Effective for travel on or after Jan. 1, 2026, Aeroplan members will earn points on eligible Air Canada flights based on dollars spent rather than the distance they travel.

At the same time Air Canada will also introduce Status Qualifying Credits (SQC), a new single path for achieving Aeroplan Elite status, that will change how members qualify for status based on their activities from Jan. 1, 2026 onward.

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.

According to Air Canada, these changes are designed to better recognize Aeroplan members who spend more and travel more with Air Canada and who actively engage across the program, while keeping Aeroplan Elite status ‘truly special’.

Aeroplan Elite status qualification is unchanged for the remainder of 2025, including how members achieve status for 2026.

Here’s how members will earn Aeroplan points and qualify for Aeroplan Elite Status as of Jan. 1, 2026 …

• Earn points based on spend. Members will earn a minimum of 1 Aeroplan point per $1 spent on an eligible Air Canada flight (base fare and carrier surcharges, excluding applicable taxes, fees, and third-party charges). For example: Spend $427 on base fare and carrier surcharges (excluding applicable taxes, fees and third-party charges), get 427 Aeroplan points.
• Frequent bonus points offers, enabling members to reach rewards faster.
• Aeroplan Elite status Members 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.
• Qualify for Elite Status with SQC. Get up to 4 SQC per dollar on eligible Air Canada fares (base fare and carrier surcharges, excluding applicable taxes, fees, and third-party charges) based on fare type, plus up to 25,000 SQC through eligible Aeroplan credit card spending and get an additional 25,000 SQC via eligible partner activity.

Along with the new SQC-based qualification path, Aeroplan Elite status members will have more ways to unlock benefits …

• Core Benefits continue to be offered based on status, including complimentary checked bags and priority airport services
• Milestone Benefits unlocked every 10,000 SQC, offering perks like bonus SQC and Status Passes
• 10% Head Start. Beginning in 2027, primary Aeroplan premium credit cardholders who qualify for Aeroplan Elite status can receive a 10% SQC bonus based on their previous year’s earnings

More information about the changes is at aircanada.com/acearn2026 and aircanada.com/elite2026.

Source: Travelweek