Both Aeroplan and United MileagePlus are Star Alliance programs that accept Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers. But their award rates, fees, and sweet spots are very different. We compare 4,602 Aeroplan deals vs 5,543 United deals.
Aeroplan prices business class from 55,000 miles vs United's 80,000 miles on the same Lufthansa Group flights, with lower carrier fees. United wins for ANA Japan routes and domestic US awards.
| Feature | Aeroplan | United MileagePlus |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Star Alliance | Star Alliance |
| Business Class Min | 55,000 miles OW | 80,000 miles OW |
| Economy Min | 21,000 miles OW | 26,800 miles OW |
| LH Group Fees | Low (major advantage) | Higher surcharges |
| Stopovers | Yes (free) | No |
| Chase transfers | Yes (1:1) | Yes (1:1) |
| Amex transfers | Yes (1:1) | No |
| Capital One | Yes (1:1) | No |
| Live Deals | 4,602 | 5,543 |
The most striking illustration of Aeroplan vs United pricing is Lufthansa business class. On a Frankfurt to New York route, the same Lufthansa Business Class seat — same aircraft, same service, same lounge access — costs 55,000 Aeroplan miles or 80,000 United miles. The 25,000-mile difference exists because Aeroplan and United negotiate separately with Lufthansa for partner award pricing, and Aeroplan's deal produces significantly lower rates. Additionally, Aeroplan passes through fewer carrier surcharges: booking Lufthansa through United can add $150–300 in fuel surcharges that Aeroplan largely waives. Over a round-trip, the total difference can be 50,000 miles plus several hundred dollars.
The stopover advantage is often overlooked: Aeroplan allows free stopovers on international awards, meaning you can add a stop in a second city without paying additional miles. A US→Europe trip could include a free stopover in Frankfurt on the way to another destination, effectively getting two trips in one award. United eliminated stopovers from its award program, making Aeroplan more versatile for multi-destination trip planning.
United's advantage is primarily in cases where United operates the flight itself (Polaris business class) rather than a partner. United Saver awards on United metal are sometimes available when Aeroplan shows no partner space, and vice versa. Building both balances — Chase transfers to both programs at 1:1 — gives you the flexibility to compare and use whichever has better availability and pricing for each specific booking.