How Aeroplan Points, Elite Status and Credit Cards Will Change

Air Canada has announced significant revisions to its Aeroplan loyalty program that will take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The biggest shift: members will earn Aeroplan points primarily based on how much they spend rather than the distance they fly and the fare class they purchase. The airline is also replacing its existing status-qualification metrics with a new Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) system that awards credits based on ticket price and fare type.

This article summarizes the core changes, explains how they will affect point accumulation and Elite Status qualification, and highlights which travelers are likely to gain or lose under the new approach.

Overview of changes to earning Aeroplan points

The new earning model simplifies point accumulation by tying earnings to spending. Today, Aeroplan points are earned as a percentage of flown distance depending on fare class, with rates ranging from as low as 10% for basic economy up to 150% or more for premium and business class fares. Beginning in 2026, points will instead be awarded based on the base fare and carrier surcharges paid (taxes and some fees excluded).

Under the updated rules, members will receive at least 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on eligible Air Canada flights. Earning on partner airlines will vary: in some cases it will be 1 point per $1 spent, while in others it will remain distance-based, depending on the partner carrier and how the ticket was booked.

Members with Aeroplan Elite Status will receive multipliers on earned points, increasing the value for frequent or high-spend flyers:

Aeroplan 25K Status: 2x points
Aeroplan 35K Status: 3x points
Aeroplan 50K Status: 4x points
Aeroplan 75K Status: 5x points
Aeroplan Super Elite Status: 6x points

To illustrate, a typical round-trip Economy Flex fare from Toronto to Vancouver currently costs around $750 (pricing cited from Air Canada’s site on Aug. 14, 2025) and today would earn roughly 4,170 Aeroplan points based on distance (2,085 flight miles each way × 100% earning). Under the new system, a non‑elite member who pays $750 would earn about 750 points (1 point per $1 spent on eligible charges), a notable reduction for many economy travelers.

Conversely, high-fare purchases and elite members can see larger gains. As an example, a member with 50K Status purchasing a business-class ticket priced at $5,000 would earn at least 20,000 Aeroplan points under the new multiplier system (4 points per $1 x $5,000), compared with roughly 6,255 points under the current distance-based approach (150% of the distance-based points).

Qualifying for Aeroplan Elite Status is changing

A second major update replaces the previous trio of qualifying measures—Status Qualifying Miles, Status Qualifying Segments, and Status Qualifying Dollars—with a single, simpler metric: Status Qualifying Credits (SQCs). This aims to streamline how members track progress toward Elite Status.

How to earn Aeroplan’s Status Qualifying Credits (SQCs)

SQCs are awarded based on money spent and the fare category purchased. The principal earning rules announced are:

1 SQC per $1 spent on AC Vacations packages
2 SQC per $1 spent on standard fares (note: Economy Basic earns no SQCs)
4 SQC per $1 spent on Economy Flex fares and higher
When earning Aeroplan points through partners (airlines and non-airline partners such as ride-hailing or retail partners), members receive 1 SQC for every 5 Aeroplan points earned

New Aeroplan Milestone benefits for Elite Status members

Aeroplan will also introduce Milestone rewards tied to SQC accumulation. Members will receive a Milestone benefit each time they reach 10,000 SQCs (with milestone rewards available up to a specified maximum), and additional rewards at larger SQC thresholds over time. Typical Milestone options mirror many existing perks and can include eUpgrade credits, Maple Leaf Lounge passes, and discounts on select redemptions.

Because status qualification is shifting toward spending and fare type, passengers who consistently choose the lowest-priced economy fares may find it more difficult to earn status compared with the current system, while higher-spend travellers will have a clearer path to status.

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Changes for Aeroplan credit card holders

Aeroplan-branded credit cards are positioned to become more important under the new program, both for earning points and for contributing to Elite qualification. Card activity can generate SQCs, and Aeroplan has capped the amount of SQC that can be earned via eligible credit card spending at a combined total of 25,000 SQC per calendar year across all Aeroplan cards.

Under the announced structure, basic Aeroplan cards will earn 1,000 SQC for every $20,000 in eligible spending, while premium cards will earn 1,000 SQC per $5,000 in eligible spending. From 2027, premium Aeroplan cards will also introduce a “10% Head Start” perk that grants 10% of the SQCs earned in the prior year toward the current year’s SQC balance, replacing the previous rollover benefit.

In addition to SQC opportunities, Aeroplan credit cards will continue to offer traditional perks like free checked bags, priority services, and preferred pricing on certain items—features that will remain attractive to frequent travelers.

The bottom line: Who will benefit from the Aeroplan changes?

The revised Aeroplan program will fundamentally alter how members earn points and qualify for Elite Status, while redemption pricing and award charts remain unchanged for the time being. Overall, the update favors higher-spend travelers, premium-class flyers, and those who already hold Elite Status—these groups will generally see stronger earning potential.

Price-driven economy travelers who frequently choose the lowest-fare options will likely earn fewer points and find it more challenging to reach Elite Status under the spending-focused model. For those passengers, leveraging Aeroplan credit cards or strategically choosing higher-fare classes on select trips may be the most effective ways to maintain or accelerate point accumulation and status progress.

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