Aeroplan Award Chart 2026: Star Alliance Sweet Spots Explained
Air Canada Aeroplan is the best Star Alliance program for Lufthansa awards in 2026. Fixed award chart, low YQ surcharges, stopover option, and 1:1 transfers from AMEX MR US and Chase UR. Complete 2026 chart overview with concrete sweet spots Frankfurt → Tokyo, JFK → Munich, etc.
By David Lesnik Status:
Quick answer: Air Canada Aeroplan is the most valuable Star Alliance program for Lufthansa bookings in 2026 — published distance-based partner chart, low YQ, stopover option, 1:1 transfer partner from AMEX MR US AND Chase UR. Partner chart since 1 June 2026 (as of 7 November 2026): Frankfurt → New York-JFK Business one-way 60,000 Aeroplan + ~$220 taxes, Frankfurt → Tokyo Business one-way 92,500 + ~$300 taxes, Lufthansa First FRA-LAX 120,000 + ~$300 taxes. Aeroplan allows 1 stopover per direction for a surcharge (usually 5,000 points). Booking possible online at aircanada.com. Compared to Avianca LifeMiles: higher points requirements, but better online booking and more routing flexibility.
Since the November 2020 refresh, Air Canada Aeroplan has been one of the most reliable Star Alliance programs — published chart, transparent rules, comparatively mild YQ surcharges. On 1 June 2026, however, Aeroplan made the partner chart more expensive in many distance bands. Anyone who wants to fly Lufthansa premium cabin via points has a reliable partner in Aeroplan.
This article shows you the complete 2026 chart with concrete sweet spots.
Disclaimer: As of 7 November 2026, sources: Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart (2026-08) and Aeroplan Flight Reward Policy on aircanada.com. The partner chart was last adjusted for bookings from 1 June 2026.
Aeroplan Award Chart 2026
Aeroplan prices partner flights (which include Lufthansa) by zones and the actual distance flown. The current values apply to bookings from 1 June 2026 — on that date Aeroplan made many bands of the partner chart more expensive.
Zones
| Zone | Geographic coverage |
|---|---|
| North America | Canada, USA, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America |
| Atlantic | Europe, Africa, Middle East, India |
| Pacific | Asia, Australia, New Zealand |
| South America | South America |
Partner chart main routes (one-way, “All other partners”, e.g. Lufthansa)
| Route (distance) | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe ↔ North America, up to 4,000 miles (e.g. FRA-JFK) | 32,500 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
| Europe ↔ North America, 4,001-6,000 miles (e.g. FRA-LAX) | 42,500 | 75,000 | 120,000 |
| Europe ↔ North America, 6,001-8,000 miles | 60,000 | 90,000 | 150,000 |
| Europe ↔ Asia, 5,001-7,000 miles (e.g. FRA-NRT, MUC-SIN) | 60,000 | 92,500 | 120,000 |
| Europe ↔ Asia, 7,001+ miles | 75,000 | 130,000 | 150,000 |
| Europe ↔ South America, up to 7,000 miles | 45,000 | 80,000 | 100,000 |
| Within Atlantic (incl. Middle East/Africa), 2,001-4,000 miles | 30,000 | 40,000 | 75,000 |
| Within Europe, up to 1,000 miles | 7,500 | 12,500 | 25,000 |
| Within Europe, 1,001-2,000 miles | 15,000 | 22,500 | 40,000 |
Source: Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart (2026-08, aircanada.com). Air Canada and “Select Partners” (including United) can start lower.
→ Sweet spot: Europe → North America East Coast for 60k Business one-way (Frankfurt → New York, distance under 4,000 miles).
Taxes + YQ Surcharge on LH Awards
| Route | Taxes + YQ |
|---|---|
| Frankfurt → Tokyo Business | ~$280-320 |
| Frankfurt → JFK Business | ~$220-260 |
| Frankfurt → LAX First | ~$280-320 |
| Munich → Tokyo First | ~$300-350 |
Important: Aeroplan charges 0 YQ on Lufthansa awards (unlike LH M&M directly with €600+ YQ).
Sweet Spots (as of 7 November 2026)
Sweet Spot 1: FRA → New York JFK Business (60k Aeroplan)
- 60,000 Aeroplan points one-way LH Business (band up to 4,000 miles)
- ~$220 taxes
- Cash comparison: ~$3,500-5,000
- Cents per point: 5.8-8.3
Sweet Spot 2: FRA → Tokyo Business (92.5k Aeroplan)
- 92,500 Aeroplan points one-way Lufthansa Business (since 1 June 2026, previously 80,000)
- ~$300 taxes
- Cash comparison: ~$4,500-6,500
- Cents per point: 4.9-7
Sweet Spot 3: Munich → Singapore Business (92.5k Aeroplan)
- 92,500 one-way LH/Singapore Business
- ~$300 taxes
- Cash comparison: ~$4,000-5,500
- Cents per point: 4.3-6
Sweet Spot 4: LH First Class FRA → LAX (120k Aeroplan)
- 120,000 Aeroplan points one-way LH First (band 4,001-6,000 miles)
- ~$300 taxes
- Cash comparison: ~$11,000-14,000
- Cents per point: 9-11.7
→ Compared to Avianca LifeMiles, Aeroplan is usually more expensive, but bookable online and with a stopover option.
Stopover Rule: one break per direction
According to its Flight Reward Policy, Aeroplan allows one stopover per direction of travel — including on one-way tickets — for additional points (in practice usually 5,000):
- Munich → Zurich (3-day stopover) → New York
- Frankfurt → Bangkok (5-day stopover) → Sydney
Conditions according to Aeroplan: a maximum of 45 days, no stopovers within Canada, the USA or China, and no open-jaw at the stopover point.
Workaround: If you’re somewhere for longer than 24h, you can declare it as a stopover — an expanded travel experience for the additional points.
How You Get Aeroplan Points
Path 1: AMEX MR US → Aeroplan (1:1)
- AMEX MR US welcome bonuses → 1:1 to Aeroplan
- Platinum US welcome (per AMEX “up to 175,000 MR, offer varies”) → 1:1 Aeroplan; with a good offer that’s enough, for example, for an LH Business RT Frankfurt–New York (2 × 60,000). Check your personal offer before applying at americanexpress.com.
Path 2: Chase UR → Aeroplan (1:1)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve welcome 100,000 UR (as of 7 November 2026; the earlier 150,000 LTO has ended) = 100,000 Aeroplan
- CSP welcome 75,000 UR (as of 7 November 2026) = 75,000 Aeroplan
Path 3: Aeroplan’s Own Cards
In Canada there are Aeroplan co-brand cards. Not practical for German collectors.
Path 4: Direct Points Purchase
Aeroplan regularly offers points purchases with a bonus. At 100% bonus, Aeroplan costs you ~$0.015/point — for LH First ($11k cash, 120k Aeroplan): $1,800 + taxes instead of $11,000.
Aeroplan vs Avianca vs United
| Aspect | Aeroplan | Avianca LifeMiles | United |
|---|---|---|---|
| LH Business Europe-NA | 60,000-75,000 (by distance) | 63,000 | 70,000 (Saver) |
| LH First Europe-NA | 90,000-120,000 (by distance) | 87,000 | 110,000 |
| Online booking | ✅ Top | ❌ unreliable | ✅ |
| Phone booking | C$30 fee (online free; partner booking fee C$39 per ticket) | $25 fee | $25 fee |
| Stopover possible | ✅ (1 per direction, extra points) | ❌ (only Bogotá) | ❌ |
| YQ surcharge | 0 | 0 | occasionally |
| Saver availability | good | good | moderate |
Recommendation:
- LH First Class: Avianca (87k) if hard to book online, Aeroplan (90k-120k depending on distance) as a backup with stopover option
- LH Business: Aeroplan (60k up to 4,000 miles) if online booking matters, Avianca (63k) as an alternative
- Stopover need: Always Aeroplan
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are the Aeroplan charts really fixed?
For partner flights there is a published, distance-based chart. It isn’t fixed forever: for bookings from 1 June 2026, Aeroplan made many partner bands more expensive (e.g. Europe-Asia Business 5,001-7,000 miles from 80,000 to 92,500). Air Canada’s own flights are priced dynamically (“Starting at”).
Which cards transfer to Aeroplan?
AMEX MR US (1:1), Chase UR (1:1), Capital One Venture (1:1), Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 with bonus). Not: AMEX DE, M&M, PAYBACK.
How long does the AMEX-to-Aeroplan transfer take?
Typically instant (5 min) — faster than ANA. So for time-critical bookings, prefer Aeroplan over ANA.
Can I book online?
Yes — aircanada.com Aeroplan is one of the best award search systems. Booking possible directly online (no C$30 phone fee; for partner flights, however, the partner booking fee of C$39 per ticket applies).
Is the stopover workaround really legal?
Yes, the stopover is an official Aeroplan rule — you just have to declare it at the time of booking. Anyone who builds the stopover in spontaneously (e.g. a longer stay at a layover airport) has to specify it explicitly during the booking flow.
What are the minimum connection times?
Aeroplan accepts Star Alliance minimum connection times (typically 60-90 min international). Shorter connections are not guaranteed.
Who has the best booking window for LH awards?
Aeroplan opens 355 days before departure. LH saver inventory goes fast for premium cabin — 9-12 months lead time recommended.
Can I use Aeroplan points for hotels?
Yes — Aeroplan has a hotel partner, but the cents-per-point value is poor (~0.5 cents). You make hotel awards not via Aeroplan, but via Hyatt, Marriott directly, or via Chase UR (Chase UR → Hyatt: Reserve 1:1, Preferred 4:3 since Oct 2026).
Conclusion: Stability Meets Flexibility
Aeroplan is one of the most reliable Star Alliance programs for German collectors in 2026. Higher points prices since June 2026, but:
- Reliable online booking — no phone stress
- Stopover option — perfect for multi-stop trips
- Low YQ — like with Avianca
- Fast transfer from AMEX MR US or Chase UR
Anyone who books Lufthansa awards predictably and wants a stopover is better served with Aeroplan. Anyone who wants the lowest points price for LH First goes to Avianca.
Note: Transfer ratios are snapshots and change constantly (most recently Chase→Hyatt in June 2026). Always check the current rate directly with the program before transferring points. As of this article: 7 November 2026.
Further articles:
- Avianca LifeMiles Mechanics
- Lufthansa First Class Booking Guide
- AMEX MR US Transfer Partners
- Chase UR Guide 2026
How you as a German get AMEX MR US or Chase UR cards — see the MEILENKÖNIG US Card Handbooks.
Your path to US credit cards — step by step
Welcome bonuses up to 175,000 MR, 1:1 transfer ratios, Chase & Capital One: the US handbooks show you the complete roadmap — from the US address to your first card. Without US residency, as a German.
To the US card handbooks
David Lesnik · Founder of MEILENKÖNIG
Expert for miles, points, and credit card strategies. Helps travelers fly business & first class for a fraction of the price.