Fly with Air Canada? How you earn points is about to change; here’s what it means for you

Earning rewards on Air Canada flights is about to change and for many travelers, that could mean earning fewer Aeroplan points unless they’re spending more. Starting January 1, 2026, Air Canada will revamp how Aeroplan members accumulate points, moving away from a distance-based model to one that rewards dollars spent, a major shift for one of North America’s largest airline loyalty programs.

Currently, Aeroplan members earn points based on how far they fly and what fare class they book. For instance, a business class passenger can earn 150 percent of the miles flown, while someone in standard economy might earn just 25 percent.

Under the new system, members will earn 1 point for every Canadian dollar spent on base fares and Air Canada-imposed surcharges. Taxes and third-party fees won’t count.

Frequent flyers to benefit the most

Members with Aeroplan Elite Status will earn significantly more points per dollar. Depending on their tier, they will receive two to six times the base points:

• 25K status: 2x
  
• 35K: 3x
  
• 50K: 4x
  
• 75K: 5x
  
• Super Elite: 6x
  

Air Canada is also introducing a new system called Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) to replace the existing status-earning system based on miles, segments, and dollars.

SQCs will be earned through:

• Eligible Air Canada and Star Alliance flights
  
• Aeroplan credit card spending
  
• Everyday partners like Starbucks and Uber
  

For example, Flex fares will earn 4 SQCs per dollar, Standard earns 2, while Basic economy earns none.

To reach 25K status, travelers will need 25,000 SQCs, scaling up to 125,000 SQCs for Super Elite.

What this means for flyers

A Toronto to Calgary flight on Flex economy would currently earn around 1,726 points, based on mileage. Under the new system, the same $190 ticket would earn just 190 points, unless the traveler has elite status. A 50K member on that fare would earn 760 points.

On long-haul routes, the difference is even more dramatic. A Toronto to London business-class ticket would earn 10,298 points under the new model, compared to 3,550 today. A 35K status member would earn 30,894 points for the same trip.

New rewards and credit card perks

Air Canada says it will also offer new Milestone Rewards for every 10,000 SQCs earned, including eUpgrade credits, Status Passes, and bonus points.

Premium Aeroplan credit card holders will get a 10 percent SQC head start based on their previous year’s activity.

The overhaul is designed to better reward travelers who spend more, whether through flights, partnerships, or credit card use, and to align the Aeroplan program more closely with modern loyalty trends.