Your Guide To Aeroplan Elite Status

Aeroplan is a valuable loyalty program on its own, and reaching Aeroplan Elite status increases the value even further. Members can reach this level by accumulating a certain number of points within a calendar year, typically through qualifying purchases and flights.

Making use of the best Aeroplan credit cards can help you reach Elite status significantly faster, allowing you to enjoy premium perks like priority check-ins, free checked bags, eUpgrade credits, lounge passes, and more.

In this article, we explain the details of Aeroplan Elite status, including the associated benefits and whether it's worth it for you.

What is Aeroplan Elite Status?

Think of Elite Status as the supercharged version of the basic Aeroplan rewards program. If you’re already an Aeroplan member, maybe you already know that qualifying flights, travel segments, and purchases made with an Aeroplan credit card earn you Elite Status points.

Once you accumulate enough points in a calendar year, you become an Elite Status member for the following calendar year.

In addition to the core benefits that all Aeroplan members get, you’ll have the opportunity to choose select benefits with each Elite Status you reach.

How to get Aeroplan Elite Status

Flying Air Canada isn’t the only way to earn elite points, although it is one way to earn qualifying miles. You can also achieve Elite Status by earning enough qualifying segments and qualifying dollars or everyday purchases.

Take a look at what it takes to earn each tier, then learn about what each qualification entails.

Status qualifying miles (SQM)

When you fly at least 250 miles with Air Canada, you’ll earn status qualifying miles (SQM), which are a percentage of the total distance flown.

Keep in mind that you have to book a fare beyond Economy Basic to earn SQM. The higher the status you have, the faster you earn SQM.

Status qualifying segments (SQS) and status qualifying dollars (SQD)

You can also earn status with status qualifying segments (SQS) and status qualifying dollars (SQD). You’ll generally earn 1 SQD for every flight you take that’s not Economy Basic, and 1 point per $1 spent on base fare and carrier surcharges, Air Canada Vacations, flight passes, eUpgrades, and add-ons.

To earn 25K status, you’ll need 25 SQS plus $3,000 status qualifying dollars in a calendar year.

Everyday status qualification (EDQ)

You can also shop your way to Aeroplan Elite Status! We should quickly point out that this only gets you to 25K status. Every status after 25K must be earned by flight activity.

You’ll earn everyday status qualification (EDQ) by shopping at Aeroplan’s eStore and on everyday purchases you make using an Aeroplan credit card. Typically, you’ll get 1 point per $1 spent.

Aeroplan Elite Status benefits

Each Elite Status tier has core benefits that are automatically included – but you’ll also earn the ability to select benefits to personalize your travel. More on these benefits below.

Aeroplan 25K

How to qualify: 25,000 SQM or 25 SQS + $3,000 in SQD OR 100,000 points in eligible transactions in 1 calendar year

Core benefits

• Priority contacts and reservation waitlist
• Priority check-in and airport standby
• 2 complimentary checked bags and sports equipment handling
• Priority boarding and complimentary preferred seats
• Priority reward voucher
• 20 automatic eUpgrade credits
• Bonus Aeroplan points when booking Hertz or Avis
• Earn 2 bonus Aeroplan points when shopping the eStore
• Star Alliance Silver recognition

Select benefits

• 2 Maple Leaf Lounge passes
• 5 additional eUpgrade credits
• 25% Aeroplan Elite bonus (with Air Canada and select partners)

Aeroplan 35K

How to qualify: 35,000 SQM or 35 SQS + $4,000 in SQD

Core benefits

Reach 35K status and you’ll be rewarded with all the core benefits listed above, plus the following:

• 3 complimentary checked bags
• Priority baggage handling and priority security clearance
• 2 Maple Leaf Lounge passes

Select benefits

• 15 additional eUpgrade credits
• 35% Aeroplan Elite bonus (with Air Canada and select partners)

Aeroplan 50K

How to qualify: 50,000 SQM or 50 SQS + $6,000 in SQD

Core benefits

You’ll have to earn significantly more to make it to 50K Elite status, but you’ll get all of the core benefits of above tiers plus all of the following:

• Complimentary standard seat selection
• Complimentary preferred seats at the time of booking
• Complimentary access to Maple Leaf Lounges, Star Alliance Gold Lounges, and non-alliance lounges
• 2 Maple Leaf Lounge one-time guest passes
• Access to the Air Canada Cafe
• Threshold rewards
• Star Alliance Gold recognition

Select benefits

• 20 additional eUpgrade credits
• 50% Aeroplan Elite bonus (with Air Canada and select partners)
• 5,000 SQM and 5 SQS one-time bonus
• 2 additional status passes

Aeroplan 75K

How to qualify: 75,000 SQM or 75 SQS + $9,000 in SQD

Core benefits

The 75K tier offers the same core benefit as 50K, plus expanded priority rewards for Economy and Premium Economy flights.

Select benefits

• 35 additional eUpgrade credits
• 75% Aeroplan Elite bonus (with Air Canada and select partners)
• Aeroplan 35K status for a friend
• 3 additional status passes
• Aeroplan Elite World Wi-Fi 12-month plan

Aeroplan Super Elite

How to qualify: 100,000 SQM or 100 SQS + $20,000 in SQD

Core benefits

As you might expect, the best benefits are reserved for Super Elite status. You’ll get all of the core benefits of every previous tier, along with:

• Air Canada Concierge service
• 4 Maple Leaf Lounge one-time guest passes
• Access to London Heathrow’s Arrivals Lounge
• 1 eUpgrade nominee
• Complimentary changes and cancellations with Aeroplan flight rewards
• 2 status passes
• Complimentary in-flight refreshment

Select benefits

• 50 additional eUpgrade credits
• 100% Aeroplan Elite bonus (with Air Canada and select partners)
• Aeroplan 50K status for a friend
• 4 additional status passes

Is Aeroplan Elite Status worth it?

We scoured Reddit to see what real Aeroplan collectors think of the Elite Status offerings. Several mentioned how difficult it was to reach 25K with average travel, while people who travel frequently for work highlight how quickly they rack up points.

One Redditor notes that you can skip the hassle of tracking points, spending, and qualifying miles by getting a premium Aeroplan credit card, which offers some similar travel benefits – but it’s only worthwhile if you fly regularly enough to justify the annual fee.

FAQ

How do I get 25K Elite Status with Aeroplan?

There are three ways you can reach 25K Elite Status: earn 25,000 status qualifying miles, take 25 Status Qualifying Segments and earn $3,000 Status Qualifying Dollars, or earn 100,000 Everyday Status Qualification points.

How long does Aeroplan Elite Status last?

You accumulate qualifying points during a calendar year and enjoy the Elite status for the following calendar year. So, if you earn 25,000 points by November, you’ll have Elite status for the remaining month of the year plus the following calendar year.

Does 25K status get lounge access?

Yes, 25K Elite Status gives you two Maple Leaf Lounge guest passes for Canadian and U.S. lounges.

How do you get Aeroplan Elite Status without flying?

You can rack up Everyday Status Qualification points by booking hotels and car rentals. Plus, earn points for everyday shopping with your Aeroplan credit card – on average, 1 point per $1 spent. Don’t forget that you’ll also earn points by shopping at the Aeroplan eStore.