Aeroplan Elite Standing: How Do Milestone Advantages Work?

Air Canada has launched Milestone Advantages as a part of its revamped Aeroplan Elite standing. Importantly, Milestones change Choose Advantages, Threshold Rewards, and robotically awarded Precedence Rewards that members are accustomed to with the earlier program.

On this information, we’ll discover how Milestone Advantages work, with some basic dialogue of the very best choices at every tier and the way you would possibly want to method them.

How Do Aeroplan Elite Standing Milestone Advantages Work?

Underneath the present program, Aeroplan Elite members earn Milestone Advantages as they accumulate Standing Qualifying Credit (SQC) all through the qualification yr.

As a reminder, Standing Qualifying Credit are the metric by which you qualify for Aeroplan Elite standing and earn Milestone Advantages. In whole, there are 5 avenues by which you’ll gather SQC, and all depend in the direction of reaching Milestone Advantages:

• Paid flying with Air Canada
• Participating with Aeroplan’s on a regular basis and journey companions (5 Aeroplan factors earned = 1 SQC (as much as 25,000 SQC annually))
• Bank card spending (1,000 SQC per $5,000 spent on a premium Aeroplan card, 1,000 SQC per $20,000 on a core Aeroplan card, or by hitting spending thresholds on the Chase Aeroplan Card (as much as 25,000 SQC annually whole throughout all Aeroplan bank cards))
• 10% Head Begin profit on premium Aeroplan playing cards (to be launched in 2027)
• Bonus SQC as a Milestone Profit (see under)

You’ll earn Milestone Advantages for each threshold of 10,000 SQC collected (as much as 200,000 SQC), after which at each threshold of 20,000 SQC thereafter (as much as 1 million SQC).

Relying on the SQC threshold you attain, you’ll get an computerized allotment of eUpgrades, a collection of one Milestone Profit, or each.

The under desk summarizes Air Canada’s Milestone Advantages, together with what’s obtainable at every SQC threshold. 

Listed here are some basic notes in regards to the Milestone Advantages within the above chart:

• On the 10,000-, 30,000-, and 50,000-SQC thresholds, you obtain an computerized allotment of 10 eUpgrades
• On the 20,000-, 40,000-, and 60,000-SQC thresholds, in addition to each increment of 20,000 SQC thereafter (as much as 180,000 SQC), you may make a choice of 1 Milestone Profit
• On the 70,000-SQC threshold, and for increments of each 20,000 SQC thereafter (as much as 190,000 SQC), you obtain an computerized allotment of eUpgrades and might make a choice of 1 Milestone Profit
  • The automated allotment of eUpgrades is 10 on the 70,000-, 90,000-, and 110,000-SQC thresholds, and 20 thereafter
• On the 200,000-SQC threshold and for each incremental 20,000 SQC collected thereafter (as much as 1 million SQC), you obtain an computerized allotment of 20 eUpgrades and might make a choice of 1 Milestone Profit

As you may see, the Milestone Advantages obtainable at every SQC threshold differ, and as you accumulate extra SQC, the advantages turn into extra sturdy. 

Breaking Down Aeroplan Elite Standing Milestone Advantages

On this part, I’ll break down every of the obtainable Milestone Advantages, and I’ll additionally provide my basic ideas about each.

eUpgrades

eUpgrades are awarded each robotically and as a selection-based Milestone (on the 20,000- and 40,000-SQC thresholds solely) within the revamped Aeroplan Elite standing program.

Your eUpgrades will likely be legitimate for 12 months from the date on which they’re earned (both robotically or as a Milestone choice), or for twenty-four months when you have a premium Aeroplan bank card.

As a reminder, you may apply eUpgrades to Air Canada flights booked with money or Aeroplan factors and (probably) journey in larger class of service (premium economic system or enterprise class). 

In my view, eUpgrades might be extraordinarily highly effective and useful when you method utilizing them strategically. In some instances, you’re in a position to verify an improve upfront (which is extra usually the case with money bookings), whereas in others, you may up your odds of clearing the eUpgrade waitlist by balancing your standing with the suitable fare.

Listed here are some issues to bear in mind when you’re contemplating selecting eUpgrades over different Milestone Profit choices:

• You’ll be able to accumulate eUpgrades robotically as a Core Profit and by hitting SQC thresholds, so you might need to contemplate different choices when you discover that you’ve got a adequate eUpgrade stability on your wants
• Elite members at decrease tiers could need to bolster their eUpgrade stability with selection-based Milestones, because the Core Profit eUpgrade allotment is lowered for 25K, 35K, and 50K members underneath the present program
• Elite members at larger tiers (specifically 75K and Tremendous Elite) could need to forego selection-based eUpgrades in favour of different Milestones, as they’ll accumulate extra as they attain the upper SQC thresholds (and have an equal (75K) or larger (Tremendous Elite) eUpgrade allotment as a Core Profit)

Precedence Rewards

Precedence Rewards can be found as selection-based Milestones starting on the 20,000-SQC threshold, and in increments of 20,000 SQC thereafter (all the way in which as much as 1 million SQC).

If chosen, they’re legitimate for 12 months from the date on which they’re chosen. When you should use them by the expiry date, they are often redeemed for journey that happens after their expiry date.

As a reminder, every Precedence Reward will cut back the price of an Aeroplan redemption with Air Canada or any accomplice airways for one passenger by 50%.

Importantly, the applying of Precedence Rewards is dependent upon your tier of standing, outlined as follows:

• Aeroplan 25K: Economic system flights in Canada and the US
• Aeroplan 35K: Economic system and premium economic system flights in North America
• Aeroplan 50K: Economic system and premium economic system flights in North America
• Aeroplan 75K: Economic system and premium economic system flights worldwide
• Aeroplan Tremendous Elite: Economic system, premium economic system, and enterprise class flights worldwide

Listed here are some issues to bear in mind when you’re contemplating selecting Precedence Rewards over different Milestone Profit choices:

• In my view, Precedence Rewards are a powerful contender for a selection at most SQC Milestone choices, particularly since Aeroplan factors are comparatively simple to earn via bank cards
• Precedence Rewards legitimate for economic system and premium economic system flights are nice to make use of together with eUpgrades (particularly on Economic system (Latitude) and Premium Economic system fares)
• Tremendous Elite Precedence Rewards are extraordinarily useful, particularly when used with Aeroplan’s many accomplice airways (or to cut back the results of dynamic pricing with Air Canada and Choose Companions)
• Contemplate leveraging the Aeroplan stopover function (if obtainable) to spice up the worth of your Precedence Reward much more

It’s price noting that whereas the applying of Precedence Rewards isn’t altering, you now need to forego different Milestones to accumulate them, which I’d see as a adverse improvement.

Plus, the efficient spending thresholds to earn Precedence Rewards are additionally rising in comparison with the earlier program, although it’s additionally price noting that you could earn SQC with out flying underneath the present program, which additionally counts towards Milestone Advantages.

Maple Leaf Lounge Passes

On the 20,000- and 40,000-SQC thresholds, you may select 2 or 4 one-time Maple Leaf Lounge passes as a Milestone Profit, respectively. 

Every move is legitimate for one visitor to entry any Maple Leaf Lounge worldwide, and have to be used on a same-day Air Canada departing flight earlier than their expiry date (12 months from the date on which they’re chosen).

It’s price noting that Maple Leaf Lounge passes are now not supplied as a Core Profit underneath the present program, as they have been beforehand. They’re additionally legitimate for any Maple Leaf Lounge on this planet, whereas they have been beforehand solely legitimate for Maple Leaf Lounges in Canada and the US.

Listed here are some issues to bear in mind when you’re contemplating selecting Maple Leaf Lounge passes over different Milestone Profit choices:

• It’s at all times good to share lounge entry with household or mates; nevertheless, lounge entry is pretty simple to acquire by the use of bank cards (each for Maple Leaf Lounges and third-party lounge operators)
• Should you fly on a enterprise class ticket booked with money or factors, lounge entry will likely be included within the overwhelming majority of instances
• Aeroplan 50K members and up take pleasure in complimentary lounge entry and Star Alliance Gold recognition
• Different choices obtainable on the 20,000- and 40,000-SQC thresholds ought to lead to larger worth (specifically Precedence Rewards and/or eUpgrades)

Aeroplan Factors

At any of the selection-based Milestones, you may select to obtain a bonus allotment of Aeroplan factors. Relying on the SQC threshold, you’ll obtain 5,000, 7,500, 10,000, 15,000, or 20,000 Aeroplan factors. 

Aeroplan factors might be redeemed many alternative methods, together with flights, lodge stays, automobile leases, reward playing cards, merchandise, reside occasions, and extra. Whereas it’s good to have so many choices for redeeming your factors, you are likely to get the very best worth on your factors by utilizing them for flights, which is what we suggest over all different choices.

We worth Aeroplan factors at 2.1 cents per level (all figures in CAD), and utilizing this, we’d estimate the next worth at every tier of factors:

• 5,000 Aeroplan factors = $105
• 7,500 Aeroplan factors = $157.50
• 10,000 Aeroplan factors = $210 
• 15,000 Aeroplan factors = $315
• 20,000 Aeroplan factors = $420

In fact, you would possibly worth Aeroplan factors in a different way, and it’s actually attainable to get extra worth (particularly when you redeem them for journey in premium cabins) or much less worth (when you redeem them for reward playing cards, merchandise, and many others). 

Should you want a fast top-up to your account to carry you over the road for a flight redemption, it could possibly be price contemplating bonus factors at some thresholds. 

Nonetheless, Aeroplan factors are comparatively simple to return throughout by different means, so I’d in all probability look to different Milestone Profit choices and pad my Aeroplan stability with any of the next as a substitute:

30% Off Automobile/Resort Redemption

One of many new advantages that hasn’t been supplied to Elite members up to now is 30% off a automobile/lodge redemption. This feature is obtainable as a selection-based milestone starting at 20,000 SQC, and at each increment of 20,000 SQC thereafter (as much as 1 million SQC).

If chosen, you’ll obtain one promotion code that provides you with 30% off the entire value in factors for a single redemption for a automobile rental or lodge booked by way of the Aeroplan platform.

The promo code is legitimate via to December 31 of the yr following the yr it’s awarded. In different phrases, when you select this Milestone Profit in July of a given yr, the 30% off promo code could be legitimate via to December 31 of the next yr.

Listed here are some issues to bear in mind when you’re contemplating selecting 30% off a automobile rental or lodge redemption over different Milestone Profit choices:

• Should you select this feature, you’ll get the very best worth when you redeem your factors together with a HotelSavers lodge and the Fourth Night time Free profit
• With that mentioned, you’ll probably nonetheless get larger worth (from a cents-per-point perspective) by redeeming your factors for flights as a substitute
• For essentially the most half, I’d say that the opposite Milestone Advantages are higher selections (although it’s price noting that not everybody redeems their factors for flights)

Based mostly on our earlier analyses, the very best worth for redemptions apart from flights comes every time there’s an Aeroplan promotion that gives factors again for eligible lodge redemptions, particularly when you can stack it with the Fourth Night time Free profit for Aeroplan cardholders (and likewise a 30% off promo code).

In these instances, it’s commonplace to get worth of over our goal redemption worth of two.1 cents per level (although you may also get much less, so it’s at all times good to do the mathematics earlier than you redeem).

Aeroplan has put a number of effort into increasing the methods in which you’ll redeem factors, and in contrast to many different applications, there are nonetheless methods to get outsized worth for redemptions apart from flights.

30% Off Present Card/Merchandise Redemption

Much like the 30% off automobile rental/lodge redemptions above, there’s one other Milestone Profit that gives 30% off a present card/merchandise redemption. This feature can also be obtainable as a selection-based milestone starting at 20,000 SQC, and at each increment of 20,000 SQC thereafter (as much as 1 million SQC).

If chosen, you’ll obtain one promotion code that provides you with 30% off the entire value in factors for a single redemption for reward playing cards or merchandise by way of the Aeroplan eStore. Importantly, you need to have a Canadian residence tackle to be eligible for this Milestone Profit.

The promo code is legitimate via to December 31 of the yr following the yr it’s awarded. In different phrases, when you select this Milestone Profit in July of a given yr, the 30% off promo code could be legitimate via to December 31 of the next yr.

Listed here are some issues to bear in mind when you’re contemplating selecting 30% off a automobile rental or lodge redemption over different Milestone Profit choices:

• By and huge, the redemption worth for reward playing cards and merchandise is way decrease than what you’d get for flights, and even decrease than what you’d get for automobile leases/merchandise
• In virtually each case, I’d say that the opposite Milestone Advantages are higher selections, since they’re extra useful

Should you redeem Aeroplan factors for reward playing cards or merchandise on the Aeroplan eStore, you may count on to get a redemption worth of 1 cent per level at most, and normally much less.

Generally, the eStore launches promotions that provide larger worth on your redemptions; nevertheless, you’re nonetheless prone to get much less worth out of your factors than what you get by redeeming them for flights.

Bonus SQC

You’ll be able to choose varied quantities of bonus SQC as a Milestone Profit at particular thresholds. Word that these aren’t robotically awarded, however they’re obtainable as a range.

Particularly, you’ve got the choice of selecting the next quantities of SQC when you hit every listed SQC threshold as a selection-based profit:

• 40,000 SQC = 2,500 bonus SQC
• 80,000 SQC = 2,500 bonus SQC
• 100,000 SQC = 2,500 bonus SQC
• 120,000 SQC = 2,500 bonus SQC
• 130,000 SQC = 5,000 bonus SQC
• 140,000 SQC = 5,000 bonus SQC
• 160,000 SQC = 5,000 bonus SQC
• 180,000 SQC = 5,000 bonus SQC

If chosen, you’ll get the respective quantity of SQC deposited in your account, which may help you attain the subsequent tier of standing. You may have till December 31 of the yr during which the Milestone is reached to decide on bonus SQC, they usually’ll apply in the direction of your standing qualification for that very same yr. 

In different phrases, when you select 2,500 bonus SQC partway via a yr, it’ll depend towards your standing pursuit in that very same yr (and never the next yr).

Listed here are some issues to bear in mind when you’re contemplating selecting bonus SQC over different Milestone Profit choices:

• Since you may gather SQC with bank card spending and/or by way of participating with Aeroplan companions (along with paid flights), I’d say that the opposite Milestone Advantages ought to take precedence over bonus SQC
• On the identical time, selecting bonus SQC would provide essentially the most streamlined route in the direction of 50K standing and above, particularly when collected together with bank card spending, participating with Aeroplan companions, the Head Begin profit, and paid flying
• Should you don’t have an Aeroplan premium bank card, a reasonable quantity of spend, or different technique of gathering SQC, bonus SQC could possibly be price contemplating if it should enable you attain a better tier of standing or a significant Milestone Profit
• In my view, Precedence Rewards are nonetheless extra useful than bonus SQC

As I discussed above, you will get SQC by way of bank cards and Aeroplan companions, so you might need to shift your technique to these moderately than selecting bonus SQC over different Milestone Advantages.

With regards to getting SQC from bank cards, the Chase Aeroplan Card (obtainable within the US) presents essentially the most streamlined path to 25,000 SQC, as you’ll get 5,000 originally of the yr, 10,000 upon spending $25,000 (USD), and 10,000 upon spending $50,000 (USD).

On Canadian premium playing cards, you’ll get 1,000 SQC per $5,000 spent, which implies that you’d need to spend $125,000 (CAD) to max it out. 

If pursuing Aeroplan Elite standing is vital to you, then having the Chase Aeroplan Card or a premium Aeroplan card in your portfolio will likely be very useful.

Standing Passes

Standing Passes can be found as a selection-based Milestone Profit starting at 60,000 SQC and at each increment of 10,000 SQC thereafter (as much as 190,000 SQC). They’re additionally obtainable as a range on the 220,000-SQC threshold, and each increment of 20,000 SQC thereafter (as much as 1 million SQC).

Word that Tremendous Elites proceed to be granted with two Standing Passes as a Core Profit originally of every yr.

If chosen, you’ll get 2 Standing Passes (as much as and together with 120,000 SQC), and 4 Standing Passes for each obtainable possibility following that. The Standing Passes will likely be legitimate for 12 months following the date on which they’re chosen, although they are often utilized for journey past that date.

As a reminder, Standing Passes grant as much as eight passengers travelling on the identical reserving with premium journey providers previous to and on Air Canada flights. In different phrases, the advantages don’t apply to accomplice airways.

Every passenger on the reservation to which the Standing Go is utilized will take pleasure in the next advantages:

• Precedence airport check-in
• Precedence safety
• Precedence baggage
• 3 complimentary checked baggage at 32kg every
• Maple Leaf Lounge and Air Canada Café entry
• Precedence boarding (Zone 2)

On the thresholds that provide a selection between Precedence Rewards and Standing Passes, I’d probably suggest selecting a Precedence Reward for the explanations lined above.

On the thresholds that provide a selection between Aeroplan factors, Standing Passes, an Air Canada reward card, and/or a Standing Present, there’s a bit extra nuance.

Personally, I’d probably select both Aeroplan factors or the Standing Present (particularly 50K) over Standing Passes; nevertheless, you may additionally discover nice worth in utilizing a Standing Go for giant group bookings.

Air Canada Present Card

Air Canada reward playing cards of various quantities can be found as a selection-based Milestone Profit on the following SQC thresholds:

• 70,000 SQC = $150 reward card
• 90,000 SQC = $150 reward card
• 110,000 SQC = $150 reward card
• 150,000 SQC = $250 reward card
• 170,000 SQC = $250 reward card
• 190,000 SQC = $250 reward card

The reward playing cards can just about be redeemed for any time you must pay for one thing Air Canada-related: flights, the taxes/charges on an Aeroplan redemption, seat choice, and many others.

Given the opposite choices obtainable on the SQC thresholds at which reward playing cards are additionally supplied, I’d be extra inclined to go for a Standing Present, Standing Passes, or bonus Aeroplan factors, because it’d be very attainable to squeeze out extra worth from these than the worth supplied on the reward card.

Nonetheless, when you’re on the lookout for one thing with clear, tangible worth, then the reward card presents an easy possibility.

I believe it’s price noting that the reward card quantities obtainable via Threshold Rewards have been for as much as $4,000. Whereas this required accumulating a number of SQM, it’s additionally a a lot larger determine than the $250 obtainable via Milestone Advantages.

Standing Present

Upon reaching 70,000-, 90,000-, 130,000-, and 200,000-SQC thresholds, you’re in a position to decide on a 25K, 35K, 50K, or 75K Standing Present, respectively.

As soon as the standing reward is bestowed upon an individual of your selecting, they’ll take pleasure in standing for the rest of the yr and thru to December 31 of the next yr.

For instance, when you reward somebody 35K standing partway via a yr, it’ll be legitimate via to December 31 of the next yr.

Listed here are some issues to bear in mind when you’re contemplating selecting a Standing Present over different Milestone Profit choices:

• If the recipient could make good use of the advantages supplied at 25K and 35K standing, I’d say the Standing Present is a really compelling selection
• In my view, 50K standing is by far the strongest Milestone Profit supplied on the 130,000-SQC threshold
• Should you’re contemplating the 75K Standing Present at 200,000 SQC, keep in mind that you simply’d be leaving a banked yr of Tremendous Elite standing on the desk, which I’d argue is a stronger profit (except you’re a Lifetime Tremendous Elite already)

It’s good to see that the recipient will take pleasure in standing for the remainder of the yr that they’re awarded with standing, and thru to the top of the next yr. Standing Presents could possibly be significantly compelling selections in the event that they’re obtainable within the first half of the yr.

Banked 12 months of Tremendous Elite Standing

When you’ve hit the 200,000-SQC threshold, you’ll have entry to one of the vital useful Milestone Advantages obtainable: a banked yr of top-tier Tremendous Elite standing.

If chosen, you’ll robotically be granted with a one-year extension of your Tremendous Elite standing when you don’t requalify as a Tremendous Elite. That is how the profit is utilized as we speak when earned as a Threshold Reward.

In different phrases, when you attain Tremendous Elite in 2026 however qualify as a 75K Elite in 2027, the banked yr of Tremendous Elite standing would grant you with Tremendous Elite standing for 2027 as a substitute.

Should you hit the 200,000-SQC threshold, that is by far essentially the most useful profit, and I’d strongly suggest it above all different choices.

The one exception is when you already take pleasure in Lifetime Tremendous Elite standing as a 3 Million Miler, at which level you may take your choose from no matter different Milestones pique your curiosity.

Let Us Take Care of You

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Our skilled Concierge account managers will take care of all the things in your behalf: crafting a complete bank card technique, making certain you’re incomes elite standing and leveraging the entire advantages, redeeming factors for optimum worth, and saving you money and time on reserving journey.

Conclusion

Aeroplan Elite members now earn Milestone Advantages as a substitute of Threshold Rewards, Choose Advantages, and robotically awarded Precedence Rewards from the earlier program.

As you gather SQC, you’ll unlock Milestone Advantages that are awarded robotically, as a range, or a mixture of the 2.

Relying in your priorities, some advantages will provide extra worth or impression than others, and on this information, I’ve shared my opinions on the way you would possibly method them.