Air Canada’s Aeroplan remains one of the most attractive loyalty programs globally for three clear reasons: a wide and useful partner network, competitive points pricing, and a polished app experience.
From June 1, 2026, Aeroplan introduces a revised flight reward chart for bookings made on or after that date. For Indian travellers this update preserves three valuable sweet spots, improves one area, and quietly removes another.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- The Atlantic Zone
- The two-tier Partner System
- India to Europe: Business Class Wins
- Intra-Europe: Business Class Wins
- India to USA: Sweet spot survives
- Intra-India: Improved
- The Atlantic-Pacific casualty
- Bottom Line
Overview
The headline 90,000-point business-class redemption from India to the United States remains unchanged. Meanwhile, business-class redemptions between India and Europe on carriers like Lufthansa, SWISS or Turkish become cheaper in some distance bands.
However, routings through Asia—such as Singapore, Bangkok or Tokyo—see roughly a 25% increase, and partner first-class redemptions to North America rise by about 18%.
This is the program’s third chart revision since the November 2020 relaunch, following updates in September 2022 and a more consequential overhaul in March 2025 that introduced the two-tier partner differentiation many members now notice. The June 1 change adjusts pricing numbers; it does not alter the partner-tier structure introduced in 2025.
The Atlantic Zone
Two key facts are essential for India-focused analysis.
India is classified in Aeroplan’s “Atlantic” zone alongside Europe, Africa and the Middle East—not the Pacific. As a result, intra-India flights, India–Europe flights and intra-Europe flights all use the same “Within Atlantic” chart.
Also, the partner differentiation remains in place: the June changes update the chart values rather than the two-tier structure.
The two-tier Partner System
Since March 25, 2025, every Aeroplan distance band shows two operator rows.
| Tier | Carriers included | Pricing model | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada and/or Select Partners | Air Canada, United, Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai, Canadian North, Calm Air, Bearskin, PAL | Dynamic (varies with demand and fare class) | “Starting at” floor plus a published median for routes touching North America |
| All other partners | Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels, ANA, Singapore, Turkish, Thai, EVA, Asiana, Air India, Avianca, Copa, Aegean, LOT, TAP, ITA, Ethiopian, EgyptAir, Air China, Air New Zealand, plus non-alliance partners (Cathay, Gulf Air, GOL, Bamboo, etc.) | Fixed (same number for every seat, every date) | Single published number per band and cabin |
For Indian travellers, the Tier B fixed column is the most relevant, since most practical redemptions use Tier B Star Alliance partners.
India to Europe: Business Class Wins
India–Europe redemptions price on the Within Atlantic chart because both regions sit in the same zone.
Typical routes such as Delhi–Frankfurt (~3,800 mi), Delhi–Zurich (~3,750 mi) and Mumbai–Vienna (~3,900 mi) fall into the 2,001–4,000 mile band. Routes like Delhi–London (~4,180 mi) and Delhi–Paris (~4,160 mi) fall into the 4,001–6,000 mile band.
| Route example | Band | Cabin | Before (one-way) | After June 1, 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEL/BOM–FRA, ZRH, VIE, IST | 2,001–4,000 mi | Economy | 25,000 | 30,000 | +20% |
| DEL/BOM–FRA, ZRH, VIE, IST | 2,001–4,000 mi | Business | 45,000 | 40,000 | −11% |
| DEL/BOM–FRA, ZRH, VIE, IST | 2,001–4,000 mi | First | 65,000 | 75,000 | +15% |
| DEL–LHR, CDG; BLR–FRA | 4,001–6,000 mi | Economy | 35,500 | 42,500 | +20% |
| DEL–LHR, CDG; BLR–FRA | 4,001–6,000 mi | Business | 60,000 | 70,000 | +17% |
| DEL–LHR, CDG; BLR–FRA | 4,001–6,000 mi | First | 90,000 | 100,000 | +11% |
The most notable positive change for Indians is the 40,000-point one-way business-class redemption from North Indian metros to continental Europe on carriers like Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian or Turkish. This represents an attractive value improvement despite being an 11% reduction in points rather than a dramatic shift.
The downside impacts economy travellers more strongly, with a 20% rise in economy pricing in those bands, and the longer 4,001–6,000 mile band becomes more expensive across all cabins, affecting travellers from Bengaluru and Chennai the most.
Intra-Europe: Business Class Wins
This is a clear win: short intra-Europe flights (0–1,000 miles) see business-class redemptions drop from 15,000 to 12,500 points one-way, a 17% improvement.
Examples include Frankfurt–Riga (870 mi), Frankfurt–Paris (280 mi) and Zurich–Vienna (380 mi). The same 12,500-point level also applies to Air India domestic business-class routes under 1,000 miles.
| Route example | Band | Cabin | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt–Riga (870 mi), FRA–CDG, ZRH–VIE | 0–1,000 mi | Economy | 7,500 | 7,500 | 0% |
| Frankfurt–Riga (870 mi), FRA–CDG, ZRH–VIE | 0–1,000 mi | Business | 15,000 | 12,500 | −17% |
| Frankfurt–Riga (870 mi), FRA–CDG, ZRH–VIE | 0–1,000 mi | First | 25,000 | 25,000 | 0% |
| Lisbon–Athens, Madrid–IST (1,500–1,900 mi) | 1,001–2,000 mi | Business | 25,000 | 22,500 | −10% |
| London–Tel Aviv, Paris–Cairo (2,000–2,500 mi) | 2,001–4,000 mi | Business | 45,000 | 40,000 | −11% |
| Long intra-Atlantic (Cape Town–LHR etc.) | 4,001–6,000 mi | Business | 60,000 | 70,000 | +17% |
| Long intra-Atlantic (Africa–Europe ultra-long) | 6,001+ mi | Business | 80,000 | 95,000 | +19% |
India to USA: Sweet spot survives
Distance calculations place Delhi–JFK (~7,300 mi), Delhi–ORD (~7,480 mi) and Delhi–EWR within the 6,001–8,000 mile band on direct Air India services. Mumbai–SFO non-stop (~8,200 mi) and many Europe-connecting routings land in the 8,001+ band.
| Route example | Band | Cabin | Before (partner) | After (partner) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEL–JFK/ORD/EWR (Air India direct) | 6,001–8,000 mi | Economy | 55,000 | 60,000 | +9% |
| DEL–JFK/ORD/EWR (Air India direct) | 6,001–8,000 mi | Business | 90,000 | 90,000 | 0% |
| DEL–JFK/ORD/EWR (Air India direct) | 6,001–8,000 mi | First | 130,000 | 150,000 | +15% |
| BOM–SFO; DEL/BOM–USA via Europe | 8,001+ mi | Economy | 70,000 | 75,000 | +7% |
| BOM–SFO; DEL/BOM–USA via Europe | 8,001+ mi | Business | 110,000 | 110,000 | 0% |
| BOM–SFO; DEL/BOM–USA via Europe | 8,001+ mi | First | 140,000 | 165,000 | +18% |
The one-way 90,000-point Air India business-class redemption from Delhi to New York remains the standout Star Alliance sweet spot for Indian travellers. When total flown distance stays under 8,001 miles, carriers such as Lufthansa via Frankfurt, Turkish via Istanbul and SWISS via Zurich can also be priced at the same 90,000-point level; routes crossing 8,000 miles typically price at 110,000 points.
Recent Air India product improvements—A350-1000 deliveries in 2026, refreshed 787-9 interiors, retrofit work, a new Maharaja Lounge at Delhi T3, and increased Delhi–Toronto frequencies—enhance the value of these redemptions. Economy increases are modest; first-class increases are more significant.
Intra-India: Improved
Air India’s bookability through Aeroplan combined with the chart adjustments makes some intra-India redemptions more compelling.
Routes such as Delhi–Mumbai (~715 mi) and Mumbai–Chennai (~640 mi) fall into the 0–1,000 mile band, while Delhi–Bengaluru (~1,090 mi) is in the 1,001–2,000 mile band.
| Route | Band | Cabin | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi–Mumbai (715 mi) | 0–1,000 mi | Economy | 7,500 | 7,500 | 0% |
| Delhi–Mumbai (715 mi) | 0–1,000 mi | Business | 15,000 | 12,500 | −17% |
| Mumbai–Chennai (640 mi) | 0–1,000 mi | Economy | 7,500 | 7,500 | 0% |
| Mumbai–Chennai (640 mi) | 0–1,000 mi | Business | 15,000 | 12,500 | −17% |
| Delhi–Bengaluru (1,090 mi) | 1,001–2,000 mi | Economy | 12,500 | 15,000 | +20% |
| Delhi–Bengaluru (1,090 mi) | 1,001–2,000 mi | Business | 25,000 | 22,500 | −10% |
| Delhi–Bengaluru (1,090 mi) | 1,001–2,000 mi | First | 40,000 | 40,000 | 0% |
A 12,500-point one-way business-class redemption on Air India’s domestic network for routes under 1,000 miles is among the lowest-cost premium redemptions worldwide after June 2026. Nevertheless, because Aeroplan points retain strong value for international itineraries, many travellers may prefer to use them for cross-border awards where the returns can be larger.
The Atlantic-Pacific casualty
The sharpest devaluations affect travellers connecting through Asia to destinations such as Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Hong Kong or Seoul.
| Route example | Band | Cabin | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEL/BOM–BKK on Thai (1,800 mi) | 0–2,500 mi | Business | 40,000 | 47,500 | +19% |
| DEL/BOM–SIN on SQ (~2,500 mi) | 2,501–5,000 mi | Business | 60,000 | 75,000 | +25% |
| DEL/BLR–NRT on ANA (~3,800 mi) | 2,501–5,000 mi | Business | 60,000 | 75,000 | +25% |
| DEL/BLR–NRT on ANA (~3,800 mi) | 2,501–5,000 mi | First | 80,000 | 95,000 | +19% |
| BOM–SYD via SIN | 5,001–7,000 mi | Business | 80,000 | 92,500 | +16% |
| Long Asia–Europe (e.g., DEL–AKL via Asia) | 7,001+ mi | Business | 110,000 | 130,000 | +18% |
This hits travellers routing through Southeast and East Asia especially hard. The silver lining is that Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer remains a good alternative for many Southeast Asia routes, but those aiming for Australia and New Zealand will likely feel the full effect of higher Aeroplan pricing.
Bottom Line
The June 2026 update is not a wholesale catastrophe. While some routes and cabins become more expensive, several valuable sweet spots survive and a few even improve. The impact is manageable and does not require an immediate overhaul of general points transfer strategy for most members.
For Indian travellers whose primary connections are to North America and Europe, Aeroplan still aligns well with those travel needs and continues to offer competitive value for premium redemptions.
Are you a fan of Aeroplan? Share your thoughts on these changes in the comments below.