airline

Air Canada

Star AllianceHUBSYYZ · YVR · YULLast reviewed May 2026

Air Canada is the Toronto-based flag carrier of Canada (founded 1937), with a separate loyalty program (Aeroplan) that crazy4points covers in detail on its own page. The fleet runs roughly 190 aircraft: A220, A320/321 family, A330-300, 737 MAX 8/9, 777-200LR/300ER, 787-8/9. Hubs are YYZ (Toronto Pearson) primary, YVR (Vancouver), and YUL (Montreal). US gateway coverage is unmatched among non-US carriers - 50+ US cities served from Canadian hubs, essentially every major US metro.

Air Canada Signature Class (long-haul Business) is one of the better North American premium-cabin products: 1-1-1 reverse herringbone lie-flat on 787, 777, A330. The Signature Suite at YYZ, YVR, LHR, and YUL is a tier-above-lounge dining experience for Signature Class international passengers, separate from the Maple Leaf Lounge network. The standout Aeroplan-driven sweet spot for AC metal: NO fuel surcharges on partner-program-issued AC awards since 2020. That fuel-surcharge-free policy is the headline value of Aeroplan and a structural advantage when redeeming on AC vs. virtually any other long-haul Star carrier. Award chart and tier benefits live on the Aeroplan page.

Award chart

The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.

The cheat sheet.

See the rates

AC metal redeems at the Aeroplan partner-chart distance/region-band pricing. The full award chart lives on the Aeroplan page; key cells for AC as of May 2026 (verify post-June-2026 chart updates):

Route Cabin Aeroplan miles one-way
Intra-North America short-haul Economy 6,000-12,500
US-Canada transcon Economy 12,500-15,000
US-Canada transcon Business (Signature) 25,000-35,000
North America-Europe Business (Signature) 60,000-70,000
North America-Asia Business (Signature) 75,000-87,500
Within North America Business 15,000-25,000

NO fuel surcharges on AC metal via Aeroplan since 2020. Verify on aeroplan.com.

Sweet spots

Where your points punch above their weight.

Where this currency genuinely shines.

Show me the picks
  • AC Signature Class with no fuel surcharges via Aeroplan - structural advantage vs. heavy-fuel surcharges Star carriers (Lufthansa, SWISS).
  • Signature Suite at YYZ, YVR, LHR, YUL - tier-above-lounge dining for Signature Class international passengers.
  • Intra-North America from 6,000 Aeroplan - cheapest short-haul redemptions in the Star world.
  • AC metal on long-haul (787, 777, A330) all have lie-flat 1-1-1 J seats - consistent premium product.
  • A220 fleet expansion for thinner US routes from Canadian hubs.
  • Maple Leaf Lounges at hubs + select international - solid Star Gold lounge network.

Tier benefits

The status ladder. 5 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.

5 status levels.

Climb the ladder

25K

25,000 SQC (Status Qualifying Credits) in a calendar year

  • Star Alliance Silver
  • Priority airport check-in
  • Priority security at participating airports
  • 2 points per CA$1 on Air Canada flights
  • 3 complimentary checked bags (32kg) on Air Canada
  • Priority phone line
  • Free preferred seat selection on Air Canada

35K

35,000 SQC in a calendar year

  • All 25K benefits
  • 3 points per CA$1 on Air Canada flights
  • Same baggage and check-in privileges as 25K
  • Earlier zone boarding

50K

50,000 SQC in a calendar year

  • All 35K benefits
  • Star Alliance Gold (lounge access on all Star Alliance partners worldwide for member + 1 guest)
  • 4 points per CA$1 on Air Canada flights
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status (automatic)
  • Maple Leaf Lounge access on Air Canada flights
  • eUpgrade credits (start of year)

75K

75,000 SQC in a calendar year

  • All 50K benefits
  • 5 points per CA$1 on Air Canada flights
  • Higher eUpgrade credit allocation (20 credits at year start)
  • Higher priority on standby and upgrade lists
  • Maple Leaf Lounge guest privileges expanded

Super Elite

125,000 SQC in a calendar year

  • All 75K benefits
  • 6 points per CA$1 on Air Canada flights
  • Priority everything (boarding, baggage, irregular operations rebooking)
  • Maximum eUpgrade allocation
  • Concierge service for Air Canada bookings
  • Maple Leaf Lounge access for member + 1 guest at all times (not just paid travel)

Lounge access

Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.

Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.

See the rules

Air Canada operates Maple Leaf Lounges across its hubs (YYZ, YVR, YUL) and select international (LHR, etc.). Signature Suites at YYZ, YVR, LHR, and YUL provide a tier-above dining experience for Signature Class international passengers (separate from Maple Leaf). Aeroplan 50K and above (Star Gold) plus same-day AC business passengers get Maple Leaf access. Star Alliance Gold from any partner gets reciprocal lounge access on same-day Star international flights.

How to spend

The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.

The smart-money plays.

Get the playbook
  • AC Signature Class via Aeroplan partner award - no fuel surcharges on AC metal. Headline value.
  • US-Asia / US-Europe via AC metal on Aeroplan at chart-priced saver rates (verify post-June-2026 chart updates).
  • Intra-North America on AC short-haul from 6,000 Aeroplan economy.
  • Bilt 1:1 to Aeroplan as the cleanest US-flexible-currency path.
  • Amex MR 1:1 to Aeroplan for direct US-AC redemption funding.
  • Chase UR 1:1 to Aeroplan since the partnership launched 2024.

Tips & quirks

Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.

The fine print, decoded.

Spill the gotchas
  • NO fuel surcharges on partner-program-issued AC awards since 2020 - the headline value of Aeroplan and a structural advantage vs. heavy-fuel surcharges Star carriers.
  • Signature Suite at YYZ, YVR, LHR, YUL - separate from Maple Leaf Lounges; pre-flight dining for international Signature Class.
  • Air Canada Cafe - light premium product on select routes, between standard and Maple Leaf.
  • A220 fleet expansion for thinner US-Canada and intra-Canada routes.
  • 50+ US cities served from Canadian hubs - widest US footprint among non-US flag carriers.
  • Aeroplan partner-chart updates June 2026 - verify pricing on aeroplan.com after that date for current bands.
  • Founded 1937 - one of the oldest continuously operating North American carriers.
  • Award chart and tier benefits live on the Aeroplan page - this carrier page references the umbrella.

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Last reviewed: May 2026

Loyalty programs change rules, fees, transfer ratios, and award pricing all the time — sometimes without warning. We do our best to keep these pages current, but the program's own site is always the final word. Always confirm specifics directly with Air Canada before transferring miles or booking an award. Treat anything on this page as a starting point, not a guarantee. Crazy4Points is not responsible for actions taken based on information here — see our Terms of Service for full details.