Latest news with #points
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
How changes to Aeroplan's point system will affect you
Air Canada's loyalty program which allows members to earn and redeem points for travel, is changing how its points are earned next year. Aeroplan, Air Canada's loyalty program that allows members to earn and redeem points for travel, is changing how its points are earned next year, making it easier for the higher paying customers to now earn more. Air Canada said the new changes will let all members earn points on their flights based on the dollars they spend, instead of the distance travelled. 'Our new design aims to provide more for members who are most engaged – regardless of where they fly,' Air Canada's website read. Barry Choi, a personal finance and loyalty points expert says three types of people will benefit the most from this change – those with an existing status, frequent short-haul business travellers and the retired individuals who spend heavily on their travels. The new system aims to encourage higher spending and simplify status levels, according to Choi. 'Instead of earning points or miles or segment hints under the old system based on distance, it's now going to be based on spending,' he told on Thursday. 'So, some people will come out ahead, some people will come out below.' Status Qualifying Credits: What are they? Currently, Aeroplan members earn points based on a combination of elements – all of which can vary due to routes, class and cost, Choi explains. Status qualifying segments, which are the number of flights flown. Status qualifying miles, which is the distance flown. Status qualifying dollars, which is the amount of money spent. From Jan. 1, 2026, Aeroplan members will earn one point on each dollar spent on an Air Canada flight , excluding taxes and third-party fees. Elite members will be awarded more points based on their status tier. In the coming year, Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) will replacement all older requirements. To earn status from next year, travellers will require 25,000 SQC for 25K status, 35,000 SQC for 35K status, and so forth. 'While each member's activity will determine their new status level, we expect many of our current Elite Members will benefit from the expanded ways to accumulate Status Qualifying Credits,' Air Canada said. However, the basic economy ticket fares will not be eligible for SQC. 'If you want higher status with Air Canada, you're going to have to spend a lot more, also because the status qualifying credits are now capped on spending on the premium credit cards,' Choi said. 'It's not necessarily beneficial for you to keep spending on those cards.' 'Reward the people who spend the most' It all comes down to revenue, Choi explains. The new system is designed aiming to encourage more spending from high-value customers using different kinds of incentives. 'People who have figured out this the old system and gamed it, those tricks have been eliminated,' Choi said. 'People will have to kind of figure out new ways (to get benefits), and it's going to be a lot harder when it's mostly based on spending.' According to him, all major airline loyalty programs are using this kind of a revenue-based system to increase their profits and reduce the number of people with status, so those who have the benefits get an opportunity to use them. 'One argument may be made that there's too many people with status, which kind of dilutes the product,' Choi stated. 'They want to reward the people who spend the most, give them the most. And strictly from a loyalty standpoint, it makes sense.' Meanwhile, Canadians are not just collecting loyalty points, they want to use them, said Amra Durakovic, head of communications, Flight Centre Travel Group. 'From seamless upgrades to straightforward redemption, they're looking for loyalty programs that make travel feel simple, rewarding and worthwhile,' Durakovic told
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Canada's 9 million Aeroplan members have new rules to follow Jan 1st, 2026
Toronto Watch Aeroplan announced starting in the new year members will earn points based on dollars spent rather than distance flown. CTV's Pat Foran reports.
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Major changes coming to Aeroplan put top spenders first
Aeroplan is undergoing a major transformation, changing how members earn points, qualify for status and access benefits. Whether you're a casual flyer or a Super Elite, these updates will impact how you travel and how you're rewarded for it. Earning Aeroplan points on flights Aeroplan currently awards points based on a percentage of miles flown, which varies by route, fare type and class. For instance, 25% for standard economy within Canada and 150% for business class. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, members will earn one point per dollar spent on Air Canada AC-T base fares and surcharges (excluding taxes and third-party fees). Elite members will earn two to six times the points, depending on their status tier: 25,000 earns twice the points, 35,000 earns three times, and so on. Generally, longer flights will earn you fewer points in economy now, but Super Elites or those who book in business will earn significantly more. Status Qualifying Credits introduced Aeroplan Elite status is currently complex, requiring a mix of status qualifying miles (SQM), segments and dollars. You could fly often and still miss status because you didn't spend enough. The reverse is also true for someone who spent a lot on just a few flights. In the new year, Status Qualifying Credits (SQC) will replace all previous requirements. To earn status moving forward, you'll need: Members will earn twice the SQC per dollar spent on standard fares (base fares plus carrier surcharges, excluding taxes and third-party fees) and four times the SQC on flex fares and above, which includes business class. Basic economy fares won't be eligible for SQC. SQC can be earned not only through Air Canada but also via partners such as Star Alliance airline members, Starbucks, Uber and more. You'll also earn 1,000 SQC per $5,000 spent on premium Aeroplan cards or 1,000 SQC per $20,000 on core cards. SQC earned through partner and credit-card spending is capped at 25,000 each annually. New accumulation potential Getting used to this new qualification system will require some adjustment, so it's best to use real examples to demonstrate your new earning potential. For instance, a base member booking a standard economy ticket from Montreal to Toronto with a base fare (including carrier surcharges) of $171 will earn 171 Aeroplan points and 342 SQC. Currently, you would only receive 79 points and 79 SQM. A 35K member purchasing an economy flex fare from Toronto to London with a cost of $1,070 plus taxes will earn 3,210 Aeroplan points, slightly less than the 3,556 points earned now. However, your SQC will be 4,280, up from the current 3,556 SQM. Business travellers with status are the ones who will benefit the most from the new system. A Super Elite travelling business class from Vancouver to Tokyo-Narita where the base fare and carrier surcharges cost $9,367 will earn 56,202 Aeroplan points and 37,468 SQC. That's almost 30 per cent of the SQC needed to requalify for Super Elite status. In comparison, they would earn 6,990 Aeroplan points and 6,990 SQM under the current system. Changes coming to status benefits Aeroplan's new milestone benefits replace priority rewards, select benefits and threshold eUpgrades. Instead of receiving benefits at fixed status levels, members who have requalified for status now earn rewards every 10,000 SQC up to 200,000, and every 20,000 SQC beyond that. Some perks are automatic (e.g. eUpgrade credits), while others are selectable, such as priority rewards, 30 per cent off car/hotel redemptions, lounge passes, bonus points and gifting status to a friend. Although fewer eUpgrade credits are awarded at 25K, 35K, and 50K, you can earn more through milestone rewards. Additionally, since you can choose your benefits, it offers you greater flexibility since you can choose perks that you're most likely to use. New status members begin earning benefits after reaching 25K status and crossing 30,000 SQC, but anyone who has requalified would start getting their rewards at 10,000 SQC. Why have the changes happened The shift to SQC is all about boosting revenue. Frequent flyers are incentivized to spend more, especially with perks tied to higher tiers. Even mid-tier members may be tempted to spend more if a promo puts them close to the next level. Make no mistake, the extra perks that come with higher status could be worth it. Casual travellers shouldn't be too worried because earning status probably isn't a top priority. Also, the points lost from paid flights can be replaced by using an Aeroplan credit card, which gives you points with every purchase. Although it may seem like a cash grab, this is how loyalty programs are meant to work: Top spenders earn the best rewards. For dedicated Aeroplan members, the revamped qualification system offers a fair trade for more flexible and valuable perks. Barry Choi is a credit card and loyalty expert. He was previously affiliated with Aeroplan, but currently has no relationship with the brand.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Qantas points: Worth less or worthless?
COMMENT As an avid Qantas frequent flyer and points hacker, I've upped my game of late. I've maximised my tactics, managing to fly my family to Japan and back in business class for just $800 this year. I even scored business class upgrades to and from London. However, recent changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program have left me feeling less optimistic about the future. On the bright side, Qantas increased the number of points and status credits earned on some paid flights earlier this year. And they released 20 million domestic reward seats for members in late 2024. Today's news is not as positive. From 5 August 2025, Qantas Points will be worth less, particularly for redeeming Classic Reward flights, traditionally the best way to get value from your points. The upcoming changes mean Classic Reward Economy flights will need 5-20 per cent more points across most routes. For instance, the popular Sydney to Melbourne Economy reward flight is rising from 8,000 points to 9,200 points. International routes see similar hikes; Sydney to London in Economy jumps from 55,200 points to 63,500 points. For Business class, short domestic flights like Sydney-Melbourne will only see a modest 5 per cent increase, but the more desirable long-haul international business flights to destinations such as Singapore, Seoul, or Los Angeles will require 20 per cent more points than previously. The ever-popular Sydney-London Business route rises from 144,600 points to 166,300. These updates mark the first major adjustment to Qantas' Frequent Flyer loyalty program in six years, and represents an overall devaluation of Qantas points. Currently, 1 Qantas Point used for Classic Rewards typically translates to around 2 cents for Economy flights and 8 cents for Business flights. This value is set to decline, with domestic routes seeing value drops of around 10-20 per cent and international flights, particularly premium seats, facing even steeper declines. The situation could worsen if the RBA moves ahead with its plan to ban credit card surcharges – as that change will likely increase their costs – though a surcharge ban would potentially be fairer for Australian consumers overall. These developments pose a significant challenge for frequent flyers who rely heavily on accumulating credit card points. However, frequent flyers still have time to mitigate some of these impacts by focusing on maximising their points earning potential. My strategy involves continuing to maximise my Qantas points through purchasing wine (win-win), strategic credit card use (look for an earn rate of at least 1 point per dollar), and taking advantage of the Woolworths points exchange program with Qantas. These methods remain effective ways to counterbalance the declining points value and ensure my points still stretch far. Additionally, those looking to further boost their points balances should explore current credit card bonus point promotions, where Australia still offers some of the best value in the world. Whether you prefer Qantas or Virgin points, or the benefits of Amex, Mastercard or Visa, there are many options to earn more than 100,000 Points once you sign up and meet the minimum spending criteria. Just remember that point-earning cards typically have very high interest rates, so best not to get involved unless you are sure you can pay off your balance in full each month. While these changes represent a clear setback for dedicated frequent flyers, strategic planning can still deliver valuable travel opportunities. Be flexible with travel plans where possible, be opportunistic with credit cards (and bonus points), and consider regional destinations or Jetstar flights where available. Most importantly, avoid common pitfalls like redeeming points for retail items. This can cost you as much as 75 per cent of their flight-purchasing value. By maximising points earnings and redeeming them strategically, Qantas frequent flyers can still extract considerable value from the program despite recent adjustments. Maybe I'll see you near the front.
The Sun
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Join Yonder and get one month FREE and £50 worth of reward points
REWARDS card provider Yonder is offering new members the first month free and £50 worth of points. The points can be redeemed on any of its experiences or travel offers, helping members save on fun days out or their next trip abroad this summer. Explore your options with Yonder New members will receive 10,000 Yonder points, worth £50, plus additional points earned for every pound spent on your card when signing up for a full membership. These points can be used for everything from theatre tickets in London's West End, luxurious dining experiences, or cheaper flights towards your next holiday. Unlike American Express and other reward card providers, Yonder members can choose between a credit and debit card. Full membership Yonder credit card users can earn up to five points per pound spent, and Yonder debit card holders can earn up to four points. Shop with one of Yonder's partners, which includes florist Freddie's Flowers and European dining franchise Caravel, and you can boost your points to 25 per pound spent. How to claim £50 worth of points with Yonder Yonder is offering new members the first month free when signing up for a full membership. As part of the offer *, eligible users will receive 10,000 bonus membership points when joining, worth £50 in vouchers. After the first month, user will be required to pay a £15 monthly fee. If you choose a free membership, you'll only earn 1,000 membership points when joining – which is worth £5 in points. Whether it be a paid membership or a free card, you can apply for a Yonder card here. Yonder also has a free account where you can earn one point per pound spent, regardless of the card type. Remember, to take full advantage of these points make sure to pay your card back in full each month. This will avoid any interest charges, which could quickly add up and cost more than the value of your perks. Where can I spend my points? Yonder's rewards cover a range of unique, curated experiences, including tickets to Abba Voyage, dining at Italian-eatery Padella, and Frive meal delivery service. The city-based rewards can be used in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol or Bath, with access to more online lifestyle and travel experiences that can be redeemed across the UK. Only full members can redeem their points with Yonder Flights, which features Emirates, EasyJet, British Airways and hundreds of other airline partners for discounted airfares. All card users can also redeem their points with Unplugged, a holiday home rental service and Turo, a car rentals platform. Travelling with Yonder rewards Yonder users can also earn points while on holiday. All cards come with no fees on spending abroad, and full members can enjoy a few other travel-related benefits. This includes worldwide travel insurance worth up to £275 a year. It comes with cancellation cover of up to £7,500, medical bill cover of up to £1 million, and even winter sports cover of up to £500. As a regulated provider, all credit cards offer Section 75 protection, which makes Yonder equally responsible for any purchases that go wrong. Debit cards, meanwhile, offer FSCS protection, which protects up to £85,000 of your money in the unlikely event Yonder goes bust. * You'll need to be over 18 and a UK resident to apply. Approval is based on some financial info you share with us. Only spend what you can afford to pay back. Yonder Full Credit Card: The representative rate is 66.0% APR variable. If you're approved, a £15 monthly membership fee applies. For more information and full T&Cs, head to
