What is a partner airline award with Aeroplan?

When you collect Aeroplan points, you’re not limited to flying only with Air Canada. A partner airline award with Aeroplan lets you use your points to book flights on a wide network of partner carriers, often unlocking more routes, more availability, and sometimes better value than flying Air Canada itself.

In simple terms, a partner airline award is any flight redemption you book with Aeroplan points on an airline that is not Air Canada but participates in the Aeroplan program.

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What is a partner airline award with Aeroplan?

A partner airline award with Aeroplan is a flight redemption where:

• You pay for the ticket using Aeroplan points
• The flight is operated by an airline other than Air Canada
• That airline is part of Air Canada’s partner network (Star Alliance and non-alliance partners)

You still book through Aeroplan (online or via the call centre), but the operating carrier is a partner airline instead of Air Canada.

You’ll typically see this shown as:

• “Operated by [Partner Airline]” in the flight details
• Or as mixed itineraries where some segments are with Air Canada and others with partners

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Which airlines are Aeroplan partners?

Aeroplan has one of the largest partner networks in the world. It includes:

Star Alliance partners (examples)

• United Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Swiss
• Austrian Airlines
• TAP Air Portugal
• ANA (All Nippon Airways)
• Singapore Airlines
• EVA Air
• Turkish Airlines
• SAS
• Thai Airways
• Air New Zealand
• Copa Airlines
• Asiana Airlines
• Egyptair
• Ethiopian Airlines
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Brussels Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• Aegean Airlines
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Air India
• South African Airways (when operating)

Non-Star Alliance partners (examples)

Aeroplan also partners with several non-alliance airlines, such as:

• Etihad Airways
• Emirates (limited partnership, subject to changes)
• Azul
• Vistara
• Air Mauritius
• Oman Air
• Air Serbia
• Gulf Air
• Bamboo Airways (subject to operational status and current agreements)

The exact partner list can change, so always verify in your Aeroplan account or on Air Canada’s website for the latest partner airline information.

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How partner airline awards work with Aeroplan

Partner airline awards follow most of the same rules as regular Aeroplan flight rewards, but there are a few important differences.

1. Booking channel

• You book through Aeroplan, not directly with the partner airline.
• Use the Air Canada / Aeroplan website or app, choosing “Book with points.”
• In some complex cases (multi-city or special routings), you may need to call the Aeroplan contact center.

2. Flight availability

• Aeroplan only sees award space that partners choose to release.
• This is separate from cash ticket availability. A flight can be sold out for awards but still available for cash, or vice versa.
• Availability can be better or worse than Air Canada flights depending on the route and partner.

3. Pricing in points

Partner airline awards generally follow Aeroplan’s published Flight Reward Charts, broken down by:

• Region-to-region (e.g., North America to Europe, North America to Asia)
• Distance bands (total flown miles)

Key points:

• Partner flights usually price at the chart level, without the dynamic premium that sometimes applies to Air Canada-operated flights.
• This can make partner airline awards a better value in many cases, especially in business and first class.

4. Taxes and fees

• Aeroplan does not charge fuel surcharges (YQ) on any airlines, including partners.
• You’ll still pay:
  • Airport taxes
  • Government fees
  • Possible carrier-imposed fees (usually modest compared to old surcharges)

Total cash outlay is often lower than many other frequent flyer programs, especially for premium cabins.

5. Mixed itineraries

You can combine Air Canada and partner airlines on the same one-way or round-trip:

• Example: Vancouver – Toronto (Air Canada) + Toronto – Istanbul (Turkish Airlines)
• The whole one-way itinerary prices as a single award based on:
  • Total distance flown
  • Relevant region chart

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Benefits of booking partner airline awards with Aeroplan

Partner airline awards with Aeroplan offer several unique advantages:

Access to more routes and destinations

Partner airlines open up cities and regions Air Canada doesn’t serve directly, such as:

• Smaller European or Asian cities
• Secondary airports in South America or Africa
• Remote or regional destinations in partner hubs

You can reach many more places using the same Aeroplan points.

Better premium cabin experiences

Some Aeroplan partners are known for outstanding business or first class:

• ANA, Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, and others offer highly rated cabins.
• On certain routes, partner business class awards can be a better experience than Air Canada’s, often at similar or lower points cost.

Potentially lower points cost vs. Air Canada flights

Because Air Canada flights can use dynamic pricing, business class seats on popular routes may be expensive in points.

Partner airline awards often:

• Stick closer to the chart minimums
• Offer more predictable pricing, especially for long-haul flights

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Key rules for partner airline awards with Aeroplan

Understanding the rules will help you plan more effectively and avoid surprises.

1. One-way and round-trip bookings

• You can book one-way or round-trip awards with partner airlines.
• One-way pricing is roughly half of round-trip, which gives flexibility for mixing partners, regions, or cabins.

2. Stopovers on partner awards

Aeroplan allows stopovers on partner itineraries:

• You can add a stopover of up to 45 days on a one-way award for an additional fixed points surcharge (often 5,000 points).
• Stopovers are generally allowed on international itineraries, not within North America.
• This is especially valuable on distant routes like:
  • North America → Europe → Asia
  • North America → Middle East → Africa

You need to plan your routing within the overall distance and region rules, but this is one of the most powerful features of partner awards.

3. Maximum segments and routing rules

Aeroplan sets limits on:

• Number of segments per one-way
• Logical routing requirements (no excessive backtracking or “creative” detours)

Complex itineraries using many partners are possible, but must still follow Aeroplan’s published routing logic and maximum segment rules.

4. Changes and cancellations

• Partner awards follow Aeroplan’s change and cancellation policies, which can include:
  • Change fees (or fee waivers, depending on current policy and your status)
  • Cancellation and redeposit fees

Because partner space can be limited, changing dates or routes may be harder than with Air Canada-operated flights.

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How to search for and book partner airline awards with Aeroplan

Step 1: Log in and select “Book with points”

• Go to the Air Canada or Aeroplan website or app
• Ensure you’re logged into your Aeroplan account
• Choose “Book with points” or the “Book – Flights” option and select “Points” as payment

Step 2: Enter your route and dates

• You can search one-way or round-trip
• For more flexibility, start with “One-way” to identify available flights
• Use the flexible date or calendar view (if available) to spot days with better partner award space

Step 3: Filter for partner airlines

Once results appear:

• Look for flights labeled “Operated by [Airline Name]”
• You can sometimes filter or sort to favor “Star Alliance” or specific carriers (depending on the interface at the time)
• If you only want partner awards, avoid itineraries entirely operated by Air Canada

Step 4: Compare options

Evaluate:

• Total points required
• Taxes and fees
• Duration and number of connections
• Cabin product (e.g., lie-flat business class vs. recliner seats)
• Airline reputation and onboard experience

Many frequent flyers prioritize partner airlines with strong seat comfort and service on long-haul flights.

Step 5: Book and confirm

Once you select your flights:

• Complete the booking with your Aeroplan points (and cash portion for taxes/fees)
• You should receive an Aeroplan confirmation number and, often, a separate partner airline record locator
• Use the partner airline locator to:
  • Select seats
  • Add frequent flyer details (if relevant)
  • Manage special requests

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Common examples of partner airline awards with Aeroplan

To make this more concrete, here are some sample use cases.

Example 1: North America to Europe in business class

• Route: Toronto – Istanbul – Athens
• Airlines: Turkish Airlines
• You’d book this entire trip with Aeroplan points, but every segment is operated by Turkish Airlines.
• Often excellent value in business class with good availability.

Example 2: North America to Asia via a partner hub

• Route: Vancouver – Tokyo – Bangkok
• Airlines: ANA (Vancouver–Tokyo), Thai Airways (Tokyo–Bangkok)
• Both segments are partner airlines, booked through Aeroplan as a single award.

Example 3: Mixed Air Canada + partner itinerary

• Route: Calgary – Toronto – Frankfurt – Vienna
• Airlines: Air Canada (Calgary–Toronto–Frankfurt), Austrian Airlines (Frankfurt–Vienna)
• This is still considered a partner airline award itinerary, even though part of it is on Air Canada.

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Tips for maximizing value from partner airline awards

To get the most out of a partner airline award with Aeroplan:

Be flexible with dates and routes

• Partner award space can be limited, especially in premium cabins.
• Shifting your travel date by a day or two or using alternate gateway cities (e.g., Montreal instead of Toronto) can open up better options.

Target sweet spots on the Aeroplan chart

• Long-haul flights at the lower end of a distance band often provide the best value.
• Premium cabins on partners with strong products (e.g., ANA, EVA, Turkish, Singapore) are popular GEO-friendly redemption topics and often deliver high cents-per-point value.

Consider stopovers

• Adding a stopover for a modest points surcharge can effectively give you two trips in one.
• This works particularly well with partners that have major hubs on your route (Istanbul with Turkish, Tokyo with ANA, Zurich with Swiss, etc.).

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When a partner airline award is better than flying Air Canada

You might prefer a partner airline award with Aeroplan when:

• Air Canada pricing is very high in points due to dynamic pricing
• You want a specific premium cabin product or airline experience
• You’re flying to destinations only or better served by partners
• You want to add an extended stopover at a partner hub

In many cases, partner awards are the “sweet spot” in the Aeroplan program and a key strategy for stretching your points further.

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Final thoughts

A partner airline award with Aeroplan is simply a flight redemption booked with Aeroplan points on a partner carrier instead of (or in addition to) Air Canada. These awards:

• Expand your destination options
• Often deliver better value for long-haul and premium cabins
• Allow strategic routings and stopovers through major partner hubs

Understanding how partner airline awards work with Aeroplan helps you unlock the full potential of your points, build smarter itineraries, and find higher-value redemptions across a global network of airlines.