Aeroplan Increases Reward Requirements

Aeroplan users will have to start saving more reward points starting this summer so they can cash in on free flights.

Groupe Aeroplan, the program operator behind the popular Aeroplan card has announced that they will be increasing the required amount of point by an average of just under 5% starting July 15th.

What do the changes involve?

The changes being made will include increasing the points needed for a long-haul business class fight within North America to 50,000 points from the previous 40,000 points on Air Canada flights.

The required number of points to fly business class both Middle Eastern and Australian destinations will rise by 20,000 points to 135,000 points.

There are various smaller changes to economy class point requirements as well, which includes a flight to Mexico on Air Canada rising to 40,000 points from 35,000 points.

On the bright side, reward requirements for a number of destinations, such as northern parts of South America and short haul flights within Canada and into the U.S. do not change.

This move is among a variety of changes being done to Aeroplan.

Why the changes?

Groupe Aeroplan explained that the decision to revise the point’s requirements would help manage the higher costs of rewards in recent years.

One prime example is that point operators have been feeling rising gas prices affect the costs of each airline seat in the past few years. When you consider the fact that you can get more points purchasing at certain gas stations it really is not too much of a shock to see this happening.

These changes also align the mileage levels for Air Canada flights with those of the other carriers that are part of the Star Alliance.

What other changes are being made?

Groupe Aeroplan also announced that it will be making improvements to its flight booking program, which are intended to synchronize its booking website with the call center and provide more route options.

In all honesty, it makes sense that these points revisions be made at this point, it definitely doesn’t look good for people who may have just reached the points requirement for a certain trip they were looking to have, but at least you have good warning before when the points revisions will be implemented. Having said that, take advantage of what the points system is currently at and book you flight now before you have to start saving to reach the new point requirement.

How do you feel about these changes to Aeroplan point system?