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Many U.S. travelers overlook Aeroplan, assuming it’s a program reserved for Canadians. In reality, Air Canada’s Aeroplan is one of the world’s most valuable loyalty programs for booking premium cabins, often for fewer points than domestic programs like United MileagePlus or Delta SkyMiles because of its sweet spots.
As Aeroplan evolves toward its enhanced 2026 program, travelers can expect even more ways to earn and redeem. Now is the perfect time to start maximizing every point.
With over 45 airline partners and instant transfers from major U.S. credit card programs, Aeroplan offers Americans an unmatched opportunity to access luxury travel at exceptional value.
Here’s how to turn your everyday spending into business and first-class seats to Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Aeroplan, Air Canada’s loyalty program, is a core member of the Star Alliance network, alongside Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, ANA, and United. Unlike many foreign programs, Aeroplan is highly accessible in the U.S.
You can transfer points instantly from:
This means most Americans already have access to Aeroplan sweet spots without realizing it. Even if you don’t hold an Aeroplan cobranded credit card, chances are you already have access to Aeroplan through your existing cards. Membership Rewards, Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, or Bilt Rewards can all be transferred instantly to Aeroplan. No need to change your wallet to unlock premium travel.
With strong Air Canada service from key East Coast hubs like New York (LGA/EWR), Boston, and Washington D.C., as well as major West Coast gateways such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, Aeroplan gives travelers convenient access to premium international routes often at far lower redemption rates than domestic U.S. programs.
Aeroplan’s key advantages include:
It’s a consistently high-value program for travelers seeking reliable redemptions and premium experiences.
Aeroplan uses a hybrid, distance-based chart that determines award costs by total miles flown between regions.
Example: Fly New York – Zurich (stopover) – Athens in business class for 70,000 points total.
This mix of flexibility, predictability and transparency makes Aeroplan stand out among global programs. Indeed, the amount of availability with partners who follow fixed rates is generous. If you can’t find any sweet spot availability from the U.S., try looking into repositioning yourself to Vancouver or Toronto.
Europe remains one of Aeroplan’s strongest redemption zones and sweet spots. From East Coast hubs like New York, Boston, or Washington D.C., business-class seats start at 60,000 points one-way.
Redemption examples:
United and Delta can sometimes charge double for the same routes. For example, while searching for the same date, you can fly direct to Portugal with 60,000 Aeroplan points instead of having to spend 88,000 miles with United (there’s even a flight at a whoping 200,000 miles). Aeroplan’s fixed pricing and lack of fuel surcharges mean you’ll consistently get premium seats for fewer points.
Aeroplan vs. U.S. Programs (Business Class to Europe)
Aeroplan saves you 30- 50% in points on average for the same seat.
Add a stopover for 5,000 more points and fly to and explore more of Europe for often less than half of what most U.S. programs charge.
One of Aeroplan’s most compelling sweet spots remains premium cabin travel to Northeast Asia, with exceptional value on both All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Asiana Airlines. From the U.S. West Coast, ANA offers business class to Tokyo from just 55,000 points one-way, an outstanding fixed-rate partner redemption considering the quality of the experience. From the East Coast, you are looking at 75,000 points. ANA’s “The Room” and “The Suite” are among the world’s top business and first-class products, featuring full privacy, refined Japanese cuisine, and consistently exceptional service. Partner pricing is fixed, and taxes typically stay below $80 each way.
Asiana also represents an outstanding value, especially for travelers flying to Seoul. Business class between Los Angeles and Incheon commonly priced at 75,000 points one-way, making it one of the most competitive ways to reach Korea in a premium cabin. Asiana’s fully flat seats, generous service, and smooth connections through ICN make it a strong alternative when ANA space is limited.
Example routes:
These are fixed-rate awards with low surcharges, while comparable redemptions through U.S. programs often exceed 90,000 to 110,000 miles each way. To find space, search ANA and Asiana availability via United MileagePlus, Roame, or ExpertFlyer, then verify with Aeroplan as not all partner inventory consistently appears on the Air Canada website.
For 55,000 points in business class on ANA or 75,000 on Asiana, Aeroplan offers some of the strongest premium cabin values to Asia available to U.S. travelers.
You can fly to the major hubs in Southeast Asia for 87,500 points which is already a great price. What’s more, Aeroplan’s 5,000 points stopover option unlocks exceptional value on long-haul itineraries. This simple rule opens the door to creative, high-value routes across continents.
Example itinerary:
That’s two premium flights and a city break on one ticket. U.S. programs often charge 150K-300K miles for similar itineraries.
Aeroplan’s distance-based partner pricing keeps these redemptions consistent, and you can even mix partners like flying ANA from the U.S. to Tokyo and then Singapore Airlines to Bangkok.
Flights to Africa are among the most expensive in cash or miles, but Aeroplan’s partner rates make premium travel surprisingly attainable. Business-class awards to East or Southern Africa start at 90,000 points one-way, thanks to Aeroplan’s distance-based pricing across the Atlantic zone.
U.S. programs typically charge 120K-150K miles and add surcharges. With Aeroplan, pricing remains stable, and you can even add a stopover in Europe for just 5,000 more points.
Flights to Australia and New Zealand are among the hardest to book with points, but Aeroplan remains one of the few programs offering consistent value and flexibility with its sweet spots. From the West Coast of the U.S., you can fly in business class to the South Pacific starting at 75,000 points one-way.
Award space on these routes is limited, especially on nonstop flights, but persistence pays off. Tools like ExpertFlyer, Roame, or Seats.aero can help track new availability. And when you can’t find anything from the U.S. itself, consider a cheap repositioning flight to Vancouver if there’s availability from there (as there usually is with Air New Zealand).
Given $6,000 or more cash fares, this redemption yields up to 8¢ per point in value. Few programs offer comparable rates or flexibility to Oceania.
Aeroplan uniquely allows premium redemptions on Emirates and Etihad, two of the world’s top luxury carriers. Both offer great value compared to booking with their own loyalty programs or U.S. competitors.
Aeroplan pricing on Emirates and Etihad is partly distance-based and partly dynamic, with business class generally 120,000 points one-way, and first class starting from 200,000 points.
This region is often overlooked, yet Aeroplan’s pricing to South America is one of its best-value routes for U.S.-based travelers, especially from southern or East Coast hubs.Business class to northern South America starts at 50,000 points one-way, while southern destinations like Argentina or Chile run 60,000-70 000 points.
Fixed pricing, strong availability, and no surcharges make this one of Aeroplan’s hidden gems for southern escapes. You can even try Emirates’ business class on their 5th freedom route from Miami to Bogota for 63,000 points.
Aeroplan’s flexible routing lets you mix multiple Star Alliance partners under one booking.
Comparable itineraries through U.S. programs typically exceed 120K-170K miles. Aeroplan combines value, flexibility, and access to top-tier carriers.
U.S. travelers don’t need to live in Canada to earn Aeroplan points. Several American credit cards make it easy to build a solid balance through everyday spending or point transfers.
One standout option is the an Aeroplan cobranded credit card. While we typically favor flexible rewards cards, this cobranded product is a rare exception thanks to its strong everyday earning potential and direct integration with Aeroplan.
It can offer accelerated rewards on groceries, dining, and Air Canada purchases, along with valuable travel perks such as automatic Aeroplan 25K elite status, a free checked bag on Air Canada flights, and no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders also benefit from Aeroplan points to be redeemed at 1.25 cents each toward any travel purchase which is an added flexibility that enhances the card’s long-term value. The maximum number of points allowed to be redeemed this way is 200,000 Aeroplan points per year.
For frequent flyers based in the U.S., particularly those traveling from major hubs like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, an Aeroplan co branded credit card serves as an efficient all-in-one travel solution.
For travelers who prefer to keep their points flexible, Aeroplan partners with several major transferable currency programs. American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Bilt Rewards all transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, and most transfers are processed instantly. This makes it easy to top up your Aeroplan balance whenever you’re ready to book a flight.
Combining these flexible points with your Aeroplan cobranded credit card earnings can help you reach high-value redemptions faster, especially for long-haul business class flights or itineraries with stopovers, one of Aeroplan’s most attractive features.
Choosing between an Aeroplan cobranded credit card and a flexible rewards card depends largely on your spending and travel habits. If you frequently fly with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners, an Aeroplan cobranded credit card can offer seamless integration and meaningful travel benefits. However, if you value versatility across multiple airlines or spending categories, a flexible rewards card might deliver greater long-term earning potential.
Ultimately, the best strategy may be a combination of both: use an Aeroplan cobranded credit card for Air Canada purchases and key bonus categories, while leveraging a flexible rewards card to diversify your earning and maximize transfer opportunities.
Major U.S. hubs with strong Aeroplan connectivity include New York, Washington D.C., Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
Aeroplan consistently delivers better value for premium travel through:
Aeroplan effectively bridges the gap between U.S. flexibility and global redemption value.
Everyday purchases can be the first step toward extraordinary experiences. Whether it’s savoring champagne above Zurich, discovering Tokyo in ANA’s “The Room,” or relaxing in Emirates’ Business Class to Dubai, Aeroplan turns routine spending into world-class travel. With its 2026 enhancements on the horizon, each point you earn today brings you closer to tomorrow’s premium adventures.
Aeroplan isn’t just for Canadians but it’s a powerful tool for Americans who want to fly premium cabins without premium prices.
By leveraging your existing credit card rewards and Aeroplan sweet spots, you can experience business and first class on SWISS, ANA, Turkish, and Singapore Airlines for a fraction of the cost. From a sushi breakfast above Tokyo Bay to champagne service at 35,000 feet over Zurich, Aeroplan doesn’t just get you there, it elevates every mile of your journey.
Start earning and exploring with Aeroplan today, because your next premium cabin might cost fewer points than you think.
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