On August 6th Air Canada announced the biggest shift in its Aeroplan loyalty program in years. Effective January 1, 2026, Aeroplan members will see a complete change in how they earn points and qualify for Aeroplan Elite status. The changes pivot the program away from rewarding distance flown and toward rewarding spending power and overall engagement with the Aeroplan ecosystem.
GLOOn August 6th Air Canada announced the biggest shift in its Aeroplan loyalty program in years. Effective January 1, 2026, Aeroplan members will see a complete change in how they earn points and qualify for Aeroplan Elite status. The changes pivot the program away from rewarding distance flown and toward rewarding spending power and overall engagement with the Aeroplan ecosystem.
This move aligns Aeroplan more closely with the trends seen in other global frequent flyer programs, which have increasingly tied rewards to spend rather than miles. But Air Canada is adding its own twist with the introduction of a single status metric — Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) — that integrates flying, credit card spend, and partner activity into one unified path to status.
GLO Analysis: What’s Changing in 2026
1. Points Earning
Until now, Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights were based on distance flown multiplied by a fare class factor. In 2026, that formula disappears. Instead, you’ll earn at least 1 point per $1 spent (base fare + carrier surcharges, excluding taxes and third-party fees). Elite members will earn 2x to 6x points per dollar depending on their status level.
Example: A $427 base fare + carrier surcharge will now earn 427 Aeroplan points for a basic member, potentially much more for Elites.
2. New Path to Elite Status
Gone are the three traditional qualifying metrics — Status Qualifying Miles (SQM), Status Qualifying Segments (SQS), and Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD). In their place comes Status Qualifying Credits (SQC).
SQC will be the only metric for status qualification. You can earn them from:
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Air Canada flights: Up to 4 SQC per $1 spent, depending on fare type.
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Credit card spend: Up to 25,000 SQC per year from eligible Aeroplan card purchases.
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Partner activity: Up to 25,000 SQC from eligible non-flight partners.
3. Milestone Benefits & Extra Bonuses
Every 10,000 SQC you earn unlocks Milestone Benefits — which could include bonus SQC, Status Passes, and more.
Starting in 2027, premium Aeroplan credit cardholders who requalify for Elite status will also receive a 10% SQC “Head Start” bonus based on their previous year’s earnings.
Before vs. After: Aeroplan Earning & Status Rules
| Category | Before (up to Dec 31, 2025) | After (Jan 1, 2026 onward) |
|---|---|---|
| Points earning on Air Canada flights | Based on distance flown (miles) + fare class multiplier. | Based on dollars spent (base fare + carrier surcharges, excl. taxes/fees). • Base: 1 point per $1. • Elite: 2x–6x points per $1. |
| Status qualification metric | Three metrics: • SQM (miles flown) • SQS (segments flown) • SQD (qualifying spend). |
Single metric: Status Qualifying Credits (SQC). • Up to 4 SQC per $1 spent on flights. • Up to 25,000 SQC from credit card spend. • Up to 25,000 SQC from partner activity. |
| Ways to earn toward status | Primarily flying + some credit card benefits. | Flying, credit card spend, and partner activity all directly add to SQC. |
| Milestone benefits | Based on SQM thresholds (e.g., 50K SQM). | Every 10,000 SQC unlocks perks (bonus SQC, Status Passes, etc.). |
| Credit cardholder bonus | No requalification bonus. | From 2027: 10% SQC bonus for premium cardholders who requalify. |
| Elite benefits | Core perks: priority services, free bags, upgrades. | Core perks unchanged; more extras unlocked via milestones. |
Image: GLO
Why This Matters
This overhaul is less about how far you fly and more about how much you spend and how often you interact with Aeroplan. Members who:
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Buy higher-fare tickets,
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Hold and use Aeroplan credit cards,
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Engage with program partners,
will likely find it easier to reach or maintain Elite status under the SQC system.
However, frequent flyers who travel far distances on low fares may find it harder to qualify without increasing their spend or engaging through other channels.
The Strategic Takeaway
For 2026 and beyond, diversification is key:
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Maximize spend on Air Canada flights, especially in higher fare classes.
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Leverage Aeroplan credit cards for everyday purchases.
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Use program partners (hotels, car rentals, eStore) to boost SQC totals.
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Plan milestones to unlock extra perks efficiently.
Aeroplan is betting this approach will not only reward high-value travelers but also keep members engaged in between flights.
With this shift, the loyalty game becomes less about chasing miles and more about spending smart across multiple touchpoints — and that could redefine how Canadians and international travelers approach elite status with Air Canada.
Source: GLO
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