The headline: Aeroplan and United MileagePlus both pitch themselves as the "best" points currency for star alliance partner awards from the us, but once you layer in transfer partners, redemption sweet spots, and typical cents-per-point values, one of them wins a specific category. In this post, we break down the math for star alliance partner awards from the us and tell you which program to prioritize.
Sweet spot
Save ~$2,100
US East Coast → Europe · Air Canada Signature Business
Aeroplan distance-based on AC metal (also bookable on LH/Swiss/UA/OS)
Star Alliance · 26 carriersUp to 2 stopoversDistance-based chart
60,000–70,000 Aeroplan points one-way
Cash: ~$3,000
Find this deal on Pointify →
Aeroplan
- Flexible transfer currency (hasn't been devalued in the current cycle).
- Strong partner coverage for the use case.
- Typical cash-equivalent value: 1.8–2.1¢/point across measured redemptions.
United MileagePlus
- Different partner mix — often covers airlines/hotels that Aeroplan doesn't.
- Tends to run transfer bonuses more frequently.
- Typical cash-equivalent value: 1.7–2.0¢/point.
The verdict for Star Alliance partner awards from the US
Our recommendation: split your quarterly spend roughly 60/40 across the two, anchored by whichever has an active transfer bonus. Pointify tracks live transfer bonuses across both in real time so you can time the transfer to the promo, not the booking.
Compare both programs side-by-side →
Free · No card required
Never miss a mistake fare or price drop
Create a free Pointify account to track your routes and get price-drop & mistake-fare alerts by email.
Get free alerts →
Search this deal on Pointify
Live availability, cash + points side by side, book in 2 clicks.
