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The Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Status is a major asset for Canadian travellers who wish to enhance their travel experience and maximize their points. It provides access to numerous privileges, both on Air Canada and the Star Alliance network.
As of January 1, 2026, the Aeroplan Elite program has been significantly revamped. Qualification is now based on Status Qualifying Credits (SQC), a system primarily based on spending rather than distance or number of flights.
In this guide, discover how Aeroplan Elite Status works in 2026, the thresholds to reach, the benefits at each level, and the best strategies to maximize its value.
The Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Status is designed to be clear, progressive, and flexible. It is based on an easy-to-understand structure, where each status level offers more generous benefits and increased recognition throughout the travel journey.
The program also offers several ways to achieve or maintain status, whether through spending on Air Canada flights, activities with Aeroplan partners, or the strategic use of credit cards. This approach allows for better adaptation to different traveller profiles, whether they travel frequently or more occasionally.
Having Aeroplan Elite Status grants privileges for an exclusive travel experience. The higher the level, the greater the benefits.
Aeroplan Elite Status is fully integrated digitally into the Air Canada experience. Benefits such as Maple Leaf Lounge access, priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, and Star Alliance recognition are automatically applied through your boarding pass and Air Canada’s systems, with no additional action required from the member.
Here are some examples:
As of January 1, 2026, Aeroplan is significantly simplifying its Elite program by abandoning the historical logic based on distance and number of flights. Now, actual spending becomes the core of the system, which better reflects today’s traveller habits.
All previous qualification metrics (SQM, SQS, and SQD) are replaced by a single metric: Status Qualifying Credits (SQC).
SQC allow for the evaluation of a member’s overall engagement with Air Canada and the Aeroplan ecosystem. The more you spend and interact with the program, the faster you progress towards Elite Status.
SQC are primarily accumulated based on:
For tickets issued by Air Canada (ticket number starting with 014), SQC are calculated based on the amount spent before taxes and the type of fare chosen.
Standard Economy fares generate 2 SQC per dollar spent, while Flex Economy fares and higher cabins (Premium Economy, Business Class) generate 4 SQC per dollar.
This structure encourages travellers to choose more flexible fares, while further rewarding higher spending. Note that Basic Economy tickets do not allow for SQC accumulation.
You’ll find all Air Canada fare options on this page.
Aeroplan is not limited to Air Canada flights for status qualification. Members can also earn SQC through their activities with airline and non-airline partners such as Marriott Bonvoy, LBCO, Journie, Uber, Starbucks, etc.
For flights operated by Star Alliance airlines whose tickets are not issued by Air Canada (not starting with 014), as well as for travel and retail partners, the principle is simple: 1 SQC is awarded for every 5 Aeroplan points earned.
Aeroplan points earned on flights with a partner airline are always calculated based on the distance flown and the fare class. For example, a 1,000-mile flight in a fare class that offers 25% accumulation will earn 250 Aeroplan points and 50 Status Qualifying Credits (SQC).
To maintain program balance, an annual cap of 25,000 SQC applies for credits from partners.
Beyond flights and partner activity, Aeroplan also allows you to earn Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) through everyday tools, including Aeroplan co-branded credit cards. In 2026, Aeroplan credit cards play a key role in qualifying for Aeroplan Elite Status. You can earn Status Qualifying Credits simply by making everyday purchases, without having to fly.
The earning rules are as follows:
A maximum of 25,000 SQC per calendar year can be obtained through credit cards, which can represent a significant portion of the threshold required to achieve or maintain Elite Status.
In addition to directly contributing to qualification, Aeroplan credit cards offer several additional benefits:
The Aeroplan cards thus constitute an essential strategic lever, particularly for occasional travellers or those who wish to secure Elite Status without relying solely on flights.
In 2026, Aeroplan is discontinuing the rollover SQM mechanism, historically offered to Aeroplan Premium cardholders.
It is replaced by a new benefit: a 10% SQC Head Start, automatically granted at the beginning of each qualification year to eligible Elite members.
Specifically, a member who re-qualifies for status will receive 10% of the required SQC threshold at the beginning of the year. For example, an Aeroplan 50K member will automatically receive 5,000 SQC.
For the 2026 transition year only, previously earned rollover SQM are converted to SQC at a ratio of 5 SQM to 1 SQC for a maximum of 40,000 SQC.
To be eligible for the advance, the member must be an active Aeroplan Premium cardholder by December 15 of the previous year and at the time the benefit is processed.
To obtain Aeroplan Elite Status, the qualification period extends over a calendar year, from January 1 to December 31.
Once obtained, Aeroplan Status is valid:
Around October or November, Aeroplan has previously targeted select members with the option to purchase a status they are close to achieving. Sometimes, members are encouraged to earn a certain number of Aeroplan points by a specific date to qualify for a status extension for the following year.
This may vary each year to stimulate the engagement of its Aeroplan members.
Starting in 2026, Aeroplan is moving to a fully spend-based model for both earning points and qualifying for Elite Status. However, these two components operate under different systems, so it’s important to understand the distinction between them.
Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) are used exclusively to determine access to the different Elite levels (25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, and Super Elite). They have no reward value and cannot be used to book flights on the Air Canada and partner network.
Aeroplan points, on the other hand, remain the program’s currency and are used to book flights, hotels, cars, or experiences. Even if their calculation method also becomes spending-based for Air Canada flights, they follow a different logic and benefit from multipliers specific to Elite Status.
This distinction is crucial for understanding the true value of Elite Status and optimizing your travel strategy.
While Aeroplan Elite Status no longer directly accelerates qualification (since everything now depends on SQC), it still plays a key role in earning Aeroplan points.
For flights operated by Air Canada, members earn a minimum of 1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent (excluding taxes). To this amount, a multiplier is added based on the status held:
Specifically, the higher the status, the more points each dollar spent generates. This structure significantly enhances the value of higher statuses, especially for frequent travellers or those who purchase Flex, Premium, or Business Class tickets.
There are 5 levels of Aeroplan Elite Status: 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, and Super Elite.
For each of these levels, there are:
Each status corresponds to a clear SQC threshold to reach during the calendar year, allowing members to track their progress in real-time directly in their Aeroplan account or the Air Canada app.
Since 2026, Aeroplan has replaced the concept of Select Benefits with a much more flexible system: Milestone Benefits.
Rather than waiting until the end of the year or reaching a specific status, members unlock benefits throughout their journey, for every 10,000 SQC earned, up to 200,000 SQC.
This system offers greater flexibility, allowing each member to personalize their rewards based on their priorities: enhanced in-flight comfort, savings on Flight Rewards, lounge access, or benefits to share with loved ones.
The Priority Rewards remain a highly valued benefit of the Aeroplan program, but their allocation method is evolving in 2026.
They are now integrated into Milestone Benefits, meaning a member can obtain them earlier or later in the year, regardless of their final status, based on their spending level and accumulated SQC. The geographical validity of a Priority Reward will be defined by the status at the time of acquisition.
This evolution makes the program fairer and more flexible, while retaining the high value of Priority Rewards for flights operated by Air Canada.
You can use a voucher for a flight reward for one passenger. The voucher validity is one year from the date of issuance (but can be used for a later travel date).
Here are the geographical areas and cabins according to Aeroplan status:
Air Canada offers preferred pricing on Flight Rewards to members with Aeroplan Elite Status. This special pricing reduces the number of Aeroplan points required to book flights operated by Air Canada.
The discount typically ranges from 5% to 10%, and can be even greater for members with higher status, especially for those who also hold an Aeroplan credit card. This combination allows you to maximize the value of your Aeroplan points when booking Flight Rewards.
In 2026, eUpgrade credits are more aligned with a logic of continuous progression rather than a model strictly based on annual status.
Certain statuses will receive fewer base eUpgrade credits than before, but this reduction is offset by Milestone Benefits, which allow for obtaining additional credits throughout the year.
In addition, the surcharges required to use eUpgrades on Standard Economy fares are increasing, making Flex fares and premium cabins more attractive options. This change is designed to better reflect the true value of more flexible tickets within the program.
The Status Pass also becomes a key element of Milestone Benefits and is awarded through them. It allows an Aeroplan Elite member to temporarily offer Elite Status for one person and up to eight of their travel companions on the same booking, without the obligation to travel with the Aeroplan Elite member who offered it.
This Status Pass allows the chosen person to benefit from the following advantages when travelling on Air Canada:
These benefits are not available for travel on Star Alliance airlines. It is valid for 12 months from its issuance.
Air Canada continues to offer an easier path to qualify for Aeroplan 25K Status.
Members who earn 100,000 Aeroplan points from any eligible source will receive Aeroplan 25K Status.
Eligible sources are all base and bonus points earned directly with:
Non-eligible sources are all base and bonus points earned with:
With these changes, Aeroplan primarily seeks to better reward loyalty to Air Canada, while simplifying the experience for its members.
Switching to a spend-based model allows for a fairer recognition of the value of tickets purchased, rather than just the distance flown. It also highlights the importance of the Aeroplan ecosystem, which now goes beyond flights to include credit cards and a wide range of everyday partners.
The stated objective is clear: to offer a more intuitive, more flexible, and better-adapted program to modern travel habits.
Aeroplan Elite Status is earned by accumulating Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) between January 1 and December 31. Each Elite tier (from 25K to Super Elite) has a specific SQC threshold, which is primarily based on eligible spending.
SQC are primarily earned through spending on Air Canada flights, Aeroplan credit cards, and certain partner activities. The more you spend within the Aeroplan ecosystem, the faster you progress towards Elite Status.
Yes, it is possible to obtain Aeroplan 25K status without flying by earning 100,000 eligible Aeroplan points within a calendar year. This option primarily relies on daily expenses made with an Aeroplan credit card.
Aeroplan points are used to book flights, hotels, cars, and experiences with Air Canada and over 45 airline partners. They constitute the program’s currency and are distinct from SQC, which are used solely for status qualification.
Aeroplan Elite Status offers benefits such as priority boarding, lounge access, complimentary checked bags, and accelerated Aeroplan points earning. The higher your status level, the more extensive your benefits are with Air Canada and across the Star Alliance network.
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