Air Canada shifts Aeroplan elite status qualification to spend-based model

No changes have been made to how points are earned when crediting flights operated by partners (not ticketed by Air Canada) or through credit card spending.

Elite status requirements are also changing. Previously determined by miles flown (status qualifying miles), flight segments (status qualifying segments), and dollars spent (status qualifying dollars), status will now be awarded solely via a new metric called status qualifying credits (SQCs). Members can earn SQCs in several ways:

- Flying Air Canada or Star Alliance-operated flights ticketed by Air Canada at rates of either two or four SQCs per Canadian dollar depending on fare class.

- Booking vacation packages with Air Canada Vacations.

- Spending with certain travel and retail partners such as Marriott, Uber, Avis and Starbucks.

- Using Canadian-issued credit cards.

There is a cap of up to 25,000 SQCs annually for partner activity and credit card spending. Basic economy fares do not accrue SQCs.

The program introduces milestone rewards starting at 10,000 SQCs and increasing in increments up to one million SQCs. Rewards include eUpgrade credits, Priority Reward vouchers for discounted redemptions, bonus points at higher thresholds, lounge passes and other benefits such as discounts or gifting elite status.

U.S.-based travelers can continue earning elite status through credit card spending. The U.S.-issued Aeroplan Credit Card allows holders to receive a head start of 5,000 SQCs each year starting in January 2026. Additional awards are granted at specific annual spend thresholds: “10,000 additional SQCs when cardholders spend $25,000 in a calendar year; 10,000 additional SQCs when cardholders spend $50,000 in a calendar year; 35K status when cardholders spend $75,000 in a calendar year; One Priority Reward each when cardholders reach spending thresholds of $100,000,” among others.

For nonelite U.S.-based travelers who mostly fly domestically or transborder routes on United Airlines or Air Canada without premium fares or high-ticket purchases through Air Canada channels—or who rely heavily on partner flights—the changes may make it harder to maintain entry-level elite status compared with programs like United MileagePlus. United’s base program currently offers five miles per U.S. dollar spent for base-level flyers—more generous than the upcoming one point per Canadian dollar rate offered by Aeroplan.

“Aeroplan's top-tier Super Elite status in 2026 can be cheaper on paper,” according to the release text,“but only if a significant share of your annual spend flows through Air Canada‑marketed Flex or premium fares.”

Air Canada's decision aligns its loyalty structure with other major North American airlines that have already adopted similar models.