Air Canada has recently announced a new promotion that allows current elite status holders the opportunity to maintain their status through to the end of 2023.
Last year Air Canada launched several promotions which made attaining Aeroplan elite status levels quite achievable without ever paying for a revenue flight. I managed to achieve 35K status last year and have been enjoying the perks, particularly having access to e-upgrades. I was hoping that Air Canada would be offering some sort of promotion that might see me being able to maintain at least 25K elite status, and today Air Canada came through with a great promotion that should see me having my 35K status extended through 2023.
As long as you had Aeroplan elite status in 2022, whatever the level, you can maintain that status for 2023 by earning 30,000 points from purchases with an Aeroplan branded credit card on or before November 30, 2022.
What this offer does not do is provide you with an opportunity to increase your current status. If you currently have 25K status, then successfully completing this offer will provide you with 25K status for next year. Same goes, for 35K, 50K, 75K and Super Elite status - whatever status you have right now, this promotion provides that if you earn 30,000 points on an Aeroplan branded credit card, you will maintain your current status in 2023. If you think about the amount of flying and spend it would normally take to maintain, for example, Super Elite status, Aeroplan's highest level of status, it seems crazy that you could assure that status for next year by simply earning 30,000 points from purchases on your credit card. Quite a bargain!
How much spend does it take to earn 30,000 Aeroplan points on your credit card? The answer depends on the type of Aeroplan card you have. For the Amex Aeroplan Reserve credit card, you earn 3x points for every dollar you spend with Air Canada; 2x points per dollar for food delivery and dining; and 1.25 points per dollar for any other purchase. So, by way of example, if you have the Amex Aeroplan Reserve, the following spend prior to November 30, 2022, will allow you to maintain your status:
$2,000 on Air Canada or Air Canada Vacations = 6,000 points
$5,000 on dining out / meal delivery = 10,000 points
$11,200 on other purchases = 14,000 points
TOTAL: $18,200 spend to earn 30,000 points
Of course, other Aeroplan branded Credit Cards have different spend categories and multipliers. For example, the TD or CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege credit cards, both earn 2 points per dollar on Air Canada purchases, 1.5 points on travel, dining, groceries and gas and 1.25 points for all other purchases. The required 30,000 points could be achieved as follows:
$3,000 travel = 4,500 points
$4,000 dining = 6,000 points
$3,000 gas = 4,500 points
$10,000 groceries = 15,000 points
TOTAL: $20,000 spend to earn 30,000 points
Naturally your spend will be higher or lower than the examples provided above depending on the degree to which you can maximize the higher multiplier categories. As well, for some of the lower level Aeroplan credit cards with fewer multipliers, you will have to spend more money to earn the required 30,000 points, but given the time frame it's not insurmountable if you can put a decent level of spend through your card. Given that you would have almost the entire year to do this spend (up to November 30, 2022), earning 30,000 points seems fairly reasonable, particularly if you focus most of your credit card spend on your Aeroplan branded credit card.
Also of note is that if you currently have an Aeroplan branded card, the points you have earned since January 1, 2022, counts toward the 30,000 required points, so you may already be well on your way to maintaining your status.
If you have a secondary cardholder on your account, the purchases they make will also apply to the primary card holder's spend. However, this promotion excludes any points earned through welcome bonuses, acquisition bonuses, campaign bonuses or conversion of points.
Feel you missed the boat because you do not have an Aeroplan branded credit card? Fear not, the terms and conditions of this offer provide that if you do not hold an Aeroplan branded credit card, you can are eligible for this promotion if you apply for a card, are approved and meet the eligibility requirements for the offer.
Also, if you have more than one Aeroplan branded credit card, your points earning across all your Aeroplan branded credit cards will count toward the required 30,000 points.
Of note is that the terms and conditions provide that your credit card must be open at the time the offer is fulfilled for the elite status extension to be processes. This makes sense, so don't bother trying to fulfill this offer if you intend to cancel your card before your status extension is awarded. Furthermore, the terms and conditions also provide that if you cancel your Aeroplan branded credit card following the awarding of your status extension, Air Canada reserves the right to reverse the status extension. As always, make sure you carefully read the terms and conditions of the offer.
Conclusion
For all of you who took advantage of Air Canada's promotions last year to attain elite status, Air Canada's latest promotion provides a great opportunity to keep that status through to the end of 2023 by earning 30,000 Aeroplan points on an Aeroplan branded credit card on or before November 30, 2022. If you already have an Aeroplan branded credit card then all the points you have earned since January 2022 will count toward the required 30,000 points you must earn to extend your status. Even if you don't currently hold such a card, you can apply for the card now and start earning to extend your status. I, for one, plan to take advantage of this offer to extend my elite status.
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