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Aeroplan, which has more than nine million members, recently announced that, starting in January 2026, the company will shift to a revenue-based model that awards points based on dollars spent instead of distance flown. 

Under the new system, Aeroplan members will earn one point for every dollar spent on the base fare plus carrier surcharges and e-upgrade add-on fees of eligible Air Canada flights. Those who qualify for Aeroplan Elite Status will be able to earn up to six times the points.

Under the current system, members get points for every mile flown, at a rate depending on the type of fare. 

The new program “aims to provide more for members who are most engaged,” the airline said in its announcement.

“It’s a nice way of saying those who spend the most will get the most benefits,” says ɫɫ��-based personal finance and travel expert Barry Choi.

Today, if you purchased an economy flex fare ticket for $350 on a one-way flight from ɫɫ�� to Vancouver (around 2,076 miles), you would earn 2,076 points. More basic economy gave less than one point per mile, while Aeroplan Elite members earned points at the same rate as base members.

Under the new system, that ticket would earn just 350 points, but those with higher-tier memberships — now earned under a new, simplified status-point system — have the chance to earn a lot more. Aeroplan Elite 25k members will receive double the points, while top-tier Super Elite members get six points for every dollar, or 2,100 points on the same flight.

So, who wins with the new program? Frequent business travellers who often purchase expensive, last-minute tickets.

“Those who already hold status and usually pay cash for higher-end fares will find it easier to re-earn status and achieve those milestone rewards,” Choi notes. 

“The majority of our customers are travelling on short and medium-haul flights,” says Scott O’Leary, vice president of loyalty and product at Air Canada. “This is not a cost-saving measure for us. We’re going to be issuing the same amount of points, if not slightly more than we did before.”

O’Leary estimates more than 85 per cent of Aeroplan members will be the same or better off under the new program.

Patrick Sojka, founder of Calgary-based Rewards Canada, says the new system has more negatives than positives. He believes it will mainly benefit travellers who fly on their company’s dime or have the funds to buy more expensive fares that earn elite status faster.

Travellers who look for the cheapest price possible for longer flights will likely see the biggest hit, Choi says.

Montreal resident Stefan-Michael Wedenig says the changes to Aeroplan will be “disastrous” for him.

Wedenig has been an Aeroplan member since 2019. As the executive director at the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University in Montreal (he emphasizes he’s speaking from his personal experience and not as in his professional capacity), he typically travels to up to 30 countries, covering around 140,000 miles each year to visit family in Austria, conduct business in Asia and visit friends in ɫɫ��.

Wedenig currently holds 75,000 status points, which puts him in , with access to perks like complimentary lounge access and seat selection.

The new system replaces three different types of “status-qualifying” points with one total of Status Qualifying Credits (SQC), based on dollars spent. Members will get two times the SQC per dollar on standard fares and four times the SQC on flex fares and above.

The distance Wedenig travelled, plus the amount he spent and the number of flights he took this year, cleared him comfortably under the current system, he says, but if he spends roughly the same next year, it will only clear him for 35,000 points — two tiers down. 

“This is a huge downgrade,” he says, adding that he would lose lounge access and priority services. Air Canada has devalued the program and has the “audacity” to present it as an improvement, he says.

The new system “will disproportionally punish people with lower status,” he says, “even though they pay the same price as higher status customers.”

O’Leary acknowledges that not all customers are happy with the upcoming changes.

“It’s very difficult for us to stand up and say that these changes are universally positive because they’re not, but it really does depend on how you travel,” O’Leary says. “Our customers that spend a lot with us didn’t feel it was fair for them to be rewarded the same way as somebody spending one third as much on their ticket.” The higher up Aeroplan members are in their status tiers, he adds, the more they pay attention to the points that they earn.

For base Aeroplan members who don’t have higher status, the company is going to invest in frequent, more engaging promotions, he says.

“You might see triple points as an offer to go from ɫɫ�� to Vancouver or four times the points to go to New York.”

Sojka says there are upsides for the ultra-conscious budget traveller who only flies once a year (or less), since they may actually earn more points in the new program.

Right now, if you purchase the cheapest basic economy fare within Canada, you only earn points for 10 per cent of the distance travelled, so a 500-mile flight will only get you 50 points. Under the new program, you could earn 200 points for a $200 ticket.

O’Leary also points out that members at the lower level of the program have had difficulty telling exactly how far along they were in earning higher status levels. 

Lori Hayes, 62, a frequent traveller and Elite Aeroplan member who lives in Severn, Ont., appreciates the more simplified framework of SQC being based on dollars spent. (The current system requires customers to use the Aeroplan app to figure out three separate totals of Status Qualifying Dollars, Status Qualifying Miles and Status Qualifying Segments.)

“I think the revamp of the program may be easier to understand,” she says.

Hayes also has the TD Aeroplan Visa and says she currently gets $1,500 worth of value each year out of it.

For folks who are still hoping to earn Aeroplan points despite these changes, Choi points out that getting a co-branded Aeroplan credit card can earn you points on every purchase.

Under the new program, those who have a core Aeroplan credit card (such as the TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card) will also earn 1,000 SQC per $20,000 spent.

Those with a premium Aeroplan credit card (such as the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card) will get the same amount per $5,000 spent. 

“This is clearly a push to get more people to sign up for the premium card,” Choi says.

Regardless of what card you have, you’re capped at earning a maximum of 25,000 SQC on only credit card purchases. That works out to spending $125,000 on an ultra-premium Aeroplan credit card, or $500,000 of spending on a core card — a “pretty insane” total, says Sojka.

There are other perks to Aeroplan credit cards aside from earning points; families could benefit from one of the core credit cards since it includes free checked luggage on Air Canada flights, Choi says. Those who travel frequently for work may find the premium credit cards appealing since they come with extra Air Canada perks such as Maple Leaf Lounge Access and Priority Boarding.

For families who frequently fly with Air Canada, Choi suggests setting up an Aeroplan Family Sharing Plan.

“This allows up to eight family members to combine their points, enabling quicker redemptions,” he explains.

Choi says that for those who currently have 35,000 Aeroplan points or more, it’s probably worth doing some math to see what your current spend would get you under the new system.

“There are some user-made calculators floating around online already,” he says. “This will give you a clear idea of what you may need to spend to maintain your status.”

Nothing has changed as far as redeeming points, Choi points out.

“Aeroplan is still one of the most lucrative airline loyalty programs in the world since you can use your points on any available Air Canada seat,” he says.

Choi also suggests signing up for Aeroplan’s news and offers updates to find promotions that can boost the amount of SQC you earn.

“That can be very helpful if you think you’ll be short a certain amount for status,” he says.

It’s worth looking at other programs that may better suit your travel style. Those located in Alberta may find WestJet more convenient, Choi says, “but their loyalty program is still not as good as Aeroplan.”

Folks who fly often with Porter Airlines can check out their VIPorter loyalty program.

You may also want to consider a general loyalty program that offers more flexibility.

“For example, American Express Membership Rewards where you can use your points on any purchase charged to your card,” Choi says, while RBC Rewards (Avion) allows you to transfer your points to WestJet Rewards and British Airways Avios.

For those who are worried about losing out under the new rules, Choi says to start looking at other airlines for the best price.

“There’s no reason to be loyal if you’re not getting anything out of it.”