Air Canada Blows Up Aeroplan Status Rules: Your Dollars Now Do the Talking

Air Canada is joining the long list of airlines that are fully embracing a revenue-based model to determine how its passengers qualify for elite status and accrue points.

Beginning in 2026, both status qualification and points earning will be solely based on the amount of money spent, shifting away from the current system that includes qualifying metrics based on distance flown and flight segments.

Photo: Air Canada Express Q400. Courtesy of Air Canada

“Aeroplan has grown into one of the most rewarding and widely used travel loyalty programs,” said Scott O’Leary, Vice President, Loyalty & Product at Air Canada. “Our most engaged members do more than just fly with us—they earn with our partners, choose flexible fares, and carry Aeroplan credit cards. These changes help us better recognize their loyalty and keep improving the experience.”

Earning Status? Based on Spend

Currently, Aeroplan customers can qualify for elite status in one of two ways: by accruing a specified amount of Status Qualifying Miles (SQMs), or by accruing a combination of Status Qualifying Segments (SQMs) and Status Qualifying Dollars (SQDs).

This system will be going away beginning in January in favor of a single all-encompassing metric: Status Qualifying Credits (SQCs)

The table below summarizes the changes and new status earning thresholds:

SQCs can be earned in a few different ways, but across the board, they are all based on cumulative dollars spent:

• 4 SQCs per $1 CAD spent on Economy Flex fares or higher
• 2 SQCs per $1 CAD spent on Economy Standard fares or eUpgrade Add-Ons
• 1 SQC per $1 CAD spent on Air Canada Vacations packages
• 5 SQCs per $1 CAD spent with Air Canada’s partners, including Star Alliance airlines (for tickets not issued by Air Canada), Marriott Bonvoy, Uber, and more (capped at a cumulative 25,000 SQCs per year)
• 1,000 SQCs for every $5,000 CAD spent on Aeroplan premium credit cards or for every $20,000 spent on Aeroplan core credit cards (capped at a cumulative 25,000 SQCs per year)

In terms of flights, passengers will earn SQCs on the base fare plus any associated carrier surcharges, but not on applicable taxes and fees. SQCs earned on flights include those operated by Air Canada as well as Star Alliance-operated flight tickets issued by Air Canada. Basic Economy tickets will not earn any SQCs.

Photo: Courtesy of Air Canada

Starting in 2027, those who hold a premium Air Canada credit card will also receive an SQC Head Start equal to 10% of their total SQC accrual from the previous year, with no cap. For the 2026 status year, those who qualify will have their SQM balance from 2025 above what was required for their highest qualifying status converted to a SQC Head Start at a ratio of 5 to 1.

U.S.-based travelers who hold the Aeroplan credit card from Chase will still be awarded Aeroplan 25K status after spending $15,000 USD on the card annually. Beginning in January 2026, those cardholders will now also receive a 5,000 SQC Head Start, and the current Level Up benefit will be replaced with new SQC awards based on annual spend:

• 10,000 SQCs after spending $25,000
• 10,000 SQCs after spending $50,000
• 35kK status after spending $75,000
• One Priority Reward each after reaching spending thresholds of $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, $750,000, and $1 million
• Global Elite status plus one Priority Reward after spending $1 million

Milestone Benefits Make Their Debut

Air Canada is also introducing new Milestone Benefits at incremental SQC thresholds that Aeroplan Elite status holders will receive as they are working towards renewing their status throughout the calendar year. Members will unlock these benefits for every 10,000 SQC accumulated up to 200,000, and every 20,000 SQC accumulated thereafter, up to 1 million.

Photo: Courtesy of Air Canada

Depending on the SQC threshold, these benefits will automatically include 10 or 20 eUpgrade credits along with a choice of an additional benefit, which includes:

• Additional eUpgrade credits
• Priority Reward vouchers (50 percent off points for eligible flight redemptions)
• Bonus Aeroplan points
• Maple Leaf lounge passes
• Discounts on hotel, car rental, gift card or merchandise when redeeming points
• Ability to gift Aeroplan elite status to a friend
• Air Canada gift cards

Points Accrual Becomes Spend-Based

In addition to these status-earning updates, Air Canada is also changing the way its frequent flyers will earn Aeroplan points moving forward. Beginning on January 1, Aeroplan members flying on Air Canada (or on Star Alliance partner tickets issued by Air Canada) will earn points based on the price of the ticket instead of the distance flown as they do today.

Photo: Courtesy of Star Alliance

All Aeroplan members will earn one point per $1 CAD spent on the base airfare, plus any associated carrier surcharges; taxes and airport fees will not be included in this number. Depending on your status level with Aeroplan, elites will earn the following bonus multiplier rates:

• Aeroplan 25K members: 2 points per CAD 1
• Aeroplan 35K members: 3 points per $1 CAD
• Aeroplan 50K members: 4 points per $1 CAD
• Aeroplan 75K members: 5 points per $1 CAD
• Aeroplan Super Elite members: 6 points per $1 CAD

Up to this point, there has been no announcement on any changes being made to the accrual of points via Star Alliance partner flights that are issued by an airline other than Air Canada that are credited to Aeroplan, nor to points that are earned via Aeroplan credit card spend.

Revenue-based models are here to stay

Overall, these changes are sure to elicit mixed reactions, with high spenders and frequent Air Canada flyers set to benefit while low-budget travelers who bank on mileage runs will likely get squeezed out of the status ranks.

Photo: Courtesy of Star Alliance

While it may be to the chagrin of many, money talks, and airlines are looking to cash in on an era of high premium demand and frequent corporate travel to capture as much revenue as possible. Plus, it’s no secret that co-branded credit cards are a gold mine for airlines, so incentivizing their customers to utilize them (i.e., more and more spending) shouldn’t come as a surprise.

The trend of revenue-based status earning doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon, and it’s probably safe to assume that Air Canada won’t be the last airline to join the party.