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Yes — and Air Canada and United have one of the closest relationships of any two airlines in North America. They’ve been Star Alliance partners since the alliance’s founding in 1997, they co-run the transatlantic A++ joint venture with Lufthansa, and on top of both of those, they run a dedicated transborder joint business built specifically around US-Canada routes. That third layer is the one that actually matters most for your miles: it’s why you can earn Aeroplan points flying United and MileagePlus miles flying Air Canada, directly, not just through generic Star Alliance rules.
Here’s exactly how much each side earns, and what your status actually unlocks on the other airline.
Three Layers of Partnership, Not Just One
- Star Alliance — both are founding members (1997), which is the baseline for earning miles and getting elite recognition across all 26 member airlines.
- The Atlantic Joint Venture (“A++”) — Air Canada, United, and the Lufthansa Group airlines coordinate schedules and share revenue on transatlantic Europe-North America routes.
- The US-Canada transborder joint business — a separate, dedicated agreement just between Air Canada and United, covering 38 codeshare destinations in the US and 8 major Canadian cities, with expanded reciprocal earning, redemption, and lounge access built specifically for flights between the two countries.
That third layer is unusual — most Star Alliance partnerships don’t get their own dedicated joint business on top of the alliance and a transatlantic JV. It’s part of why the Air Canada-United relationship functions more like two divisions of the same airline than two separate competitors that happen to share an alliance logo.
Can You Earn Aeroplan Miles Flying United?
Yes — enter your Aeroplan number at booking and you’ll earn points on any United flight, credited by distance flown and a fare-class multiplier rather than the dollar amount you paid. The multiplier scales with cabin: as an example, a First or Business ticket on a domestic route can earn as much as 150% of the miles actually flown, while a deep-discount economy fare earns a smaller fraction of the distance. Check Aeroplan’s partner earning chart for the exact percentage tied to your specific United fare class before you fly if the number matters to you.
Can You Earn MileagePlus Miles and PQP Flying Air Canada?
Yes, on both counts, as long as your MileagePlus number is on the reservation. Miles credit using the same distance-plus-fare-class formula partner flights always use. Premier Qualifying Points — the currency that actually moves you toward Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum, or 1K — credit at 1 PQP for every 5 partner award miles earned, capped at 750 PQP for an Economy or Premium Economy fare and 1,500 PQP for First or Business. For the full mechanics of how PQP adds up across United’s whole network, see our guide to understanding PQP and PQF.
That PQP cap is worth flagging specifically: a single long-haul Business class Air Canada flight can hand you the full 1,500 PQP in one trip — a meaningful chunk of progress toward Premier Gold or Platinum from one well-chosen partner flight.
Redeeming Points on the Other Airline
The transborder joint business goes a step further than typical Star Alliance redemptions: Aeroplan points can be redeemed directly for United flights, and MileagePlus miles can be redeemed directly for Air Canada flights, on the 38 US and 8 Canadian cities the joint business covers — not just as a generic partner-award booking, but as a core part of how the two programs are designed to work together on transborder routes.
What Your Status Gets You on the Other Airline
Elite recognition flows both directions, though the specifics depend on your tier and the route:
| Your Status | What You Get |
|---|---|
| United Premier (Gold and above) | Access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges on eligible itineraries |
| Aeroplan Elite (35K and above) | Access to United Clubs and partner lounges, mainly on international connections |
| Either program’s entry-level tier | Baseline Star Alliance benefits only — priority waitlist, no lounge access |
Air Canada also restructured its own elite tiers as of January 1, 2026, moving to Status Qualifying Credits (SQCs): 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, and Super Elite at 125K SQCs. Our Aeroplan elite status guide covers what each tier requires and delivers in detail; if you’re weighing which airline’s status to chase first, United Premier Gold is the tier where the reciprocal Air Canada lounge access actually kicks in.
Pro Tips
- Enter your number every time, on both sides. Neither program credits retroactively past a short window, and with two carriers this closely linked, it’s easy to assume a flight will auto-credit when it won’t unless the number is on the reservation.
- Chase the 1,500 PQP cap on a single Business class Air Canada flight if you’re close to a United Premier tier — it’s one of the most efficient single-trip PQP boosts available through any partner airline.
- Compare redemption value before booking with points on either side. A transborder joint-business redemption isn’t automatically the best use of your miles — run the math against booking directly with the operating carrier’s own program first.
- Don’t assume entry-level status gets you into a lounge. The Maple Leaf Lounge and United Club reciprocal access described above kicks in at Premier Gold and Aeroplan 35K — not at every tier.
- Watch for further changes as the transborder joint business matures. It’s a newer, still-evolving agreement layered on top of a 25+ year alliance relationship, and both airlines have signaled more integration is coming.
Bottom Line
Air Canada and United are about as close as two separate airlines get: Star Alliance since 1997, the Atlantic Joint Venture with Lufthansa, and now a dedicated transborder joint business built around US-Canada routes specifically. The practical result is real, concrete earning in both directions — Aeroplan miles on United (up to 150% of miles flown in premium cabins), MileagePlus miles and PQP on Air Canada (up to 1,500 PQP on a single Business class flight), plus redemption and reciprocal lounge access once you’re at Premier Gold or Aeroplan 35K. Enter your number on every flight, and treat this as one of the more genuinely useful airline partnerships to build around rather than a nominal alliance relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Air Canada and United Airlines partners?
Yes, and closely. They've been Star Alliance partners since 1997, they co-run the transatlantic A++ joint venture with Lufthansa, and they also have a dedicated transborder joint business built specifically around US-Canada routes, covering 38 US and 8 Canadian codeshare destinations.
Can you earn Aeroplan miles flying United?
Yes. Enter your Aeroplan number at booking and you'll earn points based on the distance flown and your fare class — up to 150% of the miles flown on some premium domestic fares.
Can you earn United miles and PQP flying Air Canada?
Yes. MileagePlus miles credit by distance and fare class, and Premier Qualifying Points credit at a rate of 1 PQP per 5 partner award miles earned, capped at 750 PQP for Economy/Premium Economy fares and 1,500 PQP for First/Business.
What does United Premier status get you on Air Canada?
Premier Gold and above typically get access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges on eligible itineraries. Lower Premier tiers get standard Star Alliance benefits only, without lounge access.
Can you redeem Aeroplan points for United flights, or MileagePlus miles for Air Canada flights?
Yes, on both. The transborder joint business allows direct redemption of Aeroplan points on United flights and MileagePlus miles on Air Canada flights, in addition to the general Star Alliance award-booking option available to all members.
