THE QUICK ANSWER
At a glance
- United-operated awards through Aeroplan use the Air Canada and select partners pricing framework.
- Aeroplan's partner booking fee belongs in the total cost of a United award.
- Compare the identical operating flights and passenger count in both programs.
- A published starting price or a previous article's quote does not establish today's bookable price.
What recent coverage changes about the comparison
The Points Guy's October 2, 2026 guide compares booking United flights with Aeroplan and MileagePlus. Its central distinction is variable pricing on both sides: a United-operated award booked through Aeroplan should not be treated as an automatically fixed-price Star Alliance redemption. A lower quote can occur through either booking program on a particular search.
Air Canada moved United into its Air Canada and select partners reward framework on March 25, 2025. Its official announcement says redemption amounts can vary and that arrangements with those airlines can provide additional inventory. The June 2026 chart update also changed several distance bands. Older comparison tables need to be checked against those changes before their prices are used.
What to compare in each booking channel
Use separate rows for separate flights. A nonstop and a connection, or a one-person quote and a family quote, do not establish which program charges less for the same journey.
| Decision | Aeroplan | United MileagePlus |
|---|---|---|
| United-operated flight | Variable pricing under the select partners framework | Use the current MileagePlus quote |
| Partner booking cash charge | CAD39 per ticket when the award includes a partner airline | Read the complete United checkout total |
| Inventory | Availability offered to Aeroplan for this itinerary | Availability offered through MileagePlus for this itinerary |
| Eligible international stopover | 5,000 extra points; routing conditions apply | Price the complete proposed itinerary directly |
| Ticket flexibility | Check the selected reward fare and servicing channel | Check the selected award's current conditions |
How to compare the same flight
Start with the complete trip and the actual number of travelers. Search the same departure date, airports and cabin in both programs. Record the airline operating each segment, flight numbers, departure times and cabin on every leg. A business-class result with an economy connection needs to be compared with the same cabin combination.
Capture both current quotes
Record points or miles and every cash charge for the full party. Keep the quoted cash currency visible rather than comparing a Canadian-dollar number directly with a U.S.-dollar number.
Check the funding requirement
Use the transfer partners tool and the issuer's own transfer screen to establish whether your points can reach each account. Compare the bank points required after applicable ratios and displayed bonuses, rather than assuming each airline mile has the same acquisition cost.
Reopen the program checkout
Confirm the itinerary still prices before moving bank points. A saved result is a search record; the booking program must still offer the itinerary for the required travelers.
Fees, changes and which comparison fits your trip
Aeroplan's official policy applies a CAD39 partner booking fee per ticket. Its published rules also distinguish reward fares and booking channels for changes and cancellations. Read the fare conditions attached to the exact option; a higher-points flexible award and a lower-points restrictive award represent different purchases.
For a straightforward United flight, the useful comparison is the two current quotes for that flight. For an international itinerary with a deliberate stopover, include the extra destination in both searches: Aeroplan advertises eligible stopovers for 5,000 additional points, outside Canada and the United States, subject to its routing rules. Neither comparison establishes a universal program winner. Keep any necessary positioning flights, overnight costs and ticket restrictions with the option that creates them.
Common questions
Are United flights always cheaper through Aeroplan?
No. The October 2026 reporting describes variable pricing in both programs. Compare the same currently bookable flight, cabin, travelers and full cash total.
Does the Aeroplan partner fee apply to United-operated awards?
Aeroplan's official policy applies CAD39 per ticket when a reward includes a flight operated by a partner airline, including United.
Can I use an old United-versus-Aeroplan award chart?
Use it only as historical context. Aeroplan changed select-partner pricing in 2025 and updated parts of its chart in June 2026; the booking quote remains necessary.
Sources and further reading
Sources reviewed
Before you book
Award availability and prices can change. Confirm the exact itinerary, cabin, traveler count, points, and cash total with the loyalty program before transferring points or booking. Search access and limits depend on your plan.
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