Air Canada Aeroplan Award Chart Changes

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Effective 12/15/15 Aeroplan will be revising their award chart, click here for the full comparison chart.

Notable increases:
-North America to Western Europe in business goes from 90K miles to 110K miles round-trip.
-North America to Western Europe in first goes from 125K miles to 140K miles round-trip.
-North America to Southern South America in business goes from 95K miles to 110K miles round-trip.
-North America to Southern South America in first goes from 135K miles to 140K miles round-trip.
-North America to Australia in coach goes from 80K miles to 90K miles round-trip.

Notable decreases:
-Middle East to East, West, and South Africa in coach goes from 120K miles to 65K miles round-trip.
-Middle East to East, West, and South Africa in business goes from 180K miles to 120K miles round-trip.
-Middle East to East, West, and South Africa in first goes from 250K miles to 160K miles round-trip.
-Middle East to Indian Subcontinent in coach goes from 145K miles to 45K miles round-trip.
-Middle East to Indian Subcontinent in business goes from 200K miles to 80K miles round-trip.
-Middle East to Indian Subcontinent in first goes from 280K miles to 110K miles round-trip.
-Middle East to Middle East in coach goes from 50K miles to 35K miles round-trip.
-Middle East to Europe in coach goes from 50K miles to 40K miles round-trip.

Aeroplan will also allow one-way awards between all regions at half the cost of a round-trip under the new chart. Currently one-ways are only allowed to/from North America.

A breakdown of Aeroplan policies:
-Air Canada has one of the best lap child policies out there. You pay a flat fee of just $50CAD ($37.50 USD) in coach, $100CAD ($75USD) in business, and $125CAD ($93.75USD) in first for a lap child. Compare that to 10% of the paid fare with other airlines and you can save a small fortune, especially if you are flying in business or first class.
-Air Canada generously allows for 2 free stopovers on a round-trip award, so you can check out up to 2 cities for as long as you want in addition to your final destination. If used properly you can create for yourself a mini round-the-world trip, all for the single award rate of flying to your final destination. So for just 90K miles you can fly in business class round-trip to 3 European cities and stay in each for as long as you want. Or for 150K miles you can fly round-trip to Asia in business, with stops in Europe along the way.
-There are no expedite/close-in fees.
-There is a $90CAD ($67.50USD) charge to change or cancel an award ticket. Officially you can’t cancel an award within 21 days, but you can pay $90 to change it to a date outside of 21 days and another $90CAD to cancel it.
-Air Canada charges a fuel surcharge if you redeem their miles for travel on the following carriers: Adria, Air Canada, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, TAP Portugal, and THAI. There is no fuel surcharge if you redeem their miles for travel on the following carriers: Aegean, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, Avianca/TACA, Brussels, Copa, Croatia, EVA, EgyptAir, Ethiopian, SAS, Shenzhen, Singapore, South African, Swiss, Turkish, and United.
-Air Canada miles require activity every 12 months to keep them active.

-You can transfer points to Aeroplan from AMEX Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio and from Starwood at a 20K:25K ratio, though from Starwood they often run transfer bonuses.

HT: YMW, via DDF