Ultimate Guide to Every Aeroplan Redemption Partner

No other frequent flyer program has more airline partners than Air Canada Aeroplan. Because of this, many consider it one of the best airline programs in the world and easily the most valuable loyalty program for Canadian points and miles enthusiasts.

While Air Canada itself is a perfectly acceptable airline and one we at Frugal Flyer have redeemed many times, the real strength of Aeroplan lies in its ability to redeem points on 51 other partner airlines across both alliance and non-alliance carriers.

This may seem counterintuitive to newcomers, but as we will explore in this guide, redeeming points for partner airline flights often provide a better overall experience while costing fewer points compared to an Air Canada-operated flight.

In this guide, we will outline the various types of Aeroplan partner airlines and explain how pricing works across each partner category.

Additionally, because the Frugal Flyer team has flown with many Aeroplan partners over the years and gained a solid understanding of what makes a great Aeroplan partner redemption, I will also provide my subjective grade for each airline based on several key factors.

The Basics of Aeroplan Airline Partners

Types of Aeroplan Airline Partners

Expanding on the airlines available for booking with Aeroplan points, partner airlines are divided into Star Alliance members and non-alliance airlines. Including Air Canada, there are a total of 52 airlines, and under most circumstances, all can be booked directly on the Air Canada website or app.

Whether an airline is a Star Alliance member or a non-alliance partner doesn’t affect how flights can be booked. You can combine flights from all of the different partner airlines on the same ticket, and partner flights can also be combined with any Air Canada flight when redeeming points.

Aeroplan redemptions use two different pricing models, depending on the airline. Most partner airlines are priced at fixed rates based on the Aeroplan award chart. However, a few exception airlines use dynamic pricing to determine the cost of an award flight.

You can refer to the Aeroplan award chart to get an idea of what a redemption will cost based on the carrier, region, and distance traveled. For reference, Aeroplan uses a hybrid zone/distance system that has broken up the globe into four unique travel zones.

Every Air Canada Aeroplan Redemption Partner

Air Canada

As you likely already know, you can redeem points for Air Canada flights and those operated by its subsidiary airlines.

Award flights on Air Canada use dynamic pricing, and the airline makes every seat on the aircraft available to book with points. This means the number of points required can fluctuate based on factors such as demand, route, season, and how many seats the airline expects to sell to paying passengers. While this pricing structure has its advantages, it often means you end up paying a “market rate” in points rather than a fixed amount.

This model can be advantageous because every seat on a flight is technically available for redemption. At the same time, it means that award pricing can skyrocket when only a few seats remain or if you’re traveling during a peak period. Additionally, premium cabin redemptions on Air Canada are often disproportionately affected by dynamic pricing, as limited seat availability often results in significantly higher award prices.

Star Alliance Partner Airlines

Star Alliance is the world’s largest airline alliance, consisting of 25 member airlines that operate a combined fleet of over 5,000 aircraft. These airlines serve more than 1,300 airports in 195 countries with over 19,000 daily departures.

A large majority of the airlines in Star Alliance are known as legacy carriers, and often referred to as their home country’s “flag carrier,” and are based in major aviation hubs around the world.

Award pricing for most Star Alliance partner airlines are subject to a fixed price as set in the Aeroplan award chart.

The advantage of this model is that we always know the exact number of points required for a partner airline redemption, which is often far less than a dynamically priced redemption. The downside is that members hoping to make a redemption are dependent on the airline making award seats available to Aeroplan members, which is not always guaranteed.

Non-Alliance Partner Airlines

Non-alliance airlines are not part of any airline alliance and make up the remainder of Air Canada’s partner network. Pricing for these airlines works the same as for Star Alliance partners, with a fixed rate set by the Aeroplan award chart. As a result, there is no pricing distinction between Star Alliance partners and non-alliance partners.

Non-alliance partners are one of Aeroplan’s greatest strengths because they help fill in gaps where Star Alliance has limited presence, including regions such as the Middle East, South America, Oceania, and parts of Southeast Asia.

Select Partner Airlines

There are eight airlines that operate outside the standard partner award pricing structure. These airlines are classified as Select Partners, and redemptions on these carriers work more like Air Canada redemptions because the award pricing is dynamic. The key difference is that, unlike Air Canada, where every seat can be booked with points, Select Partner award seats are limited by the operating airline.

Select Partner airlines are treated differently because Air Canada cannot offer fixed rate redemptions on them due to the underlying economics of each carrier, including factors such as the region they operate in and the reimbursement Air Canada must pay for award seats.

In short, Air Canada chooses to include these airlines as partners, even if the redemption rates must be higher, because having access to award space on the airline is still more valuable than not offering them as redemption partners at all.

All Aeroplan Partner Airlines Ranked

Because Aeroplan has so many partner airlines, I will grade each airline based on several key factors to help you decide which airlines to prioritize for an Aeroplan redemption. For these gradings, I’ll primarily focus on each airline’s business class product, since this is usually where you get the best value for your points and where airlines tend to differentiate themselves. Economy class is similar across most airlines, so it plays a smaller role in these comparisons.

I’ll base my grading on the following factors:

• Quality. How good are the physical tangible elements of the aircraft, seat, lounge, and service across the airline?

• Consistency. How consistent is the business class cabin configuration? Does the airline operate several different business class seats and configurations, with some being inferior to others, or does it offer a single, uniform business class layout across its entire fleet?

• Availability. How reliable and realistic is it for the average traveler to find award space at a reasonable price?

• Network. How extensive and how many regions do the airlines’ route network cover?

One final note before we get started: at the time of writing, there are 52 airlines that can be booked using Aeroplan points. This will change in 2026, as at least one airline is set to leave Star Alliance, a new airline is expected to join Star Alliance, and Air Canada has announced that a new non-alliance partner will also be added in 2026.

Star Alliance Partner Airlines

Aegean Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
D	A	A	D	C

Aegean Airlines has an extensive network across continental Europe and a few routes to the Middle East, but the airline doesn’t operate any long-haul flights and its fleet consists entirely of narrowbody aircraft.

If you’re planning to fly to Greece or between the Greek islands, award availability is very good. However, because the airline operates an all-narrowbody fleet, business class is simply an economy seat with the middle seat blocked. As a result, business class redemptions are usually not worth it, especially since most Aegean flights are two hours or less.

Finally, something to remember as you read through this guide, low-cost carriers are so common and inexpensive in Europe and Asia that using points for short flights often isn’t worthwhile. So, you’ll need to weigh your options carefully before making any redemptions.

Air Canada

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	A	F	A	C

Although Air Canada’s network and consistent in-flight experience are unmatched for travelers departing from Canada, dynamic pricing almost always destroys any possibility of an Air Canada redemption resulting in a solid value proposition.

This is especially true for Air Canada Signature Class awards, where it’s incredibly common to see flights to Europe or Asia priced at 200,000 points or more one way. While it’s technically possible to find the occasional seat at the published starting rate, these opportunities are few and far between.

Holding Air Canada status can make redemptions somewhat more accessible through benefits like eUpgrades and Priority Rewards, but even these are far from guaranteed and rarely represent an easy or automatic win.

Air China

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
B	C	F	A	D

By most accounts, Air China is a solid airline that offers a respectable business class product and an extensive route network from its hub at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). However, when searching for award availability, I was unable to find a single day over the course of an entire year with either business class or economy award space on flights between China and North America. It appears safe to conclude that Air China doesn’t release transpacific award seats to partner airlines.

Award availability in economy class within China and across Southeast Asia was noticeably better, and I was also able to find some economy award space on flights between Beijing and Europe.

This likely explains why Air China receives relatively little attention in the points and miles community. That said, if your needs are limited to short hops within China in economy class, Air China can still be useful, as award flights of up to 1,000 miles start at just 8,000 Aeroplan points.

Air India

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
D	F	A	A	C

If you follow any aviation-related content on social media, you may have come across viral videos of passengers documenting their Air India flights and the often poor condition of the aircraft cabins. From broken seats to non-functioning entertainment systems and noticeable cleanliness issues, Air India has developed a very poor reputation.

That said, the airline has been taking steps to rehabilitate its image with the introduction of a fleet of new Airbus A350s featuring sleek new business class suites.

If you’re willing to tolerate a subpar in-flight experience and your final destination is in India or Southeast Asia, and you value the convenience of a direct flight or a one-stop itinerary, Air India offers excellent award availability and pricing. In fact, Air India arguably offers the best international business and first class award availability of any Aeroplan partner.

Air New Zealand

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	A	F	D	C

Air New Zealand’s ranking suffers due to extremely limited business class redemption availability from North America. During research for this guide, I found just one business class seat available on a flight from Houston (IAH) over the course of an entire year.

If you’re willing to fly the 14-hour journey in economy class, availability is much better. You should be able to find suitable economy flights from Vancouver (YVR) or several U.S. gateways.

Business class availability from Asia is significantly stronger. I had little difficulty finding seats on flights from major Asian hubs.

Although Air New Zealand offers a consistent business class experience, it also features one of the oldest and most unusual cabins still in service. Often nicknamed “coffin class” or the “sardine can seat,” these seats are among the narrowest and least private business class seats available today. The airline is currently retrofitting its widebody fleet over the next few years, so we can hope for improvements in both the hard product and availability going forward.

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
A	B	D	A	B

ANA is one of the top Star Alliance member airlines and a favorite among points and miles enthusiasts. ANA’s business class, known as The Room, is widely regarded as one of the best business class products in the world and can even rival many first class offerings. Passengers also enjoy exceptional Japanese cuisine and service on board.

The Vancouver (YVR) to Tokyo–Narita (NRT) route is particularly popular among Canadian points and miles travelers. This flight occupies a unique spot on the Aeroplan award chart, as its distance just fits into the distance band that costs only 55,000 Aeroplan points for business class. While award availability on this route is very limited, seats do occasionally appear.

ANA is reliable at releasing last-minute award space on its North American routes, though often only a single seat is available. Because ANA business class is so highly sought after by North American travelers, expect competition for seats to be fierce.

Asiana Airlines (Leaving Star Alliance in 2026)

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	A	C	B	C

Asiana Airlines was acquired by Korean Air in 2024 and has been operating as a subsidiary since the purchase. Korean Air plans to integrate Asiana’s operations into the Korean Air brand by 2026, at which point the Asiana Airlines brand will be retired and operations will cease under its name.

For now, it’s still possible to redeem Aeroplan points for Asiana Airlines flights. However, with no confirmed timeline for when the airline will be fully dissolved, I wouldn’t recommend making long-term plans or booking award redemptions too far into the future given the uncertainty around how much longer Asiana will exist.

Before the acquisition, transpacific award availability on Asiana was fairly reliable, but that has changed significantly. Availability is now extremely limited, and even when award seats can be found, the onboard experience leaves little to be excited about. Asiana’s Airbus A350 features a mostly uninspiring cabin, with outdated seats and technology, along with uninterested service from the staff.

Austrian Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	C	C	B	C

Austrian Airlines offers average business class award availability to its only Canadian destination, Montreal (YUL), making it a viable option with some flexibility. The drawback, however, is that this route is operated by an ancient Boeing 767-300 featuring a very tired cabin.

The Vienna-based carrier has begun modernizing its long-haul fleet, having already taken delivery of two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with a far more modern 1–2–1 business class cabin. Additional Dreamliners are expected to join the fleet through 2028.

That said, if you’re looking for a direct flight from Canada or a convenient way to hop around Europe, redeeming just 60,000 Aeroplan points for a transatlantic business class ticket in a moderate degree of comfort can still make Austrian Airlines a very solid Aeroplan partner.

Avianca

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	B	B	C	C

Flights to South America are arguably Aeroplan’s weakest region. Unless you live in Toronto or Montreal, you’ll almost certainly need to take a positioning flight, and the overall experience on Avianca often feels closer to a domestic service than a true long-haul international product.

Avianca operates a modern fleet that includes Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A321neos. However, business class award availability from North America to Bogotá is often extremely limited, as the airline primarily relies on narrowbody aircraft for its North America–South America routes. Most of Avianca’s flights are operated by A321neos configured in an all-economy layout, leaving little to no true business class availability.

While Avianca’s primary hub is Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport (BOG), the airline also offers direct service to other Central and South American cities, including San Salvador, San José, and Medellín.

Brussels Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
D	B	A	D	C

Brussels Airlines receives a lower grade due to its limited network and the lack of direct flights to Canada. That said, if you’re willing to take a positioning flight to one of its two North American gateways, New York (JFK) or Washington (IAD), business class award availability is excellent.

As for the business class product itself, Brussels Airlines operates a small fleet of Airbus A330-300 aircraft that are showing their age. As a result, the business class cabin feels dated, with some aircraft still featuring a very outdated 2–2–2 seating configuration.

Copa Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	A	B	C	B

Copa Airlines is the flag carrier of Panama, and because Central America is included in the North America zone on the Aeroplan award chart, Copa awards represent one of the most underrated Aeroplan sweet spots.

Copa Airlines operates flights to Toronto (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL), along with numerous destinations across the United States. Since these routes are under 2,750 miles, award flights cost just 12,500 Aeroplan points in economy and 25,000 points in business class for flights of up to five hours.

Award availability in both economy and business class is good across the network, including routes between Canada or the United States and Panama, and onward connections throughout Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. However, since Copa exclusively operates Boeing 737 aircraft, the business class experience is fairly basic and may not justify the higher points cost for some travelers.

Croatia Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	A	B	D	C

Croatia Airlines operates a very limited route network within Europe and doesn’t offer any long-haul service. The airline has a fleet of just 15 aircraft, configured in an all-economy layout.

Redemptions on Croatia Airlines work best when combined with an international flight from North America, as it’s often possible to add a connecting Croatia Airlines segment at no additional points cost. For example, I redeemed an itinerary from Vancouver (YVR) to Frankfurt (FRA) to Dubrovnik (DBV) for 70,000 Aeroplan points, which nearly maximizes the 4,001 to 6,000-mile distance band on the North America to Atlantic award chart.

As for the in-flight experience, it’s exactly what you would expect from an intra-Europe carrier. There are no frills, but the flights are short enough that the lack of amenities and comfort are rarely an issue.

EgyptAir

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
D	D	A	C	C

The main appeal of an EgyptAir redemption is the wide availability of award space to Cairo (CAI) from across the airline’s North American network. EgyptAir serves Toronto (YYZ) as its only Canadian destination, while also operating flights to New York (JFK and EWR) and Washington, D.C. (IAD).

EgyptAir is a dry airline, meaning no alcohol is served onboard, and the quality of its business class product varies significantly by aircraft. Flights to Toronto are typically operated by the newer Boeing 787, which features a modern 1–2–1 business class layout. In contrast, most U.S. routes are operated by older Boeing 777 aircraft with noticeably dated cabins.

That said, if you’re looking for a direct flight to Cairo or a simple one-stop connection to destinations elsewhere in the region, EgyptAir can be a dependable option, especially when award availability is limited on other airlines.

Ethiopian Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	B	F	A	C

At the time of writing, Ethiopian Airlines has been experiencing an ongoing award availability outage for Aeroplan redemptions that has lasted nearly six months. This can happen from time to time with partner airlines, as award availability may be affected by a variety of behind-the-scenes factors. Technical issues can sometimes prevent award seats from appearing on partner websites, or airlines may restrict online bookings in certain regions due to concerns about fraud or abuse.

One workaround is to search for award availability on the website of another Star Alliance carrier, such as United Airlines. Phone agents may be able to see flights that aren’t appearing online and can assist with booking an award over the phone.

Under normal circumstances, Ethiopian Airlines offers excellent award availability between North America and its hub in Addis Ababa (ADD). I found plenty of availability when searching on the United Airlines website, so Ethiopian is still available through other channels. And while its business class experience isn’t considered top tier, the ability to fly direct to Africa is highly valuable, as this region can be challenging to reach using points and miles.

EVA Air

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
A	A	C	A	A

EVA Air is one of the crown jewel airlines within Star Alliance and a favorite among points and miles enthusiasts. This reputation is largely due to its highly regarded Royal Laurel business class product and predictable award availability. Also, Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) serves as an excellent connecting hub for travel across Asia, and Taipei itself makes for a great stopover city for a night or two.

Award availability can be hit or miss, and because premium cabin redemptions between North America and Asia are limited and highly competitive, securing an EVA Air business class award can be challenging. That said, EVA Air is known for releasing last-minute award space in the days and weeks leading up to departure.

If you’re comfortable booking close to departure and have flexibility in your routing, it’s often possible to secure multiple seats. Just be prepared to act quickly, as any newly released availability tends to disappear fast.

ITA Airways (Expected to Join Star Alliance in 2026)

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
B	B	D	B	B

ITA Airways is Italy’s flag carrier, based at Leonardo da Vinci–Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO). In 2025, ITA was acquired by the Lufthansa Group and announced plans to exit SkyTeam and join Star Alliance in 2026 as part of its integration into the group.

Although ITA Airways has not yet officially joined Star Alliance, ITA Airways award flights have started appearing on Aeroplan. At the moment, there does not seem to be any transatlantic award availability bookable through Aeroplan; however, intra-Europe awards in both economy and business class look quite promising.

When ITA Airways was a member of SkyTeam, award availability between North America and Europe was similarly limited, much like what we’re currently seeing on Aeroplan. Hopefully, this is an area that will improve once the airline joins Star Alliance.

ITA Airways currently serves Toronto (YYZ) as its only Canadian destination, primarily operating the route with an Airbus A330-900neo. By all accounts, ITA Airways’ business class is a strong product, making it worth keeping an eye on award availability once the airline officially joins Star Alliance in 2026.

LOT Polish Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	B	B	B	B

LOT Polish Airlines is a consistently reliable option for transatlantic travel between North America and Europe, operating primarily from its hubs in Warsaw (WAW) and Kraków (KRK).

Business class award availability is often excellent on the Toronto (YYZ) to Warsaw (WAW) route. If you’re willing to position to a U.S. gateway, even more options become available, with similarly strong award availability.

The main drawback of LOT Polish Airlines is its aging business class product. The airline continues to operate an outdated 2–2–2 seat configuration and doesn’t offer Wi-Fi on any of its aircraft.

LOT has announced plans to retrofit its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, but the timeline remains unclear. Although the retrofit was announced in 2023, not a single aircraft has been refurbished to date, and there is still no firm indication of when the project will move forward.

Lufthansa

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
D	C	A	A	B

Lufthansa is arguably Air Canada’s most well-known and prominent redemption partner, thanks to the German airline’s vast global network and strong economy and business class award availability across many routes.

Also, Lufthansa is one of the few Aeroplan partners that releases first class award seats for partner redemptions. Historically, Lufthansa has been reliable at releasing last-minute first class space through Aeroplan. However, this appears to have changed recently, as first class availability is now far more limited than it once was.

Furthermore, Lufthansa seems to be applying married-segment logic more frequently on award space releases to partner airlines, making direct flights harder to find. As a result, you may need to consider one-stop itineraries in your search to uncover better award availability.

Lufthansa’s main drawback is its increasingly dated business class product. Much of the fleet still features an outdated 2–2–2 seating configuration, alongside a mix of cabins inherited from other airlines. While Lufthansa is in the process of retrofitting aircraft with its new Allegris cabin, only a handful currently feature the updated business class, resulting in a highly inconsistent onboard experience.

Lufthansa City Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	B	B	D	C

Lufthansa City Airlines is a German regional airline owned by the Lufthansa Group that operates independently from its parent, focusing on short-haul flights throughout Europe.

The airline is based in Munich (MUC) and primarily serves shorter routes that other Lufthansa subsidiaries are unable to operate efficiently.

Award availability on Lufthansa City Airlines is generally strong. Since most of its flights are under 1,000 miles, redemptions should price at 7,500 Aeroplan points.

Shenzhen Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	B	A	D	C

Shenzhen Airlines does not operate any flights to North America, making it of limited practical use for travelers seeking transpacific flights. However, the airline does serve a couple of European destinations, including London (LHR) and Barcelona (BCN), where award availability in both economy and business class is amazing, with seats available on nearly every date.

The airline also has an extensive network throughout China and East Asia, with similarly strong award availability across the region.

In terms of the onboard product, Shenzhen Airlines operates Airbus A330-300 aircraft on its long-haul routes, along with a mix of Airbus and Boeing narrowbody aircraft elsewhere in the fleet. The cabins are fairly unremarkable, with business class configured in a 2–2–2 layout on its widebody aircraft and recliner-style seats on short-haul aircraft.

Singapore Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
A	A	D	A	B

If you can find award availability on Singapore Airlines, it’s one of Aeroplan’s best premium cabin redemption partners. The airline is renowned for its excellent food, attentive service, and comfortable business class seats, along with strong in-flight entertainment and reliable Wi-Fi.

The challenge, however, is actually finding business class award availability, which has all but dried up in recent years, particularly on routes between North America and Singapore.

On the flip side, while award space between North America and Singapore is scarce, availability within Southeast Asia is very good, with plentiful economy and business class award seats available throughout the year.

South African Airways

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	B	D	F	D

South African Airways has faced a challenging few years. The airline suspended operations in 2020 because of financial difficulties and only resumed services in late 2021, relaunching with a very limited schedule. Today, it operates just 20 aircraft to 15 destinations from its hub at O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).

Given the airline’s financial struggles, the in-flight product isn’t particularly compelling or a major focus for the airline at this time.

Award availability, however, is wide open for both economy and business class redemptions to all destinations served by South African Airways, including its two routes to Perth (PER) and São Paulo (GRU).

For travelers interested in niche routes throughout Africa or connections to Australia and South America, South African Airways offers some intriguing opportunities.

SWISS

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	C	B	B	C

SWISS is similar to Lufthansa in that the Zurich-based carrier operates a vast global network and offers very good award availability in both economy and business class. SWISS serves Toronto (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL), with the Montreal route in particular often offering strong business class award availability.

However, as with Lufthansa, the attractive award availability is offset by a lackluster business class experience on older aircraft. The Boeing 777-300 and especially the Airbus A330-300 are well past their prime.

SWISS has begun introducing its new SWISS Senses cabin, featuring all-new economy and business class seats. However, this new cabin is currently available on only a handful of aircraft, and retrofitting the rest of the fleet will take several years. Despite the aging hard product, 60,000 Aeroplan points for a direct flight from Montreal to Zurich is tough to beat.

TAP Air Portugal

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
B	B	C	C	C

TAP Air Portugal is based in Lisbon and operates an extensive network throughout Europe, a few destinations in Africa, and around a dozen cities in North America, including Toronto (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL). A notable gap in TAP’s network is the lack of any flights to Asia.

Award availability to East Coast cities is strong and reliable, while flights to the West Coast of North America (SFO and LAX) tend to be more limited.

Many of TAP Air Portugal’s flights to North America are operated with either the Airbus A330neo or Airbus A321neo, both modern aircraft that provide a very comfortable experience in economy and business class.

In addition, TAP Air Portugal offers some of the best connectivity to Atlantic archipelagos such as the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, and Cabo Verde.

THAI

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	C	B	C	C

Based in Bangkok, Thai Airways is the flag carrier of Thailand and primarily operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). The airline maintains an extensive route network across Asia, Australia, and Europe. However, Thai Airways hasn’t operated direct flights to North America since 2015.

Award availability on Thai Airways flights between Europe and Bangkok is excellent, with the airline often releasing up to eight business class seats per flight. Availability across its Asian network is similarly strong, and travelers with some flexibility should have little trouble finding award space on most routes.

Thai Airways also releases first class award seats to Aeroplan members. Specifically, the Bangkok (BKK) to London (LHR) route stands out as an attractive sweet spot, pricing at 80,000 Aeroplan points for a roughly 14-hour flight in first class.

All that said, expectations should be tempered. Thai Airways has been under bankruptcy protection since 2020 and its in-flight experience has seen a noticeable decline with deteriorating cabins and scaled back food and beverage offerings.

Turkish Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
B	C	C	A	B

The greatest strength of Turkish Airlines, and what makes it such a great Aeroplan partner, is its enormous global network. From its hub in Istanbul, the airline offers non-stop access to nearly anywhere in the world, and it proudly claims to fly to more countries than any other airline.

Award availability between North America and Istanbul is inconsistent and best described as average, with the airline often releasing just a single award seat per flight.

The in-flight experience, particularly the hard product, is also highly inconsistent. Turkish operates a mix of Boeing 777-300s, Boeing 787-9s, and Airbus A350-900s on routes to North America. The Boeing 777 features a very outdated 2–3–2 business class layout, while the newer 787 and A350 aircraft offer a modern 1–2–1 configuration. Regardless of aircraft type, Turkish Airlines is well regarded for its catering, highlighted by onboard chefs and consistently strong meal service.

Non-Alliance Partner Airlines

Air Dolomiti

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
B	A	B	D	B

Air Dolomiti is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group and, as the name suggests, primarily operates flights within the Dolomites region of Europe. Its main hubs are Frankfurt and Munich, with a network focused on Northern Italy and nearby surrounding countries.

The airline operates an all-economy fleet of Embraer 195 aircraft, along with two Embraer 190s. The onboard experience is similar to what Porter Airlines offers, so if you are familiar with that cabin, you will likely find it comfortable.

Award availability on Air Dolomiti is decent, and the airline pairs especially well with long-haul Lufthansa flights. This is because Air Dolomiti is based at Lufthansa’s two largest hub airports, making it a convenient option for connecting itineraries.

Air Mauritius

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
B	A	A	D	B

Air Mauritius has a small but highly valuable route network, which demonstrates why niche airline partners make Aeroplan so useful. Traveling to the southern Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius is otherwise very difficult, so being able to redeem points for these flights is a major advantage.

The airline operates a modern fleet of Airbus A350s and A330neos, ensuring a comfortable experience. Business class availability and pricing are excellent. For example, a 12-hour flight from Paris–Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Mauritius (MRU) for 60,000 Aeroplan points is one of the standout sweet spots in the program.

Air Serbia

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	A	B	D	C

Air Serbia has a relatively limited network, but the Belgrade-based carrier recently added Toronto (YYZ) as its third North American destination. The airline operates an older Airbus A330-200 with a somewhat dated business class product. Availability is good on its transatlantic routes, making it a convenient option for travelers seeking a direct flight to Eastern Europe.

Once in Europe, Air Serbia offers solid connectivity, making it an ideal choice for one-stop itineraries to most major cities across the continent.

airBaltic

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
B	A	B	D	B

Operating from its hubs in Riga (RIX), Vilnius (VNO), and Tallinn (TLL), airBaltic connects the Baltic region to over 80 destinations across Europe and beyond. The airline has one of the youngest fleets in Europe, consisting of modern Airbus A220-300 aircraft. In 2025, airBaltic became the first European airline to offer free high-speed internet on board via SpaceX Starlink.

With limited Star Alliance coverage in the Baltic region, airBaltic plays a key role by connecting secondary and less-traveled destinations. This partnership also allows Aeroplan members to combine airBaltic flights with major Star Alliance carriers as part of a larger redemption.

Azul Brazilian Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	C	B	C	C

Due to the previously mentioned gaps in Star Alliance coverage in South America, Air Canada has partnered with Azul Airlines to enhance connectivity and expand coverage across Brazil.

Availability for domestic economy flights within Brazil is excellent, and since most routes are under 1,600 miles, they cost just 10,000 Aeroplan points. Even better, you can combine an Air Canada flight from Montreal (YUL) or Toronto (YYZ) to São Paulo (GRU) with a domestic Azul flight at no additional points cost.

Azul also operates a limited widebody fleet of Airbus A330s and offers flights to Portugal, Spain, and Paris. 

Bamboo Airways

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	B	F	F	D

Bamboo Airways is a Vietnam-based airline operating a small fleet of just seven narrowbody aircraft, serving approximately 15 domestic destinations.

The airline went through a major financial crisis in 2023, entering a restructuring that led to the termination of all long-haul routes and the sale of its Boeing 787 aircraft. I was unable to find any available award flights on the domestic routes Bamboo Airways currently operates, suggesting that the airline’s partnership with Aeroplan is in a state of limbo. Despite Bamboo Airways still being listed as a redemption partner on Air Canada’s website, it doesn’t appear possible to redeem points for Bamboo Airways flights at this time.

Cathay Pacific

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
A	B	B	D	B

You might be wondering how oneworld carrier Cathay Pacific ended up on this list. Through a unique partnership between Air Canada and Cathay Pacific, Aeroplan members can redeem points for flights on select Cathay Pacific routes.

Aeroplan redemptions are available on Cathay Pacific flights between Hong Kong and the following destinations:

• Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Phuket, Thailand
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Cebu, Philippines
• Manila, Philippines
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Hanoi, Vietnam

The intent of this partnership is to allow Aeroplan members flying to Hong Kong on Air Canada to connect onward to select cities that are not otherwise served efficiently by Star Alliance carriers.

There is no requirement for a redemption to include an Air Canada segment. Cathay Pacific flights on these routes can be booked on their own or combined with flights operated by other Star Alliance partners.

Discover Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	C	A	C	C

Discover Airlines is a German leisure carrier owned by Lufthansa that serves secondary cities and vacation destinations from its hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. The airline operates flights to two Canadian cities, Calgary (YYC) and Halifax (YHZ), both of which are relatively underserved markets for direct transatlantic service on fixed rate Aeroplan partner airlines.

Award availability in both economy and business class is excellent. I was able to find plenty of business class award availability from Calgary (YYC) and especially from Halifax (YHZ), making Discover Airlines an especially attractive option for travelers based on Canada’s Atlantic coast.

Discover Airlines operates its international flights with Airbus A330 aircraft, all of which feature an older 2–2–2 business class cabin. While the in-flight experience is unlikely to impress, the ability to redeem points for a direct flight to Europe from two of Canada’s lesser served markets in a reasonable level of comfort will be more than enough for many travelers, provided the routing fits their needs.

Edelweiss Air

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	C	D	C	C

Much like Discover Airlines, Edelweiss operates in a very similar manner. Edelweiss is the sister airline of Swiss International Air Lines and focuses on serving leisure destinations across North America, Europe, and parts of Africa and Southeast Asia.

Edelweiss operates direct flights from its hub in Zurich (ZRH) to Vancouver (YVR), Calgary (YYC), and Halifax (YHZ). However, award availability on its North America routes is extremely limited. Availability improves somewhat on flights departing Zurich to other destinations in Europe or Africa, where award space is more commonly found.

Edelweiss operates older aircraft featuring a 2–2–2 business class seating configuration. That said, the airline is modernizing its fleet and expects to take delivery of new Airbus A350s and Airbus A320neos beginning in 2026.

Eurowings

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
D	A	A	D	C

Eurowings is a Germany-based low-cost carrier that operates an extensive route network across Europe and parts of the Middle East, using a fleet of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. The airline is expecting delivery of up to 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft beginning in 2027, which will gradually replace its aging Airbus A319 fleet.

While new aircraft are always exciting, Eurowings doesn’t operate any long-haul flights, and intra-Europe business class is often underwhelming and rarely worth the additional points cost. That said, the real strength of partners like Eurowings lies in their broad European network and the ability to combine a Eurowings segment with a flight from North America, like the value offered by airlines such as Discover and airBaltic.

GOL Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	A	B	C	B

GOL Airlines is a Brazilian low cost carrier based in Rio de Janeiro and the largest domestic airline in the country, offering extensive network coverage throughout Brazil and South America.

The airline also operates two flights to the United States, serving Miami and Orlando.

GOL’s fleet consists of 138 Boeing 737 aircraft configured with economy and premium economy cabins. Since premium economy partner redemptions aren’t available through Aeroplan, only economy redemptions with GOL Airlines are possible.

Flying from Miami to Brazil costs 20,000 or 30,000 Aeroplan points depending on the destination, while domestic flights within Brazil are priced at 10,000 Aeroplan points, as all routes fall into the same distance band.

Gulf Air

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
B	A	F	D	C

Gulf Air is another partner airline currently experiencing an award availability outage on Aeroplan. At the time of writing, no flights are available to book with points in either economy or business class.

Although Gulf Air operates a relatively limited network, it offers excellent connections to Europe and Asia from its hub in Bahrain. The airline also features the popular Apex Suites on its widebody Boeing 787 aircraft, and a solid lie-flat business class product on its Airbus A320 fleet.

Hopefully, Air Canada and Gulf Air can eventually resolve the issues with award availability. Gulf Air launched its first and only North American route to New York (JFK) in October 2025, providing another excellent option for direct flights from North America to the Middle East.

Harbour Air

No score for Harbour Air as redemption cost and availability is currently unknown.

Harbour Air is one of Air Canada’s newest airline partners and is North America’s largest all-seaplane carrier. The airline operates scheduled seaplane services from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Vancouver Harbour (CXH) to destinations throughout coastal British Columbia, offering a convenient alternative to ferries or driving.

At the time of writing, Harbour Air redemptions are not yet available, though the airline has indicated that redemptions should launch in the first half of 2026.

The timing of this partnership is particularly appealing, as Harbour Air introduced its own frequent flyer program in 2025. As a result, travelers flying with Harbour Air can now earn Aeroplan points alongside Harbour Air Club Credits on qualifying fares, effectively stacking two loyalty currencies on a single flight.

Juneyao Air

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	C	B	D	C

Juneyao Air is a Chinese airline based in Shanghai that operates both domestic and international services from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).

The airline operates a fleet of approximately 100 aircraft serving around 100 destinations, with its route network primarily concentrated in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Juneyao Air also operates a limited number of routes to Europe and Australia.

Award availability on Juneyao Air is somewhat of a mystery. Award flights often do not appear in search results on the Air Canada website or app, yet there is a significant amount of availability when searching on the United Airlines website. If you want to make Aeroplan redemption on Juneyao Air, the best approach might be to search for award space on United’s site and then call Aeroplan to book the award ticket.

Olympic Air 

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	A	B	F	C

Olympic Air is a regional airline and a subsidiary of Greece’s Aegean Airlines. It operates flights to roughly a dozen Greek islands from its hubs at Athens International Airport (ATH) and Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG).

The airline also serves a handful of destinations in Turkey along the Aegean Sea.

Olympic Air operates a small fleet of turboprop aircraft configured entirely in economy class. Since all routes are under 1,000 miles, one-way redemptions are priced at 7,500 Aeroplan points.

Oman Air

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
A	A	A	C	A

Oman Air is one of Aeroplan’s most consistent partners, offering great award availability and a solid business class product. While the Muscat-based carrier doesn’t have the most extensive network, it’s an excellent option for one-stop redemptions between Europe and Southeast Asia.

Oman Air is also arguably the most generous Aeroplan partner when it comes to making first class award space available. The airline operates a daily flight between Muscat (MCT) and Bangkok (BKK) using a Boeing 787-9, and I was able to find extensive first class availability, sometimes with as many as seven seats on a single flight. Pricing is also attractive at 80,000 Aeroplan points.

The real advantage is that the Muscat to Bangkok route is just 2,855 miles in distance. This allows you to add an onward business or first class segment from Bangkok of up to an additional 2,145 miles without any increase in points cost.

SunExpress

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	B	C	C	C

SunExpress is a Turkish-German leisure airline based in Antalya, Turkey. The airline primarily focuses on vacation destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

SunExpress operates an exclusively Boeing 737 fleet, configured in an all-economy layout.

Award availability is reliable on flights between continental Europe and Turkey. Interestingly, however, SunExpress doesn’t operate flights to either of Istanbul’s two major airports.

Virgin Australia

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	C	A	D	C

Air Canada’s partnership with Virgin Australia exists largely for the same reason as any other regional carrier partnership: to improve connectivity in regions where Star Alliance coverage is limited.

Virgin Australia operates an extensive domestic network across Australia, and a few international destinations such as Nadi (NAN) and Bali–Denpasar (DPS).

The airline also offers flights to Doha (DOH) from Sydney (SYD), Brisbane (BNE), Melbourne (MEL), and Perth (PER). What makes these flights particularly interesting is that they are operated in partnership with Qatar Airways, using Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and crew. This presents a very unique opportunity to redeem Aeroplan points for Qatar Airways Qsuites!

Award availability on these routes is also very good, with many dates open throughout the year. Flights are priced at 80,000 Aeroplan points for the Perth (PER) – Doha (DOH) route, while Sydney (SYD), Brisbane (BNE), and Melbourne (MEL) routes are priced at 110,000 points.

Select Partner Airlines

Emirates

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
A	C	F	A	C

Flying Emirates in a premium cabin is an experience unlike almost anything else in award travel and aviation. The Dubai-based airline is famous for its over-the-top style and amenities, especially onboard the Airbus A380, which features a bar and lounge at the rear of the aircraft as well as expansive first class bathrooms complete with onboard showers.

While it’s certainly a plus that Air Canada partners with Emirates and allows redemptions through Aeroplan, Emirates awards are subject to dynamic pricing. As a result, redemption rates are almost always extremely high, with one-way business class flights from North America to Dubai frequently pricing at 250,000 Aeroplan points or more.

Even at those eye-watering prices, Emirates business and first class on the Airbus A380 is incredible and are experiences that any points and miles enthusiast should try at least once, especially as premium cabin Emirates award availability continues to become increasingly limited.

Etihad Airways

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
A	A	F	A	B

Much of what applies to Emirates also holds true for this fellow UAE-based carrier. Etihad offers a phenomenal business class on both its Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-1000 and first class product, along with one of the most aspirational first class experiences in aviation today, the Etihad Residence. This private three-room suite features a separate living room, bedroom, and bathroom, delivering a truly extraordinary experience.

However, because Etihad is an Aeroplan Select Partner, awards are priced dynamically, and business class redemptions almost always exceed 200,000 Aeroplan points one-way. As a result, Etihad flights are generally a poor use of Aeroplan points.

Instead, booking Etihad premium cabin awards through American Airlines AAdvantage is typically the better option, as AAdvantage offers fixed award pricing along with relatively low taxes and fees.

Flydubai

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
C	A	F	C	C

Flydubai is based in Dubai (DXB) and operates an extensive network of more than 110 destinations across over 50 countries. The airline provides broad coverage throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The carrier operates a relatively young fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, all configured with both economy and business class cabins. Flydubai has placed an order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027. These aircraft will represent the airline’s first widebody jets and should coincide with a major upgrade on longer haul routes.

Flydubai’s business class offering varies by aircraft, ranging from standard recliner seats to more modern lie flat seating options, depending on the route and configuration.

Because flydubai is an Aeroplan Select Partner, award pricing is dynamic, which makes it difficult to extract strong value from redemptions. While it’s occasionally possible to find an economy flight at the published starting rate, business class redemptions are usually of poor value. They often cost twice as many points as comparable fixed-price partners and generally don’t represent a good use of Aeroplan points.

United Airlines

Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
B	A	F	A	B

United Airlines was once one of Aeroplan’s most reliable partners for finding last-minute award availability on routes between North America, Europe, and Asia. However, last year United was reclassified as a Select Partner, meaning award flights are now priced dynamically, and the airline has restricted much of its award space to United MileagePlus members and United co-branded credit cardholders.

Overall, United offers a mostly middle-of-the-road experience. While it isn’t the most premium airline, all of its widebody aircraft feature the well-regarded Polaris business class seat, providing a consistent product throughout the fleet.

Additionally, passengers flying in Polaris business class gain access to United’s excellent Polaris lounges in the United States, which are widely considered some of the best business class lounges in North America.

Canadian Regional Airlines (Air Creebec, Air Inuit, Bearskin Airlines, Calm Air, Canadian North, PAL Airlines)

I’m grouping all of Aeroplan’s domestic airline partners together, as they largely serve the same role: connecting remote communities in Northern Canada with larger population centers across the country.

Typically, these airlines link major hubs such as Edmonton (YEG), Winnipeg (YWG), Toronto (YYZ), Ottawa (YOW), and Montreal (YUL) with communities in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and remote areas throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Canadian North, Calm Air, Bearskin Airlines, and Provincial Airlines (PAL) are classified as Select Partners, meaning that flights on these four airlines are dynamically priced, similar to that of an Air Canada flight. 

Previously, all of Air Canada’s Canadian regional airlines fell under Aeroplan’s fixed-price award chart, which often provided exceptional value given the high cash cost of flights in these regions. However, Air Canada has since updated its award chart, reclassifying the four carriers mentioned above as Select Partners. As a result, awards are now dynamically priced on these four airlines, and much of the outsized value these redemptions once offered has been eliminated.

Air Creebec and Air Inuit remain priced under the fixed Within North America award chart, so redemption rates on these two airlines are still consistent for the time being.

Some of these Canadian regional airlines can be inconsistent when it comes to displaying award availability online, so you may need to call Aeroplan if you’re having difficulty finding a specific flight.

Aeroplan Partner Airlines – Grades & Pricing Summary

Airline	Partner Type	Pricing	Quality	Consistency	Availability	Network	Overall
Aegean Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	D	A	A	D	C
Air Canada	Star Alliance	Dynamic	C	A	F	A	C
Air China	Star Alliance	Fixed	B	C	F	A	D
Air India	Star Alliance	Fixed	D	F	A	A	C
Air New Zealand	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	A	F	D	C
All Nippon Airways (ANA)	Star Alliance	Fixed	A	B	D	A	B
Asiana Airlines (Leaving Star Alliance in 2026)	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	A	C	B	C
Austrian Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	C	C	B	C
Avianca	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	B	B	C	C
Brussels Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	D	B	A	D	C
Copa Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	A	B	C	B
Croatia Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	A	B	D	C
EgyptAir	Star Alliance	Fixed	D	D	A	C	C
Ethiopian Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	B	F	A	C
EVA Air	Star Alliance	Fixed	A	A	C	A	A
ITA Airways (Joining Star Alliance in 2026)	Star Alliance	Fixed	B	B	D	B	B
LOT Polish Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	B	B	B	B
Lufthansa	Star Alliance	Fixed	D	C	A	A	B
Lufthansa City Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	B	B	D	C
Shenzhen Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	B	A	D	C
Singapore Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	A	A	D	A	B
South African Airways	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	B	D	F	D
SWISS	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	C	B	B	C
TAP Air Portugal	Star Alliance	Fixed	B	B	C	C	C
THAI	Star Alliance	Fixed	C	C	B	C	C
Turkish Airlines	Star Alliance	Fixed	B	C	C	A	B
Air Dolomiti	Non-Alliance	Fixed	B	A	B	D	B
Air Mauritius	Non-Alliance	Fixed	B	A	A	D	B
Air Serbia	Non-Alliance	Fixed	C	A	B	D	C
airBaltic	Non-Alliance	Fixed	B	A	B	D	B
Azul Brazilian Airlines	Non-Alliance	Fixed	C	C	B	C	C
Bamboo Airways	Non-Alliance	Fixed	C	B	F	F	D
Cathay Pacific	Non-Alliance	Fixed	A	B	B	D	B
Discover Airlines	Non-Alliance	Fixed	C	C	A	C	C
Edelweiss Air	Non-Alliance	Fixed	C	C	D	C	C
Eurowings	Non-Alliance	Fixed	D	A	A	D	C
GOL Airlines	Non-Alliance	Fixed	C	A	B	C	B
Gulf Air	Non-Alliance	Fixed	B	A	F	D	C
Juneyao Air	Non-Alliance	Fixed	C	C	B	D	C
Olympic Air	Non-Alliance	Fixed	C	A	B	F	C
Oman Air	Non-Alliance	Fixed	A	A	A	C	A
SunExpress	Non-Alliance	Fixed	C	B	C	C	C
Virgin Australia	Non-Alliance	Fixed	C	C	A	D	C
Emirates	Select Partner	Dynamic	A	C	F	A	C
Etihad Airways	Select Partner	Dynamic	A	A	F	A	B
flydubai	Select Partner	Dynamic	C	A	F	C	C
United Airlines	Select Partner	Dynamic	B	A	F	A	B

Conclusion

Aeroplan has more airline partners than any other frequent flyer program in the world, and that’s something those of us in Canada are fortunate to enjoy. No matter where you want to travel, there’s a strong likelihood that one of Aeroplan’s partner airlines can get you there in a reasonable level of comfort.

Even better, the ability to mix and match Aeroplan partner airlines on a single award itinerary further enhances the strength and flexibility of the program.