Aeroplan Partners: Which Airlines You Can Book With Points
Aeroplan partners include Air Canada, every Star Alliance airline, and a set of non-alliance airlines like Emirates and Etihad. You can search and book most of them directly inside your Aeroplan account, using the points you already have, without opening a separate account with the partner airline.
When I tell people I flew to Germany in business class for $79, the first question is almost always the same: Was that Air Canada?
That time, yes — it was Air Canada. But on the way home from Greece, I booked Lufthansa business class through Aeroplan for $129.
That often surprises people. A lot of travelers assume Aeroplan is only useful for Air Canada flights. But Aeroplan partners include Star Alliance airlines and select non-alliance partners, which means your points can get you onto airlines like Lufthansa, Swiss, ANA, Turkish Airlines, United, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Emirates, Etihad, and more.
This matters whether you’re Canadian earning Aeroplan points through credit cards, or American using Aeroplan as a Star Alliance booking tool for premium flights.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through what Aeroplan partners actually are, which ones are worth targeting for premium travel, how to compare partner fees before you book, and how to search for partner award space inside Aeroplan.
What Are Aeroplan Partners?
Aeroplan partners are airlines and travel companies that work with Aeroplan so members can earn or redeem points outside of standard Air Canada flights.
The biggest thing beginners need to understand: Aeroplan points are not just for Air Canada flights. Because Air Canada is part of Star Alliance, Aeroplan gives you access to the entire Star Alliance network. Aeroplan also partners with several non-alliance airlines, which expands your options even further.
In practical terms, that means you may be able to use Aeroplan points to book a Lufthansa business class flight from Toronto to Frankfurt, a Swiss business class flight from Montreal to Zurich, an ANA flight from Vancouver to Tokyo, a United flight within the US, a Turkish Airlines flight through Istanbul, a Singapore Airlines flight to Southeast Asia, or an Etihad or Emirates partner award when available.
You search inside Aeroplan, choose the partner flight, pay the points and fees, and book through your Aeroplan account. No separate Lufthansa, ANA, Swiss, or United account required.
Aeroplan, Star Alliance, and Air Canada: What’s the Difference?
This is where people get confused, so let’s separate the terms.
Air Canada is the airline. It operates its own flights. When you book an Air Canada-operated flight with Aeroplan points, you’re redeeming on Air Canada metal.
Aeroplan is Air Canada’s loyalty program. Your points can be used for Air Canada flights, but also for many partner airline flights.
Star Alliance is a global airline alliance. Air Canada is a member, along with airlines like Lufthansa, United, Turkish Airlines, ANA, Swiss, and Singapore Airlines. Because Air Canada belongs to Star Alliance, Aeroplan members can usually redeem points on Star Alliance airlines.
Non-alliance Aeroplan partners are airlines Aeroplan partners with outside of Star Alliance. These can be valuable, but the partnerships can change over time, and not every partner has the same booking rules or availability.
The simplest way to think about it: Air Canada is one airline. Aeroplan is the points program. Star Alliance is the biggest airline network Aeroplan gives you access to. Aeroplan partners are Star Alliance airlines plus select non-alliance partners.
If you want the full picture of how the program works before you start booking, I break that down in my beginner guide to Aeroplan points.
Which Airlines Can You Book With Aeroplan Points?
Aeroplan gives you access to a large network across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Oceania, and South America. That doesn’t mean every seat on every partner airline is available with points — partner awards depend on the airline releasing award space to Aeroplan. If it doesn’t, the flight may not show up even if seats are still available for cash.
Star Alliance Aeroplan Partner Airlines
Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA (All Nippon Airways), Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines.
For beginners, don’t worry about memorizing the full list. Most people collecting Aeroplan points should pay closest attention to ANA, Swiss, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United, TAP Air Portugal, EVA Air, and Austrian Airlines — the partners most likely to matter for long-haul travel, business class redemptions, or useful connecting routes from Canada and the US.
Non-Alliance Aeroplan Partners
Aeroplan also partners with airlines outside Star Alliance, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Transat, Air Creebec, Canadian North, Calm Air, PAL Airlines, SunExpress, Air Dolomiti, Eurowings, Discover Airlines, Gulf Air, Oman Air, Bamboo Airways, Azul, GOL, Virgin Australia, and Olympic Air.
This list can change, and not every partner works the same way — some are bookable online, others have limited routes or different earning and redemption rules. Before planning a trip around a specific non-alliance partner, verify it’s still an Aeroplan partner and that your route is actually bookable with points.
For most beginner and intermediate travelers, Star Alliance partners are the easiest place to start. Once you understand the basics, non-alliance partners can open up some genuinely interesting options.
How I Choose Which Aeroplan Partners Are Worth Booking
A long partner list is helpful, but it can also be overwhelming. You don’t need to know every Aeroplan partner airline — you need to know which ones are worth your points. I look at four things.
Is the seat worth the points? A lie-flat business class seat on a long-haul flight is usually a much better use of points than a short economy flight with a cheap cash fare. But not all business class seats are equal — some airlines have newer seats with direct aisle access and real privacy, others still have older products that are technically business class but don’t feel special enough to justify the points.
Are the taxes and fees reasonable? The points price is only part of the redemption. Some partner awards have low taxes and fees; others come with several hundred dollars in extra charges. That doesn’t always mean the higher-fee option is bad, but you need to compare before you book.
Is the route actually useful? A great airline only helps if it gets you where you want to go. For Canadians, that often means looking at partner hubs from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, or Ottawa. For Americans, it often means using Aeroplan to book United flights or Star Alliance routes from major US airports.
Is award space realistically available? The “best” airline on paper isn’t the best airline to target if you can never find seats. Some partners release more predictable award space than others.
Before you fall in love with a specific partner airline, check how many points your target trip actually requires. The First Class Calculator can estimate that before you start searching award space.
The Aeroplan Partners Worth Targeting for Premium Travel
These are the partners I’d pay closest attention to if your goal is better flights, lie-flat seats, and stronger value from your points.
ANA — All Nippon Airways
ANA is one of the first partners I’d check for flights to Japan or onward connections into Asia. The combination of seat quality, service, and lower fees can make ANA one of the strongest Aeroplan redemptions to Asia. I haven’t personally flown ANA yet, so I won’t pretend this is a first-hand cabin review — but from an Aeroplan strategy perspective, it’s one of the partners I’d search early for Japan trips because the cash fees are often much more reasonable than other premium partners.
Best for Japan trips, Asia redemptions, and travelers who want a high-quality business class product without very high surcharges. Watch for limited premium award availability and popular routes booking quickly.
Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss is one of my favourite Aeroplan partners for Europe. I flew Swiss from Zurich to Singapore in international business class, and the experience genuinely impressed me — the seat, food, service, and overall calmness of the flight made it feel like a strong use of points.
[IMAGE: Photo or screenshot of Swiss business class cabin, Zurich to Singapore route]
For Canadians, Swiss is especially useful because Montreal and Toronto both have direct service, making it a practical option for reaching Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, and other European destinations with one connection. Swiss is part of the Lufthansa Group, so ground experience and lounge access can also be strong depending on your airport and ticket.
Best for Canada-to-Europe routes and Zurich connections. Watch for higher cash fees than some lower-surcharge partners and limited premium award space on peak dates.
Lufthansa
Lufthansa is a partner I’ve personally booked through Aeroplan, including that business class flight home from Greece for around $129 in taxes and fees. I booked it in April for a wedding in September — one of my best friends decided to get married with very little notice — and Lufthansa availability made the trip work without paying business class cash prices.
That’s the kind of redemption that makes Aeroplan partners worth understanding. You’re not limited to Air Canada-operated flights, and sometimes a partner gives you the route, cabin, or availability you need at a cash cost that still feels reasonable compared with paying for business class outright.
Lufthansa is especially useful for Europe because of its huge route network and strong connectivity through Frankfurt and Munich. I’ve also flown Lufthansa within Europe on their intra-European business class product, which is very different from long-haul business class — on many intra-European routes, the cabin is a narrow-body aircraft with a blocked middle seat rather than a true lie-flat seat. That doesn’t make it bad, it just means you need to understand what you’re booking.
Best for Canada or US to Germany, and travelers who care more about route access than the flashiest seat. Watch for carrier surcharges and older business class seats on some aircraft.
For a deeper breakdown of what Lufthansa and Swiss business class actually look and feel like, I cover that in flying business class with points in Canada.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines is one of those experiences that stays with you. I flew Singapore Airlines business class when I took my grandmother to Singapore, and it’s still one of my favourite memories — the service felt thoughtful in a way that stood out, and the whole flight felt like part of the trip rather than just transportation.
Singapore Airlines can be an excellent way to use Aeroplan points if you’re heading to Southeast Asia, Australia, or connecting through Singapore. The challenge is availability — Singapore doesn’t always release the easiest partner award space, especially in premium cabins on popular routes. Search early and stay flexible.
Best for Southeast Asia, Singapore stopovers, and Australia routes when available. Watch for tight award availability and peak-date competition.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines deserves more attention from Aeroplan collectors. The route network is the real strength — Istanbul is a powerful hub for reaching Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia. If you’re trying to get somewhere Air Canada doesn’t serve cleanly, Turkish may open up options other partners don’t.
I’d especially check Turkish when Europe availability through Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, or Lisbon isn’t working, or when your destination naturally connects through Istanbul. Turkish business class can be a strong product, and the Istanbul Airport lounge has a reputation for being one of the best business class lounge experiences in the world.
Best for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and creative one-stop routings. Watch for connection times through Istanbul and fees compared with other partners.
United Airlines
United isn’t usually the partner I’d choose for the most exciting flight experience — it’s the partner I’d choose for access. For Canadian and American Aeroplan collectors, United is practical because of its huge US route network. I’ve used Aeroplan points to fly United in economy for exactly this reason: sometimes you just need to reach a smaller US city or connect through a United hub. United is especially relevant for American readers using Aeroplan as a tool to book award flights when price and availability make sense.
Best for domestic US flights, positioning flights, and smaller American cities. Watch for economy flights where cash prices are already cheap — points may be better saved for premium travel.
TAP Air Portugal
I used to think TAP was underrated for Europe travel from Canada. TAP operates service from Toronto and Montreal to Lisbon, and Lisbon can be a helpful hub for Southern Europe, West Africa, and Brazil. On paper, that makes TAP a very useful partner.
But I wouldn’t currently put TAP in my “must-experience” category. One of my clients recently flew with them and had a subpar experience — the cabins looked outdated and the food wasn’t good. That doesn’t mean TAP is never worth booking, but I’d compare it carefully against Swiss, Lufthansa, Austrian, Turkish, or Air Canada before choosing it. A lie-flat seat is still a major upgrade from economy if the route, points, and fees make sense.
Best for Portugal, Southern Europe, Lisbon stopovers, and situations where other partners aren’t available. Watch for an inconsistent experience and older cabins.
EVA Air
EVA Air is worth knowing if you’re targeting Asia, especially Taiwan and onward connections. EVA has a strong reputation for business class, and many points travelers consider it one of the better Star Alliance premium cabin options. I’d check EVA alongside ANA and Singapore Airlines when looking for Asia availability, especially if your dates aren’t working with the more obvious options.
Best for Taiwan, Asia connections, and premium cabin redemptions. Watch for availability varying by route.
Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines is useful for Europe, especially if Vienna works as a hub for your trip. It doesn’t have the same name recognition among beginners as Lufthansa or Swiss, but it can be a smart partner to check for business class award space to Central or Eastern Europe.
Best for Vienna and Central/Eastern Europe connections, and as an alternative when Lufthansa or Swiss don’t work. Watch for route availability from your home airport.
Emirates and Etihad: Are They Aeroplan Partners Too?
Yes, but they need a separate mention because they’re not Star Alliance airlines — they’re non-alliance partners, so you shouldn’t think of them the same way as Lufthansa, United, ANA, or Turkish.
Emirates and Etihad are especially interesting for travelers heading to the Middle East, Africa, India, the Maldives, or destinations that route well through Dubai or Abu Dhabi. They can offer excellent premium cabin products, but pricing, availability, and fees may not behave exactly like a straightforward Star Alliance partner award.
Best for the Middle East, Maldives, India, Africa, and premium cabin aspirational trips. Watch for higher total costs on some awards and availability limitations. If Emirates or Etihad appear in your search results, compare the full cost carefully before booking.
What Actually Determines the Cost of a Partner Redemption
Not every Aeroplan partner charges the same fees on top of your points, and this is one of the biggest beginner mistakes. People search for a business class flight, see the points price, get excited, and only later notice the taxes, fees, or carrier surcharges.
Two flights can cost a similar number of points but have very different cash costs. One partner may have lower taxes and fees. Another may have higher surcharges but a better seat. One route may require a connection but save money; another may be direct but cost more in cash.
Aeroplan uses a zone and distance-based award chart, but Air Canada-operated flights can also be affected by dynamic pricing. So the total cost isn’t simply “Air Canada is cheaper” or “partners are cheaper” — it depends on your origin and destination, the distance band, the cabin, whether the flight is operated by Air Canada or a partner, and the taxes, fees, and partner booking fee attached.
This doesn’t mean you should avoid partner airlines. It means you should compare. Before booking, look at total points required, taxes and fees, partner booking fee, number of stops, aircraft type, cabin type, layover length, and whether the flight is actually worth using points for.
I go deeper into this decision process in how to use Aeroplan points without wasting them.
How to Search for Aeroplan Partner Airlines
The process is simpler than most people expect. You don’t need a separate account with the partner airline, and you don’t need to transfer your Aeroplan points to Lufthansa, United, ANA, or Swiss. You search through Aeroplan directly.
Go to aeroplan.com and log in. Select “Book with points.” Enter your origin and destination, choose your travel dates, and search for flights. Look through the results for Air Canada and partner-operated flights, select the one you want, review the points, taxes, fees, and operating airline, then complete the booking through Aeroplan.
In the results, you may see Air Canada-operated flights and partner flights listed together — for example, one segment operated by Air Canada and another by Etihad, Lufthansa, Swiss, or United. Aeroplan will usually show the operating airline in the result so you can see who’s actually flying the plane.
How to Tell If a Flight Is Operated by a Partner
This is a small detail, but it matters. In Aeroplan search results, check the operating airline before booking. You may see wording like “Operated by Lufthansa,” “Operated by Swiss,” or “Includes travel operated by Etihad Airways.” This tells you which airline is actually flying the plane, and that determines the aircraft, seat, cabin layout, service style, lounge experience, fees, and in some cases the baggage rules.
A flight number alone isn’t enough. Always check who operates the flight.
For a full walkthrough on searching for availability and knowing what to check before confirming, read my step-by-step guide to booking business class with Aeroplan points.
When Should You Use Aeroplan Partners Instead of Air Canada?
Consider a partner when it gives you a better overall redemption — lower points, lower fees, a better business class seat, a better route, better availability or schedule, access to a destination Air Canada doesn’t serve, or a more interesting premium cabin experience.
I’d check partner airlines when Air Canada pricing is very high, when I want to fly to Europe in business class, when I’m targeting Japan, Southeast Asia, or the Middle East, when I need to reach a smaller US city through United, or when my dates are flexible enough to compare multiple partners.
Air Canada can still be a great option. It just shouldn’t be the only option you check.
Quick Reference: Best Aeroplan Partners by Region
For Europe, check Swiss, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Brussels Airlines. Swiss and Lufthansa are usually the most obvious from Canada; Turkish can be excellent if Istanbul works for your routing.
For Asia, check ANA, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. ANA, EVA, and Singapore Airlines are usually the most exciting premium cabin options.
For the United States, United is the main partner to know — especially for domestic flights, connecting through US hubs, and positioning flights.
For the Middle East, check Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Oman Air. Emirates and Etihad aren’t Star Alliance airlines, but they can still be relevant depending on availability and route.
For Africa, check Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Emirates, and Etihad. Africa can be challenging with points, so partner flexibility matters a lot here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aeroplan Partners
What airlines can I book with Aeroplan points?
Air Canada, Star Alliance partner airlines, and select non-alliance Aeroplan airline partners, when award space is available. This can include United, Lufthansa, Swiss, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Austrian Airlines, EVA Air, Air India, Air New Zealand, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, and more. Partner availability changes, so always verify inside Aeroplan before planning a trip around one airline.
How do I use Aeroplan points on partner airlines?
Log in to your Aeroplan account, search for a flight using points, and look for partner airline results in the same search tool. You don’t need to transfer points to the partner airline — select the flight, review the points and cash cost, and book through Aeroplan.
Which Aeroplan partner airline has the best business class?
There’s no single best partner for every trip. For Asia, ANA, Singapore Airlines, and EVA Air are some of the strongest options. For Europe, Swiss, Lufthansa, Austrian, and Turkish can be useful depending on your route and availability. For the Middle East and aspirational premium travel, Emirates and Etihad may be worth checking when available. The best choice depends on your destination, fees, availability, aircraft, and whether the seat is worth the points.
Do Aeroplan partner flights cost more points than Air Canada flights?
Not necessarily — it depends on the route, distance, cabin, and fees rather than whether Air Canada or a partner operates the flight. See what actually determines the cost of a partner redemption above for the full comparison.
Can I earn Aeroplan points when flying partner airlines?
Yes, on eligible paid fares, as long as you add your Aeroplan number to the booking. The earn rate depends on the airline, route, fare class, and ticket type — not every cheap fare earns the same amount, so check the earning rules before assuming you’ll earn points.
Are Aeroplan partners the same as Air Canada partner airlines?
There’s overlap, but the terms aren’t always used the same way. Air Canada partner airlines can include Star Alliance partners, codeshare partners, and other airline relationships. Aeroplan partners are specifically the airlines and companies connected to the Aeroplan loyalty program for earning or redeeming points. For booking with points, the important question is whether the airline shows award availability inside Aeroplan.
Is Aeroplan only useful for Canadians?
No. Aeroplan is especially useful for Canadians because it’s Air Canada’s loyalty program and connects with Canadian credit card strategies. But American travelers can use it strategically too, especially if they collect transferable credit card points and want to book Star Alliance flights — for Americans, Aeroplan can be useful for United flights, international Star Alliance awards, and premium cabin partner redemptions.
The Bottom Line on Aeroplan Partners
Aeroplan isn’t just an Air Canada rewards program with a few extra partners attached. It’s one of the most versatile points currencies Canadians can collect, and it can be incredibly useful for Americans who know how to use it.
The real value comes from the partner network. ANA, Swiss, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United, EVA Air, Austrian, Emirates, Etihad, and many others can all expand what your points can do — more routes, more premium cabins, more destination options, and more ways to turn points into flights that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars.
The key isn’t memorizing every airline. It’s knowing how to compare them: points required, taxes and fees, partner booking fees, cabin quality, route usefulness, availability, and whether the flight is actually worth your points.
If you’re ready to start searching partner award space and want to know how many points your target trip may require, the First Class Calculator gives you that number before you commit to anything.
