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With the introduction of Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) for 2026, the Aeroplan program is entering a new era. Distance flown is no longer the determining factor. Now, your eligible spending and especially your choice of Air Canada fare directly impacts how quickly you reach Aeroplan Elite Status.
Achieving Aeroplan Elite status is not just about accumulating points. It’s about concretely improving every step of the journey with Air Canada. In a system now based on spending, every booking decision, particularly the choice of fare, has a direct impact on your progress toward Aeroplan Elite status.
In this article, we provide practical and actionable roadmaps to help Aeroplan members understand how to maximize the accumulation of Status Qualifying Credits (SQC), using real-world scenarios tailored to the Canadian market.
SQC replace status qualifying miles and status qualifying segments. They now represent the sole indicator for achieving Aeroplan Elite status.
SQC are primarily earned based on:
Note that Basic Economy class tickets do not earn any SQC, which makes them less attractive for travellers aiming for Aeroplan Elite status.
During the booking process, you can clearly see whether the chosen flight will give you SQC or not:
Here are the new annual thresholds to reach with SQC only
This new model simplifies qualification, but it requires a much more strategic approach when booking tickets.
SQCs are calculated based on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, excluding taxes and government fees. Once you select your flight, you will see a price summary that outlines the fare details and the eligible amount:
A simple fare change, such as upgrading from Standard to Flex, can double your SQC earnings for the same itinerary without changing the distance flown.
In the the new model, Air Canada’s Different Fare Classes becomes the main strategic lever to accelerate your progress toward Aeroplan Elite Status. It is often much more important than how often you fly or the distance you travel.
The following scenarios concretely illustrate how to adapt your fare and itinerary choices to fast-track your progress towards Aeroplan Elite Status, without necessarily increasing the number of trips.
These examples show that on short routes like Montreal – Toronto, the Flex fare acts as a real accelerator for achieving Aeroplan Elite Status. On some itineraries, a relatively small price difference can nearly triple the number of SQC earned by upgrading from Economy Standard to Economy Flex.
On long-haul flights, such as those between Canada and Europe or Asia, Business Class alone can account for a significant portion of the SQC required to reach a higher Aeroplan Elite Status.
It is entirely possible to achieve Aeroplan 25K status solely with domestic flights, particularly for business travellers who frequently travel within major Canadian corridors.
A domestic flight priced at approximately $500 in a Flex fare can generate close to 2,000 SQCs. At that rate, roughly 13 flights are enough to reach the Aeroplan 25K Status threshold. We strongly recommended keeping a close eye on Air Canada’s different fare classes to consistently compare Standard and Flex fares, as the price difference can sometimes be minimal relative to the substantial SQC gain.
For this profile, consistently prioritizing the Flex fare on frequent flights is the most effective approach to achieving status quickly.
For international travellers, Aeroplan 35K Status is particularly attainable. It’s common to find round-trip Business Class flights between Canada and Europe priced between $5,000 and $6,000.
As soon as a flight is booked above the Economy Flex fare, you will earn 4x SQCs. Consequently, if you book two flights priced at $5,000 each, for a total of $10,000, you would earn 40,000 SQCs.
Two such trips can be enough to reach, or even exceed, the 35,000 SQC threshold, without increasing travel frequency.
This type of strategy is particularly suitable for occasional travellers wishing to maximize the impact of a few well-chosen international trips while travelling in comfort.
Aeroplan 50K Status is designed for travellers who value comfort while seeking to maximize the return on every dollar spent. With careful planning, it is entirely possible to reach the required 50,000 SQC without taking numerous trips.
A realistic scenario is booking a round-trip Business Class flight between Montreal and Tokyo, especially during the highly sought-after Sakura cherry blossom season. At a fare of around $8,000, this type of trip generates a major portion of the required SQC, while providing an optimal travel experience on a long-haul route.
To complete the accumulation goal, a second trip to Europe in Premium Economy during the summer usually allows travellers to reach or exceed the 50,000 SQC threshold. This combination of long-haul and transatlantic flights lets you concentrate earning SQC with a limited number of trips, while maintaining a high level of comfort.
For higher statuses, the logic remains the same, but on a larger scale. Long-haul Business Class flights are the most effective for rapidly earning SQC.
For example, Business Class flights to Australia from Montreal or Toronto can easily cost around $10,000. In addition to comfort on a very long journey, these flights generate a massive amount of SQC. Indeed, as soon as you are booked in Business Class, whether at the lowest fare or a flexible fare, you will earn 4x SQCs.
It is also possible to adopt a hybrid strategy, such as flying Vancouver to London in Business Class (4x SQCs) and returning in Economy Flex (4x SQCs) or Economy Standard (2x SQCs), in order to balance costs while maximizing SQC earning.
With an Aeroplan credit card, it becomes realistic to reach Aeroplan Super Elite Status with approximately $30,000 in flight spending, supplemented by the 6,000 SQCs earned from eligible flight purchases charged to an Aeroplan premium credit card.
The new Aeroplan qualification system based on spending fundamentally changes how Elite Status is earned starting in 2026. Now, it’s no longer the distance flown that matters, but the actual value of your tickets and, most importantly, the fare type you choose. By understanding how SQC are calculated and by choosing Flex, Premium Economy, and Business Class fares when appropriate, you can reach Aeroplan Elite Status faster and more efficiently.
In 2026, reaching Aeroplan Elite Status depends primarily on a clear understanding of the program and strategic booking decisions, rather than simply accumulating flights.
Whether your goal is Aeroplan 25K status to elevate your travel experience or the prestigious Aeroplan Super Elite status to fully enjoy the Air Canada ecosystem, strategic planning and a thoughtful approach to spending make all the difference. In 2026, every booking becomes a strategic decision that can accelerate, or slow down, your progress.
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