Aeroplan Super Elite: the ultimate status with Air Canada

Aeroplan Super Elite status is the most difficult and costly to obtain because it requires significant flight activity and a very high spending threshold, but it offers a lot of exclusive benefits that are very attractive to frequent travelers.

In February 2022, Air Canada announced its Get Closer to Status by Traveling with Air Canada promotion, which offered numerous opportunities to earn status through daily purchases as well as travel. So, I decided to take full advantage of this promotion to reach this famous Aeroplan Super Elite status.

As a reminder, the promotion allowed all Aeroplan members to earn 100% of the value of the SQM, SQS and SQD bonus on all flights booked in cash at the standard fare or higher as well as a bonus of 5,000 SQM, 5 SQS and 500 SQD for existing status members subject to various actions.

Super Elite Aeroplan – How does status qualification work?

Qualification for any status, including Aeroplan Super Elite status, is determined by a combination of 3 criteria:

• Status Qualifying Miles (SQM): These are calculated based on the distance traveled and the fare class purchased.

For example, if you book a flight from Montreal to Paris at the flex fare, you will get 100% of the Qualifying Miles at one Status, i.e. 3442 miles. If you pay for the Premium Economy fare (lowest fare), you will get 4302 Qualifying Miles, i.e. 125% of the distance flown.

• Status Qualifying Segments (SQS): SQS are the number of segments in your reservation.

For example, if you go to Vancouver with a direct flight you will have 1 SQS but if you stop over in Toronto you will earn 2 SQS.

• Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD): SQDs are only awarded upon completion of travel and not at the time of ticket purchase.

You earn SQD for the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges. SQD can be earned on Star Alliance member carrier flights issued from Air Canada ticket inventory (tickets beginning with 014). Finally, flight passes and eUpgrades supplements are used to earn SQD.

Here’s what you get for SQM, SQS and SQD depending on the fare you purchased. It is important to note that a ticket purchased in Economy Basic does not qualify for SQM, SQS and SQD. As well as reservations made with Aeroplan points.

To obtain a status, you must have reached the SQM or SQS threshold, and the spend threshold (SQD) during the calendar year.

Thus, to reach the Aeroplan Super Elite status, you must during the year

• have completed 100 segments (SQS) or accumulated 100,000 status qualifying miles (SQM)
• in addition to having reached the $20,000 (SQD) spending level.

Aeroplan Super Elite – Tips for achieving status

Aeroplan credit cards are a great way to achieve status faster. The following credit cards earn 1000 SQM and 1 SQS for every $10,000 spent:

• TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card
• American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Card
• CIBC Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card

While the following premium cards earn the same number of SQM and SQS for each $5,000 spent:

• TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card
• American Express^®* Aeroplan^® Reserve Card
• CIBC^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

Here is an example of how I obtained SQM and SQS with my TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card:

Premium cards also allow you to carry over your eUpgrade credits to the following year, up to a limit of 50 eUpgrades. The same applies to SQMs: SQMs in excess of status are carried over to the following year.

For example, if you earn 120,000 SQM and reach Aeroplan Super Elite status, 20,000 SQM will be carried over to January of the following year, giving you a head start.

Aeroplan Super Elite – Benefits of Super Elite status

Aeroplan Super Elite status offers a host of exclusive benefits that not only enhance your experience, but also allow you to make significant savings:

• Free preferential seating
• Access to the London Heathrow arrivals lounge for you and a guest
• Free cancellation and changes to all Aeroplan reservations
• Receive a complimentary beverage (including alcohol) and snack when travelling in Economy class on Air Canada flights
• Access to a concierge service
• Assign a person who can use your eUpgrade credits without you being in the booking
• Elimination of additional fees when using eUpgrades on lower fares such as Flex, Comfort and Premium Economy (Lowest Fare)

Each year (usually during the month of January), Super Elites may also choose 2 benefits from the 6 options below:

• 100% Aeroplan Bonus Points on Air Canada flights and selected partners
• 50 eUpgrade credits
• Reduced re-qualification level (95 000 SQM or 95 SQS)
• Offer 50K status to a friend
• 12-month WiFi plan on board Air Canada flights
• 4 Status Passes

Aeroplan Super Elite – Priority Rewards and gifts

Finally, one of the biggest benefits for Aeroplan Super Elites is the rewards and gifts related to thresholds :

• Threshold-related eUpgrades: you earn additional eUpgrade credits when you reach certain SQM or SQS thresholds.

For example, if you are an Aeroplan Super Elite with 100,000 SQM or 100 SQS or more, you will earn 20 eUpgrades and then an additional 20 for every 40,000 SQM or SQS. By the time you become Super Elite, you’ll already have earned 40 eUpgrades credits thanks to the threshold gifts awarded at the 60,000 SQM or 60 SQS level, as well as at the 80,000 SQM or 80 SQS level.

* During the early recognition period, members only receive 10 eUpgrade credits if they select this benefit.

** After reaching 60,000 SQM or 60 SQS

***After reaching 80,000 SQM or 80 SQS

****After reaching 100,000 SQM or 100 SQS

The Priority Rewards allow you to get 50% off your Aeroplan award flight.

A priority reward is awarded at 4,000, 7,000, 10,000, 15,000 SQD and then every 5,000 dollars of qualification.

Only Super Elites can apply their priority rewards to business class bookings anywhere in the world. By the time you reach Aeroplan Super Elite status, you will have accumulated 5 Priority Rewards.

• SQM and SQS-based threshold gifts:
• • Reaching 150,000 SQM or 150 SQS earns you a gift of 20,000 Aeroplan points;
  • At 200,000 SQM or 200 SQS, you earn an additional 35,000 Aeroplan points;
  • At 250,000 SQM or 250 SQS, that’s one Aeroplan Super Elite status you’re banking for a year in which you won’t reach it;
  • At 300,000 SQM or 300 SQS, you can choose between a 150,000-point bonus or a $2,000 Air Canada gift card;
  • At 350,000 SQM or 350 SQS, you’d have to choose between 300,000 Aeroplan points or a $4,000 Air Canada gift card.

Bottom Line

Aeroplan Super Elite status can be difficult to achieve when you don’t travel for business or frequently, but taking advantage of an offer can go a long way toward achieving it.

This offer enabled me to reach the status for 50% of the required expenses, as well as over 47,500 Aeroplan points thanks to threshold gifts and the selected benefit of 100% bonus points on Air Canada and Star Alliance partner flights.

I also earned 90 eUpgrades credits and 10 Priority Rewards (5 of which were earned through this Aeroplan offer).

Is it worth the investment? It all depends on your travel pace and plans. I hope that Air Canada will make this type of offer again this year.