Air Canada’s Aeroplan program has just launched a generous status match promotion for members who are residents of the United States, with a twist.
In this post:
Air Canada Aeroplan’s status match promotion
Today Destination Canada and Air Canada have partnered to launch a new status match program intended to encourage travel from the United States to Canada. While the concept of airlines offering status matches to lure frequent flyers is nothing new, it’s interesting to see this essentially be a partnership between an airline and a national tourism organization.
With Canada having reopened to vaccinated Americans, the country is hoping to encourage tourism to Canada, though the most popular season for tourism to Canada has passed (though of course the country can be beautiful in the fall as well and offers lots of great winter activities).
I’d be fascinated to know the logistics here — is Destination Canada paying Air Canada for this, will Destination Canada just put money into marketing Air Canada and travel to the country, or what?
Also interesting is that this comes at a time when the Aeroplan program in general is growing in the United States — Air Canada Aeroplan just became a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, and the program is also expected to launch a co-brand Chase credit card in the near future.
How the Air Canada Aeroplan status match works
This status match opportunity is exclusively available to Air Canada Aeroplan members based in the United States. Here are some of the details of the status match:
- If you apply for a status match, you should be approved within three days, assuming you’re eligible
- Those who are approved for this offer will have their status matched through December 31, 2021
- In order to retain elite status through December 31, 2022, customers must book and fly one roundtrip with Air Canada that’s eligible for Aeroplan points accrual by January 15, 2022
- In the event that you fly January 1-15, 2022, you will briefly lose your status, but you’ll regain it again within five business days of taking an eligible flight
- The status match opportunity isn’t being marketed as being “once in a lifetime,” but it is stated that you won’t be eligible for another Air Canada status match for at least two years
- There are a limited number of status match opportunities available, so the campaign could be pulled before December 31, 2021, if spots are filled up
Which elite tiers will Air Canada Aeroplan match?
Air Canada Aeroplan will match elite status with most frequent flyer programs in the United States. Here’s the matrix showing what status can be matched:
A few things to note:
- United MileagePlus status won’t be matched, given that United is a close partner of Air Canada
- Air Canada Aeroplan Super Elite is probably the most valuable elite status in North America with published elite requirements, though that can only be matched from invitation only status with American and Delta; “published” top tier elite status with American and Delta gets you Air Canada Aeroplan Elite 75K
- If nothing else, Air Canada Aeroplan 50K and above will get you Star Alliance Gold status, which gets you perks like access to Star Alliance lounges even when traveling within the United States, priority boarding, etc.
- Usually I’d be very interested in easy Star Alliance Gold status, though Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer also has a promotion offering Star Alliance Gold status for transferring 250K points from a partner
- You can find all Air Canada Aeroplan elite status perks here
- It’s not entirely clear to me if those with matched status would receive eUpgrade credits, which are the currency needed for upgrades on Air Canada
Bottom line
The Air Canada Aeroplan program has launched a generous status match promotion for members residing in the United States. You can have your status matched in the Aeroplan program through the end of 2021, and then if you take a single roundtrip journey on Air Canada, you’ll get to keep your status for all of 2022.
This is quite a generous promotion, and I’m tempted to take advantage of this.
Will you take part in this Air Canada Aeroplan promotion?
Has anyone completed the flight? How long did it take them to update/extend your status afterward?
I just did this, it has been one of the most painful status match processes from the Air Canada side and Aeroplan. StatusMatch.com has been great. Air Canada and Aeroplan are a mess. Everything shows up as 75k on my profile - but Air Canada can't see it. They call Aeroplan and can't reach anyone. I guess you just have to be patient. I applied Nov 10, approved immediately, status didn't show up until Nov 23, still waiting on AC to see it.
Also received 50k and the choice benefits within a week. Also found more info on the qualifying flights needed to extend status through next sure From the status match faqs:
To retain status for 2022, you must book a new ticket, and complete the trip within the required timeframe.
Two flight segments flown on any Air Canada/Air Canada Rouge/Air Canada Express operated flight with an AC# flight number.
Flights must be credited to Aeroplan,...
Also received 50k and the choice benefits within a week. Also found more info on the qualifying flights needed to extend status through next sure From the status match faqs:
To retain status for 2022, you must book a new ticket, and complete the trip within the required timeframe.
Two flight segments flown on any Air Canada/Air Canada Rouge/Air Canada Express operated flight with an AC# flight number.
Flights must be credited to Aeroplan, and the flight must qualify for points earning (eg: no points/miles redemption tickets, no private fares)
Your ticket can be ticketed by any carrier (doesn't need to be an 014 ticket)
I received the 25K status and e-upgrade certificates. I am eager to see how lucky I am at turning those upgrades into a business class seat. I imagine there must be fierce competition for those seats.
Has anyone checked with them if mixed flights are valid. From where I live to Canada I would need to fly united on the first and last leg. Similar if I went to Europe from a larger city like sfo, I may still end up with a Lufthansa leg. I would buy the ticket on air Canada off course, but at least 2 of the legs would end up being codeshare.
Need a deep dive into “ In order to retain elite status through December 31, 2022, customers must book and fly one roundtrip with Air Canada that’s eligible for Aeroplan points accrual by January 15, 2022”
Are there any eligible affordable flights?
did anyone do the match & actually receive priority rewards?
Is there a link to the status match website in the article? Seems like a link would be useful.
Curious if two one ways rather than one round trip would work?
Can any of the newly minted elites advise how many e-upgrades they’ve earned? We’re yips able to select from bundles and what are the expiry dates?
matched to 75k. 35 eupgrades. Always expire at year's end.
actually have 55 credits
Does that mean we'll actually get two sets of Select benefits if we qualify for the extension? (i.e. 2021 and 2022)?
I'm looking at the 20 initial credits that posted, and they appear to be for the 2022 status year (they don't expire until Jan 2023), so I am guessing the Select benefits in general apply to the 2022 year, despite the status match/temporary status itself happening in 2021 (and expiring 12/31/21).
Got approved on Monday, still don’t see it on my Aeroplan Account. Any idea how long it takes to populate?
I didn't know that statusmatch.com existed until this promotion. I went there and created an account. Looks like they would help you match your status to various programs for free.
"Star Alliance lounges even when traveling within the United States" should be in its own story. At LAX, there are no longer ANY priority pass options...So if you're S.A. Gold, you can visit the S.A. lounge when flying on a United economy domestic ticket?
Does 75K Elite get you into United Clubs for domestic US travel, even when buying a UA ticket and crediting to UA?
yes, the *G status that you get will get you in United Clubs.
Isn't the TAP Portugal status match better? If you are an AA Platinum and want to get Star Alliance Gold?
looks like you answered your own question.
can you qualify for the extension by booking a partner and crediting to Air Canada?
no, AC metal
Air Canada Jazz counts?
I've been trying to apply and whenever I try to check my submitted application the system claims it doesn't exist. Anyone else having the same issue I'm having?
I did for a second, but then I realized that if you refresh and try again it solves the problem.
sorry I responded to the wrong question.
If I had a round trip international booking on United and I flew one way already in Sept (return is in Nov), can I change Frequent Flier number now I am SA Gold? Want to get the Gold benefits on the return trip. I gave a UA Frequent Flier number to United already.
Was denied after trying to match from companion pass. Emailed statusmatch.com to find out why.
I was approved matching to CC in less than 20 min
CP not CC
I took a screenshot of my mobile app showing my status and my companion pass however they only matched to my A-List status (25k status). Will have to email them today.
Any Air Canada flights which fly within United States. Cannot travel to Canada :(
Go get vaccinated.
It would be illegal for AC to operate. So no.
@Alex
Technically no. But Braniff and cruise lines did find some work around.
You killed the fun too soon, it would have been nice to see people actually trying to find these flights.
Submitted the status match application and got "conditionally approved" after just 20 mins. They seem to respond fairly quickly and I hope they will do the actual upgrade soon.
Do you know what "conditionally approved" means vs "fully approved"?
thank you! took roughly 1 min after the submitted email to go through for the approval email to hit as well. Approved to 50K from Alaska 75K
Is anyone else having trouble with the form? Nothing happens after I select Alaska in the drop down on the "Which US Airline do you have currently hold elite tier status with?" page.
I did for a second, but then I realized that if you refresh and try again it solves the problem.
Anyone happen to find a roundtrip flight on Air Canada that actually doesn't having you going to Canada? Would like to do this and stay w/in the lower 48 if possible and make a trip out of it, vs. just doing a mileage run. (have seen my fair share of Canada, hence why not interested in doing a trip there)
Actually the only route I think that doesn't go through Canada is EZE to SCL. Funny enough looking to travel between those two countries.
I don't think they resumed EZE-SCL yet.
Make a trip to Canada, what's wrong with that?
Don't tell me you've been to all 10 provinces and 3 territories.
Manitoba or Saskatchewan doesn't interest you more than North Dakota?
can't even search a US-US flight on their website
makes sense since they can't sell nor fly that
yes but should still be able to book ord-yyz-lga for example
@Jordan
You can book ORD-YYZ-LGA.
But how is that a US-US flight?
*G for a year? Yes please. I'll happily fly up to Canada for a day to get that.
Likewise. Cheapest I found was a $160 RT. If you find something cheaper ex YYZ or any other airport please extend this thread.
Just did it. Took about 5 minutes for my match to be approved to 50K from AA PlatPro. Didn’t really see a downside to doing so.
Alex, how about the current promotion where points generated through the BoA Alaska CC count towards status?
Good point, but "Members who qualify for MVP Gold 75K status via this offer are not eligible to receive the 50,000 bonus miles awarded to those who earn MVP Gold 75K status." Kinda tanks the idea because i'll be leaving 50k pts on the table
@Ben,and everyone else-Faced with a dilemma. I'm 5989 miles away from MVP75k (in seattle), and it seems like 50k starts getting good with aeroplan because of lounge access, SA Gold. Would you try to do a transcon mileage run (SEA-east coast) to secure 75k before the match? Looking at tickets, the soonest i could do it is october 10th, or 15-20th. Think it'll be gone by then?
Before we even get started, what do you need *A Gold for?
It make sense if you're making MVP 75K anyway. But to do a run just for *A might not be that useful.
What's the point if you want it for domestic UA lounge access but you still fly AS.
Thanks for the post! I am actually going to be in Canada soon and have already a few AC flights going! I am sort of curious on how they define RT flight but I have a few one way flights, so I hope it counts.
I don't expect much from AC but is good to have it for now!
Thanks Ben!
@ Ben if the eUpgrades are part of the package (and I dont see why they wouldn't be), then if a US FF status member has the time for a cheap roundtrip fare into Canada, why not? Latitude Attitude.
Think before you book.
48% on time performance
3 hour call center lines
Zero customer service when late
Horrible in the air and on the ground service all around.
As opposed to American, United? British?
The proposal is to get Status match, not to fly AC-operated flights.
Punctuality, call centre, service are irrelevant for the purposes of this opportunity.