Air Canada Aeroplan Program Changes
There are some big changes coming to Air Canada's Aeroplan loyalty program next year regarding how you earn Aeroplan points on flights and qualify for elite status. Beginning January 1, 2026, you will no longer earn Aeroplan points based on the fare you booked and how far you've flown, but rather on how much you spent on the flight. Also starting in 2026, to earn elite status with Air Canada, it will not matter how many miles or segments you've flown. The only metric that matters is how much you spend with the airline or on its co-branded cards. Here's everything you need to know about the changes coming to the Air Canada Aeroplan loyalty program in 2026.
This Change Is Not Overly Surprising
With this move towards a more revenue-based model for earning points and elite status, Air Canada is taking a page out of the same playbook as major U.S. airlines like Delta and American. But the good news is, nothing is changing when it comes to booking award flights through Air Canada, at least for right now. That's a good thing, as Air Canada Aeroplan points are some of the most valuable out there — and some of the easiest to earn, too.
Aeroplan Points Will Be Earned Based On Spending
Arguably the biggest change is to how you earn Aeroplan points on flights. Currently, the Canadian flag carrier awards Aeroplan points based on the fare you purchased and the distance flown. But beginning in 2026, Air Canada is moving to a revenue-based points-earning model. You'll earn at least 1 Aeroplan points for every $1 CAD that you spend on the base fare and carrier surcharges on flights. But you won't earn points on any government-imposed or third-party taxes and fees nor will you earn them on add-ons like baggage fees or seat assignments.
Also new in 2026: Aeroplan members with elite status will earn additional points on flights. The higher level of status you hold, the more points you'll earn.
- Aeroplan 25K: Earn 2x points per $1 CAD spent on flights
- Aeroplan 35k: Earn 3x points per $1 CAD spent on flights
- Aeroplan 50K: Earn 4x points per $1 CAD spent on flights
- Aeroplan 75K: Earn 5x points per $1 CAD spent on flights
- Aeroplan Super Elite: Earn 6x points per $1 CAD spent on flights
For flights on partner airlines, the Aeroplan points you earn depend on the airline you're flying and how you booked your ticket. Here's a quick overview:
- For flights on Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, and United Airlines booked through Air Canada, you'll earn 1x Aeroplan points per $1 spent, plus any elite status multipliers.
- For flights on all other Star Alliance and partner airlines booked through Air Canada, you'll earn 1x Aeroplan points per $1 spent on flights.
- If you credit flights on Star Alliance airlines or other partner airlines to your Aeroplan account, you'll still earn Aeroplan points on those flights based on the distance flown, as before.
Award flights are still ineligible to earn Aeroplan points.
New Metric For Earning Aeroplan Elite Status
Even for U.S.-based travelers, Air Canada Aeroplan status can be worth pursuing. Even at the lowest tier, you get priority check-in and boarding and two free checked bags. Starting in 2026, Status Qualifying Credits (SQCs) are the only thing you need to earn to reach Aeroplan elite status. These are the SQC thresholds for earning status in 2026 (for 2027):
- Aeroplan 25K: 25,000 SQCs
- Aeroplan 35K: 35,000 SQCs
- Aeroplan 50K: 50,000 SQCs
- Aeroplan 75K: 75,000 SQCs
- Aeroplan Super Elite: 125,000 SQCs
Aeroplan members can earn SQCs in the following ways:
- Flying Air Canada (and Star Alliance and other airlines booked through Air Canada): Earn 4 SQCs for every $1 CAD spent on base fares and carrier-imposed surcharges for Economy Flex fares and higher. Earn 2 SQCs on Economy Standard fares and eUpgrade add-ons. Basic economy fares do not earn SQCs.
- Air Canada Vacations: 1 SQC per $1 CAD spent on Air Canada Vacation packages
- Flying with Star Alliance or other airline partners (not booked through Air Canada) or spending with other partners like Marriott, Uber, Starbucks, and more: Earn 1 SQC for every 5 Aeroplan base points you earn, up to a total of 25,000 SQCs per year.
- Spending on Aeroplan premium credit cards like the Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card (capped at 25,000 SQCs)
Starting in 2027, Aeroplan premium credit card holders with elite status will get a head start on earning status the following year. Eligible cardholders get 10% of their total SQC earned in the previous year automatically deposited in their account by the end of March.
New Milestone Benefits For Aeroplan Members
Air Canada is also introducing new milestone benefits, which rewards members with elite-level perks as they work towards status. For every 10,000 SQC you earn, you'll unlock a milestone benefit. These include perks like eUpgrade credits, bonus Aeroplan points, lounge passes, and more.
The best part is, you'll start earning these milestone rewards before you even reach the first tier of Aeroplan status. Once you reach 10,000 SQCs, you'll automatically be awarded 10 eUpgrade credits, which you can use for upgrades to business or premium economy on eligible Air Canada flights. At the higher levels, you'll be able to choose from a list of more premium benefits.
Air Canada Aeroplan Program Changes: ToP Thoughts
These days, it seems like all airlines care about is how much you spend with them. Air Canada is the latest airline to move away from awarding miles for the distance of your flight. Instead, you'll earn Aeroplan points based on your airfare. That's one of several changes to its loyalty program Air Canada unveiled recently. However, the good news is that nothing is changing for award flights, at least for now. Let us know what you think about these changes over in the ToP Facebook Group.
