Aeroplan vs Flying Blue: Which Program Wins?

If you hold Amex Membership Rewards points, you face a choice that more Canadian travelers are navigating every year: Aeroplan vs Flying Blue — which program should you transfer to? Both accept Amex transfers at a 1:1 ratio. Both can access world-class business class products. But they serve very different routes, offer different redemption sweet spots, and suit very different traveler profiles.

This head-to-head comparison covers earning, partner airlines, sweet spots, redemption flexibility, and a clear verdict — so you can decide which program deserves your points, or whether the answer is both.

Aeroplan vs Flying Blue: Quick Comparison

Feature	Aeroplan	Flying Blue
Alliance	Star Alliance (50+ airlines)	SkyTeam (19 airlines)
Transfer Partners	Amex MR, RBC Avion, Capital One, Chase, Bilt	Amex MR, some bank transfers
Fuel Surcharges	Waived on most partners	High on Air France/KLM flights
Monthly Promos	No	Yes — 25–50% discounts monthly
Points Expiry	18 months inactivity	24 months inactivity
Best For	Asia, Japan, transatlantic, complex routing	Europe, Africa, Caribbean promos

Earning Points: Aeroplan vs Flying Blue

For Canadian travelers, Aeroplan has a significantly stronger earning ecosystem. The program is directly supported by some of the country’s most popular credit cards — CIBC Aeroplan Visa, TD Aeroplan Visa, and American Express Cobalt (through Membership Rewards transfers). RBC Avion, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Bilt Rewards all transfer into Aeroplan as well, giving it one of the broadest credit card transfer networks available to Canadians.

Air Canada flights earn Aeroplan miles directly based on fare class and status, and the program’s extensive retail and dining partners make it easier to accumulate miles without flying.

Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France and KLM, is earned primarily through Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam partner flights. On the credit card side, Amex Membership Rewards transfers to Flying Blue — but the Canadian credit card earning ecosystem for Flying Blue is notably thinner than Aeroplan’s. For most Canadians, Flying Blue balances are built through flying rather than everyday spending.

Earning verdict: Aeroplan is easier to build for Canadians. Flying Blue suits travelers who frequently fly Air France or KLM routes.

Partner Airlines: Which Program Opens More Doors?

Aeroplan is a Star Alliance member program, giving it access to award bookings on over 50 partner airlines including United Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines. For travelers whose routes touch Asia, the Middle East, or need complex multi-carrier itineraries, this breadth is a significant advantage.

Flying Blue is part of the SkyTeam alliance, accessing Delta, Korean Air, Kenya Airways, Air Europa, Vietnam Airlines, and others. SkyTeam is a smaller alliance than Star Alliance in terms of carrier count, but it includes some of the best business class products in the world — Delta One, Korean Air, and Air France’s own La Première first class on select routes.

For travelers flying primarily between Canada and Europe, both alliances offer viable options. For travelers targeting Asia — particularly Japan — Aeroplan’s access to ANA and Singapore Airlines gives it a decisive advantage. For Africa-bound travelers, Flying Blue’s access to Kenya Airways and other African carriers opens routes that Aeroplan cannot match as efficiently.

Partner verdict: Aeroplan wins on breadth. Flying Blue wins on specific African and some European routes.

Sweet Spots — Where Each Program Shines

Aeroplan Sweet Spots

ANA Business Class (Canada to Japan): Roundtrip business class on ANA between Canada and Japan typically costs 75,000–90,000 Aeroplan miles. ANA’s The Room and Business Staggered products are among the best business class cabins in the world. This is consistently cited as one of the most valuable redemptions available in travel loyalty.

Lufthansa / Swiss Business Class (Canada to Europe): Roundtrip business class on Lufthansa or Swiss between Canada and Europe typically costs 85,000–95,000 miles. Aeroplan waives fuel surcharges on these partners, keeping out-of-pocket fees low. Award availability through Aeroplan on Lufthansa Group carriers is often better than booking through Lufthansa’s own Miles & More program.

Singapore Airlines Business Class: When partner space is available, Singapore Airlines’ business class is accessible through Aeroplan at competitive rates — a product widely regarded as among the world’s best.

Flying Blue Sweet Spots

Monthly Promo Awards: Flying Blue runs monthly promotional awards that discount specific routes by 25–50%. A business class ticket that normally costs 100,000 miles might become available for 50,000–75,000 miles during a promo period. Travelers with flexibility on timing can achieve outstanding value by waiting for the right promotion.

Kenya Airways Business Class (Africa routes): Flying Blue provides access to Kenya Airways and other African carriers at rates that are difficult to match through other programs. For travelers with Africa on their itinerary, Flying Blue is often the strongest option available.

La Compagnie (All-Business Class Transatlantic): Flying Blue miles can be used on La Compagnie, the boutique all-business class airline operating transatlantic routes. For travelers targeting business class to Paris or Nice at lower mile costs, this is a niche but genuinely valuable option.

Redemption Flexibility: Fees, Routing, and Award Rules

Aeroplan

Aeroplan waives fuel surcharges on most partner airline bookings — a significant advantage over programs that pass carrier-imposed fees onto award travelers. On some routes, this can save hundreds of dollars per ticket. Aeroplan also supports stopovers and open-jaw routing on international awards, allowing travelers to build more complex itineraries on a single redemption. The program has moved toward some dynamic pricing, meaning award costs on certain routes may vary from published chart rates.

Flying Blue

Flying Blue imposes fuel surcharges on Air France and KLM flights, which can add several hundred dollars to an otherwise competitive redemption. On partner airlines, surcharges vary by carrier. The monthly promo awards partially offset this by reducing the miles required, but the fee structure is less traveler-friendly than Aeroplan’s on core Air France/KLM routes. Flying Blue uses a zone-based pricing model with clear published rates, making it easier to plan — though promo availability requires flexibility.

The Aeroplan vs Flying Blue Verdict

There is no single winner — the right program depends entirely on where you are going and how you travel.

Choose Aeroplan if: Your goals involve Japan, Southeast Asia, or routes where ANA, Singapore Airlines, or Lufthansa Group carriers have strong availability. Aeroplan’s no-surcharge policy and Star Alliance breadth make it the stronger default for most Canadian travelers with long-haul premium goals.

Choose Flying Blue if: Your goals involve Africa, you have date flexibility to catch promo awards, or you frequently fly Air France or KLM. Flying Blue’s monthly promotions can deliver genuinely exceptional value for travelers who plan around them.

Use both if: You hold Amex Membership Rewards. The ability to transfer to either program means you can direct your points to whichever has better availability and lower cost for your specific route. This optionality is the most powerful feature of the Amex ecosystem — and it is exactly why you should confirm availability in both programs before transferring anything.

Not Sure Which Program to Use for Your Specific Route?

Choosing between Aeroplan and Flying Blue is straightforward in theory. In practice — for a specific origin, destination, cabin, and travel window — the right answer depends on live award availability, current promo cycles, and the transfer sequencing that makes the most sense for your portfolio.

A Points Feasibility Assessment with Le Travelogist evaluates your exact balances, your route, and your dates — and tells you precisely which program to use and how many points to transfer before you commit to anything irreversible.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Aeroplan or Flying Blue better for Canadian travelers?

For most Canadians, Aeroplan is easier to earn and offers broader partner access through Star Alliance. However, Flying Blue is a stronger choice for travelers targeting Africa, those who can plan around monthly promo awards, or frequent Air France/KLM flyers. The best answer depends on your specific destinations.

Q: Can I transfer Amex points to both Aeroplan and Flying Blue?

Yes — Amex Membership Rewards transfers to both programs at a 1:1 ratio. This optionality is one of the most powerful features of the Amex ecosystem. It means you can wait to see which program has better availability for your specific route before committing your points to either one. Once transferred, the points cannot be moved back or redirected.

Q: Does Flying Blue have better business class redemptions than Aeroplan?

Flying Blue’s monthly promo awards can make specific business class routes dramatically cheaper — sometimes 50% below standard rates. Outside of promo periods, Aeroplan generally offers more competitive pricing on its key partner routes (particularly ANA and Lufthansa Group), especially given its no-fuel-surcharge policy on most partners.

Q: Which program has better award availability?

Award availability varies by route and changes constantly — no program consistently outperforms the other across all routes. Aeroplan tends to have stronger partner availability on ANA and Lufthansa Group flights; Flying Blue tends to offer better access to Delta and African carriers. The only reliable way to know which is better for your specific trip is to search both programs for your route and dates.

The Bottom Line

Aeroplan and Flying Blue are not competitors in a winner-takes-all sense — they are complementary tools that suit different itineraries. For Canadian travelers with Amex Membership Rewards, the ability to direct points to either program is a strategic advantage worth protecting. That means not transferring prematurely, not assuming one program is always better, and checking live availability in both before making any decision.

If you have a specific route in mind and are genuinely unsure which program gives you the best outcome, that is exactly the kind of question a structured assessment is built to answer. A Points Feasibility Assessment evaluates your portfolio, your route, and your dates — and tells you precisely where to send your points before you commit.

Not ready to book yet? Start with a free Discovery Call to talk through your options and see what is actually achievable.

Next Steps:

  →  Read: Beginner’s Guide to Aeroplan 2026

  →  Read: Le Travel Mentoring Service

  →  Book: Schedule your personalized assessment with Le Travelogist