Aeroplan has quietly flipped the change on redemptions with ITA Airways, Italy’s flag service and soon-to-be Star Alliance member.
That is now totally stay and confirmed by Aeroplan: you’ll be able to redeem Aeroplan factors for ITA-operated flights throughout the service’s community of 70+ locations, both as standalone itineraries or blended with Air Canada and different Aeroplan companions on a single reserving.
For now, it’s a redemption-only partnership. Aeroplan factors accrual, Standing Qualifying Credit score (SQC) earn, and elite advantages on ITA flights will solely arrive as soon as ITA formally joins Star Alliance, which is anticipated in early 2026.
ITA’s Community: Rome as One other Aeroplan Hub
ITA is predicated at Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and operates a mixture of transatlantic and regional routes that line up properly with Aeroplan’s present strengths.
On the North American facet, the important thing level for Canadians is a seasonal Toronto (YYZ) – Rome (FCO) service operated by the Airbus A330-900neo.
South of the border, ITA flies from a number of main US gateways into Rome, which supplies you further flexibility in the event you’re prepared to place through the US earlier than crossing the Atlantic on ITA.
From Rome (FCO), the airline followers out throughout Italy and Europe, plus a curated long-haul community into South America, Africa, the Center East, and Asia.
Consider locations like North and West Africa, the Gulf, the Indian Ocean, and leisure-driven Asian routes equivalent to Bangkok, Maldives, and Tokyo, somewhat than attempting to memorise a full route map.
For Aeroplan collectors, the principle takeaway is that Rome turns into an additional European hub choice, comparable in idea to Zurich or Vienna, with good onward connectivity and stable arduous product.
The same old routing guidelines nonetheless apply, together with the long-standing restriction towards flying North America–South America through Europe on a single Aeroplan ticket.
How ITA Costs on the Aeroplan Chart
On North America–Atlantic routes, ITA flights value precisely the place you’d anticipate on the award chart.
A direct Toronto–Rome flight sits within the 4,001–6,000-mile band, so that you’re 40,000 factors in financial system or 70,000 factors in enterprise class one-way.
Longer routes like San Francisco (SFO – Rome (FCO) fall into the 6,001–8,000-mile band, which is available in at 55,000 factors in financial system or 90,000 factors in enterprise class one-way.
When you tack on home or regional connections at both finish, the entire distance modifications and your band may transfer up, as common. That additionally applies if you cross zones.
For instance, a routing equivalent to Toronto (YYZ) – Rome (FCO) – Tokyo (HND) costs off the “Between North America and Pacific zones” associate chart; at that distance, you’re 87,500 Aeroplan factors one-way in enterprise class, assuming every part stays throughout the related distance band.
ITA Airways Enterprise Class
ITA’s long-haul fleet is small however aggressive. On the Airbus A330-900neo, enterprise class options Thompson Vantage XL-style seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, with totally flat beds and direct aisle entry.
There are not any doorways on the suites, but it surely’s in any other case a really fashionable and aggressive product.
The Airbus A350-900 includes a reverse-herringbone structure that’s broadly akin to Air Canada’s Signature Class cabin.
Seats angle in direction of the window, privateness is stable, and the general expertise ought to really feel very acquainted in the event you’ve flown fashionable enterprise class on different Star Alliance carriers.
On chosen A321 neo routes, ITA has gone a step additional and put in lie-flat enterprise class in a 1-1 structure, which is especially attention-grabbing for medium-haul flights to locations like North Africa or the Center East.
Availability: What We’re Seeing So Far
From Toronto (YYZ), financial system awards into Rome (FCO) are already exhibiting and pricing accurately off the associate chart, with 40,000 Aeroplan factors for a technique.
Lengthy-haul enterprise class from North America on ITA Airways, then again, is skinny or non-existent at this early stage.
That’s not out of character for ITA, which was by no means significantly beneficiant with business-class awards throughout its SkyTeam period, but it surely’s one thing to look at as we transfer nearer to peak transatlantic season.
On shorter and medium-haul legs, enterprise class house is already simpler to identify, together with routes equivalent to Rome (FCO) – Madrid (MAD) and different regional spokes.
These segments could also be particularly helpful for constructing multi-leg itineraries the place you utilize ITA to push onward from Rome into Africa or the Center East and nonetheless take pleasure in a lie-flat product.
Realistically, ITA could find yourself behaving like SWISS, Austrian, or Brussels on Aeroplan: enterprise house does exist, however you’ll in all probability have to plan forward, be versatile, or get barely fortunate.
Conclusion
Aeroplan’s addition of ITA Airways as a redemption associate is a robust quality-of-life improve for anybody who likes flying to, by way of, or past Italy on factors.
Rome turns into a extra helpful hub, ITA’s long-haul and narrowbody lie-flat cabins add one other high-quality choice to the associate roster, and every part costs cleanly off the present Aeroplan charts.
For now, it’s all about redemptions: you’ll be able to e book ITA with Aeroplan factors instantly, however you’ll want to attend till ITA’s Star Alliance entry for incomes, SQCs, and elite perks to kick in.
Within the meantime, we’ll be maintaining a tally of how award house evolves, and we’ll be first in line when significant long-haul enterprise stock lastly reveals up.
