Coming changes to Aeroplan -Points, Elitestatus and Credit Cards – Moneysense

We will break the most important changes to Aeroplan and investigate whether they help members to speed up their income or simply cut their wings.

Overview of changes in earning Aeroplan -points

Insight into earning Aeroplan points will be easier under the new model. Currently, members earn points based on a percentage of the kilometers they fly in a certain tariff class, with percentages ranging from only 10% of the kilometers flown for economy Basic to 150% for rates for business class.

Under the new plan, the earned points will be based on what you spend. You receive at least 1 point per $ 1 issued on eligible Air Canada flights (excluding taxes and costs). Things become more complicated if you book with a partner airline; How you earn points – whether you are issued or based on a flown away distance on a ratio of 1 point to $ 1 – depends on the carrier you use and how you have booked your ticket.

Earned points are stimulated for Aeroplan members with an elite status as follows:

• Aeroplan 25k status: 2x points
• Aeroplan 35k -status: 3x points
• Aeroplan 50k status: 4x points
• Aeroplan 75k status: 5x points
• Aeroplan Super Elite status: 6x points

An example flight helps to illustrate the changes. Currently if you would book a flight from Toronto to Vancouver with an Economy Flex rate (which you deliver 100% of the distance in points), this would cost around $ 750, depending on when you fly. (Prices are from the website of Air Canada, from 14 August 2025.) You would earn 4,170 Aeroplan points (the distance between Toronto to Vancouver is 2,085 flights per single journey).

According to the new system, if you do not have elite status, you will receive much fewer points for booking the same flight – only 750 points for the $ 750 (on the basic rate and courier allowances, excluding applicable taxes and reimbursements) – which is a significant reduction for economy requirements.

The new model will probably hurt the bargain hunters who are looking for deals for long-distance travel, but it rewards people with Aeroplan Elite status that buy more expensive tariff classes such as Premium-Economics and Business Class.

For example, in the above scenario, from 2026, if a member with 50k status would buy a business class seat to Vancouver (which can go for an average of $ 5,000 or more), they would now earn at least 20,000 Aeroplan points ($ 5,000 x 4 points per $ 1) instead of the current points (150% from Kilt. doing.

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Being eligible for the status of Aeroplan Elite is changing

The other important change in the program is the introduction of status qualification credits (SQCs). These credits will replace what is a very confusing system of earning status -qualifying miles, status qualification segments and status -qualifying dollars to obtain the elite status and the benefits.

How to earn Aeroplan’s Status Qualification Credits (SQCS)

You earn SQC based on the amount issued and the purchased tariff type. This is what you get:

• 1 m² per $ 1 spent on AC holidays
• 2 SQC on standard rates (Economy Basic does not earn SQCs)
• 4 SQC on Economy Flex rates and higher
• 1 SQC per 5 Aeroplan points earned with partners such as Airlines, Uber and Starbucks member

New Aeroplan Milestone Benefits for members of the Elite Status

Milestone benefits are also introduced for people with an elite status, to replace the current system of selected benefits, priority rewards, threshold -Uupgrades and gifts.

A new milestone reward will be available every time you collect 10,000 m² (maximum 200,000), and with every 20,000 m² afterwards (a maximum of one million). Available benefits will be a lot as they are now and things such as eupgrade credits, Maple Leaf Lounge passes and 30% discount on different repayments.

Just as with earning points, because the qualification for the status will mainly be based on what you spend and your tariff type, it will be more difficult for economy-loving passengers who prioritize the price to get status.

Changes to Aeroplan credit card holders

Under the updated program, Aeroplan -credit cards will be even more valuable for earning points and qualify for the elite status.

With the new Status Qualification Credits (SQC) system, members can earn a maximum combined total of 25,000 m² annually from eligible credit card activity in all Aeroplan maps that count to achieve elitestatus. Basic credit cards (such as the American Express Aeroplan card) earns 1,000 m² for each $ 20,000 spent, while Premium cards (such as the American Express Aeroplan Card) earn 1,000 m² per $ 5,000.

From 2027, the Premium Credit cards from AEROPLAN will also introduce a new “10% Headstart” front bun for Elite Status members (replacing the Rollover benefit) that 10% of the SQC has been collected from your account in the previous year. Apart from the faster on the elite status, Aeroplan maps will continue to come with tempting benefits such as free checked bags, priority airport services, preferred prices and more.