15 August 2025

Air Canada is in big trouble because of its Southern neighbour (or more precisely, because of its President).

All the more difficult to understand why Air Canada is announcing what is likely the biggest Aeroplan program devaluation in its history right now and implementing it on January 01, 2026.
The program will be switched to a revenue-based system, both for earning redeemable miles and for achieving status.

While the major US programs have established an accrual value of 5 miles per USD for base members, Air Canada will only offer 1 mile per CAD for base members on their flights (which corresponds approximately to 1.37 miles per USD).

Achieving the elite status will remain comparable to today, as long as it is achieved exclusively with Air Canada. Miles collected with Star Alliance partners (as well as, as a new feature, activities with non-air partners of the program) will only count for one-fifth. So if you still lack 5,000 status miles before the end of the year, it will no longer be sufficient to quickly fly with Lufthansa from Europe to Dubai at a mid-range economy class fare; instead, you will have to embark on a complete round-the-world tour.

Can you blame an Aeroplan member for looking for alternatives? Hardly.