I'm trying to rack up Altitude Qualifying Miles (AQM) to earn my 50K Air Canada Altitude status for 2017. According to AC's partner website, it looks I'll get 100% AQM minimum for any booking class on Ethiopian Airlines. As such, I'm tempted to fly Ethiopian Airlines for my yyz - NBO return flight this fall. It's cheaper than AC - and amounts to more AQM - because all AC itineraries to NBO include partners that offer lower mileage- 25% - 50%.

Is my understanding correct that partner mileage is credited as AQM mileage?

Thanks!