Major Aeroplan Changes Coming in 2026 from Air Canada: What Elite Members Need to Know

Air Canada just dropped some massive news that’ll shake up the frequent flyer world. Starting January 1, 2026, Aeroplan is completely overhauling how you earn points and qualify for elite status. We’re talking about the biggest changes since the program relaunched in 2020.

If you’re currently holding Aeroplan elite status or working towards it, you need to understand these changes now – because they’ll fundamentally alter your strategy for earning and maintaining status going forward.

The Big Picture: Goodbye Miles, Hello Revenue

Here’s the headline: Aeroplan is ditching its distance-based earning model and going full revenue-based, just like American Airlines and Delta did years ago. This affects two major areas:

Points Earning: No more earning based on how far you fly. Starting in 2026, you’ll earn Aeroplan points based on how much you spend on Air Canada flights.

Elite Status: The current system of Status Qualifying Miles (SQM), Status Qualifying Segments (SQS), and Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD) is getting scrapped. In its place? A single metric called Status Qualifying Credits (SQC).

How Points Earning Changes for Elite Members

Let’s start with the good news for elite members – you’re actually getting a significant boost in points earning power.

Under the new system, all members will earn 1 Aeroplan point per Canadian dollar spent on base fares and carrier surcharges (excluding taxes and fees). But here’s where elite status really pays off:

Regular Members: 1x points per dollar
Aeroplan 25K: 2x points per dollar
Aeroplan 35K: 3x points per dollar
Aeroplan 50K: 4x points per dollar
Aeroplan 75K: 5x points per dollar
Aeroplan Super Elite: 6x points per dollar

This is huge. A Super Elite member spending $500 on a flight will now earn 3,000 Aeroplan points instead of whatever the distance-based formula would have given them.

Let me show you what this looks like in practice with Air Canada’s own examples:

Example 1: A 75K member flying Montreal to New York LaGuardia on an Economy Flex fare costing CAD $258 would earn:

New system: 1,290 points (258 × 5)
Current system: 324 points

That’s nearly 4x more points!

Example 2: A Super Elite member flying Vancouver to Tokyo in Business Class with a CAD $9,367 fare would earn:

New system: 56,202 points (9,367 × 6)
Current system: 6,990 points

We’re talking about 8x more points for high-spend premium cabin bookings.

The New Elite Status System: Status Qualifying Credits (SQC)

This is where things get more complex, and honestly, where some elite members might find themselves working harder to maintain status.

Starting in 2026, you’ll need to earn the following SQC amounts for each status tier:

Aeroplan 25K: 25,000 SQC
Aeroplan 35K: 35,000 SQC
Aeroplan 50K: 50,000 SQC
Aeroplan 75K: 75,000 SQC
Aeroplan Super Elite: 125,000 SQC

Notice that Super Elite jumps from 100,000 SQM to 125,000 SQC – that’s a 25% increase in the threshold.

How You’ll Earn SQC

Air Canada Flights: This is where your fare choice really matters:

Economy Standard and eUpgrade add-ons: 2 SQC per dollar spent
Economy Flex/Comfort/Latitude, Premium Economy, Business Class: 4 SQC per dollar spent

Credit Card Spending: Up to 25,000 SQC per year from eligible Aeroplan credit cards (rates vary by card)

Partner Activities: Up to 25,000 SQC per year from hotel stays, car rentals, shopping, etc. (typically 1 SQC per 5 points earned)

Air Canada Vacations: 1 SQC per dollar spent (no limit)

What This Means for Different Types of Elite Members

The High-Spending Business Traveler: Big Winner

If you regularly fly premium cabins or Flex fares and expense everything to your company, you’re going to love these changes. The combination of 4 SQC per dollar spent on flights plus up to 6x points earning makes this a huge win.

The Mileage Runner: Challenged

Those cheap long-haul flights to Asia or Europe that used to rack up tons of miles? They’re not going to cut it anymore if you’re buying the cheapest fares. A $800 round-trip to London in Economy Basic won’t earn any SQC, and even Economy Standard only gets you 2 SQC per dollar.

The Credit Card Strategist: New Opportunities

Here’s something interesting – you can now earn Aeroplan 25K, 35K, and even 50K status without ever setting foot on a plane. The 25,000 SQC caps from credit cards and partners mean you could theoretically get 50,000 SQC just from spending and shopping.

The Domestic Road Warrior: Mixed Results

If you’re flying Toronto-Vancouver weekly on Standard fares, you’ll need to spend roughly 2x more to maintain the same status level compared to the current SQD requirements. But if you can bump up to Flex fares, you’ll actually come out ahead.

New Milestone Benefits: The Hidden Gem

Air Canada is introducing something called Milestone Benefits that could be a game-changer for engaged members. For every 10,000 SQC you earn (up to 200,000, then every 20,000 after that), you’ll unlock additional perks like:

Automatic eUpgrade credits (10-20 credits per milestone)
Choice benefits including Priority Rewards, Maple Leaf Lounge passes, bonus points, and more
Up to 1 million SQC worth of benefits available

This creates 70+ milestone opportunities throughout the year, giving you reasons to keep spending with Air Canada even after you’ve hit your status target.

Strategic Implications for Elite Members

Fare Class Matters More Than Ever

The difference between Economy Standard (2 SQC per dollar) and Economy Flex (4 SQC per dollar) is massive now. If you’re serious about maintaining elite status, you’ll probably need to start booking Flex fares or higher.

Credit Cards Become Essential

With up to 25,000 SQC available from credit cards, having the right Aeroplan card isn’t just nice to have – it’s practically required for efficient status earning. The premium cards become especially attractive.

Partner Engagement Pays Off

That other bucket of 25,000 SQC from partners means your hotel stays, car rentals, and everyday shopping through the Aeroplan eStore actually contribute meaningfully to your status now.

Plan Your 2025 Flying Carefully

Remember, 2025 still operates under the old system, but it’s your last chance to take advantage of distance-based earning. If you’ve been putting off that mileage run to Asia, 2025 might be the time to do it.

The Bottom Line for Elite Members

These changes represent the most significant shift in how Canadian elite frequent flyers will need to think about their travel strategy. The revenue-based model rewards spending over distance, which aligns with how most North American airlines operate now.

Who wins big: Premium cabin flyers, high spenders, and those who can leverage credit cards and partner earning effectively.

Who faces challenges: Budget-conscious frequent flyers who relied on cheap long-haul flights for status, and anyone not willing or able to pay for higher fare classes.

The silver lining: The points earning multipliers for elite members are genuinely generous, and the new Milestone Benefits create more value throughout the year.

My advice? Start experimenting with Flex fares now, get serious about an Aeroplan credit card if you don’t have one, and begin engaging more with Aeroplan partners. The landscape is changing, and those who adapt their strategy early will be best positioned to maximize the new system.

The changes take effect January 1, 2026, so you have just under 5 months to adjust your approach. Use 2025 wisely – it might be your last chance to earn status the “easy” way through distance-based flying.

What do you think about these changes? Are you planning to adjust your travel strategy for 2026?