Aeroplan Elite Status: Targeted Buy-Up Offers to the Next Tier

As we approach the end of the year, we’re seeing a number of reports of passengers receiving email offers from Air Canada to “buy-up” to the next Aeroplan Elite Status tier.

This type of paid status upgrade has been offered in years prior, and it appears to be sent out to passengers who are relatively close to reaching the next tier.

Air Canada Offers Targeted Paid Status Upgrade

The qualification period for Aeroplan Elite Status runs from January 1 to December 31 of any given year. With just one month left in 2022, some travellers may find themselves a bit short of the requirements to reach the next status level to enjoy throughout 2023.

According to reports in the Prince of Travel community and the FlyerTalk forum, it appears that Air Canada has sent out targeted offers to buy up to base-level 25K status for $299 (CAD), and passengers with 35K status to upgrade to 50K status for $999 (CAD). 

The payments are processed through Points.com, but since there isn’t a public landing page for this offer, it’s likely bound to your specific account. If you’ve been selected for this offer, you must complete the purchase by December 12 to enjoy the new status in 2023.

Air Canada began offering these types of status buy-ups in 2016, although due to pandemic-related status extensions, it has been a while since they were last offered.

So far, we’ve been able to gather data points for status buy-ups from no status to 25K, and from 35K status to 50K. It’s possible that there are buy-ups to other tiers, so if you’ve received one, please reach out and we will update this post accordingly.

Furthermore, it appears that Air Canada may be sending the buy-up offer out to people who have made some progress towards reaching status in 2022, but who haven’t met one of the Status Qualifying Mile (SQM), Status Qualifying Segment (SQS), or Status Qualifying Dollar (SQD) requirements.

For example, one data point is from an Aeroplan member who currently enjoys 35K status, and thus far in 2022 has earned 30,000 SQM, 41 SQS, and around 6,000 SQD. Assuming that they’re over the 6,000 SQD mark, that means they’re short either 20,000 SQM or 9 SQS to reach 50K status.

With this offer, they can eschew the rest of the earning requirements and confirm 50K status for $999 (CAD).

Another data point is from an Aeroplan member who is much closer to 50K status, with 36,000 SQM, 46 SQS, and “well…