Plumber

I know that most people who are in this forum on a regular basis have a good handle on Aeroplan vs. Altitude.

But this thread reminds me of just how confusing this system is for those flyers who are not looking at this stuff every day...

The complexity even hampers our ability to explain it in simple terms.

RatherBeInYOW

It is not that complex. Well, maybe more complex than it needs to be, but still.

You can credit to Aeroplan for flying, spending with a credit card, with purchases from affiliated companies, etc. Your Aeroplan account has a balance, and has status (Silver, Black, Diamond ... or wherever it is) depending on how many miles you earn.

On top of that, miles that you credit to Aeroplan that you earn with with your ... in the seat of a Air Canada or Star Alliance partner flight also get counted towards a second status called Altitude with P25 / E35/50/75 / SE100 levels. When in an airport or on a plane your Aeroplan status is meaningless, Air Canada or Star Alliance partner airlines only care about your Altitude status.

(Technically it is more complex than what I just wrote, but that is irrelevant for most people)

As has been pointed out, the OPs friend is simply looking at the wrong website.

colombianbrew

lcohen999

AQD now

If you look on the dashboard

AQM or AQS + AQD = status

RZR

popcorn time shortly

yvr76

Just wait until July 2020 to answer your friend's questions. At that point Aeroplan Distinctive will disappear and there should likely only be one set of Elite tiers.

Low Roller

When I read the first post, I thought "this should be fun"...and it has been

InTheAirGuy

Can we just summarize it for OP easily?

-- $$$'s you spend to Aeroplan, on anything other than flights, are meaningless for Air Canada Altitude status
-- miles you fly on Air Canada are meaningful for Air Canada Altitude Status
- Air Canada Altitude status, depending on level, gets you lounges and other stuff.

In essence, you fly, you status-ice. You spend without flying, you don't.

taupo

Twice over every three years!

kenlor

I don't have anything to help the OP, but this reminds me of the time last fall when I was waiting to get in at YVR domestic MLL, behind a well-dressed couple in their late 60's or early 70's. The wife was huffing at the attendant that "This is ridiculous! My husband has DIAMOND status with this credit card, and yet you won't let us into the lounge? I'm going to call someone. I want to talk to your supervisor. This is ridiculous. MY HUSBAND IS DIAMOND!"

The attendant firmly but nicely moved them off to the side and processed the rest of us into the lounge. I don't know the outcome, but the couple never did come into the lounge.

Repooc17

OP, to earn E50K (equivalent of *G), your friend needs:

1a) 50K AQM - 50,000 qualifying miles; not necessarily 50K miles flown (50K BIS)
or 1b) 50K AQS - 50 qualifying segments

and

2) 3,000 AQD - qualifying spend of 3K CAD (50% less for non-Canadian residents)

Here is a good oveview with a nice chart: https://altitude.aircanada.com/status/overview

flyquiet

Again, it is important that these folks understand that those earnings need to be all in one year, and lasts for the following year and then has to be earned again.
I think that is an underlying misunderstanding because people have 50K miles "in the bank" but it's from multiple years of accumulation, not all in the same year.

TechnoTourist

If they have Aeroplan Black they are hitting the 50K miles per year (likely through CC spend) It's the Aeroplan vs Altitude status that is confusing. The new program will eliminate the two separate statuses, but redeemable/reward miles vs status miles will still cause lots of confusion.