Starting in January, Aeroplan members will earn one point per dollar spent on Air Canada base fares and surcharges while Elite members will earn two to six times the points, depending on their status tier.Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press
Aeroplan is undergoing a major transformation, changing how members earn points, qualify for status and access benefits. Whether you’re a casual flyer or a Super Elite, these updates will impact how you travel and how you’re rewarded for it.
Earning Aeroplan points on flights
Aeroplan currently awards points based on a percentage of miles flown, which varies by route, fare type and class. For instance, 25% for standard economy within Canada and 150% for business class.
Starting Jan. 1, 2026, members will earn one point per dollar spent on Air Canada AC-T base fares and surcharges (excluding taxes and third-party fees). Elite members will earn two to six times the points, depending on their status tier: 25,000 earns twice the points, 35,000 earns three times, and so on.
Generally, longer flights will earn you fewer points in economy now, but Super Elites or those who book in business will earn significantly more.
Status Qualifying Credits introduced
Aeroplan Elite status is currently complex, requiring a mix of status qualifying miles (SQM), segments and dollars. You could fly often and still miss status because you didn’t spend enough. The reverse is also true for someone who spent a lot on just a few flights.
In the new year, Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) will replace all previous requirements. To earn status moving forward, you’ll need:
- 25K SQC for 25K status
- 35K SQC for 35K
- 50K SQC for 50K
- 75K SQC for 75K
- 125K SQC for Super Elite
Members will earn twice the SQC per dollar spent on standard fares (base fares plus carrier surcharges, excluding taxes and third-party fees) and four times the SQC on flex fares and above, which includes business class. Basic economy fares won’t be eligible for SQC.
SQC can be earned not only through Air Canada but also via partners such as Star Alliance airline members, Starbucks, Uber and more. You’ll also earn 1,000 SQC per $5,000 spent on premium Aeroplan cards or 1,000 SQC per $20,000 on core cards. SQC earned through partner and credit-card spending is capped at 25,000 each annually.
New accumulation potential
Getting used to this new qualification system will require some adjustment, so it’s best to use real examples to demonstrate your new earning potential.
For instance, a base member booking a standard economy ticket from Montreal to Toronto with a base fare (including carrier surcharges) of $171 will earn 171 Aeroplan points and 342 SQC. Currently, you would only receive 79 points and 79 SQM.
A 35K member purchasing an economy flex fare from Toronto to London with a cost of $1,070 plus taxes will earn 3,210 Aeroplan points, slightly less than the 3,556 points earned now. However, your SQC will be 4,280, up from the current 3,556 SQM.
Business travellers with status are the ones who will benefit the most from the new system. A Super Elite travelling business class from Vancouver to Tokyo-Narita where the base fare and carrier surcharges cost $9,367 will earn 56,202 Aeroplan points and 37,468 SQC.
That’s almost 30 per cent of the SQC needed to requalify for Super Elite status. In comparison, they would earn 6,990 Aeroplan points and 6,990 SQM under the current system.
Changes coming to status benefits
Aeroplan’s new milestone benefits replace priority rewards, select benefits and threshold eUpgrades. Instead of receiving benefits at fixed status levels, members who have requalified for status now earn rewards every 10,000 SQC up to 200,000, and every 20,000 SQC beyond that.
Some perks are automatic (e.g. eUpgrade credits), while others are selectable, such as priority rewards, 30 per cent off car/hotel redemptions, lounge passes, bonus points and gifting status to a friend.
Although fewer eUpgrade credits are awarded at 25K, 35K, and 50K, you can earn more through milestone rewards. Additionally, since you can choose your benefits, it offers you greater flexibility since you can choose perks that you’re most likely to use.
New status members begin earning benefits after reaching 25K status and crossing 30,000 SQC, but anyone who has requalified would start getting their rewards at 10,000 SQC.
Why have the changes happened
The shift to SQC is all about boosting revenue. Frequent flyers are incentivized to spend more, especially with perks tied to higher tiers. Even mid-tier members may be tempted to spend more if a promo puts them close to the next level. Make no mistake, the extra perks that come with higher status could be worth it.
Casual travellers shouldn’t be too worried because earning status probably isn’t a top priority. Also, the points lost from paid flights can be replaced by using an Aeroplan credit card, which gives you points with every purchase.
Although it may seem like a cash grab, this is how loyalty programs are meant to work: Top spenders earn the best rewards. For dedicated Aeroplan members, the revamped qualification system offers a fair trade for more flexible and valuable perks.
Barry Choi is a credit card and loyalty expert. He was previously affiliated with Aeroplan, but currently has no relationship with the brand.
