TL;DR: I’m materially better off under the 2026 rules. Using my actual 2025 travel, credit-card spend, and partner activity, I would have comfortably requalified for Aeroplan 75K and crossed the Super Elite threshold under the new Status Qualifying Credit (SQC) system — without adding any incremental flying. Under the 2025 SQM/SQD model, reaching Super Elite required a precise mix of long-haul premium flying and a timely double-SQM promotion.
Comparing my travel activities under the 2025 and 2026 rules:
A personal analysis with help from my travel-assistant buddy ChatGPT.
The Backstory
Earlier this year, I mapped out my 2025 travel with the goal of at least requalifying for Air Canada Aeroplan 75K status, and hopefully making it to Super Elite.
Under the 2025 rules, that meant hitting both SQM and SQD thresholds:
For 75K:
- 75,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM)
- $9,000 Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD)
For Super Elite:
- 100,000 Status Qualifying Miles (SQM)
- $20,000 Status Qualifying Dollars (SQD)
Air Canada has since announced a major overhaul starting in 2026:
- Status will be based entirely on Status Qualifying Credits (SQC)
- Earn rates are tied directly to spend, with different multipliers by fare type
- Credit‑card and partner spend can contribute up to 50,000 SQC per year
That’s a big philosophical shift away from distance flown. Many frequent flyers reacted negatively right away — but I wasn’t convinced it would be bad for me. So I ran my actual 2025 activity through the 2026 rules to see how things would shake out.
How SQC Works (Quick Primer)
- 4 SQC per $1: Flex, Comfort, Latitude, Premium Economy, Business
- 2 SQC per $1: Standard Economy
- 1 SQC per $1: Air Canada Vacations (full package price, incl. taxes/fees)
- 0 SQC: Basic Economy
Annual caps:
- Up to 25,000 SQC from Aeroplan premium/core credit cards (combined)
- Up to 25,000 SQC from everyday & travel partners (Uber, LCBO, Starbucks, etc.)
My Actual 2025 Year‑End Stats
Thanks to a year‑end summary email from Air Canada, I know that in 2025 I earned 497,889 Aeroplan points:
- 78,219 points from Air Canada & partner airline travel
- 342,819 points from Aeroplan credit cards
- 8,530 points via the Aeroplan eStore
- 42,563 points from Aeroplan partners
From a status perspective, that translated into:
- 141,580 SQM earned overall
- $20,400 SQD
- Super Elite achieved, flying mostly Comfort fare and above
Two of my trips in October benefited from a double‑SQM promotion, which helped push my mileage earn over the finish line. But for this analysis, the key question isn’t what I ultimately earned — it’s what my core 2025 travel pattern would have produced under the 2026 SQC model, without relying on distance multipliers.
My 2025 SQM & SQD (Baseline)
| Activity | SQM (2025) | SQD (2025) | Fare Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| YOW–YVR return | 6,612 | $2,250 | Business |
| YVR–YLW return | 576 | $662 | Comfort |
| YOW–YHZ return | 1,362 | $636 | Comfort |
| YOW–YYZ–HUX return | 2,660 | $857* | Standard (AC Vacations) |
| YOW–YYZ–YHZ return | 5,396 | $980 | Business (2× SQM promo) |
| YOW–YVR–SIN return | 62,923 | $12,622 | Business (2× SQM promo) |
| YOW–YVR–SYD return | 22,954 | $2,400 | Comfort |
| Credit card bonuses | 29,000 | — | — |
* SQD reflects flight‑credit portion only
2025 vs 2026 — Side‑by‑Side
| Activity | SQM (2025) | SQD (2025) | SQC (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| YOW–YVR (Business) | 6,612 | $2,250 | 9,000 |
| YVR–YLW (Comfort) | 576 | $662 | 2,648 |
| YOW–YHZ (Comfort) | 1,362 | $636 | 2,544 |
| YOW–YYZ–HUX (AC Vacations) | 2,660 | $857 | 3,039 |
| YOW–YYZ–YHZ (Business) | 5,396 | $980 | 3,920 |
| YOW–YVR–SIN (Business) | 62,923 | $12,622 | 50,488 |
| YOW–YVR–SYD (Comfort) | 22,954 | $2,400 | 9,600 |
| Credit‑card spend ($145K) | 29,000 SQM | — | 25,000 (cap) |
| Partner spend | — | — | 25,000 (cap) |
Totals & Percent to Target
| Metric | My 2025 Total | % to Target | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQM (2025 rules) | 141,580 | 142% | 100,000 (SE) |
| SQD (2025 rules) | $20,400 | 102% | $20,000 (SE) |
| SQC (2026 rules) | 131,239 | 105% | 125,000 (SE) |
My Progress Toward 75K Status
Using the exact same travel and spending pattern:
- 2025 rules: 75K was achievable, but Super Elite depended on stacking premium long‑haul flights and benefiting from a well‑timed double‑SQM promotion.
- 2026 rules: I exceed 75K SQC effortlessly and continue straight through to Super Elite, finishing more than 6,000 SQC above the threshold.
No mileage runs. No end‑of‑year positioning flights. No reliance on distance‑based quirks.
Why the 2026 Rules Work Even Better for Me
- Premium long‑haul spend finally gets full credit
My Singapore business‑class ticket alone generates 50,488 SQC, reflecting what I actually paid — not how far I flew. - AC Vacations pricing is fully recognized
My $3,039 HUX package earns 3,039 SQC, instead of just $857 toward SQD. - Card + partner caps are fully utilized
I reliably generate the full 50,000 SQC annually from non‑flying activity. - Fare mix alignment
Flying mostly Comfort and Business keeps nearly all my spend in the 4 SQC per dollar tier.
What About Super Elite?
This is where the story flips entirely.
Super Elite targets:
- 2025 rules: 100,000 SQM + $20,000 SQD
- 2026 rules: 125,000 SQC
Where I’d Land
| Year | Earned | SE Target | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 141,580 SQM / $20,400 SQD | 100K SQM + $20K SQD | Qualified (promo‑assisted) |
| 2026 | 131,239 SQC | 125,000 SQC | Qualified outright |
What I’d Need to Close the SE Gap
Under 2025 Rules
- Required precise routing, premium cabins, and bonus events
- No contribution from credit cards or partners
- Little margin for error if plans changed
Under 2026 Rules
- I clear Super Elite organically
- Even without one major long‑haul trip, I’d remain within striking distance via:
- Premium‑fare spend
- AC Vacations packages
- Card and partner activity (within caps)
The qualification path is broader, more resilient, and far less timing‑dependent.
Bottom Line on Super Elite
- 2025: Achievable, but fragile — dependent on distance, fare class, and promotional timing.
- 2026: Still premium‑heavy, but far more aligned with how I actually travel and spend.
Final Word
For my travel pattern — heavy credit‑card and partner spend, frequent long‑haul Comfort and Business flights, and periodic Air Canada Vacations packages — the 2026 Aeroplan rules are a structural win.
They reward consistency over mileage optimization, reduce reliance on promotions, and turn what used to be a carefully engineered qualification strategy into something that happens naturally over the course of the year.
For once, the system is built the way I actually fly — and that makes all the difference.
