A one way business class seat from North America to Europe usually starts at about 60,000 points. Aeroplan is often the cheapest and most steady choice, because its partner flights use a fixed chart instead of a price that moves with demand. Air France KLM Flying Blue and United can match it on a good day, but their prices swing more, and Flying Blue adds bigger cash surcharges.
A note on the numbers: the ranges below follow the pricing patterns that Prince of Travel and One Mile at a Time have tracked across recent travel seasons. Award prices change, and programs update their charts. Check the date on their latest posts and run a live search on the airline's own site before you move any points.
How do the three main programs compare side by side?
All three can get you to Europe for close to 60,000 points one way. They differ in how high the price can climb and how much cash you pay on top.
Aeroplan (Air Canada)
- Floor: about 60,000 points for shorter trips to Europe. Partner flights use a fixed chart based on distance, so the price for a given route stays put.
- Ceiling: Air Canada's own flights are priced by demand. On busy dates they can run to 160,000 points or more for one seat.
- Cash on top: taxes and fees vary by airline and by the airport you leave from. Leaving from some European airports, London most of all, adds high government taxes.
Air France KLM Flying Blue
- Floor: close to the same low end on off peak dates, and lower during its monthly Promo Rewards sales.
- Ceiling: all prices move with demand, and summer dates can cost far more.
- Cash on top: Flying Blue adds carrier surcharges, often a few hundred dollars one way. This is the biggest weak spot.
United MileagePlus (Star Alliance)
- Floor: partner business seats use a set price, and it sits above Aeroplan's.
- Ceiling: United's own flights are priced by demand and can climb steeply.
- Cash on top: United does not add carrier surcharges on award tickets, so you pay little more than taxes.
Aeroplan and United both book Star Alliance partners such as Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian and Turkish Airlines. If both programs show the same seat, Aeroplan usually costs fewer points.
How do I know if the points are a good deal?
Divide the cash fare, minus the taxes you still pay on the award, by the number of points. Times 100 gives you cents per point. Most travelers aim for at least 1.5 to 2 cents per point on business class.
Here is a worked example with round numbers. Swap in the real fare from your own search.
- Cash fare for the same seat: $4,000 one way
- Award price: 60,000 points plus $100 in taxes
- Value: ($4,000 minus $100) divided by 60,000 equals 6.5 cents per point
Now the same seat on an expensive date:
- Award price: 160,000 points plus $100
- Value: $3,900 divided by 160,000 equals about 2.4 cents per point
For Flying Blue, take the surcharges off the top. At 60,000 points plus $400 in fees, you get $3,600 divided by 60,000, or 6 cents per point. That is still good, but the $400 is real money.
To get a figure you can quote, find the fare on Google Flights or the airline's site for the exact flight and date. Then run this sum. Business fares to Europe often run several thousand dollars one way, so a low award price almost always wins.
How far ahead should I book?
Book as soon as your dates are firm, or look again in the last few weeks before you fly. Aeroplan opens seats close to a year ahead. That is when Air Canada prices are often at their lowest and the most seats are free.
A few patterns help:
- Summer and holidays: book 9 to 11 months out. Seats to Paris, London and Rome go fast.
- Partner seats: some partners, such as Lufthansa, have often opened more business seats in the last couple of weeks before a flight. This works best if you can be flexible.
- Flying Blue sales: Promo Rewards come out each month and can drop the price on chosen routes. Check them if you are flexible on where you land.
- Shoulder season: spring and fall dates often price near the floor, and you get calmer cities too.
Points that move into an airline program usually cannot come back. Find the seat first, then transfer, then book right away.
Do partner awards beat Air Canada's own flights?
Often yes. Partner awards on Aeroplan use a fixed chart, so the price stays near the floor even when Air Canada's own seats cost two or three times as much. On a busy summer date, a Lufthansa or Swiss seat through Aeroplan can cost far less than an Air Canada seat on the same day.
Air Canada's own flights still win in some cases:
- Nonstop from your city: a direct flight can be worth a few more points to skip a stop.
- Low dates: off peak Air Canada prices can match the partner chart.
- Card perks: some Aeroplan cards lower the cost of Air Canada flights. Our post "Aeroplan Cards Get 15% Off Air Canada Rewards" covers how that works.
One more Aeroplan perk: you can add a stopover on a one way trip for a small number of extra points. That lets you spend a few days in Lisbon or Frankfurt on the way to your final city.
Which program should I start with?
Start with Aeroplan if your points can move there. American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One all transfer to Aeroplan, and some also transfer to Flying Blue and United. Search Aeroplan first. Then check Flying Blue for a sale price, and United if you want to avoid surcharges. Pick the lowest total after cash fees.
A business owner who spends on cards each month may already have enough points for a few trips like this. You can see what your spending buys in business class flights to Europe and beyond.