopover = 25K Aeroplan Points
Booking the two awards separately would cost:
20K + 20K = 40K
Using a stopover reduces the total to:
25K
That saves:
15K Aeroplan Points
This illustrates why Aeroplan’s shortest distance band can become especially powerful when combined with the stopover feature.
The Same Strategy Works From the U.S. to Asia
The concept can also be applied to long-haul awards.
Suppose the first flight from the U.S. West Coast to an Asian stopover city uses approximately:
5,500 miles
To remain within the 7,500-mile North America ↔ Pacific band, you would have approximately:
7,500 − 5,500 = 2,000 miles
left for the second part of the itinerary.
You can then search for another Asian destination within that remaining distance.
In practice, transpacific partner Business Class award availability can be extremely limited, so these itineraries are better treated as advanced opportunities rather than reliably available sweet spots.
The basic Aeroplan sweet-spot strategy becomes:
Choose the award chart → find the distance band → calculate remaining distance → add a stopover → verify with Aeroplan
🔍 How to Search and Book Aeroplan Awards
Aeroplan awards can be searched and booked directly through Air Canada.
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the origin and final destination zones |
| 2 | Select the applicable award chart |
| 3 | Calculate the actual distance of all flown segments |
| 4 | Identify the applicable distance band |
| 5 | Find partner award availability |
| 6 | Add the stopover city and stopover duration |
| 7 | Verify that Aeroplan accepts the complete itinerary |
| 8 | Check the cabin on every segment |
| 9 | Confirm the points and cash cost |
| 10 | Book the award |
Finding award availability on two individual flights does not guarantee that Aeroplan will allow them to be combined into one stopover itinerary.
The most practical approach is:
Use the award charts and distance calculations to identify potential routes → test the complete itinerary through Aeroplan.
Watch for Mixed-Cabin Awards
Aeroplan sometimes displays:
Business Class – Mixed Cabin
Always open the flight details and check the cabin of every individual segment.
A result where the short flight is in Business Class but the long-haul flight is in Economy is very different from a true long-haul Business Class award.
💰 Aeroplan Award Fees
Aeroplan partner awards can include cash fees in addition to the required points.
| Fee | Amount / Rule |
|---|---|
| Partner booking fee | CAD 39 per ticket |
| Stopover | +5,000 Aeroplan Points |
| Contact center booking | CAD 30 |
| Taxes and third-party fees | Varies by itinerary |
The partner booking fee applies per ticket, rather than separately to every partner segment.
For example:
A → B → C
can contain multiple partner flights while still incurring only one partner booking fee if everything is issued as a single award ticket.
This is another reason multi-segment Aeroplan awards can be valuable.
🔄 Can Aeroplan Awards Be Changed or Canceled?
Aeroplan awards can be changed or canceled, but the applicable fees and flexibility depend on the fare option selected when booking.
Lower-priced reward options generally come with change or cancellation fees, while more flexible options may provide greater flexibility.
When booking, therefore, do not compare only:
How many Aeroplan Points does this cost?
Also consider:
How many additional points are required for greater change and cancellation flexibility?
For uncertain travel plans, paying additional points for a more flexible fare can sometimes make sense.
⏳ Do Aeroplan Points Expire?
Aeroplan generally uses an 18-month inactivity policy.
Eligible account activity can extend the validity of your points.
For travelers using transferable credit card points, however, the simpler strategy is usually:
Do not transfer points until you are ready to book.
Keep Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Capital One Miles in their original programs until you find the Aeroplan award you want.
Once points are transferred to Aeroplan, they generally cannot be transferred back to the original credit card rewards program.
🏁 Is Aeroplan Worth Using?
Aeroplan’s real strength is not one particular cheap award.
It is the combination of:
Travel Zones + Distance Bands + Partner Airlines + 5K Stopovers
For short-haul travel, the under-1,000-mile distance band is already one of Aeroplan’s strengths, with Within Pacific partner awards starting at just 8K Economy or 20K Business.
For more advanced awards, the stopover feature lets you use the remaining distance inside a pricing band to add another destination for only 5,000 additional points.
For U.S.–Asia travel, the North America ↔ Pacific chart is particularly interesting when West Coast departures can remain within the 7,500-mile band after adding another Asian destination.
The complete process can be summarized as:
Identify the zones → choose the award chart → calculate total flown distance → identify the distance band → calculate remaining distance → add a stopover → verify with Aeroplan
