Summary
Aeroplan has launched a new partnership with Hertz, effective May 6, 2026, allowing members to earn up to 5 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on car rentals across Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty — with every 5 points earned converting to 1 Status Qualifying Credit (SQC). Aeroplan Elite members at the 25K tier and above, plus select credit cardholders, receive complimentary status in the Hertz Gold+ loyalty program, ranging from Five Star to President’s Circle depending on tier.
The SQC conversion mechanism is the partnership’s most consequential feature for frequent renters — it creates a viable path to Aeroplan Elite Status without stepping on a plane. Members should link their Aeroplan number to their Hertz Gold+ profile immediately to capture SQCs on upcoming rentals.
Canada’s most-watched loyalty program just extended its reach to the rental car lane. Air Canada‘s Aeroplan confirmed a new strategic partnership with Hertz Global Holdings on May 6, 2026, covering the Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty brands across more than 11,000 locations in 160 countries. The deal restores competitive ground-earning capability that Aeroplan lost when its Avis Budget relationship wound down in the early 2020s — and it goes considerably further than that predecessor arrangement ever did.
The earning structure scales sharply by status tier. Super Elite members earn 5 points per dollar on Hertz rentals; 75K members earn 4 points; 25K through 50K members earn 3 points. All tiers earn 2 points per dollar on Dollar and Thrifty. The SQC conversion — 1 SQC for every 5 Aeroplan base points earned — is the detail that will matter most to road warriors chasing status renewal without heavy flying schedules.
Elite status matching runs the full tier spectrum. Aeroplan 25K, 35K, and 50K members, along with Core credit cardholders, receive complimentary Hertz Gold+ Five Star status. Members at 75K, Super Elite, and Premium credit cardholders step up to President’s Circle — Hertz’s top consumer tier. Both grants are effective for rentals after May 6, 2026, and require linking an Aeroplan number to a Hertz Gold+ profile.
The details: earning rates, SQC mechanics, and status grants
The partnership’s architecture rewards Aeroplan’s most committed members disproportionately — a deliberate design choice that mirrors how United MileagePlus structured its own Hertz expansion in 2019. Aeroplan’s previous Avis arrangement offered 1–2 points per dollar with minimal elite perks; this deal triples the floor for mid-tier elites and adds a status acceleration mechanism that didn’t exist before.
The SQC conversion applies only to base Aeroplan points, not promotional bonus points. A Super Elite member spending $1,000 CAD on Hertz rentals earns 5,000 base points, which converts to 1,000 SQCs — a meaningful contribution toward maintaining or upgrading status. Spend is calculated on actual time-and-mileage costs plus ancillaries and upgrades, but excludes taxes. Rentals paid in non-Canadian currencies convert to CAD before point calculation.
Preferred pricing for all Air Canada customers is available when booking through aircanada.com, with an additional 2 points per dollar available on top of the standard tier-based earn rate for bookings made through that channel.
| Aeroplan tier / cardholder | Hertz earn rate | Dollar / Thrifty earn rate | Hertz Gold+ status grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| All members (base) | 2 pts / $1 | 2 pts / $1 | None |
| Elite 25K / 35K / 50K + Core cardholders | 3 pts / $1 | 2 pts / $1 | Five Star |
| Elite 75K + Premium cardholders | 4 pts / $1 | 2 pts / $1 | President’s Circle |
| Super Elite | 5 pts / $1 | 2 pts / $1 | President’s Circle |
Flight deals most people never see
Our AI monitors 150+ airlines for pricing anomalies that traditional search engines miss. Air Traveler Club members save $650 per trip per person on average: see how it works.
Each deal saves 40–80% vs. regular fares:
The value-add: why the SQC mechanic changes the status calculus
Aeroplan has been methodically expanding its non-flying earning ecosystem since the program’s redesign — and this partnership is the most structurally significant ground-earning addition yet. The SQC conversion is what separates this deal from a standard points-earn arrangement. Air Canada’s MileagePlus competitor, United, built a similar mechanism into its Hertz relationship in 2019, and program data at the time showed non-flying SQC accumulation rising 20–30% for frequent road warriors. Aeroplan’s 1:5 conversion ratio is competitive with that model.
The competitive landscape context matters here. Delta SkyMiles offers up to 5x on National and Enterprise but has no direct Hertz relationship and no rental-based SQC equivalent. American AAdvantage runs 3–7x on Avis with a President’s Club match, but Hertz’s global footprint — particularly on Canada-Europe routes — gives Aeroplan a geographic advantage for its core membership base. Air Traveler Club’s analysis of Aeroplan’s June 2026 award price increases provides useful context on where the program is adding value versus pulling back.
The forward signal worth watching: if Aeroplan confirms that Hertz SQCs count toward 2027 status qualification without a cap, a Super Elite member spending roughly $10,000 CAD on Hertz rentals could theoretically reach 25K status through ground earning alone. That would represent a structural shift from a flight-centric program to a genuine hybrid loyalty model.
How to activate the partnership and maximize SQC accumulation
This is an action story with immediate steps — linking accounts now ensures SQCs are captured on every qualifying rental from May 6, 2026 onward. Retroactive credit is not confirmed, so delay has a direct cost.
- Link your Aeroplan number to Hertz Gold+ immediately: Log into your Hertz Gold+ Rewards profile at hertz.com and set Aeroplan as your preferred loyalty program. Elite status grants activate through this linkage — it is not automatic.
- Book through aircanada.com for maximum earn: Reservations made via the Air Canada portal unlock preferred pricing plus an additional 2 points per dollar on top of your tier-based rate — the highest available earn stack.
- Track base points, not bonus points, for SQC purposes: Only Aeroplan base points count toward the 1-SQC-per-5-points conversion. Promotional bonus points from campaigns do not contribute to SQC accumulation.
- Prioritize Hertz over Dollar and Thrifty for elite earning: The tiered earn advantage (3–5x) applies only to Hertz-branded rentals. Dollar and Thrifty earn a flat 2 points per dollar regardless of Aeroplan status tier.
- Watch for SQC cap announcements before Q3 2026: If Aeroplan confirms uncapped rental SQC accumulation toward 2027 status, the math changes significantly for members who rent frequently — recalculate your status strategy accordingly.
FAQ
Does the Hertz status grant require a separate application, or is it automatic for Aeroplan elites?
The status grant is not automatic. Aeroplan Elite members and qualifying credit cardholders must add their Aeroplan number to their Hertz Gold+ Rewards profile to activate the Five Star or President’s Circle grant. The linkage must be completed at hertz.com; the status applies to rentals made after May 6, 2026.
Can Aeroplan base members (non-elite, no credit card) earn SQCs through Hertz rentals?
Yes. All Aeroplan members earn 2 points per dollar on Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty rentals, and the 1-SQC-per-5-points conversion applies to base points earned at any tier. A non-elite member spending $500 CAD on a Hertz rental earns 1,000 base points and 200 SQCs — a meaningful contribution toward 25K status qualification.
Do Dollar and Thrifty rentals earn the same SQCs as Hertz rentals?
The SQC conversion rate (1 per 5 base points) is the same across all three brands, but the earn rate differs. Dollar and Thrifty pay a flat 2 points per dollar for all tiers, while Hertz scales from 2 to 5 points per dollar based on Aeroplan status. Elite members generate significantly more SQCs per dollar spent on Hertz-branded rentals.
Read more
