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Aeroplan is the loyalty program of Air Canada and one of the most useful flexible-currency transfer targets for US-based readers. Aeroplan transfers 1:1 from Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou - more flexible-currency overlap than virtually any other Star Alliance program. It is also among the rare programs that charges no carrier-imposed (fuel) surcharges on partner-airline awards (Air Canada eliminated them in 2020), which makes it one of the safest currencies for booking premium cabins on long-haul partners like Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore, and EVA where surcharges through other programs can run hundreds of dollars per ticket.
In 2026, Aeroplan went through two major resets. Effective January 1, 2026, earning shifted from distance-based to spend-based on Air Canada flights, and a new Status Qualifying Credit (SQC) system replaced the old elite-status math. Effective June 1, 2026, the partner award chart was updated, raising premium-cabin pricing across most transatlantic and transpacific bands - some bands moved up 5,000-15,000 points one-way, partner first-class on certain bands rose 20,000-25,000 points, and a few Air Canada-operated bands rose materially more. Still competitive overall, but the cheapest-on-the-block reputation is no longer quite so cheap. Intra-Americas pricing was unchanged.
The Aeroplan award chart for partner flights uses region pairs (e.g. North America to Atlantic) combined with distance bands within each region; each chart cell is a fixed point value rather than a range. Air Canada-operated flights use dynamic pricing with a published "starting from" floor that can rise based on demand. There is no alliance restriction beyond the Star Alliance core; you can mix Star Alliance partners on a single award.
The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.
The cheat sheet.
Aeroplan uses two pricing models depending on the operating carrier:
Carrier-imposed surcharges: $0 on partner airline awards (Aeroplan eliminated fuel surcharges/YR on partner bookings in 2020 - one of the program's biggest structural advantages over United, Lufthansa M&M, and most other Star Alliance currencies).
Partner booking fee: $39 CAD on awards that include a non-Air Canada segment.
Optional stopover: 5,000 points per direction, available only at points outside the US and Canada.
No close-in award booking fee.
The full distance-banded chart was updated effective June 1, 2026 (some premium-cabin transatlantic and transpacific bands rose 5,000-15,000 points one-way). For exact per-route pricing, use the official Flight Reward Chart linked below or the upcoming Booking Tool, which prices your route across all currencies that can book it.
Official chart: https://www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/loyalty-content/documents/flight-rewards-chart-en.pdf
Chase Aeroplan World Elite Mastercard:
(Canada has 11 separate Aeroplan-branded cards via TD, CIBC, and Amex; out of scope for this US-focused page.)
Where your points punch above their weight.
Where this currency genuinely shines.
How to get more points.
7 programs that transfer in.
Programs that transfer points or miles into Air Canada Aeroplan.
| From | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | 1:1 | 1,000 MR = 1,000 Aeroplan points |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 | 1,000 UR = 1,000 Aeroplan points (Air Canada) |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 | No transfer fee. Free stopover on partner awards. |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 | No transfer fee. Free stopover; strong Star Alliance business-class value. |
| ALL - Accor Live Limitless | 2:1 | 4,000 Reward points = 2,000 Aeroplan Miles (Air Canada). |
| Hilton Honors | 10:1 | Air Canada Aeroplan. 10,000-point minimum. |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3:1 | Base 3:1 with a 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points transferred (effectively ~2.4:1 in 60K increments). |
The status ladder. 5 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.
5 status levels.
25,000 SQC (Status Qualifying Credits) in a calendar year
35,000 SQC in a calendar year
50,000 SQC in a calendar year
75,000 SQC in a calendar year
125,000 SQC in a calendar year
Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.
Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.
Aeroplan members at the 50K tier or above receive Star Alliance Gold status, which provides lounge access on all Star Alliance member airlines worldwide for the member plus one guest when traveling on a Star Alliance flight (regardless of cabin or fare).
Air Canada operates its own Maple Leaf Lounge network at major Canadian airports plus a handful of US gateway airports (LGA, YYZ-bound flights). Maple Leaf Lounge access rules:
Single-visit passes: Maple Leaf Lounge day passes are sold to anyone with a same-day Air Canada or Star Alliance ticket (no Aeroplan status required); price varies by location, typically CA$50-80 per visit.
Discounted-cabin exclusion: Air Canada's Basic fare class on transatlantic flights does not earn lounge access through co-brand cards or status; the same-day-flight requirement applies but Basic fares are excluded from some perks.
The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.
The smart-money plays.
Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.
The fine print, decoded.
Cards that earn Air Canada Aeroplan directly, or that transfer into it from a flexible-currency program.
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Last reviewed: May 2026
Loyalty programs change rules, fees, transfer ratios, and award pricing all the time — sometimes without warning. We do our best to keep these pages current, but the program's own site is always the final word. Always confirm specifics directly with Air Canada Aeroplan before transferring miles or booking an award. Treat anything on this page as a starting point, not a guarantee. Crazy4Points is not responsible for actions taken based on information here — see our Terms of Service for full details.