Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
Air Canada is making major changes to its Aeroplan loyalty program effective January 1st. The Canadian airline will shift from a distance-based model to a revenue-based system for earning points and elite status. The changes will impact how members earn Aeroplan points, qualify for status, and see benefits from partner and credit card engagement.
Key Changes at a Glance
Points earned will be based on dollars spent as follows:
- Members will earn one point per $1 CAD spent on eligible Air Canada base fares and carrier surcharges (excluding taxes and fees)
- Elite Status members will earn 2x to 6x points per $1 CAD depending on their tier:
- Aeroplan 25K: two Aeroplan points per $1 CAD
- Aeroplan 35K: three Aeroplan points per $1 CAD
- Aeroplan 50K: four Aeroplan points per $1 CAD
- Aeroplan 75K: five Aeroplan points per $1 CAD
- Aeroplan Super Elite: six Aeroplan points per $1 CAD
Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) are the new metric:
SQC replaces the old Status Qualifying Miles (SQM), Status Qualifying Segments (SQS), and Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD) metrics. Members can earn SQC through:
- Air Canada flight spend (up to four SQC per $1 CAD depending on fare class)
- Credit card spending (up to 25,000 SQC per year)
- Partner activity (also capped at 25,000 SQC per year)
Elite Status tiers by SQC will be changing like this:
- Each Elite Status level now corresponds to a single SQC requirement
- Super Elite increases from 100K SQM/SQS to 125K SQC
How earning SQC works:
- Flex fares and higher: four SQC per $1 CAD
- Standard fares: two SQC per $1 CAD
- Air Canada Vacations: one SQC per $1 CAD
- Basic fares: No SQC earned
- No earning caps from flight spend
Credit cards and partners offer:
- Earn 1 SQC per 5 Aeroplan points earned with partners like LCBO, Marriott, Uber, Avis, and Starbucks
- Premium cardholders (TD, CIBC, Amex, Chase) get higher earn rates
- Starting in 2027, you’ll also receive a 10% SQC Head Start based on previous year’s earnings
Milestone Benefits: New Rewards as You Progress
These replace Select Benefits and Priority Rewards and are unlocked every 10,000 SQC beyond status qualification
These include perks like:
- Bonus SQC
- eUpgrades
- Status Passes
- Priority Rewards
Members choose one benefit per Milestone in addition to an automatic reward.
Sunsetting Rollover SQM
2025 will be the final year for rollover SQM. Unused SQM will convert to SQC at a 5:1 ratio in 2026. Rollover is being replaced with 10% Head Start for premium cardholders.
Earning on Air Canada and Airline Partners
- Tickets issued by Air Canada (014 stock) earn SQC on select Star Alliance airlines (United, Lufthansa, etc.)
- Tickets issued by other airlines earn fewer points and do not earn SQC.
- Only Aeroplan activity through Air Canada-operated or select partner flights qualifies toward SQC
These changes mark a major shift toward how members earn points and engage across flights, cards, and with partners. High-spending travelers, premium fare bookers, and credit card holders stand to benefit the most just like with US programs that have also switched to a spend-based model.
Budget-conscious flyers and those relying on partner airlines will find the new program less rewarding, but the flexibility and new pathways for earning status offer more options. For full details and FAQs, visit here.
Anthony’s Take: Aeroplan is following in United, Delta, and many other airlines’ footsteps in switching to a revenue-based model. Like others, those who spend a lot with an airline, credit cards, and its partners will see the most benefits while bargain hunters will find it harder to earn points and status.
(Image Credits: Air Canada.)
User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
