2025 wasn’t a 12 months of dramatic implosions or sudden windfalls. As an alternative, it was a 12 months the place the course of journey grew to become more durable to disregard.
Airways expanded aggressively, loyalty packages tightened guidelines and previewed future modifications, and bank cards continued to shift worth behind the scenes.
For travellers paying consideration, the message was constant: extra choices, extra complexity, and fewer illusions about how beneficiant the system actually is.
Right here’s how the 12 months unfolded, one month at a time.
January: Elite Perks Get Sharper, Partnerships Get Sensible
January set the tone for the 12 months with sensible, no-nonsense modifications somewhat than flashy bulletins.
Reciprocal mileage incomes between Alaska Airways and Porter Airways formally went stay, marking a significant step in Porter’s continued evolution past a snug home area of interest.
For frequent flyers, this partnership wasn’t simply symbolic — it materially expanded the place and the way Porter flights might match right into a broader loyalty technique.
On the banking aspect, TD introduced updates to its TD Rewards bank cards. Somewhat than pushing headline-grabbing earn charges, the modifications centered on bettering flexibility and redemption mechanics, reinforcing a theme that might repeat all through 2025: refinement over generosity.
The month wrapped up with a uncommon unambiguous win for resort elites. GHA Discovery added complimentary breakfast for Titanium members at Pan Pacific and PARKROYAL properties, addressing one of many program’s longest-standing ache factors. In a 12 months dominated by quiet pullbacks, this stood out as a reminder that loyalty packages can nonetheless add worth once they select to.
February: Aeroplan Tightens the Guidelines as Networks Maintain Rising
February belonged to Aeroplan. Household Sharing returned, however solely alongside necessary account verification, signalling a transparent shift towards fraud prevention even when it meant added friction for members.
Aeroplan additionally previewed upcoming modifications to accomplice rewards and charts, persevering with a well-known sample of advance discover with out rapid readability.
On the similar time, airways continued to spend money on community development. Etihad Airways introduced its A380 again to the Toronto (YYZ) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) route, restoring a real flagship product to the Canadian market.
In the meantime, Porter Airways expanded into Hamilton (YHM) with 4 new routes, reinforcing its deal with secondary airports and underserved areas.
March: Routes Multiply, Incomes Expands, and Ecosystems Deepen
March was one of many busiest months of the 12 months. Air Canada launched a brand new Montreal–Edinburgh route and elevated capability to Europe, persevering with a year-long sample of aggressive worldwide growth.
This development was paired with investments on the bottom, together with the opening of the brand new Air Canada Café in Montreal.
Past flying, incomes alternatives expanded meaningfully. Chexy went stay, permitting Canadians to pay payments and taxes by bank card — a sensible win for anybody centered on squeezing incremental worth from on a regular basis bills.
Porter’s loyalty ecosystem additionally matured additional with the launch of the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* and new accomplice redemptions on Air Transat and Alaska Airways, signalling that VIPorter was changing into a completely fashioned program somewhat than a aspect undertaking.
April: Neighborhood Momentum and Program Overhauls
April blended offline momentum with structural change. Miles & Pints returned to Toronto, highlighting the continued development of Prince of Journey’s in-person group.
On the loyalty aspect, WestJet introduced main modifications slated for later within the 12 months, whereas Aeroplan partnered with Chexy to develop incomes alternatives past conventional journey spending.
Air Canada additionally previewed its new Airbus Airspace cabin for the A220 fleet, reinforcing its push towards onboard consistency.
Could: Wi-Fi Arrives and Standing Will get Inventive
Could delivered probably the most broadly appreciated upgrades of the 12 months when Air Canada rolled out free Wi-Fi on North American flights.
It wasn’t a world first by any stretch, however for Canadian travellers who had lengthy lagged behind U.S. carriers, it lastly introduced on a regular basis connectivity consistent with expectations.
This month was additionally a reminder that elite standing doesn’t at all times require years of flying in case you’re keen to suppose laterally.
By a mixture of Marriott Bonvoy standing and a rigorously chosen round-trip flight, I used to be capable of earn Star Alliance Gold with out the same old grind. It labored — however it additionally highlighted a rising divide in loyalty packages, the place information and technique more and more matter as a lot as precise journey quantity.
June: Occasions and Heat-Climate Enlargement
June balanced group constructing with community development. Miles & Pints arrived in Vancouver, whereas Porter Airways expanded into Mexico, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica, marking its clearest push but into leisure markets.
Worldwide connectivity additionally improved as T’manner Air launched Vancouver (YVR) – Seoul (ICN) service. On the similar time, the Cathay World Elite® Mastercard® – powered by Neo returned with its strongest welcome provide thus far.
July: Guidelines, Redemptions, and High quality Print
July leaned closely into practicality. VIPorter members gained the flexibility to redeem factors on accomplice airways, and Porter flights grew to become bookable utilizing Alaska miles(now Atmos Rewards) — one other step in turning VIPorter right into a genuinely helpful program somewhat than a Porter-only forex.
July was additionally when ETIAS formally grew to become a requirement for journey to a lot of Europe. Whereas the applying course of itself was comparatively easy, it marked a transparent shift in how frictionless transatlantic journey would really feel going ahead.
Even visa-free locations have been now accompanied by digital paperwork, reinforcing a broader pattern towards extra structured border controls.
August: The Way forward for Aeroplan Comes into Focus
August was probably the most consequential months of the 12 months. Air Canada introduced a shift to revenue-based factors incomes and elite qualification beginning in 2026.
Whereas the modifications weren’t rapid, they essentially reframed how Aeroplan members thought of long-term technique and worth.
On the similar time, Alaska and Hawaiian unveiled Atmos Rewards, signalling consolidation and modernization within the U.S. loyalty house.
Nearer to dwelling, modifications to the American Categorical® Cobalt® Card reminded cardholders that even long-time favourites should not resistant to adjustment.
August made one factor clear: loyalty in 2026 would reward spending patterns greater than intelligent routing.
September: Standing Shortcuts and {Hardware} Upgrades
September highlighted an uncomfortable actuality within the loyalty world. On one hand, enterprise house owners noticed a wave of latest alternatives, together with quick tracks and shortcuts to Hilton Diamond standing that dramatically lowered the barrier to entry.
Then again, these similar provides quietly undercut travellers who had earned their standing the exhausting manner — via long-haul flights, mattress runs, and years of constant loyalty.
Packages have been clearly prioritizing new income over rewarding historic dedication, and for a lot of long-time elites, the shift felt much less like progress and extra like betrayal.
The takeaway was exhausting to disregard: in 2025, elite standing grew to become simpler to get — and arguably much less significant when you had it.
On the similar time, airways continued investing in tangible enhancements. Air Canada rolled out cabin and connectivity upgrades throughout components of its regional fleet, together with improved Wi-Fi on Q400 plane, and launched the A321XLR into its community. These {hardware} investments mattered, particularly as packages grew to become much less beneficiant on the loyalty aspect.
September additionally introduced updates to airline co-branded bank cards, with modifications to RBC WestJet co-branded playing cards.
Collectively, these developments strengthened a broader theme of 2025: loyalty grew to become simpler to earn on paper, whereas the true worth more and more got here from the seat, the cabin, and the onboard expertise somewhat than the standing line in your profile.
October: Regional Flying Meets Rising Prices
October highlighted each entry and expense. Harbour Air expanded winter service to Tofino, whereas Aeroplan added Bearskin Airways as a accomplice.
On the similar time, WestJet elevated first checked bag charges. TD Rewards added extra redemption flexibility, providing a modest counterbalance to the regular creep in ancillary prices.
November: Massive Occasions and Greater Networks
November was a milestone month for Prince of Journey. The Signature Occasion in Toronto marked the most important in-person gathering but, underscoring the energy and development of the group constructed round journey technique and factors.
On the airline entrance, Air Canada introduced 4 new Europe routes for summer season 2026, joined by Iberia confirming Toronto (YYZ) – Madrid (MAD) service. Hilton Honors additionally previewed 2026 program modifications, conserving members on discover heading into the brand new 12 months.
December: Partnerships Shut the 12 months
December wrapped issues up with partnerships somewhat than shocks. Aeroplan added airBaltic, Harbour Air joined Aeroplan, and Hyatt introduced Wink Accommodations becoming a member of Unscripted by Hyatt.
A Thank You to Our Readers
Earlier than closing out the 12 months, we need to say thanks.
Whether or not you’ve been studying Prince of Journey for years, discovered us via a single search, or joined us in particular person at Miles & Pints or the Signature Occasion, we actually respect you being a part of the journey in 2025.
Your questions, suggestions, and debates proceed to form how we take into consideration journey, loyalty, and bank cards, and make this group sharper and extra grounded than something we might construct alone.
Conclusion
2025 didn’t flip the desk on journey, however it did pull the curtain again. Airways expanded relentlessly, loyalty packages continued shifting worth towards management, and charges edged increased with little resistance.
On the similar time, quicker Wi-Fi, broader partnerships, and thriving in-person communities confirmed that progress nonetheless exists — simply not often with out trade-offs.
Heading into 2026, flexibility, realism, and understanding when to not chase loyalty would be the most precious methods of all.
