Points and Credit Card Strategy: 2026 Goals
- Advanced

A new year brings opportunities to take stock of your points and rewards goals. It’s the perfect time to adjust your points and credit card strategy, validate your statuses, and plan your next accumulations. Indeed, a few decisions made in January can transform your points balance and your travels for the rest of the year.
Whether you’re aiming for Aeroplan status, a family trip, or simply more cash back on everyday purchases, this guide brings together the main actions to take to start 2026 off right. To go further, check out our page on the best credit cards in Canada.
Take Stock of Your Goals
Start by checking where you stand with your points balance or cash back. Do your current cards still meet your travel and everyday spending needs? If the answer isn’t clear, it’s a signal that you need to review your wallet.
Our list of the best credit cards in Canada helps you choose according to your goals. Additionally, subscribe to our newsletter to discover Milesopedia’s 2026 Awards, coming out in mid-January.
The Milesopedia credit card comparator remains the go-to tool for finding the right card based on your spending. Also take advantage of the start of the year to optimize recurring categories like groceries, which weigh heavily in the family budget.
Which Card Based on Your Level?
Depending on your comfort level with rewards programs, here are three approaches from our Beginner’s Guide:
Pursuing Status in 2026
Airline or hotel chain status is generally earned between January 1 and December 31. If you reached your target level during the year, the status extends into the following year. Otherwise, it drops. Everything starts over from scratch on January 1, 2026.
First question to ask yourself: what status are you aiming for in 2026 and what value do you place on it? If you’ve just reached a tier, don’t forget to select your annual benefits with Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy.
Aeroplan Updates in 2026
Starting in 2026, the way to earn Aeroplan Status is changing. Find out how to achieve Aeroplan Status in 2026 with our comprehensive guide. We also explain what Milestone Benefits are, the program’s new perks.
If you had Aeroplan status in 2025, it would remain valid until January 31, 2026. The benefits associated with the status reached in 2025 then take effect on February 1, 2026. For example, a 35K member who only met the 25K requirements in 2025 keeps their 35K benefits until January 31, 2026, then switches to 25K status starting February 1, 2026.
Getting Status Another Way
Do you want to stay loyal to a single chain or airline, or keep your freedom? The real question: is paying several hundred, even thousands of dollars worth it for upgrades, priority lines, or free breakfasts? Fortunately, certain credit cards and partnerships provide status access without having to fly or stay extra nights.
| Program | Status | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Aeroplan | 25K | Accumulate 100,000 Aeroplan points or 25,000 SQC via Aeroplan credit cards, partners, Air Canada, and Air Canada Vacations. |
| Aeroplan + Marriott | 25K or Gold Elite | Link both accounts: Titanium or Ambassador Elite gets 25K Aeroplan; 50K, 75K, and Super Elite get Marriott Gold. |
| AIR MILES | Gold | Between 500 and 4,999 miles in the year, or automatically with the BMO AIR MILES Mastercard. |
| AIR MILES | Onyx | 5,000 miles in the year, or automatically with the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard. |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Silver and Above | 15 Elite Nights per year with the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card or the Business version. |
| Flying Blue | Silver and Above | Via the status match offered. |
| Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy | Gold | With the Platinum Card from American Express or the Business version. |
| IHG Rewards | InterContinental Ambassador and Platinum | Purchase for $225 USD or 45,000 IHG points. |
| Accor | Gold | Two options: buy shares or subscribe to the ibis ALL PLUS card. |
| Car rentals | Various | Several options detailed in our car rental status guide. |
| Hotels.com | Silver or Gold | Via a match with Avis Preferred Plus. |
Points Transfers Between Programs
Basic rule: only transfer your points when you actually need them. Transfer promotions come back regularly and can add 15% to 50% bonus points to your transaction. On the other hand, a hasty transfer is irreversible and often deprives you of the flexibility of the original program.
Here are some promotions seen in 2025 to give an idea of the cycles to watch for:
- Amex to Marriott Bonvoy: 30% bonus on the transfer of American Express Membership Rewards points (May and November).
- Amex to Hilton Honors: 50% bonus on the transfer to Hilton in October.
- RBC Avion to Avios: 30% bonus on the conversion to Avios in November.
- RBC Avion to AAdvantage: 15% bonus on the transfer to American Airlines in August.
- Marriott Bonvoy to Aeroplan: 15% bonus on the conversion to Aeroplan, a 2025 newcomer.
These promotions are also useful for orphan points, those that are about to expire or that you won’t use in the original program. You can also transfer your RBC Avion Rewards points to other airline programs at any time.
Changes to Watch for in 2026
The year 2025 brought several changes to the Canadian loyalty program and credit card ecosystem. Here are the highlights:
- WestJet: WestJet dollars became WestJet points.
- Marriott Bonvoy: new partnerships and end of the agreement with Sonder after the latter’s bankruptcy.
- Aeroplan: new partnerships with airBaltic, Harbour Air, Helijet, and Bearskin Airlines.
- Airport lounges: opening of new Aspire Lounges at Montreal-Trudeau and renovation of Maple Leaf Lounges.
- Co-branded cards: arrival of VIPorter cards with BMO.
- VIPorter: new option to redeem points for Air Transat and Alaska Airlines.
- New partnerships: RBC with Triangle Rewards, WestJet and Skip, as well as Chexy with Aeroplan.
- Chexy: expansion to recurring bills and small businesses.
- Rove Miles: addition of new transfer partners in the Rove Miles program.
What 2026 Has in Store for Us
- AIR MILES: after the ability to transfer between Cash and Dream accounts, the miles will be merged on January 25.
- Aeroplan: arrival of changes to Elite status with SQC and Milestone Benefits.
- New partnerships: expected between programs to combine travel purchases and everyday purchases.
- Air Transat: an in-house loyalty program? Stay tuned !
Resolution: Use Shopping Portals
Make a resolution to use online shopping portals. These points and rebates are obtained very easily and boost your balance without additional spending. The principle is simple: go through the portal link before finalizing your purchase on the merchant’s site.
- Aeroplan eStore to collect more Aeroplan points.
- airmilesshops.ca to collect more AIR MILES miles.
- Rakuten to earn cash back or Scene+ points.
Plus, you double up during multiplier promotions. For example, watch for long weekends, Amazon Prime days, Black Friday, and commercial holidays (Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day). To push the strategy further, also read our guide to optimizing your online purchases.
Watch for Targeted Offers
Several programs offer online deals to activate manually. This is particularly the case with AIR MILES, American Express, Scene+, Avion Rewards, and now TD. An offer can take the form of:
- Targeted credit: for example, a credit of $XX on a purchase of $XX at a specific merchant.
- Bonus points or miles: additional rewards for charging a minimum amount on the card (groceries, entertainment, gas, etc.).
Even if an offer seems irrelevant, make it a habit to activate it. It only costs a click and can prove useful when an unexpected expense arises.
Conclusion
A good points and credit card strategy in 2026 relies on a few simple actions: doing an inventory at the start of the year, aiming for statuses that make sense for you, waiting for the right transfer promotions, following program changes, and adopting small habits like portals and targeted offers. These actions, put together, can be worth several hundred dollars in rewards.
To go further, compare your options with our card comparator and explore our detailed rewards strategies. Happy 2026!
Points and Credit Card Strategy – Frequently Asked Questions
When Should You Review Your Credit Card Strategy?
The start of the year is the ideal time. You can check your points balances, your statuses, and your upcoming annual fees. However, a review is also relevant after a change in income, family situation, or travel plans.
Should You Transfer Your Points as Soon as You Accumulate Them?
No. It’s better to keep points in the original program and wait for a transfer promotion or an actual booking need. Indeed, a transfer is irreversible and makes you lose the flexibility of the initial program.
How Do You Get Aeroplan Status in 2026?
Starting in 2026, Aeroplan status is earned through SQC (Status Qualifying Credits) rather than the old criteria. 25K status requires 100,000 Aeroplan points or 25,000 SQC in the year. Check out our complete guide on Aeroplan Elite Status 2026.
Is My 2025 Aeroplan Status Still Valid in January 2026?
Yes. Your Aeroplan status earned in 2025 remains valid until January 31, 2026. The status reached during 2025 then takes effect on February 1, 2026.
Which Cards Give Hotel Status Without Nights?
The Platinum Card from American Express automatically gives Gold status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. Additionally, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card adds 15 Elite Nights per year, which helps reach Silver, Gold, or higher.
Why Use a Shopping Portal?
A portal like Aeroplan eStore, airmilesshops.ca, or Rakuten adds points or cash back to a purchase you’d make anyway. This way, you combine the rewards from your credit card, those from the merchant, and those from the portal. It’s a very simple passive accumulation to integrate.
What to Do If Marriott Bonvoy Hasn’t Confirmed My Annual Benefit?
You must select your annual benefit before February 1, 2026 on the dedicated Marriott Bonvoy page. If you don’t make a choice, the default benefit will be five Nightly Upgrade Awards.
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