Air Canada Offers Double SQC on New Billy Bishop Routes for Elite Status Members

Air Canada is offering double Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) on its new US routes from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), giving Aeroplan Elite Status members a limited-time opportunity to fast-track their way toward the next status tier.

The promotion targets elite members with double SQC on eligible flights between Billy Bishop and four US cities: New York (LGA), Chicago (ORD), Washington (IAD), and Boston (BOS). Bookings must be made by April 30, 2026, for travel by August 31, 2026.

The Offer

Aeroplan Elite Status members who received the targeted email can earn double SQC on Air Canada's new Billy Bishop transborder routes. Here are the key details.

• Routes: Billy Bishop (YTZ) to New York (LGA), Chicago (ORD), Washington (IAD), and Boston (BOS)
• Booking window: April 9 – April 30, 2026
• Travel window: April 9 – August 31, 2026
• Eligible fares: Economy Flex, Comfort, Latitude, Business Class Lowest, and Business Class Flexible
• Bonus cap: up to 5,000 bonus SQC per member

Economy Basic and Economy Standard fares are not eligible, nor are Aeroplan flight rewards or Points + Cash bookings. Only new bookings made during the offer period qualify – rebooking an existing reservation into the travel window won't count.

Technically, this is a targeted promotion, but it appears to have been sent to a wide number of Aeroplan Elite Status members. If you hold any level of elite status, check your inbox for the offer email.

How the Double SQC Works

On eligible fares, Air Canada normally awards 4 SQC per $1 spent on base fare and carrier surcharges. Under this promotion, you'll receive an additional 4 SQC per $1, for a total of 8 SQC per $1.

Air Canada's own example spells it out clearly. A round trip between Billy Bishop and New York (LGA) in Economy Flex with a base fare and surcharges of $500 would normally earn 2,000 SQC. With the double SQC offer, you'd earn an additional 2,000 bonus SQC, for a total of 4,000 SQC from a single round trip.

The bonus SQC will be credited separately, up to six weeks after travel.

Using This Offer to Reach the Next Status Tier

With up to 5,000 bonus SQC available, this promotion could provide a significant boost toward your next Aeroplan Elite Status tier.

Each tier unlocks progressively better perks, from priority boarding at 25K all the way up to Signature Suite access at Super Elite. The most coveted milestone for many members is 50K, which grants Star Alliance Gold and Maple Leaf Lounge access.

Here's a quick refresher on the SQC thresholds for each tier.

Tier	SQC Required	Key Unlock
Aeroplan 25K	25,000	Priority check-in, boarding, extra baggage
Aeroplan 35K	35,000	Dedicated security lanes, 3x points multiplier
Aeroplan 50K	50,000	Star Alliance Gold, Maple Leaf Lounge access
Aeroplan 75K	75,000	Higher upgrade priority, 5x points multiplier
Super Elite	125,000	Signature Suite access, concierge service

The gap between 25K and 35K is 10,000 SQC, and between 35K and 50K is 15,000 SQC. A 5,000 SQC bonus covers half or a third of those jumps, respectively.

If you're sitting at, say, 20,000 SQC and eyeing that initial 25K tier, two well-priced round trips on these YTZ routes could push you over the line, earning your regular SQC plus up to 5,000 in bonus credits.

For members already tracking toward 50K, the bonus 5,000 SQC might be exactly the shortfall you'd otherwise need a few more flights to cover.

A worked example for status chasers

Say you book two round trips between Billy Bishop and Chicago (ORD) in Economy Flex, each with a base fare and surcharges of $500. Without the promotion, each round trip earns 2,000 SQC (4 SQC × $500), for a total of 4,000 SQC across both trips.

With double SQC, you'd earn 4,000 SQC in regular credits plus 4,000 in bonus credits, for a total of 8,000 SQC from just two round trips. That's double what you'd normally get, and could be the difference between staying at 35K and reaching 50K if you're already close.

Route Availability

Not all four routes are flying yet. Air Canada announced the expansion last fall, and the routes are launching in stages.

• New York (LGA): already operating (launched March 29, 2026)
• Chicago (ORD): service begins June 1, 2026
• Washington (IAD): service begins June 1, 2026
• Boston (BOS): service begins July 1, 2026

Since the booking deadline is April 30 but travel extends through August 31, you can book now for flights on routes that haven't started yet. Just keep in mind that the LGA route offers the longest travel window if you want to maximize your SQC earning across multiple trips.

US Pre-Clearance is now open at Billy Bishop, so you'll clear US customs before boarding and arrive stateside as a domestic passenger.

Conditions to Keep in Mind

A few conditions are worth highlighting before you book.

• New bookings only: reservations made before the offer period and changed to include eligible travel dates don't qualify
• Your Aeroplan number must be on the booking before travel – retro-credited flights are not eligible
• 5,000 bonus SQC cap: once you hit the ceiling, additional eligible flights earn SQC at the normal rate
• Bonus SQC do not count as Lifetime Qualifying Miles and cannot be converted to Aeroplan points

The promotion can be combined with other active offers, so keep an eye out for any stacking opportunities. If you're also earning SQC through an Aeroplan credit card, the card-based SQC will accumulate on top of your flight-based earnings as usual.

Conclusion

If you're an Aeroplan Elite Status member chasing your next tier, this is a smart excuse to try Air Canada's new Billy Bishop routes while padding your SQC balance. The convenience of flying from downtown Toronto to four major US cities is already appealing, and the double SQC sweetens it further.

With the booking deadline set for April 30, there's a narrow window to act, but the travel period stretches through the summer. Check your inbox for the targeted email, and if the math works for trips you'd take anyway, it's well worth locking in before the offer closes.