Air Canada Announces Changes to how Aeroplan Members Earn Points and Achieve Status

Air Canada has today announced that starting January 1, 2026, Aeroplan Members will earn points based on dollars spent, rather than miles flown.  The new structure has been designed to better reward the program’s most engaged members.

Air Canada Redefines How Members Earn Aeroplan Points and Achieve Aeroplan Elite Status - Courtesy Air Canada

On Wednesday (August 6, 2025), Air Canada announced that for travel on or after January 1, 2026, Aeroplan members will earn points on eligible Air Canada flights based on dollars spent rather than miles flown.  On the same date, the carrier will also introduce Status Qualifying Credits (SQC), a new single path for achieving Aeroplan Elite status, changing how members qualify for status based on their activities.  Aeroplan members will be able to get SQC through eligible flight purchases, Aeroplan credit card spending, and activity with the program’s travel and everyday partners.

In Wednesday’s announcement, Air Canada’s VP – Loyalty & Product, Scott O’Leary, said,

“Aeroplan has grown into one of the most rewarding and widely used travel loyalty programs.  Our most engaged members do more than just fly with us—they earn with our partners, choose flexible fares, and carry Aeroplan credit cards. These changes help us better recognize their loyalty and keep improving the experience.”  

For the remainder of 2025, Aeroplan Elite status will remain unchanged, including how members achieve status for 2026.  Starting January 1, 2025, Aeroplan members will earn points based on spending.  Members will earn a minimum of 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on eligible Air Canada flights (base fare and carrier surcharges, excluding applicable taxes, fees, and third-party charges).  For example, if a customer spends $427 on the base fare and carrier surcharges, they will receive 427 Aeroplan points.

Aeroplan will also begin offering frequent bonus points offers, enabling members to reach rewards faster.  Additionally, Aeroplan Elite status Members will earn more on Air Canada flights.  Depending on their status level at time of travel, Aeroplan Elite status members will earn 2x to 6x Aeroplan points per dollar spent on eligible Air Canada flights.

Members will now qualify for Elite Status through the accumulation of Status Qualifying Credits (SQC).  Customers will receive up to 4 SQC per dollar spent on eligible Air Canada base fares and carrier surcharges, based on fare type, plus up to 25,000 SQC through eligible Aeroplan credit card spending, an additional 25,000 SQC via eligible partner activity.

From 2026, Aeroplan Elite status Members will have more ways to unlock benefits and get more from their status.  Core Benefits will continue to be offered based on status, including complimentary checked bags, priority airport services, and more. Milestone Benefits will become unlocked every 10,000 SQC, offering perks like bonus SQC, Status Passes and more. Starting in 2027, primary Aeroplan premium credit cardholders who qualify for Aeroplan Elite status will receive a 10 percent SQC bonus based on their previous year’s earnings.

Source: Air Canada