Fifth freedom awards open on seven new Australia routes

Air Canada's new Vancouver-Guangzhou route, operating year-round from May 4, 2027, on the 787 Dreamliner, adds a third Chinese gateway alongside Beijing and Shanghai. The seasonal Sapporo service begins December 2026, targeting winter ski traffic. With 17 weekly flights to China and increased capacity to Japan, Seoul, and Southeast Asia, Aeroplan members gain more redemption options, particularly on the new Guangzhou route where Air Canada is the only North American carrier. Signature, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins are available on the Guangzhou flights.

ALL Accor+ Explorer's annual fee ticks up from US$249 to US$255 for rest-of-world members including Canada on October 1, 2026. Nothing else changes. Existing members can hold the old price for another year by enabling auto-renewal before September 30. New members joining in September who also turn on auto-renewal get two full years at US$249. The increase itself is negligible, but the window to freeze it expires in 25 days.