Introducing The Suite Talk Travel Show: The Prince of Travel Podcast

We're thrilled to announce the launch of The Suite Talk Travel Show, the brand new podcast from the Prince of Travel team.

The Suite Talk Travel Show is a roundtable-style show where our team dives deep into the world of Aeroplan, credit cards, travel hacking, and smart travel strategies – all from a Canadian perspective.

The first episode drops on March 14, 2026 at 10:00amET. In each episode, we'll break down the latest changes to loyalty programs, share personal experiences and insider tips, and explore destinations around the world.

Meet the Hosts

The Suite Talk Travel Show brings together four members of the Prince of Travel team, each with their own area of expertise.

What's in Episode 1

The debut episode is packed with timely content, starting with a deep dive into the biggest change in Canadian loyalty this year: Aeroplan's move to a revenue-based elite status system.

Aeroplan Elite Status in 2026

Air Canada has shifted from the old distance-and-fare-based model to a single metric: Status Qualifying Credits (SQC), based solely on how much you spend rather than how far you fly.

TJ walks us through what this means in practice. Short-haul flyers are seeing faster progress toward status, while long-haul economy travellers are falling behind – exactly as expected.

The team discusses the sweet spot of Aeroplan 50K status, which remains the most compelling tier for most travellers thanks to Star Alliance Gold recognition and worldwide Maple Leaf Lounge access.

Air Canada eUpgrades

The conversation turns to eUpgrades – specifically, whether there's more upgrade space in 2026 with fewer elites in the system.

TJ shares a detailed take: the reduction in available eUpgrade inventory has more to do with Air Canada selling more premium cabin seats to cash customers than with elites competing for the same seats.

The team also discusses practical eUpgrade strategies, including targeting secondary cities (think Toulouse or Osaka instead of Paris or Tokyo) and booking return flights to North America, where upgrade availability tends to be better.

One positive change for 2026: you can now share eUpgrades with up to four travel companions on the same booking, making it easier for families and groups to upgrade together.

Earning Aeroplan Points

The panel explores the evolving landscape of earning Aeroplan points, including why the Aeroplan eStore remains one of the most underappreciated tools in the program.

Chris raises an important point about crediting flights: depending on your status level and fare class, it can sometimes make more sense to credit Air Canada flights to United MileagePlus rather than Aeroplan – particularly for long-haul flights when you don't have high elite status.

A premium Aeroplan credit card continues to be the most efficient way to earn both points and SQC for status, collecting SQC at four times the rate of a core card.

Beyond Aeroplan: Flying Blue and Avios

The team also discusses alternative transfer partners for Amex Membership Rewards points, including Air France KLM Flying Blue and British Airways Avios.

Nancy highlights that Flying Blue offers a 25% discount on children's redemptions – a massive benefit for family travellers. Amy notes that Avios can be excellent for premium cabin redemptions to Asia via Qatar Airways, especially when paired with a transfer bonus.

Smart Travel: Exploring the UK

The episode's smart travel segment focuses on the UK as a destination, including tips on attractions, hotels, and how to get there from Canada. If you're planning a trip, don't forget about the UK ETA requirement.

Where to Watch

The Suite Talk Travel Show premieres on March 14, 2026 at 10:00amET. Check out the teaser below, and stay tuned for future episodes where we'll continue to dig into the topics that matter most to Canadian travellers.

Conclusion

The Suite Talk Travel Show has been a long time in the making, and we're thrilled to finally bring it to you.

The first episode drops March 14 at 10:00amET on the Prince of Travel YouTube channel. We'll share links to additional platforms as they become available.

This is just the beginning – there's a lot more to come.