Aeroplan's Emirates award access has changed again. Emirates Premium Economy is now showing as an Aeroplan award option, while Emirates First Class appears to be restricted to Aeroplan members with 35K status or higher.
There is also a reported passenger-age restriction for Emirates First Class awards: travellers must be at least 9 years old.
Air Canada has not published a broad announcement page for this change at the time of writing, so treat the First Class rule as a live-program change based on current Aeroplan search behaviour and specialist reporting. The Premium Economy side is also supported by Air Canada's own booking data, which now maps Emirates (EK) Premium Economy fare buckets.
The Short Version
The practical change is:
| Cabin | What changed |
|---|---|
| Emirates Premium Economy | Now appears bookable with Aeroplan points when award space is available |
| Emirates Business Class | Still bookable through Aeroplan, subject to availability and live pricing |
| Emirates First Class | Appears limited to Aeroplan 35K, 50K, 75K, and Super Elite members |
| Emirates First Class passenger age | Reported minimum age of 9 years old |
For Canadians, this is a mixed update.
Premium Economy gives Aeroplan members a new middle-ground cabin on Emirates, especially useful when Business Class prices are high or unavailable. The First Class restriction removes one of the more aspirational Aeroplan redemptions from general members who do not hold Air Canada elite status.
What Changed With Emirates Premium Economy
Emirates Premium Economy is now appearing as a cabin option through Aeroplan.
That is useful because Emirates Premium Economy is a meaningfully different product from regular economy. It offers wider seats, more recline, more legroom, and upgraded dining compared with standard economy. It is not a substitute for Business Class, but it can be a practical option on a long overnight flight when the points gap is reasonable.
Air Canada's booking configuration now lists Emirates (EK) Premium Economy fare buckets as W, E, and N. That does not guarantee award availability on any specific route, but it does show that Air Canada's booking system is mapping Emirates Premium Economy as a supported cabin.
What Changed With Emirates First Class
The more restrictive side of the update is Emirates First Class.
Current reporting and search behaviour indicate that Emirates First Class awards through Aeroplan are now limited to members with Aeroplan 35K status or higher. That would include:
- Aeroplan 35K
- Aeroplan 50K
- Aeroplan 75K
- Aeroplan Super Elite
If you are a general Aeroplan member, an Aeroplan credit cardholder without elite status, or someone earning points mostly through credit-card transfers, Emirates First Class may no longer be visible or bookable through Aeroplan.
There is also a reported minimum passenger age of 9 years old for Emirates First Class awards. That is relevant for families planning premium-cabin redemptions, especially on long-haul routes where Emirates First has been a popular aspirational use of points.
The Canadian Angle
Aeroplan is the easiest airline-points program for many Canadians to build at scale.
You can earn Aeroplan points through:
- Air Canada flying
- Aeroplan credit cards from TD, CIBC, and American Express
- transfers from American Express Membership Rewards
- transfers from other partner programs
- the Aeroplan eStore and retail partners
That made Emirates redemptions unusually accessible from Canada. A Canadian could earn points through everyday spending, transfer points into Aeroplan, and book Emirates from Toronto or via another gateway.
The new First Class restriction changes that. A large points balance alone may no longer be enough. If you want Emirates First through Aeroplan, elite status now appears to be part of the access path.
For most travellers, the more practical outcome is Premium Economy. It gives Aeroplan members another Emirates cabin to compare against Economy and Business Class, especially when travelling to Dubai, South Asia, Southeast Asia, or Africa through Emirates' network.
For more background on Aeroplan pricing, partner awards, and earning options, see our Aeroplan points guide.
How To Check If Premium Economy Is Worth Booking
Do not assume Emirates Premium Economy is automatically a good redemption. Compare it against the cash fare and the other cabins available on the same date.
Use this basic check:
(cash fare - award taxes and fees) / points required
If the value is only slightly better than a simple cash-back or fixed-value redemption, it may not be worth using Aeroplan points.
Premium Economy is most interesting when:
- economy cash fares are high
- Business Class awards are unavailable or too expensive
- you need a more comfortable long-haul seat but do not want to pay Business Class pricing
- you are flying a route where Emirates Premium Economy is actually installed on the aircraft
It is less useful when the points price is close to Business Class or when a competing program offers better availability.
What To Check Before Booking
Before transferring points or changing plans, check five things.
1. The Exact Aircraft
Emirates Premium Economy is not on every aircraft. It is installed on selected aircraft and routes, so check the seat map and aircraft type before treating the cabin as guaranteed.
2. The Live Aeroplan Price
Emirates awards are not something to evaluate from memory. Search the exact route and date on Air Canada, then compare the points price against the cash fare.
3. Taxes And Fees
Aeroplan awards still include taxes and fees. Emirates redemptions can vary by route, airport, and cabin, so check the final checkout screen.
4. Mixed-Cabin Results
If an itinerary includes more than one flight, make sure the long-haul segment is actually in Premium Economy. A mixed-cabin result can look better than it is.
5. Whether You Have Elite Access For First Class
If you are trying to book Emirates First, check while signed in to the Aeroplan account that has 35K status or higher. Searching from a general member account may not show the same result.
Should You Chase 35K For Emirates First?
Usually, no.
Aeroplan 35K can be useful for Air Canada travellers, but earning status purely to unlock Emirates First Class is a narrow strategy. Award space can be limited, prices can change, and Emirates First Class access through partners has become more restricted over time.
If you are already close to 35K because of regular Air Canada flying, this added access can be a nice extra. If you are starting from zero, it is better to evaluate 35K for its full Air Canada benefits rather than a single Emirates redemption.
Travellers who mainly earn through credit cards should probably treat Emirates Premium Economy and Business Class as the more realistic Aeroplan paths.
Bottom Line
Aeroplan's Emirates partnership is still useful, but the shape of the value has changed.
The addition of Emirates Premium Economy gives Canadian Aeroplan members another long-haul cabin to consider. It will be most useful when the points price is clearly below Business Class and the cash fare is high.
The First Class restriction is the bigger limitation. If Emirates First now requires Aeroplan 35K status or higher, then one of Aeroplan's most aspirational redemptions is no longer broadly available to general members.
For most Canadians, the practical move is to search all available cabins, compare the live points price against cash fares, and avoid transferring or buying points until the exact Emirates award is visible in your own Aeroplan account.
