World Traveller 73 
Targeted: Air Canada Offering Buy Up to Next Aeroplan Elite Status Level
Air Canada has announced a promotion for elite Aeroplan member travellers that happen to find themselves a little short of Aeroplan status miles for the end of the qualifying year. Air Canada is offering an opportunity for elite members to buy up to the next (or current) level of status instead of having to fly the required amount of qualification miles. This is a time limited offer and only makes sense under the right circumstances. As a result, make sure that this makes sense for you prior to spending your hard earned money.
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Targeted: Air Canada Offering Buy Up to Next Aeroplan Elite Status Level.
On Thursday of this week, existing Air Canada Aeroplan Elite members received a personalized email to their in boxes.
The marketing email offered an unique opportunity to buy up to the next Air Canada Elite level.
As always, some of these offers offer terrific value, where as others are better for convenience reasons of not having to spend a weekend away flying up to the next status level.
My Current Status:
I have earned Air Canada Aeroplan Elite status for about fifteen years. Aside from a few years off when I had children, I’ve almost always earned Air Canada Aeroplan 35K Elite status or equivalent.
My status this year is Aeroplan 35K. I found this to be about my personal sweet spot, at least before Air Canada cut off Maple Leaf Lounge access for North American lounges in July 2023 this year.
I have been travelling a lot less “tail in seat” miles with Air Canada these days. I have also flown a lot of shorter flights this year in propellor planes, leading to a higher than usual segment count but a lower elite qualifying mile count.
After I cleaned out my account for my latest Aeroplan redemption, I’ve only earned about twenty five thousand (25,332) Elite Qualifying Miles this calendar year. This is a lot less than the sixty two thousand, five hundred and thirty five (62,535) miles I’ve actually flown across all carriers. It’s also a lot less than I’ve flown in 2022 where I earned thirty eight thousand, six hundred and twenty two miles (38,622).
How is Air Canada Aeroplan Status Earned?
Air Canada Aeroplan Status is earned by flying a specific number of miles on Air Canada aircraft. The current structure of status levels has been in place for several years, with qualification required in both status qualifying miles, status qualifying segments and status qualifying dollars.
It’s important to remember that you need both the qualifying dollar amount along with either a segment or mile amount in order to qualify for the status. Aside from some Elite Qualifying Mile (up to Aeroplan Elite 25K) earning through an Air Canada co-branded credit card such as the Toronto Dominion Aeroplan Visa, all earning has to occur through flying on aircraft.
What does Air Canada Aeroplan Status offer?
Air Canada Aeroplan status offers a lot less than it used to. At the lowest level at Aeroplan 25K, you’ll be offered priority services that consist of Priority Check In, a small amount of e-upgrade credits that can be used to upgrade into business class, a 250 point minimum, a bonus on Aeroplan miles earned on Air Canada and select partners (United, Lufthansa), along with complimentary baggage allowance.
It’s worth mentioning that the Aeroplan Elite program doesn’t offer much that isn’t already available through the purchase of a standard Air Canada business class ticket. As a result, the main benefit of the Air Canada Aeroplan comes from when you are travelling in economy class.
The Elite Status Buy Up Offer:
From my targeted email, as an Air Canada Elite 35K that has only flown about 25,332 miles this year, I was offered a buy up back to my current Aeroplan 35K level.
The offer indicated that this would include 3 complimentary checked bags, priority baggage handing, priority rewards and priority security access.
The offer indicated that I had to purchase before December 18, 2023. The terms and conditions indicated that the status would become valid within 10 days and was based on a non refundable offer.
The offer would be processed by http://www.points.com. As a result, it doesn’t qualify for the category bonuses that typically come with credit cards that offer an increased earn rate for expenses based on travel.
In my case, the offer to buy up was for $499 CAD.
Unfortunately, there was no offer to buy up to the Aeroplan 50K level. This may have been something worth considering, if it was presented.
What I think of this offer:
In my humble opnion, the major steps in the Air Canada Aeroplan program are at 25K, 50K and 100K.
At Aeroplan 25K, a traveller gets all the benefits of the priority suite of services. These include a more comfortable route through the airport that includes priority check in, priority boarding, and complimentary checked baggage. Boarding in Zone 2 is always great for a traveler that usually goes with “carry on” only.
At Aeroplan 50K, a traveller gets all the additional benefits benefits of Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access, and Star Alliance Gold lounge access worldwide; including guest privileges. If you are a regular traveller, this can be a real benefit.
At Aeroplan 100K, a traveler gets access to the priority lines within the Air Canada network, especially at check in desks and at the Maple Leaf Lounges. The crowding has become much worse in the lounges and through the Maple Leaf Lounge network in general. As a result, if you’re flying this much, Super Elite status is the most rewarding level.
The incremental change between 25K, and my buy up offer of 35K, only offers priority baggage (that only seems to actually work about 50% of the time), a ten percent premium based on bonus Aeroplan miles earned, and a few additional e-upgrades. Since I am mostly flying on business class tickets these days, these incremental efforts aren’t worth $499 CAD.
Before receiving the buy up offer, I had debated doing a 6 segment oriented mileage run in order to push me over the 35k level through the old fashioned “tail in seat” method towards the fall of 2023. However, I ultimately decided that it wasn’t work the minimal difference in status level. Like many road warriors, I’d rather spend the weekend at home than sitting on a plane.
As a result, I have decided to pass on this particular offer.
The Bottom Line: Air Canada is offering targeted Aeroplan Status Buy Up
This week, Air Canada has sent out a targeted email to current Air Canada Aeroplan Elite status holders offering a buy up to the current existing status level.
These buy ups aren’t cheap, but they do offer you to maintain the current status level, without losing your valuable time and setting foot on an aircraft before the end of the year.
In my circumstances, the value proposition didn’t work, and I didn’t see the value in parting with five hundred dollars to maintain Aeroplan 35K status. I might feel differently if i was chasing 50K or 100K status, as those points offer great value in the Air Canada Aeroplan program.
World Traveller 73 
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