In August, Air Canada announced that it will move to a revenue-based model for earning Aeroplan points on flights and for Elite status qualification in 2026.
After the announcement, some frequent flyers and Elites raised concerns about how the changes would affect their pursuit of Million Mile recognition (and the benefits they’d enjoy), amongst other issues.
Recently, Air Canada has sent out an email detailing the confirmation of some amendments it’s making to the Million Mile program and a few other key updates, which we’ll go over in detail in this article.
For a full list of the changes, be sure to consult the updated FAQ sections for the new points-earning model and the new revenue-based Elite model on the Air Canada website.
Air Canada Makes Updates to Million Mile “Class-of-Service” Bonuses
When Air Canada announced its move to revenue-based earning for status and points on paid flights, one of the biggest concerns shared by frequent flyers was the removal of “class-of-service” bonuses on fares eligible for Lifetime Qualifying Miles.
To recap, Lifetime Qualifying Miles count towards your progress towards Million Mile recognition.
Currently (and for flights completed by December 31, 2025), you get bonus Status Qualifying Miles for higher fares.
This means that if you purchase an Economy (Comfort), Economy (Latitude), Premium Economy (Lowest or Flexible), or Business Class (Lowest or Flexible) fare, the bonus Status Qualifying Miles you get also count as Lifetime Qualifying Miles.
For example, Business Class (Lowest and Flexible) fares get 150% Status Qualifying Miles based on the distance flown. This means that you’d be credited with 1,500 Status Qualifying Miles and 1,500 Lifetime Qualifying Miles on a flight that measures 1,000 miles with the “class-of-service” bonus.
What this means is that people were rewarded for purchasing higher fares with a faster route to Million Mile recognition.
Now, when Air Canada first announced its move to revenue-based status, it was listed that class-of-service bonuses would no longer apply. This meant that no matter which eligible fare you purchased, you’d be credited with the same amount of Lifetime Qualifying Miles (100% of the distance flown, starting with Economy (Standard) fares).
Many Elites were very disappointed to see this go, and it was one of the primary topics discussed on our fireside chat with Air Canada’s Scott O’Leary.
In response to the feedback from members, Air Canada has tweaked the class-of-service LQM bonuses to be cabin-of-service bonuses instead.
In practice, this means that starting in 2026, when you travel on a cash fare with Air Canada:
- Any Economy fare (except for Economy (Basic), which isn’t eligible for LQM accrual) will get 100% Lifetime Qualifying Miles, based on the distance flown
- Any Premium Economy fare will get 125% Lifetime Qualifying Miles, based on the distance flown
- Any Business Class fare will get 150% Lifetime Qualifying Miles, based on the distance flown
Compared to before, here are the main changes:
- Economy (Standard) fares will get 100% LQM based on the distance flown, instead of the current 50%
- Economy (Flex) fares will continue to get 100% LQM based on the distance flown
- Economy (Comfort) fares will no longer get 115% LQM, and will get 100% LQM instead
- Economy (Latitude) fares will no longer get 125% LQM, and will get 100% LQM instead
- Premium Economy (Lowest & Flexible) fares will continue to get 125% LQM
- Business Class (Lowest & Flexible fares will continue to get 150% LQM)
LQM will continue to be awarded on a monthly basis for Unlimited Flight Passes.
Air Canada Makes Updates to Million Mile Benefits, Adds Tier
Continuing with the updates to the Million Mile program, Air Canada has added a new Million Mile tier, and it has also confirmed what Million Milers will get as added perks.
Beginning next year, Million Milers will receive the following perks based on their status as of January 1 of each year, which will be deposited in their accounts by the end of February:
- One Million Miles: 2,500 SQC
- Two Million Miles: 5,000 SQC and Aeroplan 35K Status for a friend
- Three Million Miles: 10,000 SQC and Aeroplan 50K Status for a friend
- Four Million Miles: 20,000 SQC and Aeroplan 75K Status for a friend
- Five Million Miles: 30,000 SQC and Aeroplan Super Elite Status for a friend
It’s worth noting that the status gifts must be completed by December 30 of the year in which the benefit was awarded. The recipient’s status will be valid through to the end of that benefit year.
In other words, if you gift someone with 35K status in January 2027, they’ll enjoy 35K status through to January 31, 2028 (the end of the benefit year).
To the best of my knowledge, Air Canada didn’t publish a Five Million Mile tier prior to this.
Other Updates to Notable Aeroplan Elite Status in 2026
There are two other notable updates that have been added to the Air Canada website: changes to the Banked Year of Super Elite status benefits, and Elite Points Multiplier being eligible for Air Canada-ticketed Star Alliance flights.
Changes to Banked Year of Super Elite Status Benefit
If you’ve earned a Banked Year of Super Elite status as a Threshold Reward prior to December 31, 2025, it will come with some extra benefits when it’s used to extend your status.
When your Banked Year of Super Elite Status Benefit comes into effect (which happens automatically the first time your status falls below Super Elite), you’ll now have 20 eUpgrades and a 50K status for a friend benefit deposited into your account by the end of February.
You must nominate someone for 50K status prior to December 30 during the year in which the benefit was awarded, and the nominee will enjoy status will remain valid through to the end of the benefit year.
Importantly, these benefits will not be awarded for any Banked Years of Super Elite Status Benefits chosen as a Milestone Benefit on or after January 1, 2026.
Changes to Points Accrual with Star Alliance Airlines
The last change we’ll cover today has to do with earning Aeroplan points on Star Alliance airlines.
When Air Canada first announced its move to a revenue-based points accrual system, the Elite Points Multiplier (which awards additional points per dollar spent based on your status) had the following breakdown for tickets issued by Air Canada (014 ticket stock) for travel on other airlines:
- If you’re on a ticket issued by Air Canada and flying with United Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Copa Airlines, you’ll earn revenue-based points with Elite multipliers.
- If you’re on a ticket issued by Air Canada and flying with all other Star Alliance and non-alliance partner airlines, you’ll earn revenue-based points with no Elite multipliers.
In other words, only flights with some Star Alliance airlines (on tickets issued by Air Canada) would be eligible for the Elite Points Multiplier benefit, which gives Elites a 2–6x points multiplier depending on their status level.
That’s now changed, and if you have a flight with a Star Alliance-member airline on a ticket issued by Air Canada, you’ll earn revenue-based points (1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on base fare and carrier surcharges), and the Elite Points Multiplier will apply (2–6x, depending on your status).
Note that the landing page for revenue-based points has this change updated in the FAQ section; however, the landing page for the revenue-based status hasn’t yet been updated at the time of writing.
My Take on Air Canada’s Updates
These latest updates to Air Canada’s revamped Elite Status and points-accrual programs come on the heels of feedback gathered following the initial launch.
Prior to getting into my thoughts on the changes, I think it’s worth noting that Air Canada actively gathers feedback from frequent flyers and Elites across various sources and implemented further changes to address some of the concerns raised.
I don’t think the same can be said about other sweeping changes that were made to loyalty programs by other airlines in recent years, and even if everyone’s most pressing issues weren’t fully addressed this time around, I believe it shows a good-faith effort to acknowledge concerns.
Changes to the Class-of-Service Bonus for LQM
In my opinion, the previously proposed changes to remove the class-of-service bonus for LQM was one of the biggest sources of contention from frequent flyers with the revamped program.
While it may not have gotten as much widespread attention as the move to a revenue-based format, removing the bonus from higher fares (Comfort and above) would no longer reward people who chose to spend more on their tickets with a shorter runway to Million Mile recognition (which comes with lifetime status).
With the changes to a cabin-based bonus rather than a fare-based bonus:
- Economy (Standard) fares become more rewarding (at least in the pursuit of Million Mile), as currently they get 50% SQM (and therefore 50% LQM) and will get 100% LQM starting next year
- Economy (Comfort) and Economy (Latitude) fares become less rewarding (at least in the pursuit of Million Mile), as they move from 115% and 125% LQM, respectively, to 100% LQM
- Premium Economy and Business Class fares retain the same 125% and 150% LQM accrual, respectively
If you’re on a trajectory to earn Million Mile recognition, then I think it’s worth factoring in these new accrual rates to your plan.
When available, Premium Economy (Lowest) fares become more attractive than Comfort or Latitude fares (at least when it comes to LQM and eUpgrade waitlists, but not when it comes to refundability).
Changes to Million Mile Benefits
As for the addition of benefits for Million Mile members (bonus SQC for all tiers and status gifts for Two Million Milers and above), I think it’s a bit of a mixed bag, especially compared to the status quo.
Million Mile members will continue to enjoy Core Benefits, such as an increased baggage allowance, Star Alliance Gold recognition, priority services with Air Canada, and much more.
However, two of the biggest changes for 2026 are the rejigging of the Core Benefit eUpgrade allotment and the merging of Select Benefits, Threshold Rewards, and Priority Rewards into Milestone Benefits.
If you’re someone who makes good use of eUpgrades every year, you may have to adjust your approach going forward (especially if you don’t fly as much as you used to, and hence won’t unlock Milestone Benefits).
When it comes to the adjusted Core Benefit eUpgrade allotment, One Million Milers (50K status) will start the year with 5 fewer eUpgrades, while Two and Three Million Milers will enjoy the same or more:
- 50K members get 15 eUpgrades (down from the current 20)
- 75K members get 20 eUpgrades (the same as now)
- Super Elites get 30 eUpgrades (10 more than now)
It’s a bit of a different story if you factor in what’s currently available through Select Benefits, specifically when it comes to eUpgrades.
Right now, Million Mile members get to choose Select Benefits every year, with options such as additional eUpgrades, bonus Aeroplan points, status gifts, and more, depending on your level of status.
When it comes to eUpgrades available through Select Benefits, you can boost your allotment by the following levels:
- 50K: 20 eUpgrades
- 75K: 35 eUpgrades
- Super Elite: 50 eUpgrades
Going forward, One and Two Million Mile members will have to continue to spend with Air Canada to collect SQC and unlock Milestone Benefits (though the 2,500 and 5,000 SQC bonuses will shorten the runway).
Three, Four, and Five Million Milers will unlock Milestone Benefits automatically with their bonus SQC:
- Three Million Milers get 10,000 SQC, which unlocks 10 eUpgrades automatically
- Four Million Milers get 20,000 SQC, which unlocks a further Milestone Benefit selection (Priority Reward, Maple Leaf Lounge passes, 10 eUpgrades, 5,000 Aeroplan points, or 30% off a car rental, hotel, merchandise, or gift card redemption)
- Five Million Milers get 30,000 SQC, which unlocks another automatic 10 eUpgrades
In sum, at least when it comes to eUpgrades, Million Milers will have to put in more effort (collecting SQC by various means and unlocking Milestones) to come across the same or a similar amount of eUpgrades they can currently get through Core and Select Benefits.
Perhaps Million Milers could also have an automatic further allotment of eUpgrades added into their account every year as a recognition of their loyalty over the years, similar to how anyone with a Banked Year of Super Elite Status (earned by the end of 2025) will.
Personally, I like the idea of adding annual status gifts to the benefits afforded to Million Milers, in addition to the lifetime status gifts available through the program.
In a way, it preserves one of the more attractive Select Benefits available to 75K and Super Elite members, but also adds gifting 75K and Super Elite status which isn’t currently possible.
Other Notable Changes
When it comes to the other notable changes, I think it’s interesting that Air Canada added 20 eUpgrades and a 50K status gift as perks for anyone with Banked Year of Super Elite benefits (earned up until December 31, 2025).
Once again, this adds a vestige of some of the “legacy” Core + Select Benefits, and I think it would a great permanent addition to the Banked Year Benefit, too.
When it comes to earning points (with the Elite Points Multiplier) on all Star Alliance airlines on Air Canada ticket stock, it’s a positive change that will benefit Elites whose travels take them beyond Air Canada’s route network.
At the same time, it’s worth comparing what your points accrual would look like for the same flight and class of service on non-AC ticket stock, as points are awarded based on fare booked and distance flown.
In some cases (likely long-haul flights in premium cabins), you may wind up with more points going with the distance- and fare-based format, though there are other implications to going this route too (when it comes to SQC and otherwise).
Overall, I think this a positive change, as it makes the calculation easier since you won’t have to figure out if the carrier you fly with is a Select Partner or not.
Conclusion
In response to feedback gathered following the announcement of the move to a revenue-based format for points accrual and Elite status, Air Canada has made amendments to some program features.
The return of the cabin-of-service bonus for LQM will continue to reward those who purchase premium cabin fares, while it’s a mixed bag for Economy fares (Standard up, Comfort and Latitude down).
Million Mile members will have some new benefits added, though how they stack up compared to the current state of affairs largely depends on whether or not you value (and make use of) eUpgrades.
