The ability to redeem Aeroplan points on airBaltic has quietly become one of the most useful new options in Air Canada’s loyalty program, opening up more than 80 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus.

For North American travelers who often find themselves flush with Aeroplan points but short on intra-European award options, this new partnership offers additional seats, better regional connectivity and some compelling sweet spots on Aeroplan’s Atlantic award chart.

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New Redemption-Only Partnership Between Aeroplan And airBaltic

Air Canada’s Aeroplan program has officially added airBaltic as its latest airline partner for award redemptions. As of mid-December 2025, members can redeem Aeroplan points on airBaltic-operated flights throughout the Latvian carrier’s network. The partnership is currently limited to redemptions, meaning travelers cannot yet earn Aeroplan points on paid airBaltic tickets.

Bookings can be made directly through Air Canada’s website, the Air Canada mobile app or via the Aeroplan contact center, using the same interface members already rely on for Star Alliance and other partner awards. Redemption availability follows Aeroplan’s established rules for partner awards, including the application of a fixed partner booking fee on itineraries that include at least one airBaltic segment.

The move significantly expands Aeroplan’s reach in Northern and Eastern Europe by leveraging airBaltic’s strong presence in the Baltic states and its growing network beyond Europe’s traditional megahubs. For many itineraries, Aeroplan members will now be able to fly into a major European gateway on Air Canada or another partner, then connect onward on a single award ticket with airBaltic.

How airBaltic Fits Into Aeroplan’s Growing Partner Network

Aeroplan has aggressively grown its partner roster in recent years, especially among non-alliance and regional carriers that plug gaps in the traditional Star Alliance map. airBaltic becomes one of more than 45 airlines in the program’s partner portfolio, sitting alongside a range of European, Middle Eastern and niche players that give members multiple options for complex itineraries.

The partnership with airBaltic builds on a codeshare agreement launched in late October 2024 between Air Canada and the Latvian carrier. That codeshare primarily improved connectivity for cash tickets between Canada and Northern Europe by allowing each airline to place its code on select routes operated by the other. The new redemption partnership adds a second, more loyalty-focused layer on top of that commercial relationship.

For Aeroplan, adding airBaltic is consistent with its strategy of offering members more choice within regions rather than relying solely on major alliance hubs. Combined itineraries that mix Air Canada long-haul flights with airBaltic short- and medium-haul segments can now be booked with points, giving travelers more one-stop options into secondary cities across the Baltics and beyond.

Redeeming Aeroplan Points On airBaltic: Charts, Fees And Cabin Options

airBaltic awards price according to Aeroplan’s Atlantic region reward chart. Because much of the airline’s network falls into short- and medium-haul distance bands, many routes price attractively in terms of points required. Short flights under 1,000 miles in economy class start from 7,500 Aeroplan points one way, while routes in the 1,001 to 2,000 mile band start from 12,500 points in economy, according to current Aeroplan guidance.

Longer airBaltic routes such as Riga to Dubai or services to the Canary Islands fall into the 2,001 to 4,000 mile band on the Atlantic chart, with economy-class awards starting from around 25,000 points one way. These bands align with Aeroplan’s standard distance-based pricing for partner airlines in the Atlantic region, keeping award costs broadly predictable for members used to the program’s structure.

As with other partner redemptions, Aeroplan applies a partner booking fee on itineraries that include airBaltic segments. The fee currently stands at 39 Canadian dollars per reservation that involves at least one partner airline, including airBaltic. This is charged per booking, not per segment, and is separate from government taxes and airport or carrier-imposed fees that are collected in cash at the time of ticketing.

airBaltic operates a two-cabin product on most routes, with economy and a business-class cabin that offers enhanced seating, onboard service and additional flexibility. While premium cabin availability varies by route and season, Aeroplan pricing for business-class awards on airBaltic follows the same distance bands, requiring higher points totals but still potentially competitive against cash fares, especially during peak travel periods.

Why This Partnership Is Particularly Useful For North American Travelers

For Aeroplan members based in Canada and the United States, the most immediate benefit of the airBaltic partnership is the ability to stitch together seamless one-way and round-trip itineraries that go beyond western European gateways.

Travelers can use Aeroplan points to fly to Europe on Air Canada or another partner, then continue on a single ticket to cities across Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and neighboring regions using airBaltic flights.

This new option is especially helpful for itineraries that previously required separate tickets or long surface segments. Destinations like Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn, as well as secondary cities served from those hubs, can now be booked entirely with Aeroplan points, improving both convenience and protection in case of delays or disruptions, given that all segments sit on a single reservation.

The partnership also adds more award inventory within Europe, where competition for seats can be fierce during summer and holiday peaks. By tapping into airBaltic’s network and relatively young fleet, Aeroplan members may find it easier to piece together complex multi-city trips that combine major capitals with less-visited Baltic or Nordic destinations, all while staying inside one loyalty ecosystem.

Inside airBaltic: Fleet, Network And Passenger Experience

airBaltic is the flag carrier of Latvia and operates from its main base at Riga, with additional bases in Tallinn and Vilnius. The airline serves more than 80 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus, acting as a regional connector between the Baltic states and a broad set of leisure and business markets.

The airline is notable for operating an all-Airbus A220-300 fleet, having transitioned completely to the type in recent years. The A220 is widely regarded for its quieter cabins, relatively wide seats in a 2-3 configuration and large windows, creating a more comfortable experience than many older narrowbody aircraft on similar routes. For Aeroplan members redeeming for short- and medium-haul flights, the aircraft itself is a selling point.

airBaltic has also positioned itself at the forefront of inflight connectivity in Europe by rolling out free high-speed Starlink internet onboard. The carrier became the first European airline to introduce free Starlink wi-fi across its fleet starting in 2025, with coverage expanding across its schedule. For North American travelers used to constant connectivity, this feature adds meaningful value to award tickets booked using Aeroplan points.

Strategic Implications For Aeroplan And Regional Travel

From a program perspective, the addition of airBaltic underscores Aeroplan’s emphasis on breadth of redemption options as a differentiating feature among global loyalty schemes. Aeroplan has won multiple industry awards in recent years, in part because it offers access to a wide range of partner airlines and the ability to construct complex itineraries and stopovers on a single ticket.

The airBaltic tie-up further strengthens Aeroplan’s position in Northern and Eastern Europe, a region where Star Alliance coverage alone does not always deliver optimal connectivity. Travelers heading to the Baltics, parts of Scandinavia, the Caucasus or certain leisure destinations in Southern Europe now have an extra pathway that can reduce connection times or avoid backtracking through entrenched hubs.

For airBaltic, the partnership offers access to Aeroplan’s large and engaged member base in Canada and beyond, potentially increasing inbound tourism and business travel to the Baltic region. The codeshare and redemption links with Air Canada can funnel more traffic into Riga and the airline’s other bases, supporting its network and long-term growth strategy while diversifying its distribution beyond local markets.

Limitations, Fine Print And What Is Not Included (Yet)

Despite the positive aspects of the partnership, Aeroplan members should be aware of a few limitations. Most notably, the relationship is currently redemption-only. Members cannot accrue Aeroplan points or Status Qualifying activity on paid airBaltic flights, even if those flights are ticketed as part of a broader itinerary. Travelers seeking to earn miles on airBaltic cash tickets must continue crediting to other programs, such as airBaltic’s own scheme or Flying Blue.

Another factor to consider is that partner availability is ultimately governed by airBaltic’s own revenue management decisions. While the airline is expected to make a meaningful number of seats available to Aeroplan, there is no guarantee that every flight or cabin will have award space on the dates a traveler wants, especially around weekends, holidays and major events.

Fees are also a consideration. The 39 Canadian dollar partner booking fee, payable on any Aeroplan reservation that includes an airBaltic leg, adds a fixed cost to each itinerary. When paired with airport taxes and other charges in Europe and nearby regions, the total cash outlay for an award ticket can sometimes be significant relative to very low promotional fares, though points redemptions may still be attractive in peak periods when cash prices spike.

There has also been no firm indication that earning on airBaltic will be added at a later date, nor that airBaltic will join Star Alliance. For now, the partnership should be viewed as a redemption tool that expands options rather than a full earn-and-burn relationship of the type Aeroplan members enjoy with Air Canada and many alliance partners.

Practical Tips For Using Aeroplan Points On airBaltic

Travelers looking to maximize the new partnership may want to approach bookings with a few strategies in mind. Because most of airBaltic’s routes fall into Aeroplan’s lower distance bands on the Atlantic chart, using points for short hops from Riga, Tallinn or Vilnius to other cities can be a particularly efficient use of a modest points balance.

Combining an Air Canada or other partner long-haul flight with an airBaltic segment on a single Aeroplan ticket can also offer value beyond the raw points math. Single-ticket itineraries simplify minimum connection times, baggage handling and reaccommodation in case of irregular operations, compared with separate revenue or award bookings on different carriers.

Members planning multi-country trips within Europe may find that pairing a transatlantic award into a major hub such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen or Frankfurt with a connecting airBaltic flight onward to the Baltics provides more schedule choice than routing exclusively through Star Alliance hubs. In some cases, starting or ending an Aeroplan itinerary in a nearby city served by airBaltic rather than a traditional gateway can reduce both cash surcharges and journey time.

FAQ

Q1. Can Aeroplan members now redeem points on all airBaltic routes?
Aeroplan members can redeem points on airBaltic-operated flights that are loaded into the Aeroplan system, which covers the vast majority of airBaltic’s network of more than 80 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus.

Q2. Is it possible to earn Aeroplan points on paid airBaltic tickets?
No. The current partnership is redemption-only, which means members cannot earn Aeroplan points or Status Qualifying activity on paid airBaltic flights at this time.

Q3. How are Aeroplan redemptions on airBaltic priced?
airBaltic awards follow Aeroplan’s Atlantic region distance-based chart. Short flights under 1,000 miles in economy start from 7,500 points one way, with higher bands applying for longer distances and premium cabins.

Q4. Are there extra fees when booking airBaltic flights with Aeroplan points?
Yes. Aeroplan applies a partner booking fee of 39 Canadian dollars per reservation that includes at least one airBaltic segment, in addition to standard taxes and airport or carrier-imposed surcharges.

Q5. Can I combine airBaltic with Air Canada or other partners on a single Aeroplan ticket?
Yes. Members can book itineraries that mix airBaltic with Air Canada and other Aeroplan partner airlines on the same award, subject to standard routing, region and stopover rules.

Q6. What cabins are available on airBaltic when using Aeroplan points?
Members can typically redeem for economy and business class on airBaltic, depending on availability on a given flight. Pricing for business class is higher but follows the same distance bands as economy.

Q7. Does airBaltic offer any special onboard features that add value to award tickets?
airBaltic operates an all-Airbus A220-300 fleet, offering relatively spacious and quiet cabins, and has introduced free high-speed Starlink internet across its flights, which can be an attractive perk for travelers redeeming points.

Q8. Is airBaltic part of Star Alliance?
No. airBaltic is not a member of any of the three major global alliances. Its partnership with Aeroplan is a standalone bilateral arrangement rather than an alliance-based cooperation.

Q9. Where should I credit paid airBaltic flights if I want to earn miles?
Since Aeroplan accrual is not available on airBaltic, travelers typically credit those flights to airBaltic’s own program or to another partner program such as Flying Blue, depending on their personal strategy and status goals.

Q10. Who benefits most from the new Aeroplan–airBaltic redemption option?
The partnership is especially valuable for Aeroplan members planning trips to the Baltic states, Northern and Eastern Europe or select leisure destinations served by airBaltic, as it adds more award seats and routing choices within a region that can otherwise be challenging to reach on a single points ticket.