Air Canada is back with another Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) promotion, and this one rewards premium cabin trips to Europe. Book a Premium Economy or Business Class fare by October 11, 2026, for travel through November 30, and you’ll earn 6 SQC per $1 spent instead of the usual 4.
Unlike July’s Montreal SQC promotion, this offer is targeted. Only Aeroplan members who received the email are eligible, so check your inbox for a message headed “Travel to Europe in comfort.” There’s no registration.
The booking window is only a week long, so if you’ve been weighing a late-fall trip to Europe, this is the time to decide.
The Offer at a Glance
The promotion covers Air Canada flights between Canada and Europe, including those operated by Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express.
- Who’s eligible: Aeroplan members who received the targeted email
- Booking window: October 5–11, 2026 (until 11:59pm PT)
- Travel window: October 5 to November 30, 2026
- Eligible fares: Premium Economy Basic, Standard, and Latitude, and Business Class Basic, Standard, and Latitude
- Bonus: 2 extra SQC per $1, for 6 SQC per $1 in total
- Bonus cap: none stated
Every economy fare is excluded, including Comfort and Latitude, and so are Aeroplan reward bookings, Points + Cash reservations, and Unlimited Flight Pass purchases. The trip needs to be a new round trip, or two one-ways, paid in cash.
Connecting itineraries can qualify too, as long as they start in Canada, the US, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Europe, include travel between Canada and Europe, and every segment is operated by Air Canada. Codeshare and partner-operated flights don’t count.
How the SQC Math Works
On eligible fares, Air Canada normally awards 4 SQC per $1 on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, before taxes and third-party fees. The promotion adds 2 bonus SQC per $1 on top, which works out to 50% more than usual.
Air Canada’s own example uses a Business Class Standard round trip between Montreal (YUL) and Paris (CDG) with $2,000 in base fare and surcharges. That trip normally earns 8,000 SQC, and the bonus adds 4,000, for 12,000 SQC in total.
Connections from the US work the same way. A Chicago (ORD) to Paris (CDG) itinerary via Montreal with $2,500 in base fare and surcharges would earn 10,000 SQC plus 5,000 bonus SQC, as long as both flights are operated by Air Canada. If the Chicago flight were operated by a partner, only the Montreal–Paris flight would earn the bonus.
Since the bonus scales with what you spend, it’s easiest to see across a range of fares. These figures use the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges only, so the price you see at checkout will be higher once taxes are added.
| Base fare and surcharges | Regular SQC (4 per $1) | Bonus SQC (2 per $1) | Total SQC |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | 4,000 | 2,000 | 6,000 |
| $2,000 | 8,000 | 4,000 | 12,000 |
| $3,000 | 12,000 | 6,000 | 18,000 |
| $4,000 | 16,000 | 8,000 | 24,000 |
| $5,000 | 20,000 | 10,000 | 30,000 |
Another way to look at it is the cost of each SQC. Normally, every 1,000 SQC takes $250 in base fare and surcharges, while under this promotion it takes about $167, a third less.
The bonus SQC post separately from your regular SQC, up to six weeks after you fly.
A real fare from Toronto to London
On an overnight non-stop from Toronto (YYZ) to London Heathrow (LHR) arriving Friday, November 13, Business Class Standard is currently priced at $8,808 one-way. Air Canada shows the points and SQC right on the fare card, and this one earns 8,728 base points and 34,912 SQC.
That SQC figure is the regular 4 SQC per $1 on $8,728 in base fare and surcharges. The promotion would add another 17,456 bonus SQC, for 52,368 SQC on that flight alone, which is enough to clear 50K on its own.
Remember that the bonus requires a round trip or two one-ways, so you’d need to book the return as well. One-way business class fares on this route are steep, so price the round trip and each direction before you commit. Premium economy on the same flight starts at $3,178 one-way, a much cheaper way into the promotion.
What Each Status Tier Gets You
The timing is what makes this one interesting. Every eligible flight happens before the end of November, which makes it a late chance to boost this year’s status run. Just keep in mind that the bonus can take up to six weeks after your trip to post.
As a refresher, this is what each Aeroplan Elite Status tier requires and includes.
| Tier | SQC Required | Star Alliance Status | eUpgrade Credits | Points Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroplan 25K | 25,000 | Silver | 5 | 2x |
| Aeroplan 35K | 35,000 | Silver | 10 | 3x |
| Aeroplan 50K | 50,000 | Gold | 15 | 4x |
| Aeroplan 75K | 75,000 | Gold | 20 | 5x |
| Super Elite | 125,000 | Gold | 30 | 6x |
For most members, 50K is the tier worth stretching for. It’s where Star Alliance Gold kicks in, along with Maple Leaf Lounge and Star Alliance Gold lounge access worldwide with one guest.
The tiers below it still have plenty to offer. Aeroplan 35K brings dedicated security lanes at major Canadian airports and three checked bags, while 25K adds priority check-in and boarding and an extra checked bag.
Putting the Bonus to Work
The bonus is most useful when you’re a specific distance from your next tier. These are the scenarios where it does the most work.
From 35K to 50K with one trip
Say you’re sitting at 35,000 SQC for the year. A premium economy or business class round trip to Europe with $2,500 in base fare and surcharges would earn 15,000 SQC with the bonus, which is exactly enough to reach 50K.
Without the promotion, you’d need $3,750 in base fare and surcharges to earn the same 15,000 SQC. If I were that close to 50K and had a free week in November, this is the kind of offer I’d act on.
Combining flights with credit card SQC
Aeroplan credit cards can do a lot of the heavy lifting before you ever book a flight. The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, for example, earns 1,000 SQC for every $5,000 in eligible spending, up to 25,000 SQC a year, and that 25,000 SQC ceiling applies across all of your Aeroplan cards.
If you’ve already maxed out your card SQC, you’d need another 25,000 SQC from flying to reach 50K. Under this promotion, that takes about $4,170 in base fare and surcharges, compared with $6,250 normally.
Premium economy or business class?
Both cabins earn the same 6 SQC per $1, so neither one is a better deal per dollar. Business class simply earns more SQC per trip because it costs more.
That makes this a pricing exercise more than a cabin decision. If you’re chasing a specific number, I’d price both cabins and pick whichever lands closest to your target without overshooting by much.
Basic fares are worth a look, too. Premium Economy Basic and Business Class Basic still earn full SQC, and both are on the eligible list, so the cheapest premium fare earns the bonus if it fits how you travel.
You’ll Earn Aeroplan Points Too
The promotion only boosts SQC, but these flights still earn Aeroplan points the usual way. Since January 1, 2026, Air Canada flights earn 1 point per $1 on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, and Aeroplan Elite Status members earn between 2x and 6x in total depending on their tier.
On a round trip with $2,500 in base fare and surcharges, a member without status would earn 2,500 points, while a 35K member would earn 7,500 and a 50K member would earn 10,000. The bonus SQC don’t add any points on top.
Paying with an Aeroplan credit card adds card points on the purchase as well, and our Aeroplan credit card comparison covers how each card earns.
Booking Tips and Conditions
A few details are worth confirming before you book.
- Round trip or two one-ways: the terms describe a round trip or two one-way trips, so a single one-way booking may not qualify
- New bookings only: reservations made before October 5 don’t count, even if you change the dates to fall inside the travel window
- Aeroplan number on the booking before travel: add it on aircanada.com under Manage My Bookings if it’s missing, since retro-credit requests aren’t eligible
- Air Canada-operated flights only: pick Air Canada-operated connections, since codeshare, interline, and partner flights earn no bonus
- Cash fares only: reward bookings, Points + Cash, and flight passes are excluded
- Not Lifetime Qualifying Miles: bonus SQC don’t count toward Million Mile recognition
The offer can be combined with other promotions, and SQC from your Aeroplan credit cards keep posting as usual alongside your flight earning.
For historical context, these are the recent SQC promotions Air Canada has run:
- Fall 2026 (current): 6 SQC per $1, a 50% bonus, on Premium Economy and Business Class fares between Canada and Europe for targeted members, with no cap stated. Book October 5 to 11, 2026, for travel through November 30, 2026.
- Summer 2026 (Montreal): 6 SQC per $1, a 50% bonus, on Economy Flex fares and above between Montreal and the rest of Canada, open to all Aeroplan members, with no cap stated. Book July 16 to 22, 2026, for travel through September 15, 2026.
- Summer 2026 (Billy Bishop): Double SQC, or 8 SQC per $1, on Economy Flex fares and above between Billy Bishop and Chicago, Washington, and Boston for targeted elite members, up to 5,000 bonus SQC. Book May 29 to June 30, 2026, for travel through August 31, 2026.
- Spring 2026 (Billy Bishop): Double SQC, or 8 SQC per $1, on Economy Flex fares and above between Billy Bishop and New York, Chicago, Washington, and Boston for targeted elite members, up to 5,000 bonus SQC. Book April 9 to 30, 2026, for travel through August 31, 2026.
The pattern so far is short booking windows, usually a week to a month, and a mix of targeted and open offers. Premium cabins to Europe are a first.
Conclusion
This is a narrow offer. It’s targeted, it only covers premium cabins to Europe, and the booking window closes on October 11, 2026.
If the email landed in your inbox and you’re within reach of your next tier, a fall trip to Europe in premium economy or business class could close the gap at a third less spend than usual. If you weren’t planning to fly to Europe before December, it’s not worth forcing a trip just for the SQC.
This story originally appeared on princeoftravel
