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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →It depends on where the card was issued. The U.S.-issued Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card awards automatic Aeroplan 25K status each calendar year. Canadian-issued Aeroplan cards do not automatically grant elite status: eligible card spending can earn Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) that count toward qualification.
Which Aeroplan cards grant status automatically?
Air Canada’s U.S. Aeroplan Elite Status page says the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Card awards automatic 25K status each calendar year. That benefit is specific to the U.S.-issued Chase card; it does not mean that Aeroplan cards issued in Canada automatically confer status. Air Canada’s U.S. status page also describes SQC earned through spending on that card. If the U.S. card is closed, Air Canada says SQC deposited in the current year may be removed and status or benefits resulting from those credits may be rescinded. Check the U.S. program terms for the card’s current conditions.
For Canadian-issued cards, Air Canada describes eligible card spending as contributing to progress toward status, not as an automatic status grant. The important distinction is between receiving a status level outright and earning credits that help meet its qualification threshold.
How Canadian Aeroplan cards help you qualify
For activity from January 1, 2026, Aeroplan status for 2027 and later is based on SQC accumulated during the calendar year. Eligible net purchases on a Canadian Aeroplan premium card earn 1,000 SQC for each $5,000 spent. SQC earned from Aeroplan credit cards share a combined cap of 25,000 per member per calendar year across cards and issuers. That cap applies to card-earned SQC; it is not the status threshold and does not describe other ways of earning SQC.
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Core cards have a separate SQC earning structure. The premium-card rate above should not be assumed for every Aeroplan card. Air Canada’s Canadian status page explains how eligible card spending contributes to progress and sets out the applicable card rules: Canadian Aeroplan Elite Status and qualification.
How many SQC are needed for Aeroplan status?
For status qualification from 2027 onward, Air Canada lists these calendar-year SQC thresholds:
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| Status level | SQC required |
|---|---|
| Aeroplan 25K | 25,000 |
| Aeroplan 35K | 35,000 |
| Aeroplan 50K | 50,000 |
| Aeroplan 75K | 75,000 |
| Aeroplan Super Elite | 125,000 |
These are total qualification thresholds, not amounts that must come from a credit card. Card-earned SQC can contribute, subject to the card-earning rules and annual cap. Under Air Canada’s status information, benefits begin when a member qualifies and continue through the rest of that year and until the end of the following year. The status level determines which benefits apply; individual benefits may have additional conditions. See Air Canada’s current thresholds and status details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the 10% Head Start does—and does not do
Beginning in 2027, eligible primary holders of an Aeroplan premium card who requalify for Elite Status can receive a 10% Head Start based on their SQC from the prior year. Air Canada’s stated conditions include approval for the premium card by December 15 of the previous year and holding Elite Status on February 15 of the qualification year. Air Canada’s Canadian status page sets out the program conditions.
The Head Start is a qualification boost, not a stand-alone status grant. It does not mean that a premium cardholder who has not otherwise met the applicable qualification requirements automatically receives Elite Status.
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What to check before relying on a card for status
- Issuing country and issuer: Confirm whether the card is the U.S.-issued Chase card or a Canadian-issued Aeroplan card; the automatic 25K benefit is described for the former.
- Card tier and earning terms: Check whether the Canadian card is core or premium and which purchases qualify for SQC.
- Annual SQC cap: For Canadian Aeroplan credit cards, card-earned SQC share a 25,000-per-member calendar-year cap across cards and issuers.
- Current qualification rules: Aeroplan qualification rules and card terms can change. Air Canada’s terms state that qualification is based on published requirements achieved from January 1 through December 31 of the prior calendar year; review the live terms for the applicable year and card before making a decision. Air Canada Aeroplan terms and conditions.
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