Air Canada has revealed that there will be some approaching changes made to the benefits used on the Chase Aeroplan Card in 2026. Some are being phased out, while others are being adjusted or remaining the exact same.
These modifications coincide with the airline company’s relocation towards revenue-based earning in 2026, which we’ve reviewed in detail in a separate article.
Upcoming Modifications to the Chase Aeroplan Card in 2026
The Chase Aeroplan Card is getting a transformation in 2026, as Air Canada transfers to a revenue-based earning model and changes its Elite status program.
First off, the popular Level Up benefit is being ceased and changed with tiered awarding of Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) instead.
As a reminder, the Level Up benefit works by giving you a one-tier status increase to the status you have actually made when you invest $50,000 (USD) on the card in a calendar year.
If you have actually made a Level Up advantage throughout 2025, it will be honoured for the 2026 status year.
Moving forward, cardholders will receive 3 increases of Status Qualifying Credits rather, granted as follows:
- Get 5,000 SQC granted at the beginning of the year
- Get 10,000 SQC when you invest $25,000 (USD) on your Chase Aeroplan Card
- Get 10,000 SQC when you spend $50,000 (USD) on your Chase Aeroplan Card
The Chase Aeroplan Card is getting a transformation in 2026 As a reminder, Status Qualifying Credits will end up being the sole metric used to get approved for Aeroplan Elite status since 2026,
and with the Chase Aeroplan Card, you can gather as much as 25,000 SQC through credit card spending. New cardholders of the Chase Aeroplan Card will continue to take pleasure in Aeroplan 25K status
for the rest of the fiscal year, plus the following calendar year. Beyond that, cardholders can make 25K status by spending $15,000(USD )in a calendar year
, as they have in the past. However, to go up to 35K status, you’ll now require to invest$ 75,000 (USD)in a calendar year. Previously, cardholders might Level Approximately 35K status with$50,000(USD) in spending in a calendar year.
Spend$75,000(USD)on your Chase Aeroplan Card and get Aeroplan 35K status The other spend-based advantages, which award Top priority Rewards and the Global +1 benefit, are remaining at their existing levels. Chase Aeroplan cardmembers will continue to open Concern Rewards upon spending$ 100,000(USD
),$ 250,000 (USD),$500,000 (USD )and$750,000(USD ), in addition to the Worldwide +1 Benefit at$1,000,000(USD) in account invest. The
Chase Aeroplan Card Remains a Premium Card at a Mid-Tier Price Pound for pound, the Chase Aeroplan Card remains among the most powerful Aeroplan co-branded charge card readily available in any market. In exchange for a sensible $95 (USD) yearly charge, cardholders can gain from generous welcome offers (as high as 100,000 Aeroplan points), no foreign transaction charges, 3x Aeroplan points per dollar spent at supermarket, dining establishments, food shipment services, and on Air Canada purchases, and a variety of rewarding spend-based benefits.
Certainly, these types of welcome offers, earning rates, and benefits are normally booked for premium Aeroplan co-branded charge card in Canada, which command an annual charge of $599 (CAD).
The sunsetting of the Level Up advantage is undoubtedly a loss for savvy charge card and Aeroplan Elite strategists, especially because it used cardholders one of the most convenient paths to Aeroplan 50K status (which includes Star Alliance Gold acknowledgment), and Air Canada’s top-tier Super Elite status.
That’s because as long as you fulfilled the requirements for Aeroplan 35K status (35,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 35 Status Qualifying Segments, plus $4,000 Status Qualifying Dollars) or Aeroplan 75K status (75,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 75 Status Qualifying Segments, plus $9,000 Status Qualifying Dollars), and as long as you hit the $50,000 (USD) Level Up spending threshold on the Chase Aeroplan Card, you ‘d get bumped to Aeroplan 50K or Super Elite status, respectively.
Making Aeroplan 50K status normally requires 50,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 50 Status Qualifying Segments, plus $6,000 Status Qualifying Dollars, while Super Elite status normally commands 100,000 Status Qualifying Miles or 100 Status Qualifying Segments, plus $20,000 Status Qualifying Dollars.
For that reason, the Level Up advantage worked as a useful method to shortcut a significant portion of qualification activity.
With the sunsetting of the Level Up benefit, the “easiest” pathway to Super Elite status is being closed Despite the discontinuation of the Level Up benefit, the Chase Aeroplan Card will stay among the most effective Aeroplan co-branded charge card going forward, particularly if you’re a cross-border cardholder and Air Canada loyalist.
That’s because with Canadian-issued Aeroplan credit cards, you ‘d require to invest $125,000 (CAD) on a premium card (with a $599 annual cost) or $500,000 (CAD) on a core credit card to max out the 25,000 SQC you can collect through credit card spending.
With the Chase Aeroplan Card, you ‘d just need to invest $50,000 (USD) to get the same 25,000 SQC, which is roughly equivalent to $69,000 (CAD) at the time of composing.
Therefore, if you’re qualified for US charge card, the Chase Aeroplan Card remains a crucial tool to have at your fingertips to finesse your way through Aeroplan’s new Elite status tiers.
For business owners and high spenders, it’s excellent to see that Concern Rewards and the very financially rewarding Global +1 advantage are staying. If you can strike the limits, you’ll be rewarded handsomely; nevertheless, it’s worth noting that those are most likely out of reach for the vast majority of cardholders.
Conclusion
In 2026, the Chase Aeroplan Card is getting a makeover.
The profitable Level Up benefit is being ceased, and changed with 3 tiers of SQC that will contribute towards making Aeroplan Elite Status.
Cardholders can still spend their method to Aeroplan 35K status; nevertheless, it will need a total of $25,000 (USD) more spending than it does now.
Otherwise, the card stays among the powerful tools offered to Air Canada regular leaflets with ties to the United States, particularly given its expertise as a mid-tier card that comes loaded with premium features.