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The short version: Aeroplan got more expensive and more specialist. Flying Blue got more attractive for anyone who just wants to book something normal.
Air Canada’s Aeroplan pricing changes are the biggest points and miles updates this week, and they matter mostly because they confirm something that has been building for a while: this program has drifted away from the occasional upgrader. I’ve been using transferable points for Delta domestic and international bookings for years, and this week’s changes are worth paying attention to for different reasons than you’ve been hearing. If you fly a handful of times a year and just want practical value without turning award travel into a part-time job, Aeroplan isn’t as friendly as it used to be. The old appeal was simple. Domestic United redemptions, solid partner access, and a decent chance at getting somewhere useful without building your week around a spreadsheet.
Now it feels more like a specialist tool. Good one, still. But a specialist tool for people chasing premium long-haul partner awards, not the person trying to squeeze a normal trip out of a normal stash of points. That shift is the real headline this week, more than any one chart change or transfer bonus.
Let’s hop into the details.
The biggest headline in points and miles updates this week is still Aeroplan. As of June 1, 2026, a lot of partner premium-cabin pricing moved up, with many long-haul business awards increasing by roughly 5,000 to 10,000 points and some first-class awards taking a bigger jump. That familiar 70,000-point business class pricing bracket to Europe is now 75,000. Not catastrophic. Still annoying.
And the more useful way to read this is through the occasional upgrader lens. TPG, OMAAT, and pretty much everyone else tend to frame Aeroplan around maximizing premium cabins because that is where the screenshots look best. Fair enough. But for a reader who flies four to ten times a year and wants a program that feels usable without obsessing over every transfer window, Aeroplan has been drifting away from that job for a while.
It used to be one of my favorite ways to book practical domestic United flights with transferable points. That was the charm. You didn’t need to be hunting ANA space to Tokyo or building your life around a partner chart. You could just move points over, check the new Aeroplan rates, and book something normal.
That use case feels weaker now, while the premium long-haul specialist use case is still very much alive. So yes, Aeroplan can still be great if you know exactly what you want and can move fast on partner space. But if you are the occasional upgrader looking for easy wins, this week’s change is one more reminder that the program is leaning harder toward hobbyists.
Let’s look at the Splurge Math on the new Aeroplan rates without pretending every business-class booking is automatically brilliant.
The Scenario: You want to fly business class from New York to Frankfurt.
Old Price: 70,000 points.
New Price: 75,000 points.
The Extra Cost: At a 1.5 cent valuation, that 5,000-point increase is roughly a $75 incremental opportunity cost. Divided across an 8-hour flight, that is about $9.38 per hour in extra cost. And since this is almost certainly an overnight, the sleep value tilts the math further toward Worth It.
Modhop Splurge Math Verdict: Worth It Sometimes.
If you already know you want that overnight flight in business class, the extra 5,000 points is not the end of the world. But for the occasional upgrader, the bigger issue is not this one increase by itself. It is the broader pattern of Aeroplan becoming less casual, less forgiving, and less useful for normal-trip redemptions.
June has a bunch of transfer bonuses floating around, and if you want a cleaner snapshot of the active bonuses, use a live tracker. The Chase-to-Marriott 55% bump is loud. The Citi-to-Qatar Avios 30% bonus is more interesting.
I see a lot of people getting excited about that 55% Marriott bonus. Look, I like a nice hotel stay as much as anyone. But let’s be real. Marriott points are worth roughly 0.7 cents each on a good day, so even with the bonus, Chase points usually have better uses.
Unless you have a specific stay priced out already, skip it.
The more interesting play for normal travelers is Flying Blue. Yes, Amex is running a 25% transfer bonus through the end of June, and that helps. But the real reason I keep coming back to Flying Blue is that it is just more usable than a lot of these programs when I need domestic Delta space or a Lisbon flight that does not turn into a support-ticket lifestyle. That alone puts it ahead of most of the programs points maximalists favor.
That matters more to me than just the promo. I value programs that work, price things in a way that at least resembles reality, and do not make me feel like I need a decoder ring to book a fairly normal route. Flying Blue has been solid for that, especially for Delta-operated domestic flights and Lisbon-bound trips. I care as much about clean booking and decent service as I do about squeezing out every last point. And in June, the Promo Rewards are another reason to give it a look.
So the 25% Amex bonus is secondary. Nice, yes. But secondary. The main story is that Flying Blue still feels useful for the occasional upgrader in a way Aeroplan increasingly does not.
On the other hand, the 30% bonus from Citi to Qatar Avios is still strong if you already know you want Qsuite and can find space, though the bonus Avios are credited by July 31, 2026 rather than instantly. And don’t ignore the 50% bonus from Rove Miles to Turkish. It’s niche. Annoyingly niche. But if you can tolerate the Turkish Miles&Smiles site, there can still be value there, mostly on Turkish metal itself now that the domestic United sweet spots have largely disappeared.
Alaska Atmos Rewards is out with a 100% bonus on purchased miles, and the sale runs through July 5, 2026. This brings the cost down to about 1.88 cents per mile. Is it worth it?
Usually, no.
But if you are just short of a specific booking, it can still make sense. The catch is practical, not theoretical. Purchased miles do not always show up the second you want them, and while you are waiting, award space can disappear or the rate can move on you. That is the annoying part.
So if you buy Alaska miles, have a near-immediate use in mind and accept that there is some execution risk between checkout and ticketing. Buy what you need. Use it as soon as the miles post. Move on.
This week’s travel loyalty news does not change the basic rule: earn and burn. Hoarding is a bad plan. Still is.
What it does change is which programs feel realistic for the occasional upgrader. Aeroplan now looks more like a specialist program for premium long-haul hunters. Flying Blue looks more attractive for people who care about usable Delta space, workable Lisbon options, and less friction. And Alaska miles are fine right up until the award you wanted changes while Points.com is still doing its thing.
So my short version is this: stop chasing the flashiest headline. Buy what you need, use it, and save the energy for finding a Walgreens that actually has the good snacks in stock.
Is the Aeroplan devaluation in June 2026 a big deal?
It is a big deal if you were using Aeroplan as an easy, flexible program for occasional trips. If you mostly care about premium long-haul partner awards, it is more annoying than devastating. The bigger story is that Aeroplan keeps drifting away from casual-use value.
Is the Amex Flying Blue transfer bonus in June 2026 worth using?
Sometimes, yes. The best case is when you already found a Flying Blue redemption you would actually book, especially for Delta domestic space, Lisbon routes, or June Promo Rewards. The bonus is a nice kicker, not the main reason to transfer.
Should I buy Alaska miles during the 100% bonus sale?
Usually only if you are topping off for a near-immediate redemption. Buying speculatively is risky, and Alaska awards can change while you are waiting for purchased miles to post. Have a plan first, then buy the minimum you need.
Modhop Host & Founder Jake Redman brings years of global exploration and travel tips to the podcast and our videos at Modhop. Jake is also a Producer and Host for SiriusXM.
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