With the new year, it’s an opportune time to select your Air Canada Aeroplan Select Benefits for the year. If you’ve recently re-qualified for Air Canada Aeroplan Elite status, the start of the year is always an great time to identify your Select Benefits, so you don’t forget to do so during the year. In this post, I outline the Aeroplan Select Benefits offered and which benefits I typically end up selecting.

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Understanding Select Core Benefits for Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Members

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At the start of every year, Air Canada Aeroplan Elite members get the opportunity to select their Air Canada Elite Benefits. Given that the year has just turned over, I think it’s worthwhile just taking a moment to maximize your benefits for the 2025 travel year.

About Aeroplan Elite Status Benefits:

Air Canada markets their Aeroplan Elite program with both Core and Select Benefits across the Star Alliance network. Air Canada describes Aeroplan Elites as enjoying Core and Select Benefits across your Air Canada experience, from booking advantages, to in-airport premium services, upgrades and perks on your flight.

While the benefits get better the higher up you go, in my case re-qualifying as an Aeroplan 25K member, there is little point to waiting until later in the year to get access to your benefits.

While I’ve previously re-qualified at the Aeroplan E75, E50 and E35 level, most recently I’ve been acting as a free agent. As a result, this has left me re-qualifying at the Aeroplan E25 level, while at the same time re-qualifying as an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP.

While it’s a relief not to have to complete mileage runs, the Aeroplan benefits at the E25K level aren’t that aspirational.

Signing into Select Your Aeroplan Status Benefits:

The Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Select benefit selection is located well inside the Air Canada Aeroplan app. I usually just navigate to the Air Canada webpage, and follow the sign in process.

After clicking on your points balance, and selecting “My Aeroplan”, you’ll end up on your personalized Aeroplan screen, which should look like this below.

After selecting the benefits button, once you scroll down a little, you will see a series of tiles that indicate the number of current benefits that are associated with your profile.

If you’ve re-qualified, you’ll see a button on “Choose Benefits” on the far left hand side of the banner.

Choosing Benefits will take you to a core page, which will display your Core Benefits available with your status level. In my case, I re-qualified for Aeroplan 25K status as a result of work travel. These include Aeroplan 25K Priority Reward vouchers, and E-Upgrade Credits as part of the core benefits.

Air Canada 25K offer the choice of additional Select benefits. In my case, I’m offered the choice of the following benefits:

• 5 (additional e-upgrade credits)
• 25% bonus Aeroplan points with Air Canada and select airline partners
• 2 Maple Leaf Lounge One Time Guest Passes

If you want to take a look at the terms and conditions of each benefit, you can do so by selecting the drop down features on each tile.

After confirming your selection, you’ll get a caution that the benefits can not be changed, once confirmed.

After confirming the selection, the benefits were in the account almost immediately. By completing the benefit selection, you’ll be set up for flying for the rest of the year in a “set and forget” mode.

Marriott Bonvoy Partnership Elites will be delayed in applying:

It’s worth mentioning that those that have gotten their Air Canada Elite status challenge through the Marriott Bonvoy Elite partnership get delayed access to selecting their Select Benefits do not get the opportunity to make any Select Benefit selections. While I was able to immediately select my Aeroplan benefits shortly after re-qualificiation, those that obtained Aeroplan 25K status will have to wait until the new year (or batch processing) to get their invitation email.

The Marriott Bonvoy population will automatically be awarded Core Benefits of 20 E-Upgrade Credits. The Select Benefit options under the Marriott Bonvoy / Air Canada partnership are the same as regular tail in seat flying qualifying customers.

Which Aeroplan Select Benefits are better than others?

I find that these Aeroplan Benefits generally enhance your travels. While your travels won’t be revolutionized by them, they can add some comfort and value to your journey. The following are the highlighted 25K benefit offers:

5 (additional e-upgrade credits)

With everyone flying these days, I generally find less value in e-upgrade credits. In the last two years, I’ve only had them clear on short haul rapid air flights between nearby centres such as Vancouver – Calgary, Calgary – Vancouver, or Ottawa – Halifax.

While I used to be able to get them to clear on long haul trans continental flights on Air Canada Signature Class Vancouver – Toronto or Air Canada Signature Class Toronto – Vancouver during the pandemic, I find those days are long gone.

While E-Upgrades ey can represent good value by purchasing international premium economy and redeeming into business class, I only get enough e-upgrades to do this one way. This would mean that I’d have to fly back in premium economy on an international flight.

I’ve gotten better at finding paid business class fares, so this option doesn’t really represent a lot of value for my travel circumstances.

25% bonus Aeroplan points with Air Canada and select airline partners

I typically get a lot of value out of the additional bonus aeroplan points. As a result, I typically select this every year.

Last year, I earned 29,824 Aeroplan Elite Qualifying miles. With a 25% bonus, this represented an additional 7,456 free aeroplan miles, on top of regular elite qualifying miles.

While it isn’t offered on all Star Alliance carriers, my regular carriers including Air Canada, United and Lufthansa are included. As a result, there’s some value to be had by selecting this option.

2 Maple Leaf Lounge One Time Guest Passes

I am sometime travelling with work colleagues or sending MrsWT73 off unattended on adventures. As a result, i typically select this option.

I’m usually flying for work on Air Canada and am lucky enough that my company policy pays for business class. As a result, I often get complimentary access to the Maple Leaf Lounge. I also have an American Express Business Platinum Card, which offers Priority Pass access and access to many lounges through the American Express Lounge Collection. Because of this, I’m usually not stuck without access to a lounge.

However, there are occasionally times when I’m travelling with a co-worker who’s not travellnig in the businss class cabin. It has been convenient to burn one of these off when travelling together. Despite this, I did let one go to waste at the end of 2024, as it didn’t get used.

The Bottom Line: Maximizing your Air Canada Aeroplan Select Benefits

Its worthwhile taking a minute at the start of the year to maximize your Air Canada Aeroplan Select Benefits.

I typically chose the additional Aeroplan miles, along with the free Maple Leaf Lounge passes as they make the most sense to my travel patterns.

It only takes a minute to select your benefits, so make sure you don’t forget. Select them today!

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What Aeroplan Elite Select Benefits do you chose ever year?

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