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Air Canada Aeroplan is one of those rare loyalty programs that rewards both casual travelers and hardcore points nerds — but only if you understand the rules. Between partner redemptions across nearly 50 airlines, a mix of fixed and dynamic pricing, stopovers, family sharing, credit card sweeteners, and now a new revenue-based earning model, Aeroplan offers a lot of value… with a lot of complexity.
In this guide to Aeroplan, we’ll walk through the basics then get into the fun stuff: the best ways to earn points quickly, how Aeroplan’s award charts actually work, where the sweet spots still live, and what to know about fees, stopovers, infants, and elite status. Whether you’re looking to book a simple domestic flight or piece together an aspirational partner award, here’s how to get the most from Aeroplan.
Page Contents
- Overview of the Air Canada Aeroplan Program
- Air Canada Aeroplan Program Rules
- How to Earn Aeroplan Points
- Earning points by flying Air Canada
- Earning points by flying partner airlines
- Air Canada credit cards
- Other credit cards that earn Aeroplan points
- Hotel partners
- Earn Aeroplan points with Air Canada's travel partners
- Air Canada Aeroplan shopping portal
- Earn miles through Uber and Starbucks purchases
- Buying Aeroplan points
- Can you transfer Aeroplan points to other people?
- Redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan Points
- How To Earn Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Status
- Final Thoughts
Overview of the Air Canada Aeroplan Program
Air Canada is a storied airline with history dating back to 1937, when it launched as Trans-Canada Air Lines. Sixty years later, it became one of the five founding members of Star Alliance. Today, the Montreal-based carrier and its subsidiaries operate a combined fleet of more than 400 aircraft, serving 180-plus destinations across six continents.
Air Canada’s primary hubs are Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), and Montreal (YUL), with more than 1,500 scheduled flights operating daily.
Air Canada’s Aeroplan loyalty program is a fan favorite thanks to its highly versatile points, which can be redeemed for travel on nearly 50 partner airlines. Most recently, the program underwent an overhaul, shifting to a revenue-based earning model.
Air Canada Aeroplan Program Rules
Anyone can join the Air Canada Aeroplan loyalty program for free by signing up through the airline’s website or mobile app. Adults can complete the process entirely online and may also create an account for a child, provided the email address isn’t already associated with another Aeroplan account.
Aeroplan points expiration rules
Aeroplan points expire after 18 consecutive months of inactivity — defined as no earning or redemption activity. However, Air Canada has suspended point expiration through November 30, 2026.
To reset the expiration clock, you can:
- Transfer points from eligible credit card programs
- Credit an Air Canada or Star Alliance flight to Aeroplan
- Shop through the airline’s portal
- Earn points through other eligible activities
Flight crediting
When crediting flights to Aeroplan, miles can only be earned in the traveler’s own account. You can’t credit flights taken by multiple family members to a single account — each traveler must have their own Aeroplan account and loyalty number attached to their ticket.
Family sharing
Air Canada offers a family sharing feature. While the program was briefly suspended due to fraud concerns, it has since returned. Up to eight members can join a family sharing group while maintaining their own individual Aeroplan accounts. All points earned by members — including existing balances — are pooled into a shared account.
Only designated members of the family sharing group have redemption privileges and can book awards using the shared balance.If the group includes an eligible Aeroplan credit cardholder, preferred pricing applies to awards booked from the shared pool.
Related: Which Rewards Programs Let You Pool Points and Miles With Others for Free?
How to Earn Aeroplan Points
The most straightforward way to earn Aeroplan points is by flying on Air Canada or one of its many partner airlines. You also can increase your Aeroplan point balance in several ways, including:
- Spending on an Air Canada co-branded credit card
- Converting transferable credit card rewards to Aeroplan points
- Transferring hotel points to Aeroplan
- Earning through shopping portals
- Purchasing points
- Other eligible earning activities
Earning points by flying Air Canada
As we already mentioned, the Aeroplan program recently received a major overhaul. Previously, you earned points and Status Qualifying Miles as a percentage of miles flown. For flights booked on or after January 1, 2026, you will earn based on the Canadian dollars spent on your ticket. If you tend to spend a lot of money on Air Canada flights, you'll be happy about this change. However, for most people, revenue-based programs make it harder to earn miles by flying.
Elite members earn a multiplier on base earnings. For flights purchased on or after January 1, 2026, earning rates per CA$1 spent are as follows:
- Aeroplan member: 1 point
- Aeroplan 25K: 2 points
- Aeroplan 35K: 3 points
- Aeroplan 50K: 4 points
- Aeroplan 75K: 5 points
- Aeroplan Super Elite: 6 points
These rates apply to eligible Air Canada flights. Points are earned on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, excluding taxes and fees.
Earning points by flying partner airlines
Here's where it starts to get a little confusing. If you fly with a partner airline but your ticket is issued by Air Canada (ticket number starting with 014), you’ll earn points based on the cost of your ticket using the rates above. If your flight is ticketed by another airline but credited to Aeroplan, you’ll earn points as a percentage of the miles flown.
Air Canada partners with dozens of airlines, each with a unique earning structure. It's worth checking each individual carrier's spotlight page to avoid any surprises when points post to your account.
For example, the chart below shows Aeroplan earning rates for flights ticketed and operated by Emirates. A first-class ticket earns 150% of the miles flown.
There's also a handful of airlines that you won't earn Status Qualifying Credits on. Again, always check before you book a partner flight — especially if you're considering a mileage run to earn elite status.
Air Canada credit cards
United States residents have one option for an Air Canada co-branded card: the Aeroplan® Credit Card (Rates & Fees). With a $95 annual fee, the card can be a valuable addition for those looking to earn Aeroplan points. On everyday purchases, cardholders earn 3x points for each dollar spent on grocery stores, dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services, and Air Canada directly and 1x points for each dollar spent on all other purchases..
New applicants for the Aeroplan Card can take advantage of a welcome offer worth 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $95 Annual Fee
- Redeem points for both international and domestic flights with the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
- Fly to another continent and travel the world with the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
- Earn 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly. Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
- 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month - up to 1,500 points per month.
- Member FDIC
- 3x points directly with Air Canada
- 3x points on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- 3x points at grocery stores
- 1x point on all other purchases
The Aeroplan Card is issued by Chase, which means it’s subject to the bank’s 5/24 rule. In most cases, Chase won’t approve applicants who have opened five or more new credit card accounts in the past 24 months.
Related: Aeroplan Card Full Review
Those residing in Canada will have a few more options for Air Canada co-branded credit cards, including:
- CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Platinum
- TD® Aeroplan® Visa Business
Other credit cards that earn Aeroplan points
Beyond the Aeroplan Card, you can also earn Aeroplan points by earning and transferring rewards from credit cards that partner with the program. Several major transferable currencies convert to Aeroplan.
Aeroplan points are easy to earn without locking yourself into one bank. Roughly two dozen credit cards earn points transferable to Aeroplan, with options from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One miles, and Bilt Rewards Points.
Hotel partners
Air Canada partners with 11 hotel groups, allowing members to earn Aeroplan points after completing a qualifying stay. Participating brands include major programs such as Marriott, IHG, and Hilton, as well as a selection of independent hotels.
Earning requirements vary by brand, so it’s important to follow the instructions outlined on Air Canada’s travel partner page.
While not generally recommended due to poor transfer ratios, some hotel programs also allow you to convert hotel points into Aeroplan points.
Earn Aeroplan points with Air Canada's travel partners
When it comes to travel-related purchases, Air Canada also offers Aeroplan points for rental cars, airport parking, and other services. Currently, the airline has six partners that award points on these purchases:
- Aeroports de Montreal
- Avis
- Budget
- Park & Jet Calgary
- Park'N Fly
- Payless
You also can earn points by purchasing a vacation package, reserving a hotel, cruise, and more through Air Canada's travel portal.
Air Canada Aeroplan shopping portal
Like most airlines, Air Canada operates a shopping portal that awards Aeroplan points on purchases at select retailers.
Aeroplan Elite Status members earn even more on Aeroplan eStore purchases, currently receiving an extra 2 points per dollar spent in addition to the base earning rate shown for each retailer.
One important caveat: merchandise can only be shipped to Canadian addresses. According to the portal’s terms, gift cards are the primary exception.
“Unless otherwise specified on the gift card description, gift cards may be shipped to Canada and U.S. to either a P.O. Box or a civic address. Digital gift cards are available for redemption internationally.”
If you plan to shop through Air Canada’s portal, it’s worth reviewing the fine print before completing a purchase.
Earn miles through Uber and Starbucks purchases
Air Canada partners with Uber and Starbucks, allowing members to earn Aeroplan points on rides and purchases at the coffee chain. However, only residents of Canada are eligible to link accounts and earn rewards.
Buying Aeroplan points
Aeroplan points are available for outright purchase through the airline's Points.com storefront. In the right circumstances, purchasing points can make sense — like when you need to top off your account for a specific redemption or when the points price of a flight is lower than the cash cost.
When Air Canada isn’t running a promotion, points typically cost 3.75 Canadian cents per point ( about 2.71 U.S. cents per point). Periodically, the airline offers bonuses or discounts — sometimes as high as 75% or 100% — that can significantly improve the value. Historically, points have been available for as little as 1.13 U.S. cents each.
Given that AwardWallet users receive an average value of 1.87¢ per point, buying points during a promotion can make sense.
You can purchase up to 250,000 Aeroplan points per transaction, with an annual purchase limit of 1,000,000 points per calendar year.
Can you transfer Aeroplan points to other people?
Air Canada allows Aeroplan points to be transferred between member accounts for a fee of 2 Canadian cents per point (about 1.44 U.S. cents per point). Transfers are capped at 250,000 points per transaction and 500,000 points per calendar year.
Redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan Points
Here’s everything you need to know (and then some) about redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan points.
Value of Aeroplan points
In recent redemptions, AwardWallet users have obtained an average value of 1.87¢ per point when redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan points. However, Aeroplan points are more valuable for certain redemptions than others, as you'll see when looking at the average value by flight type below:
- Short-haul economy/premium economy: 1.21¢
- Short-haul business/first class: 2.56¢
- Long-haul economy/premium economy: 1.28¢
- Long-haul business/first class: 2.63¢
Air Canada partners and award charts
One of Aeroplan’s biggest strengths is how broadly those points can be used. The program offers access to a deep roster of airline partners, spanning Star Alliance members and a wide range of non-alliance carriers.
Aeroplan uses a hybrid zone-and-distance award chart rather than a purely zone-based system. Its 10 award charts (PDF link) outline mileage costs across its four regions, and those charts remain the foundation of Aeroplan redemptions today.
Each chart corresponds to a specific region. Awards on Air Canada and select partner airlines (such as United) are priced dynamically, which has eliminated many former sweet spots. That said, fixed award pricing still applies to most partners, and value can still be found in the program.
All other partner awards continue to follow the fixed award charts.
Here’s the Aeroplan award chart for flights within North America:
The chart for flights between North America and the Atlantic zones:
For flights between North America and Pacific zones:
And lastly, for flights between North America and South America zones:
You can reference the PDF to view the remaining six award charts.
Related: Here's How Much You'll Pay When Redeeming Aeroplan Points for Emirates Flights
Preferred pricing
On Air Canada–operated flights, you can access preferred pricing on awards as you engage more with the Aeroplan program. Holding elite status or an Aeroplan co-branded credit card (or both) is an easy way to reduce award costs. In theory, the more you engage, the more you save. While this benefit isn’t widely discussed, it does exist.
Points + Cash awards
If you’re short on Aeroplan points — or simply don’t want to use your entire balance — Air Canada offers a Points + Cash booking option. There are two ways to use this feature, along with different options for covering taxes and fees:
- Award tickets paid for completely with points: Applicable taxes, fees and surcharges may be paid wholly in points or cash
- Award tickets paid for with a point and cash combination: Applicable taxes, fees and surcharges must be paid wholly in cash
The points value varies by route, so it’s worth running the numbers before selecting a Points + Cash option. In one example, saving CA$46.70 (about $33.70) requires an additional 4,670 points — yielding roughly 0.7 cents per point, which is generally poor value.
How to search for Air Canada Aeroplan awards
The easiest way to search for Aeroplan awards is through aircanada.com or the airline’s mobile app. After logging in to your account, navigate to the booking widget and select “Book with Aeroplan points.” Enter your origin, destination, travel dates, and number of passengers, then click “Search.” Results can be filtered by stops, carriers, connecting airports, and more.
If you’re targeting a specific partner award — such as Turkish Airlines business class or Lufthansa first class — a reliable way to find availability is by using Seats.aero. The tool provides a bird’s-eye view of bookable awards and can significantly speed up the search process. Rather than scrolling date by date, Seats.aero shows what’s available and when.
Another way to find award availability is by using tools from other Star Alliance carriers, such as United’s award calendar. Because Aeroplan doesn’t offer a 30-day pricing view, this approach can help narrow down dates before returning to Air Canada to complete the booking.
For non-alliance partner awards, it’s worth checking third-party tools for availability and then confirming whether that space appears on Aeroplan’s website. Smaller carriers, such as PAL Airlines, may require extra patience, as award space can be limited and may not appear on other airlines’ or third-party search tools.
Related: How to Find Partner Award Flight Availability
Booking fees and other rules
Award bookings can be made for free at aircanada.com or for a nonrefundable fee of CA$30 (about $22) through the Aeroplan contact center. Air Canada also charges a CA$39 (about $29) fee per ticket for awards that include travel on a carrier other than Air Canada or its subsidiaries. Applicable taxes are charged in addition to the CA$39 fee.
According to the program terms, award flights may include a U.S. Tax Recovery fee, which covers standard charges — such as security fees — that U.S. travelers are typically familiar with.
Aeroplan awards can be changed or canceled up to two hours before departure, though fees often apply unless you booked a flexible award or hold an eligible tier of elite status. The change and cancellation fee structure is shown below:
Infant policy
Children under two may travel as lap infants but still require their own tickets. There’s no cost to ticket a lap infant on travel within Canada. For flights between the United States and Canada, only taxes and fees apply. All other international itineraries require payment of a discounted fare equal to 10% of the adult fare, plus applicable taxes and fees.
Children over the age of two must have their own seat and award reservation. You can view the full slate of fees and policies of traveling with children here.
Note that the above policy differs for infant award redemptions. On award tickets, you'll pay a discounted fare of CAD 25 or 2,500 points will apply per direction of travel where the infant requires a ticket.
Stopovers
Air Canada allows stopovers on Aeroplan award tickets, though several rules apply:
- Aeroplan awards are priced by each one-way journey
- You're allowed one stopover per direction of travel
- Stopovers are only permitted for Aeroplan award travel outside of Canada and the United States
- Stopovers are distinct from layovers, which can last up to 24 hours without needing to pay for a stopover (except in the U.S. and Canada, where most “maximum layover” times are four hours, unless there is no option for a shorter connection)
- Each stopover costs 5,000 Aeroplan points, in addition to the base award price
- Stopovers cannot exceed more than 45 days
Up to four segments are permitted and can be booked online. If you plan to add a fifth or sixth segment, you’ll need to call Aeroplan to book the itinerary.
Related: How to Book Aeroplan Stopovers Online
Best ways to redeem Air Canada Aeroplan points
With a bevy of partner airlines, there are thousands of potential awards you can book with Aeroplan points. While this isn’t an exhaustive list of every sweet spot, here are a few high-quality ways to redeem your hard-earned points:
- Fly Lufthansa business class from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA)
- Air New Zealand business class from the U.S. to Auckland (AKL)
- Oman Air business class from Asia to Europe
- Swiss International Air Lines from San Francisco (SFO) to Zurich (ZRH)
- Short-haul U.S. domestic flights under 500 miles for 10,000 points
Related: The Secret Sweet Spots of Aeroplan Stopovers and Open Jaws
Other ways to redeem Aeroplan points
Outside of air travel, Aeroplan points can be redeemed for hotels, gift cards, and other options. Here’s a look at what’s available:
- Reserve hotel nights on Aeroplan HotelSavers for 10,000 to 105,000 Aeroplan points per night
- Rent cars through the Aeroplan travel portal
- Book vacation packages through Air Canada Vacations
- Redeem for merchandise, gift cards, and experiences on the Aeroplan eStore
However, most non-flight redemptions offer poor value for Aeroplan points. In nearly every case, points are worth significantly more when redeemed for award flights.
How To Earn Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Status
Air Canada offers five tiers of elite status that you can earn to elevate your travel experience: Aeroplan 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K, and Super Elite.
Air Canada elite status qualification
As part of Air Canada’s most recent update, earning elite status is now simpler. The program eliminated Status Qualifying Miles, Segments, and Dollars in favor of a single metric: Status Qualifying Credits. SQCs are based on how much you spend on eligible flights and the fare type purchased.
Here's how much you'll earn:
- Economy Flex fares or higher: 4 SQCs per $1 spent
- Economy Standard fares and eUpgrade Add-Ons: 2 SQCs per $1 spent
- Air Canada Vacations package: 1 SQC per $1 spent
To earn SQCs, your flight must be ticketed by Air Canada (ticket number beginning with 014) and operated by Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner. If your flight is operated by a non–Star Alliance partner, you won’t earn SQCs — even if it’s ticketed by Air Canada.
If your flight is operated by Air Canada but not ticketed by the airline, SQCs are earned based on cabin class:
- Economy: 2 SQCs per $1 spent
- Premium economy and business: 4 SQCs per $1 spent
If your flight is operated by a Star Alliance member airline but not ticketed by Air Canada, you’ll earn 1 SQC for every 5 Aeroplan points earned based on distance flown. This earning method is capped at 25,000 SQCs per calendar year.
Outside of flying, there's a few other ways to earn SQCs:
- 1 SQC for every 5 Aeroplan points you earn with 40-plus travel and everyday partners, up to 25,000 SQCs per year
- 1,000 SQCs for every $5,000 you spend on an Aeroplan premium credit card*
- 1,000 SQCs for every $20,000 spent on an Aeroplan core credit card*
*You can earn up to 25,000 SQCs via Aeroplan credit card spending each year. This is in total across all Aeroplan credit cards, and is valid for Canadian cards.
For Aeroplan® Credit Card holders, you will receive the following SQC benefits:
- 5,000 SQCs as a bonus each year
- 10,000 SQC when you spend $25,000 on your card
- 10,000 SQC when you spend $50,000 on your card
New cardmembers still receive Aeroplan 25K status through the end of the following calendar year. To retain that status, you’ll need to spend $15,000 in a calendar year. Reaching Aeroplan 35K requires $75,000 in annual card spending.
With the metrics top of mind, here's the qualification requirements for each tier of Aeroplan status:
- Aeroplan 25K: 25,000 SQC OR 100,000 EDQ
- Aeroplan 35K: 35,000 SQC
- Aeroplan 50K: 50,000 SQC
- Aeroplan 75K: 75,000 SQC
- Aeroplan Super Elite: 125,000 SQC
If you noticed the EDQ option for Aeroplan 25K, it refers to Everyday Status Qualification dollars. EDQs can be earned without stepping on a plane — for example, through eStore purchases, on all Air Canada flights, and by earning 1 EDQ for every eligible point earned on a co-branded credit card.
The Air Canada status qualification year runs from January 1 through December 31, giving you the full calendar year to earn status that’s valid through the end of the following year.
Air Canada Aeroplan elite status core benefits
Aeroplan elite status provides frequent flyers with a range of core perks. From free checked bags to eUpgrades and lounge access, earning Air Canada elite status can be well worth it. Here’s a rundown of the benefits available to Aeroplan elites.
| Benefit | Aeroplan 25K | Aeroplan 35K | Aeroplan 50K | Aeroplan 75K | Super Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority airport check-in | When flying with Air Canada | When flying with Air Canada | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners |
| Priority airport standby | When flying with Air Canada | When flying with Air Canada | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners |
| Priority security clearance | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority boarding | When flying with Air Canada | When flying with Air Canada | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners |
| Priority baggage handling | N/A | When flying with Air Canada | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners | When flying with Air Canada or Star Alliance partners |
| Air Canada Concierge Service | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Complimentary checked baggage | 2 bags, 23 kg each | 3 bags, 32 kg each | 3 bags, 32 kg each | 3 bags, 32 kg each | 3 bags, 32 kg each |
| Complimentary sports equipment handling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Complimentary standard seat selection | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Complimentary preferred seats | At check-in with purchase of a Standard or Flex fare | At check-in with purchase of a Standard or Flex fare | At time of booking with a Standard or Flex fare for travel within Canada or between Canada and the U.S. At check-in for all other itineraries | At time of booking with purchase of a Standard or Flex fare | At time of booking with purchase of any fare |
| eUpgrade credits | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 30 |
| Complimentary inflight refreshment | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafes | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access to Star Alliance Gold lounges | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access to Virgin Australia Lounges | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access to Emirates business class lounges | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access to non-Star Alliance lounges | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access to LHR Arrivals Lounge | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Star Alliance Equivalent Tier | Star Alliance Silver | Star Alliance Silver | Star Alliance Gold | Star Alliance Gold | Star Alliance Gold |
| Elite points multiplier with Air Canada and Star Alliance flights | 1 extra point per $1 spent | 2 extra points per $1 spent | 3 extra points per $1 spent | 4 extra points per $1 spent | 5 extra points per $1 spent |
| eUpgrade credits for eligible Flight Pass activities | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| SQCs for eligible Flight Pass activities | 750 SQCs | 1,000 SQCs | 1,250 SQCs | 1,500 SQCs | 2,500 SQCs |
| Priority contacts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority reservation waitlist | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Complimentary changes and cancellations with Aeroplan award flights | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Access to milestone benefits | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| eUpgrade nominee | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Status Pass | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2 |
| Elite Parental Leave | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Early Recognition | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority benefits with United Airlines | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Priority benefits with Lufthansa Group | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Complimentary Avis elite status | Avis Preferred Plus | Avis Preferred Plus | Avis Preferred Plus | Avis President’s Club | Avis President’s Club |
| Earn a minimum of 250 points on eligible fares regardless of distance traveled | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Additional earnings on hotel stays and rental car reservations | 3 bonus points per dollar spent | 3 bonus points per dollar spent | 3 bonus points per dollar spent | 3 bonus points per dollar spent | 3 bonus points per dollar spent |
| Additional points on Aeroplan eStore purcnases | 2 bonus points per dollar spent | 2 bonus points per dollar spent | 2 bonus points per dollar spent | 2 bonus points per dollar spent | 2 bonus points per dollar spent |
| Additional Avis earnings | 2 bonus points per dollar spent | 2 bonus points per dollar spent | 2 bonus points per dollar spent | 2 bonus points per dollar spent | 2 bonus points per dollar spent |
| Convert Aeroplan points to Marriott Bonvoy points | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Aeroplan milestone benefits
Milestone benefits replaced elite select benefits in 2026. For every 10,000 SQCs earned, members receive a milestone benefit. After reaching 200,000 SQCs, milestone benefits are awarded every additional 20,000 SQCs. You must hold elite status to earn milestone benefits — meaning your first milestone benefit is awarded after earning 10,000 SQCs beyond Aeroplan 25K.
Milestone benefits alternate between automatic rewards and selected perks.
- 10,000 SQCs: Automatic 10 eUpgrade credits valid for upgrades to business or premium economy on Air Canada flights
- 20,000 SQCs: Select one of six available benefits, such as 50% off one Air Canada flight reward, additional eUpgrade credits, or bonus points
- 30,000 SQCs: Automatic 10 eUpgrade credits valid for upgrades to business or premium economy on Air Canada flights
- 40,000 SQCs: Select one of seven available benefits, such as bonus SQCs
- 50,000 SQCs: Automatic 10 eUpgrade credits valid for upgrades to business or premium economy on Air Canada flights
- 60,000 SQCs: Select one of six available benefits, such as two status pass gifts
- 70,000 SQCs: Automatic 10 eUpgrade credits valid for upgrades to business or premium economy on Air Canada flights, plus a choice of one of four benefits, such as a $150 Air Canada gift card
- 80,000 SQCs: Select one of six available benefits
- 90,000 SQCs: Automatic 10 eUpgrade credits valid for upgrades to business or premium economy on Air Canada flights, plus a choice of one of four benefits, such as gifting Aeroplan 35K status to a friend
- 100,000 SQCs: Select one of six available benefits
By the time you reach 200,000 SQCs, you can choose benefits such as Banked Aeroplan Super Elite status, allowing you to retain status in a year when you might not earn it organically. Earning that many SQCs requires a significant time and financial investment, but it may pay off for ultra-loyal travelers.
Air Canada lifetime status
The Air Canada Million Mile program offers lifetime Aeroplan elite status to members who surpass one million Lifetime Qualifying Miles. LQMs are earned on eligible flights operated by Air Canada. Below is an overview of the status and additional benefits available at each Million Mile tier.
- One million miles: Earn Aeroplan 50K for life
- Two million miles: Earn Aeroplan 75K for life, and nominate a friend for lifetime Aeroplan 50K
- Three million miles: Earn Aeroplan Super Elite for life
- Four million miles: Continue to enjoy Super Elite, plus upgrade your previously nominated friend to lifetime Aeroplan 75K
Every year after earning your spot in the Million Mile program, you'll receive additional benefits:
- One million miles: 2,500 SQCs
- Two million miles: 5,000 SQCs and Aeroplan 35K status for a friend
- Three million miles: 10,000 SQCs and Aeroplan 50K status for a friend
- Four million miles: 20,000 SQCs and Aeroplan 75K status for a friend
- Five million miles: 30,000 SQCs and Aeroplan Super Elite status for a friend
Air Canada status match
In the past, Air Canada has offered status matches, though there isn’t currently a promotion available.
Related: Current Status Match and Fast-Track Opportunities for Airline Elite Status
Elite status requirements compared to other programs
Air Canada Aeroplan remains a strong program — especially compared to the loyalty programs of major U.S. carriers. The move to a revenue-based structure, however, has largely leveled the playing field. Like most airlines today, Aeroplan prioritizes spending over flight activity. If you fly frequently, Air Canada’s elite requirements are reasonable. But if you’re seeking status without flying, options are largely limited to Aeroplan’s lowest elite tier.
Related: How to Get Airline Elite Status Without Flying
Final Thoughts
For travelers seeking a comprehensive airline loyalty program, Air Canada Aeroplan is well worth a look. With numerous high-value ways to earn and redeem points, Aeroplan can deliver strong value even for occasional Air Canada flyers — and even for those who don’t regularly travel to Canada.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Aeroplan® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
