How many SQC do I need for Aeroplan 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite?

You need 25,000, 35,000, 50,000, 75,000 and 125,000 Status Qualifying Credits respectively, earned between January 1 and December 31. Status is granted as soon as you cross each threshold. 25K can also be earned with 100,000 Everyday Status Qualification points from everyday partners.

What replaced Status Qualifying Miles, Segments and Dollars?

From January 1, 2026 all three were replaced by Status Qualifying Credits, announced by Air Canada on August 6, 2025. SQC are earned mostly on spend: 4 per $1 on Economy Flex and higher and 2 per $1 on Economy Standard. There is no longer a way to qualify on distance or number of flights.

Do Aeroplan reward flights earn status?

No. Flights booked with points, including points + cash, earn no Aeroplan points and 0 SQC, and they do not count toward Million Mile lifetime miles. Elite benefits still apply on them, and eUpgrade credits can be used on Air Canada-operated reward flights.

Can I earn Aeroplan status with a credit card?

Yes. In the US the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card gives automatic 25K Status while the account is open, 5,000 SQC a year, 20,000 more across US$50,000 of spend, and 35K Status at US$75,000 of spend. In Canada premium cards earn 1,000 SQC per $5,000 and core cards 1,000 per $20,000; card SQC from all issuers are capped at 25,000 a year.

Do Star Alliance flights count toward Aeroplan Elite Status?

Yes. On an Air Canada-issued ticket (014) they earn the same 2 to 4 SQC per $1 as Air Canada flights with no cap. On the partner's own ticket they earn 1 SQC per 5 base points, up to 25,000 SQC a year.

Does Air Canada offer a status match?

Air Canada publishes no airline status match. Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite members can get complimentary Aeroplan 25K by linking accounts, which is the only published match.

When does Aeroplan Elite Status expire?

Status earned in a calendar year lasts until the end of the following year and, under the 13-month rule, to January 31 after that. If you do not requalify, your new tier (if any) starts February 1.

Which Aeroplan tier gets Maple Leaf Lounge access?

Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite get Maple Leaf Lounges and Star Alliance Gold lounges as a core benefit. 25K and 35K do not, though lounge passes are among the Milestone Benefit choices.

Aeroplan Elite Status · Spend-based

Air Canada Aeroplan elite status explained

Aeroplan Elite Status comes in five tiers, 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite, and since January 1, 2026 every tier is decided by a single number: Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) earned between January 1 and December 31. The tier names now match the SQC you need, so 50K takes 50,000 SQC.

SQC are earned mainly by spending money with Air Canada: 4 SQC per $1 on Economy Flex fares and above, 2 SQC per $1 on Economy Standard. Partner flights and Aeroplan credit cards can each add up to 25,000 SQC a year on top.

The old three-part system of Status Qualifying Miles, Segments and Dollars is gone, so there is no longer a distance or segment route to status.

Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed September 23, 2026.

Redeemable points versus SQC

What you spend

Points

The balance that books award flights, upgrades and other rewards. See how to earn them and what they are worth.

What counts toward status

Status Qualifying Credits

A separate counter that decides your tier. You cannot spend it on flights or rewards.

Aeroplan points and Status Qualifying Credits are two separate balances. Points are the currency you spend on flight rewards, hotels and merchandise; SQC cannot be spent on anything and exist only to set your tier for the following year.

They are earned at different rates from the same ticket. On an Air Canada flight, points are earned at a base of 1 point per $1 and multiplied by your tier (2x at 25K up to 6x at Super Elite), while SQC are earned at 4 per $1 on Economy Flex and higher fares or 2 per $1 on Economy Standard, whatever your tier.

Worked example: a 35K member buys a $1,000 Economy Flex ticket on Air Canada. The trip earns 3,000 Aeroplan points (1 point per $1 at the 3x 35K multiplier) that go into the redeemable balance, and 4,000 SQC (4 per $1) that count toward next year's status. A member without status on the same ticket earns 1,000 points but the same 4,000 SQC.

Some activity earns one and not the other. Flight rewards booked with points, including points + cash, earn neither points nor SQC. Credit card spend earns points on every purchase but SQC only in blocks: 1,000 SQC per $5,000 on Canadian premium cards, or 10,000 SQC at each of US$25,000 and US$50,000 on the US Chase card. SQC cannot be bought or transferred, and they reset to zero each January 1.

Air Canada Aeroplan tiers and what each one takes

Tier	To qualify	Bonus points	Alliance tier
Aeroplan 25K	25,000 SQC	2x base points on Air Canada flights (2 points per $1)	Star Alliance Silver
Aeroplan 35K	35,000 SQC	3x base points on Air Canada flights (3 points per $1)	Star Alliance Silver
Aeroplan 50K	50,000 SQC	4x base points on Air Canada flights (4 points per $1)	Star Alliance Gold
Aeroplan 75K	75,000 SQC	5x base points on Air Canada flights (5 points per $1)	Star Alliance Gold
Aeroplan Super Elite	125,000 SQC	6x base points on Air Canada flights (6 points per $1)	Star Alliance Gold

The qualification year is the calendar year, January 1 to December 31. Status is granted as soon as you reach a threshold and lasts for the rest of that year and all of the next, and from the 2026 changes it runs 13 months: if you do not requalify, your current tier is extended to January 31 and the new tier (if any) starts February 1.

Benefits of each Air Canada Aeroplan tier

Aeroplan 25K

Earn 25,000 Status Qualifying Credits between January 1 and December 31. As an alternative route to 25K only, earn 100,000 Everyday Status Qualification (EDQ) points from Aeroplan everyday partners in a calendar year.

1 extra complimentary checked bag of up to 23 kg on top of the fare allowance.
5 eUpgrade credits a year, cleared 8 to 10 days before departure on domestic flights and anytime on Latitude fares.
Free preferred seats at check-in on Economy Standard and Flex fares.
Priority check-in, priority boarding and priority airport standby.
Star Alliance Silver recognition on partner airlines (no lounge access).
Milestone Benefits at every 10,000 SQC, such as extra eUpgrade credits, lounge passes or bonus points.
Avis Preferred Plus and Hertz Gold Plus car rental status.

Aeroplan 35K

Earn 35,000 Status Qualifying Credits between January 1 and December 31.

3 complimentary checked bags of up to 32 kg each.
10 eUpgrade credits a year, cleared 8 to 10 days before departure on domestic flights.
Priority security clearance and priority baggage handling, on top of priority check-in and boarding.
Free preferred seats at check-in on Economy Standard and Flex fares.
Priority airport standby.
Star Alliance Silver recognition on partner airlines (no lounge access).
Milestone Benefits at every 10,000 SQC.

Aeroplan 50K

Earn 50,000 Status Qualifying Credits between January 1 and December 31.

Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Café access, with a partner, one guest and up to 5 dependent children free.
Star Alliance Gold lounges, Virgin Australia lounges and Emirates Business Class lounges in Dubai.
3 complimentary checked bags of up to 32 kg each, with priority baggage handling.
15 eUpgrade credits a year, cleared 12 to 14 days before departure on domestic flights.
Free preferred seats at booking for flights within Canada and the US, and at check-in elsewhere.
Priority check-in, security, boarding and standby, recognised across Star Alliance.
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

Aeroplan 75K

Earn 75,000 Status Qualifying Credits between January 1 and December 31.

20 eUpgrade credits a year, cleared 12 to 14 days before departure on domestic flights.
Free preferred seats at booking.
Maple Leaf Lounge, Air Canada Café, Star Alliance Gold, Virgin Australia and Emirates Dubai lounge access.
3 complimentary checked bags of up to 32 kg each, with priority baggage handling.
Priority check-in, security, boarding and standby.
Avis President's Club and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

Aeroplan Super Elite

Earn 125,000 Status Qualifying Credits between January 1 and December 31.

30 eUpgrade credits a year that can clear at any time, plus the right to name an eUpgrade nominee.
Complimentary changes and cancellations on Aeroplan flight rewards.
2 Status Passes a year that give anyone on an Air Canada booking elite bags, priority services and Maple Leaf Lounge access.
Free preferred seats at booking on any fare.
Air Canada Concierge service.
Maple Leaf Lounges, Star Alliance Gold lounges and the Arrivals Lounge at London Heathrow.
3 complimentary checked bags of up to 32 kg each, with priority baggage handling.
Avis President's Club and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

How flights earn SQC

On Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express flights, SQC are earned on what you pay: 4 SQC per $1 on Economy Flex fares and higher, and 2 SQC per $1 on Economy Standard fares and on eUpgrade cash add-ons. A $600 Economy Standard ticket therefore earns 1,200 SQC; the same trip on a $900 Flex fare earns 3,600 SQC.
Air Canada counts the base fare and carrier surcharges toward SQC, not taxes, fees or third-party charges. Air Canada's own example: a member who spends $9,000 on Standard fares earns 18,000 SQC, and 8,000 SQC from partner flights takes her to 26,000 and 25K Status; buying Flex fares instead doubles the flight SQC to 36,000, and with 15,000 card SQC she reaches 59,000 and 50K.
Star Alliance and other partner flights on an Air Canada-issued ticket (ticket number starting 014) earn the same 2 to 4 SQC per $1 as an Air Canada flight, with no cap. That is the most efficient way to credit partner flying.
Partner flights on the partner's own ticket stock earn 1 SQC for every 5 Aeroplan base points the flight earns, capped at 25,000 SQC per calendar year. A partner flight earning 5,000 base points adds 1,000 SQC.
Air Canada Vacations packages earn 1 SQC per $1. Flight rewards booked with points, including points + cash, earn 0 SQC.

How many points each tier earns

On Air Canada flights, points are earned at a base of 1 point per $1, multiplied by status: 2x for 25K, 3x for 35K, 4x for 50K, 5x for 75K and 6x for Super Elite. A Super Elite member on a $2,000 ticket earns 12,000 points where a base member earns 2,000.
The multiplier also applies to Air Canada-issued (014) tickets flown on Star Alliance partners. It does not apply to distance-based specialty fares, and partner flights on other ticket stock earn the partner's flat distance-based points with no elite bonus.
Award tickets earn nothing: Air Canada's Flight Reward Policy says members cannot accrue points on a flight reward, and redeemed flights earn 0 SQC and do not count toward Million Mile lifetime miles.

Upgrades for Air Canada Aeroplan elites

Elite upgrades run on eUpgrade credits: 5 a year at 25K, 10 at 35K, 15 at 50K, 20 at 75K and 30 at Super Elite, with more deposited automatically at Milestone Benefit levels. They work only on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Air Canada Rouge, including flights paid with points, and not on partner-operated codeshares.
Clearance windows depend on tier and fare. Super Elite can clear anytime; 75K and 50K from 12 to 14 days before departure on domestic flights; 35K and 25K from 8 to 10 days. Latitude and Premium Economy Latitude fares clear anytime for every tier, and Economy Basic, group and industry discount fares cannot be upgraded.
The price varies by route and fare: 1 to 11 credits for Business within North America and to Sun destinations, with cash add-ons of $125 to $250 on cheaper fares, and 11 to 26 credits plus $200 to $900 on international routes (Premium Economy costs 6 to 16 credits plus up to $450). Cash add-ons include taxes and are non-refundable, but credits return to your account if the upgrade does not clear.
Requests made within 36 hours of departure are waitlisted automatically and processed at the gate; earlier requests that have not cleared move to the airport standby list, which you can view in the Air Canada app.
Any member can also bid for an upgrade with cash or points through AC Bid Upgrade up to 48 hours before departure, or buy a Last Minute Upgrade during web or app check-in (24 to 1 hours before departure) or at a kiosk (12 to 1 hours). Both earn points only on the original booking class.

Credit cards that help with Air Canada Aeroplan status

In Canada, Aeroplan co-branded credit cards earn SQC directly: premium Aeroplan cards earn 1,000 SQC per $5,000 spent and core cards 1,000 SQC per $20,000. Whatever the issuer, card SQC are capped at a combined 25,000 per member per calendar year, exactly the 25K threshold.
From 2027, primary holders of a premium Aeroplan card who hold status get a 10% Head Start: bonus SQC equal to 10% of the previous year's SQC total, deposited by the end of March with no cap. A member who earned 80,000 SQC in 2026 would start 2027 with 8,000.
Primary holders of a TD, CIBC or American Express Aeroplan card in Canada keep their points from expiring for as long as the card is open. Premium Aeroplan cardholders in Canada and the US also get Maple Leaf Lounge access, priority check-in, security and boarding, and a free first checked bag for up to 8 companions.
In the US, the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card (US$195 a year) gives the primary cardmember automatic Aeroplan 25K Status for as long as the account is open. It also deposits 5,000 SQC every calendar year, 10,000 SQC once you spend US$25,000 and another 10,000 at US$50,000, all inside the same 25,000 SQC combined card cap.
Chase cardmembers who spend US$75,000 in a calendar year get Aeroplan 35K Status for the rest of that year and the next. The card also earns 3 points per US$1 on Air Canada purchases and gives the cardmember and up to 8 people on the same reservation a free first checked bag on Air Canada flights.

Fees, sign-up bonuses and every other benefit are compared in the Air Canada Aeroplan credit cards guide.

Other ways to get Air Canada Aeroplan status

Marriott Bonvoy status

Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite members get complimentary Aeroplan 25K Status once their accounts are linked (allow 7 to 10 business days). In the other direction, Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite members get Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite.

Everyday spending (EDQ)

Earning 100,000 Everyday Status Qualification points from Aeroplan everyday partners in a calendar year qualifies you for 25K Status without flying. This route stops at 25K.

Air Canada Million Mile (lifetime)

Lifetime Qualifying Miles count paid Air Canada, Rouge and Express flights at 100% of distance in Economy (not Basic), 125% in Premium Economy and 150% in Business. At 1 million miles your status never drops below 50K, at 2 million never below 75K and at 3 million never below Super Elite, with yearly SQC gifts of 2,500 to 30,000 and status for a friend at the higher levels.

Gifted status and Status Passes

Milestone Benefits let status holders gift 25K, 35K or 50K Status from the 60,000 to 130,000 SQC milestones and 75K Status from 200,000 SQC. Status Passes, 2 a year for Super Elite and a milestone choice from 50K, give one traveller elite bags, priority services and Maple Leaf Lounge access for a single Air Canada booking.

US Chase Aeroplan Card

The Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card gives the primary cardmember Aeroplan 25K Status from account opening until the account closes, with no flying required, and 35K Status after US$75,000 of spend in a calendar year.

Status match

Air Canada publishes no airline status match or challenge. Status cannot be bought with cash or points; the closest thing to buying it is credit card spend, Air Canada Vacations at 1 SQC per $1, or choosing bonus SQC as a Milestone Benefit.

Keeping Air Canada Aeroplan status

There is no soft landing. Your next tier is whatever your SQC reached between January 1 and December 31, which can be no status at all. What you do get is an extra month: status now runs 13 months, so your current tier lasts to January 31 and the new tier takes effect February 1, with Core Benefits loaded by mid-February.
eUpgrade credits, Priority Rewards, lounge passes and Status Passes keep their own expiry dates and are not extended by the 13-month rule, so use them before they lapse.
SQC do not roll over as a standing rule. The only carry-forwards are the 2026 transition, when up to 200,000 leftover Status Qualifying Miles converted at 5 to 1 (a maximum of 40,000 SQC), and the premium-card Head Start of 10% of last year's SQC from 2027.
Million Mile members have a floor: 50K for life at 1 million lifetime miles, 75K at 2 million and Super Elite at 3 million.

Air Canada Aeroplan status: FAQ

How many SQC do I need for Aeroplan 25K, 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite?: You need 25,000, 35,000, 50,000, 75,000 and 125,000 Status Qualifying Credits respectively, earned between January 1 and December 31. Status is granted as soon as you cross each threshold. 25K can also be earned with 100,000 Everyday Status Qualification points from everyday partners.
What replaced Status Qualifying Miles, Segments and Dollars?: From January 1, 2026 all three were replaced by Status Qualifying Credits, announced by Air Canada on August 6, 2025. SQC are earned mostly on spend: 4 per $1 on Economy Flex and higher and 2 per $1 on Economy Standard. There is no longer a way to qualify on distance or number of flights.
Do Aeroplan reward flights earn status?: No. Flights booked with points, including points + cash, earn no Aeroplan points and 0 SQC, and they do not count toward Million Mile lifetime miles. Elite benefits still apply on them, and eUpgrade credits can be used on Air Canada-operated reward flights.
Can I earn Aeroplan status with a credit card?: Yes. In the US the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card gives automatic 25K Status while the account is open, 5,000 SQC a year, 20,000 more across US$50,000 of spend, and 35K Status at US$75,000 of spend. In Canada premium cards earn 1,000 SQC per $5,000 and core cards 1,000 per $20,000; card SQC from all issuers are capped at 25,000 a year.
Do Star Alliance flights count toward Aeroplan Elite Status?: Yes. On an Air Canada-issued ticket (014) they earn the same 2 to 4 SQC per $1 as Air Canada flights with no cap. On the partner's own ticket they earn 1 SQC per 5 base points, up to 25,000 SQC a year.
Does Air Canada offer a status match?: Air Canada publishes no airline status match. Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite members can get complimentary Aeroplan 25K by linking accounts, which is the only published match.
When does Aeroplan Elite Status expire?: Status earned in a calendar year lasts until the end of the following year and, under the 13-month rule, to January 31 after that. If you do not requalify, your new tier (if any) starts February 1.
Which Aeroplan tier gets Maple Leaf Lounge access?: Aeroplan 50K, 75K and Super Elite get Maple Leaf Lounges and Star Alliance Gold lounges as a core benefit. 25K and 35K do not, though lounge passes are among the Milestone Benefit choices.

Sources

Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status overview · official page
Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status overview (US site, with SQC examples) · official page
Chase: Air Canada Aeroplan Card · official page
Chase: Aeroplan Elite Status with the Chase Aeroplan Card · official page
Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status qualification (2026) · official page
Air Canada: Aeroplan Elite Status core benefits · official page
Air Canada: earning Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights · official page
Air Canada: Aeroplan Flight Reward Policy · official page
Air Canada: Aeroplan Milestone Benefits · official page
Air Canada: extending Elite Status validity to 13 months · official page
Air Canada: Air Canada Million Mile · official page
Air Canada: Status Pass · official page
Air Canada: eUpgrades and clearance windows · official page
Air Canada: eUpgrade terms and conditions · official page
Air Canada: upgrade your Air Canada flight · official page
Air Canada: Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy · official page
Air Canada: Maple Leaf Lounges access · official page
Air Canada: Aeroplan inactivity policy · official page
Air Canada: Priority Rewards for Elite Status members · official page
Air Canada newsroom: Air Canada redefines how members earn Aeroplan points and achieve Elite Status (August 2025) · official page