The New Aeroplan Program Is Here: Will You Earn More or Less?

Core Insights - Air Canada's Aeroplan program has transitioned to a revenue-based model, moving away from the previous distance-and-spending structure, which aligns with trends seen in major U.S. carriers [1][2][3] Summary by Sections Program Changes - The new Aeroplan program commenced on January 1, 2026, awarding points solely based on ticket spending and elite status, excluding taxes and fees from point calculations [3][4] - General members earn 1 Aeroplan point per CA$1 (approximately $0.72 USD) spent, while elite members earn at higher rates based on their status level [3][5] Elite Status and Earning Structure - Elite status is now determined by Status Qualifying Credits (SQCs), replacing the previous metrics of Status Qualifying Miles (SQMs), Segments (SQSs), and Dollars (SQDs) [3][7] - Members can earn up to 4 SQCs per CA$1 spent on certain fare types, with additional earning opportunities through co-branded credit card spending [4][6][7] Comparison of Earnings - The new system's impact on earnings varies significantly based on spending levels and elite status, with higher spenders benefiting more [9][10] - For example, a business class flight from Los Angeles to Bangkok costing CA$6,595 would yield different Aeroplan points based on elite status, with general members earning 5,494 points and Super Elite members earning 32,964 points [16][17] - Conversely, a round-trip economy flight from Montreal to Chicago costing CA$482 would yield 301 points for general members under the new system, compared to 748 points under the old system [18][19] Final Thoughts - The changes in the Aeroplan program present a mixed outcome; high-status members may find the new system advantageous, while low-status and no-status members may experience reduced earnings [25][26]