Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge: Programme Profile

Aeroplan earning since 2026

For travel on or after 1 January 2026, Aeroplan members earn one Aeroplan point per dollar of base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges on eligible Air Canada flights, excluding applicable taxes, fees and third-party charges. [5] Aeroplan Elite members earn between twice and six times that base rate depending on the status held at the time of travel: the Elite multiplier is 1x at 25K, 2x at 35K, 3x at 50K, 4x at 75K and 5x at Super Elite. [5] The multiplier applies on eligible Air Canada flights and on eligible flights ticketed by Air Canada — ticket numbers beginning with 014 — and operated by Star Alliance member airlines, but not on flights operated by other airline partners. [5] Flights booked with Aeroplan points, or with a combination of points and cash, are not eligible for accumulation. [5]

Elite Status and the Core Benefits list

The tier structure the lounge question depends on is set out in Status Qualifying Credits, or SQC, which members accumulate within a calendar year: 25,000 SQC for Aeroplan 25K Status (or Everyday Status Qualification), 35,000 for 35K, 50,000 for 50K, 75,000 for 75K and 125,000 for Super Elite. [3] SQC come from flying Air Canada and Star Alliance member airlines, from select Aeroplan credit cards, and from travel and everyday partners. [3] Flights booked in the Economy Basic fare option accumulate no SQC at all. [3] Milestone benefits unlock at every 10,000 SQC accumulated up to 200,000 SQC, and at every 20,000 SQC after that. [3] The Core Benefits Air Canada names for Elite members include extra checked baggage, priority airport services and Star Alliance recognition. [3] Status reached in a qualification year is valid through the following year. [3]

Lounge access: what is published

Maple Leaf Lounges are listed under Premium Services, next to Priority Services and Concierge Services. [3]

Star Alliance recognition does appear in the Elite Core Benefits list [3], but the same pages do not describe what that recognition covers at a lounge, nor how a Star Alliance lounge entitlement would relate to entry under Air Canada's own terms. Because neither route is described in detail here, no guest allowance, access condition or fee is stated on this page for either.

Status continuity and points activity

Aeroplan points expire only if an account has been inactive for 18 months, and earning, redeeming, donating, transferring or converting at least one Aeroplan point within an 18-month period keeps the account active. [2] Expiry is paused until 30 November 2026: points that would have expired on or before 29 November 2026 will not, and from 30 November 2026 the normal expiration policy applies again. [4] Points do not expire at all while the member is a primary TD Aeroplan credit cardholder, an American Express Aeroplan cardmember, a CIBC Aeroplan credit cardholder, or an Aeroplan Elite Status holder. [2] Aeroplan says it emails members up to 60 days before points expire, and that points can be bought back for a fee within six months of expiry, reinstated by flying with Air Canada within six months of expiry, or reinstated by taking out an Aeroplan credit card. [2] These rules govern points and account activity; the sources do not connect them to lounge entry.

Exceptions and limits

• What the lounge pages would normally answer.
• Guest rules. No guest allowance is published for Air Canada's own lounge route, and none is published for a Star Alliance lounge entitlement, so the two cannot be compared from these sources. [3]
• Status-linked benefits are year-bound. Aeroplan Elite Status earned in a qualification year is valid through the following year, so any benefit tied to holding status depends on the status year in question. [3]
• Fare exclusions affect tier progress. Flights booked in Economy Basic accumulate no SQC, and reward flights booked with points or points plus cash accumulate neither points nor the Elite multiplier. [3] [5]
• Date-limited points exception. The pause on Aeroplan points expiry runs to 30 November 2026; the normal expiration policy applies from that date, so inactivity rules should be read against the date of travel rather than assumed permanent. [4]

Related pages

Programme: Aeroplan. Background: Star Alliance lounge access and lounge guest policy. Comparisons: airline lounge memberships compared. Terms index: glossary of frequent flyer terms.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. The sources are Air Canada and Aeroplan pages; Star Alliance lounge terms, Aeroplan credit card benefit guides and other Star Alliance member airlines' lounge rules are not covered here, and neither are Air Canada's airport-specific lounge pages.

1. Air Canada Aeroplan — Keeping your Aeroplan account active, checked 18 October 2026
2. Air Canada Aeroplan Elite Status, checked 18 October 2026
3. Air Canada Aeroplan — Points expiry suspended, checked 18 October 2026
4. Air Canada Aeroplan — New ways to earn Aeroplan points with Air Canada starting January 1, 2026, checked 18 October 2026