Originally Posted by nall

This may overlap with general AC questions, but is there some easy way to get higher level status (beyond 35K) with primarily card spend? From what I understand of the AC program, you need SQD in addition to SQS/SQM and SQD is not earned on Star Alliance flights, and no SQS/SQM/SQD is ever earned on award flights. I assume the initial 25K status doesn't help in qualifying for a higher level, so if I wanted to level up to (say) 50K, I'd have to qualify for 35K completely organically on paid AC flights as if I didn't even have a Chase Aeroplan card.