If you’re sitting on a healthy stash of transferable points and miles and want to fly United Airlines for less, your first instinct may be to move them to United’s MileagePlus program. But thanks to Star Alliance partner Air Canada’s Aeroplan loyalty program, you can often book the same United-operated flights using Aeroplan points instead — and in some situations, you’ll pay fewer points than if you booked with United miles.
Here’s when it makes sense to use Aeroplan points to book United flights, how to actually make these bookings online, and the best ways to earn Aeroplan points.
Related: Why Air Canada Aeroplan has become my favorite Star Alliance loyalty program
Why and when you should choose Aeroplan to book United flights
Both Aeroplan and MileagePlus now price United-operated award flights dynamically, meaning the number of points or miles required fluctuates depending on demand.
If you are considering whether to redeem United MileagePlus miles or Aeroplan points for your next United-operated flight, you can quickly and easily compare the prices of both at the same time using the handy Seats.aero tool.
Here are some occasions when it may be a better deal to book United flights with Aeroplan points than other points and miles, such as United’s own MileagePlus miles:
- For close-in, short-haul flights on popular holiday dates: MileagePlus may choose to price higher than Aeroplan, as we recently saw ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday period.
- If you are happy to connect on long-haul itineraries to save thousands of points: While nonstop flights in United Polaris business class to Europe usually start from 80,000 Aeroplan points or 80,000 MileagePlus miles, if you book through Aeroplan and are willing to connect, you may be able to save. For example, if you go from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Lisbon Airport (LIS) via Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) with the first leg on United and the second, short hop on TAP Air Portugal, you could book your itinerary for just 60,000 Aeroplan points.
- When there is a transfer bonus to Aeroplan: Transferable rewards programs offer bonuses on transfers to select airline loyalty programs from time to time. For example, until Jan. 5, 2026, you can earn up to 25% bonus points when you transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, meaning you will need fewer Chase points to book United-operated flights.
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Related: United unveils stunning next-generation Polaris cabins with caviar service and much more
How to book United flights with Aeroplan points
You can book United-operated flights with Aeroplan points online through Aeroplan’s website. Enter your origin, destination and travel dates, and make sure you select “Book with Aeroplan points.”
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AIR CANADA
Then, on the next page, you can select the flights you want with the points rates and taxes and fees listed. Please note that these prices are in Canadian dollars; CA$47 is approximately $34.
AIR CANADA
Then, choose the proportion of points versus cash you want to pay. You’ll normally get the best value from your points and miles by choosing the combination on the previous page’s search results (in this case, 15,000 points).
AIR CANADA
You’ll then pay any taxes and fees by card, and the relevant Aeroplan points will be deducted from your account.
How to earn Aeroplan points
New Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card (see rates and fees) applicants can earn an elevated welcome offer of up to 100,000 bonus points: 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional 25,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 in the first 12 months from account opening.
You can also transfer the following credit card rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 transfer ratio:
The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses with points and miles that you can transfer to your Aeroplan account:
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within six months of account opening.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees): Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
- American Express® Gold Card: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- American Express Platinum Card®: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
In addition, holders of the Aeroplan Credit Card can receive a 10% bonus when they transfer at least 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points to Aeroplan (up to 25,000 bonus points every year).
Related: Why transferable points are worth more than other rewards
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Bottom line
Air Canada’s Aeroplan program isn’t a guaranteed cheaper alternative for every United-operated redemption, as both Aeroplan and United’s own MileagePlus program now dynamically price United awards, and United won’t release all award seats to partner programs.
However, there can be great opportunities to save through Aeroplan when you’re booking close-in, short-haul flights on peak dates, are happy to connect on a long-haul itinerary or can use a transfer bonus.
Before you lock in a United-operated award, compare the pricing in both MileagePlus and Aeroplan and then factor in any current transfer bonuses to Aeroplan from your preferred transferable currency.
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