Just last week, Air Canada's long-brewing partnership with Emirates finally took flight, allowing you to redeem Air Canada Aeroplan points for Emirates economy or even Emirates business class. Well, you can add another new option to the list … and this one might be even better.
You can now book Singapore Airlines business class using Aeroplan points – in many cases, for substantially cheaper than what Singapore itself charges. Nonstop business class awards from North America to Singapore (SIN) clock in at just 87,500 points each way, plus about $55 USD in fees. Singapore's flights from the U.S. to Europe and Tokyo and other routes around the globe are also on the table – and we've confirmed they're all now bookable, too!
Hopping on the longest flights in the world from either Newark (EWR) or New York City (JFK) to Southeast Asia in Singapore Airlines business class for just 87,500 miles each way is a bargain …
… especially compared to the whopping 111,500 miles each way you'd need using Singapore's own KrisFlyer miles.
Singapore is one of the best airlines in the world, with truly top-notch business class and first class cabins. Traditionally, Singapore has blocked partner airlines like United and Air Canada from booking premium cabin seats on long-haul routes using miles – it was only an option using Singapore's own KrisFlyer miles. While those are incredibly easy to earn by transferring credit card points, a slew of devaluations over the years has made those awards more and more expensive.
That's what makes this exciting. We first noticed this availability crop up just before Thanksgiving, though it has come and gone in the weeks since. One Mile at a Time‘s reporting suggests the two airlines hammered out an arrangement, though there have been some glitches as Air Canada sought to bring these redemptions online.
We confirmed on Wednesday that these Singapore business class awards are now bookable online via Aeroplan. Everything went through as it should, and you can even select your seats while booking!
Read our full review of Singapore Airlines business class from Singapore to Los Angeles!
Technically, Air Canada isn't the first to get dibs on these Singapore business class redemptions. That distinction goes to Alaska Mileage Plan, which been able to book Singapore premium cabins since 2019. But you'll need more miles to book – and they're much, much harder to earn than Aeroplan, which is a Chase transfer partner, Amex transfer partner, Capital One transfer partner, and a Bilt Rewards transfer partner, too.
We're still not seeing any first class availability through Aeroplan, so don't count on booking the airline's iconic (and massive) first class suites with Aeroplan points. But so long as it sticks, there are some great savings on business class redemptions here.
A Look at Aeroplan's Singapore Redemptions
No matter whether you start in Seattle (SEA), Vancouver (YVR), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), or all the way over in New York, it's just 87,500 points each way to get to Singapore in business class.
Sure, you can fly nonstop to Singapore … but why not continue onward to Bali (DPS), Bangkok (BKK), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Hanoi (HAN), or elsewhere in Southeast Asia for the same 87,500 points? Air Canada even allows you to add a stopover on these awards for just 5,000 miles each way, so you could spend a day or two in Singapore before heading somewhere else.
Singapore also operates a nonstop from Los Angeles to Tokyo-Narita (NRT), and this is also the best way to book a lie-flat seat to get there: It's 75,000 points each way, substantially less than the 103,500 Singapore itself now charges.
You can even book Singapore's funky fifth-freedom route from New York City (JFK) to Frankfurt for just 60,000 points each way. Singapore itself charges 81,000 miles for these flights. Another fifth-freedom route from Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) to Manchester (MAN) will run you 70,000 Aeroplan points.
Air Canada's Aeroplan program has quickly become one of the best in the world, if not the best, period. A 2020 overhaul eliminated nasty fuel surcharges while raising some award costs slightly. And it's added new airline partner after new airline partner, expanding your options to redeem these points across the globe.
There are more than 50 partners in all, including exciting recent additions like Etihad, Emirates, Oman Air, and Gulf Air along with longtime Star Alliance staples like Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, and many more. While long-haul economy tickets with Singapore have always been an option, being able to book Singapore business class is arguably the best addition yet.
Plus, Aeroplan points have gotten easier to earn after Chase added Aeroplan as a transfer partner in summer 2021. That means you can easily earn the points you need to book Singapore business class from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card along with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, American Express® Gold Card, or even the Bilt Rewards Mastercard.
Bottom Line
After weeks of seeing award space come and go, we've confirmed that you can now use Air Canada Aeroplan to book Singapore Airlines business class – and yes, these tickets actually go through.
Most importantly, you can book these award tickets using far fewer points than what Singapore itself charges. That's a big win in our books.