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And, quite frankly, this frustration has been going on for years--as Ackbar notes. If you ever have occasion to take a really deep dive through this forum you'll notice similar dissatisfaction at many other points in the fraught history of AC/ AP. At one point 35K was enough to get you *G, then that became 50K; there was similar consternation when upgrade add-ons were introduced. The program has been consistently devalued over the years: no doubt some have dropped off, but many of us stay with it for various reasons. While I've only done a few rough calculations, I'll certainly earn enough SQCs to hit 75K, but remaining SE will be a stretch without some needless spending. I suppose what most frustrates me is that I'm constantly aiming at a moving target, something many of us here seem to be expressing.

I haven't really been paying attention to the benefits side of the program changes and just realized that as a 75K member, I now start the year with 20 instead of 55 (20 core + 35 select) eUpgrade credits. I knew they significantly raised the qualification requirements, but I didn't realize they gutted the benefit side so much at the same time.

It's more that the eUps have been shifted out so you earn them more along the way, rather than all at the beginning.

In the steady state as 75K, you'll start with 20, earn 40 as you climb up to 75K SQC, and have the option to select another 20 along the way.

Last year, you started with 20, earned 10 along the way to 75K SQM, and could select 35.

So now you can get 80, whereas before you could only get 65.

But previously to qualify for E75K, you only need 75K SQM and $9000 SQD, whereas now you need $18750 SQD equivalent.

Same applies for all other levels (except for SE that got it less bad), the dollar value needed to re-qualify for the same level just doubled YoY.

Interesting way to look at it. I guess that's fair. But starting the year with only 20 (+ any rollover) is really quite rough.

The steady state for an E75K member gives at least a 7,500 SQC Head Start bringing the spend to maintain status to between $16,875 with zero credit card spending SQCs and $10,625 with the max 25,000 SQCs from credit card spending. Both numbers can be further reduced by $1,250 by choosing 2,500 SQCs as both 40K and 60K MBs although that does defeat the purpose of acquiring more eUps.

Qualifying has become more difficult, especially for the SQM rich and SQD poor cohort in the previous regime, but it is not quite as bad as it appears at first glance.

Many people brought up the AE branded credit card spending, but for people who don't hold those cards (and I don't, because I already have other cards for my business and personal spends), that 25,000 SQC is moot.

And I do not want to sacrifice priority rewards for 2500 SQC. I'm sure many others won't do so either. I can sacrifice eUps for SQC though.

Can you elaborate on the "7,500 SQC Head Start"? I requalified as an E75K this year and started with 533 SQC.

I guess you mean starting with 2027?

The old system was skewd in favor of those flying long distance, lower cost flights and your example represents a portion of those travelling. Someone flying monthly YUL-YYZ on Flex tickets was probably spending more than $9K and would not even qualify for E35k. One could argue they were getting screwed in the old system and are now being rewarded for their "loyalty".

I must disagree with this. We were never granted eUps at the beginning. E-ups were always granted at the end of the period that you earned them in. Outside of 2025/26, the new system does mean that you get your e-ups earlier than you otherwise would have but for 2025/26, you don't get your select benefit eUps at all.

Wasn't an issue for me because I would not have taken the eUps but for those that always did, they lost some eUps. I did fine with the deletion of select benefits because my selections were 50K for a friend (which has been extended) and 100% bonus points, which has kind of, sort of, been continued with the 6X multiplier for SE

I should have been more clear. You are right, by steady state I meant the year after the transition from rollovers to head start and into the future which is for the 2027 benefit year onwards.

I agree with the sentiment that the transition implementation has been unfair but it is AC's game and their rules. We can either adapt to the new rules, change airline travel loyalty or become true free agents.

Our household will adopt a hybrid model as there is no real benefit to us (based on the MBs that are of value to us) from AC total spend (flights, cards & partners) beyond 140,000 SQCs as excess SQCs decay violently after year end so travel beyond that will be completely dependent on fares and schedules.

Yeah it seems the transition year is particularly punishing, which is probably by design.

Exactly! All the discussion I saw last August onwards was about how to understand the new system. I believe that many Elite fliers have only just realized how the 2026 Benefits were gutted, and without any open communication from Air Canada. A poor way to �reward� loyalty. What about class action?

Not quite true either. The first time you qualified for status, or moved up a level, you qualified for early benefits when this occurred. For most, this would be mid way or later in the year. So you could choose additional e ups in say September and again in January. I do agree that the e ups in January were due to the prior year's activity. The practicality is a bit more nuanced.