Last week, Air Canada’s Aeroplan loyalty program was ranked the best of its kind in North America, beating out many key competitors, according to airline loyalty watchdog point.me. With an extensive offering for everyone from occasional travelers to million-milers, Aeroplan offers passengers the opportunity to get the most out of their experience flying with the Canadian flag carrier.

Air Canada offers many premium benefits to its most loyal customers, who are all classified by different tiers of elite status. While there are many ways to evaluate the rewarding nature of a loyalty program such as by examining credit card offerings for award availability, looking at what perks are offered to elite status members can be one of the most effective.

The most important travelers need to be kept happy

High-volume frequent fliers tend to be some of the most important for an airline, as they purchase expensive business-class tickets that generate the majority of a carrier’s revenue, and they do so with impressive regularity. As a result, they are crucial to the airline’s financial success, and thus, carriers will pull out all the stops to make sure that they have comfortable experiences and are well taken care of.

Air Canada Tile

As a result, airlines have developed a system of elite status benefits that offers passengers an incrementally more lucrative slate of rewards the higher up in the system they go. Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is no exception, with multiple tiers of elite status offering passengers extensive opportunities to relax and enjoy their flight, as well as save on everything from inflight purchases to award redemptions. Let’s take a deeper look at elite status within the Aeroplan system, and how it compares to North American competitors.

A system with 5 tiers, each with its own benefits

To qualify for elite status with Air Canada, one must have earned a set number of Status Qualifying Miles (SQMs), which can be earned in several different ways. For starters, SQMs can be earned from expenses on the airline’s cobranded credit cards, of which there are multiple different options including some available in the United States. SQMs can also, obviously, be earned from flying onboard Air Canada with extra miles awarded for passengers who fly in premium cabins.

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Photo: Air Canada

These miles can then be used to receive status, once one passes a select threshold. The following table explains how many miles are needed to qualify for each status tier:

Status name:

Number of SQMs needed to qualify:

25K Status

25,000

35K Status

35,000

50K Status

50,000

75K Status

75,000

Super Elite Status

100,000 SWM, in addition to $20,000 in Status Qualifying Dollars

It is important to note that Aeroplan’s five-tier status system is different from that which is offered by most North American carriers, which typically only offer four tiers of status. American Airlines recently introduced a fifth, lower-status tier, but this one bears few similarities to Air Canada’s 25K tier and has far fewer benefits. For example, those with Air Canada 25K status are also offered Star Alliance Silver Status, while the lowest rung on the AAdvantage status ladder includes no Alliance benefits.

Pre-flight benefits and travel services

One of the best ways to evaluate an elite status system is to examine what pre-flight and travel service benefits are offered to passengers. For starters, all tiers of the Air Canada Aeroplan elite status system are offered the following benefits:

  • Access to the priority reservation waitlist
  • Complimentary preferred seat selection
  • Priority check-in at the airport
  • Priority airport standby
  • Complimentary checked baggage
  • Complimentary sports equipment handling
  • Priority boarding
  • Upgrade credits
  • Elite status extension benefits for business travelers who take parental leave

While many of these benefits are standard for all airline elite status systems, some are exclusive to Aeroplan. For example, United’s MileagePlus scheme does not offer elite status extension benefits and also does not give out upgrade credits to those at lower status tiers, according to the airline’s website. Of course, those with higher elite status on Air Canada will have access to more extensive benefits, including:

  • Three free checked bags
  • Priority security clearance
  • Air Canada lounge access
  • Complimentary access to Star Alliance gold lounges
  • Complimentary access to many non-star alliance lounges
  • Access to the arrivals lounge at London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
  • Access to the Air Canada Café
  • Elite status passes, which can be given to anyone and offer them all the benefits of elite status for an entire journey

Air Canada is quick to offer extensive travel benefits to those who have traveled enough to be part of their highest status tiers. These travelers are offered unquestionable, immediate access to lounges with few limitations, upgrade certificates, and an extensive ability to pass their benefits off to friends and family.

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Photo: Air Canada

One thing the system is lacking, however, is the ability to pass along residual status to family members. While one can offer a family member or friend temporary status for a journey, some airline loyalty programs, such as Delta SkyMiles, offer some elite status members to gift elite status to any other person who happens to be a SkyMiles member.

The bottom line: a very strong elite status system

Across the board, Aeroplan’s elite status system rewards those who fly Air Canada with regularity, providing them with a host of pre-flight and inflight benefits that greatly improve the travel experience. When held in comparison to other programs like United MileagePlus or Delta SkyMiles, Aeroplan often offers extra benefits that keep the passenger’s journey in mind and may make their life just a bit easier than their competitors when traveling for work or vacation.

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