Car Rental

Aeroplan × Hertz: Up to 5 Points per Dollar — and the SQC Value Check

6 August 2026 · 5 min read · by Marco

Last editorial check 19 August 20261 source

Aeroplan's new Hertz partnership connects car rentals to the 2026 SQC status system. Members earn on Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty; higher Aeroplan tiers earn more at Hertz; and every five eligible base points become one SQC. The partnership is useful, especially when it adds free Hertz status, but the arithmetic is not strong enough to excuse an overpriced rental.

What you earn

Base Aeroplan members earn 2 points per eligible Canadian dollar with Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty. Aeroplan 25K, 35K and 50K members earn 3 points per dollar on Hertz rentals, 75K earns 4 and Super Elite earns 5. The higher rates in the announcement are specified for Hertz, not automatically for Dollar and Thrifty.

Every five eligible Aeroplan base points from a rental produce one SQC. Promotional bonus points do not count. Eligible spend includes time and mileage, upgrades, ancillaries, fees and surcharges, but excludes taxes. Foreign-currency spend is converted to Canadian dollars before points are calculated.

Status rate: 2 points per CAD convert to 0.4 SQC per CAD; 3 points to 0.6; 4 to 0.8; and 5 to 1 SQC per CAD, before rounding and subject to the official credited amount.

The status grants may be more valuable

Aeroplan 25K, 35K and 50K members plus eligible core Aeroplan cardholders receive complimentary Hertz Five Star. Aeroplan 75K and Super Elite members plus eligible premium cardholders receive President's Circle. Activation and Hertz programme terms apply, so enrol and link the correct accounts before expecting recognition.

For a traveller who rents frequently, car status can improve the experience through the benefits Hertz publishes for the matched tier. For an occasional renter, the points may be the only realised value. Do not assign a cash value to an upgrade that is unavailable, unwanted or not guaranteed.

Price comparison before loyalty

Compare the same vehicle class, cancellation terms, mileage allowance, location fee, insurance and fuel rules across direct Hertz pricing, the Air Canada channel and credible alternatives. Preferred pricing does not guarantee the lowest total.

A CAD 500 eligible Hertz rental at the base rate earns 1,000 Aeroplan points and roughly 200 SQC. At Super Elite's 5-point rate it earns 2,500 points and roughly 500 SQC. Those are worthwhile additions to a competitive rental, but small beside Aeroplan's 25,000-SQC entry tier.

Booking checklist

Add the Aeroplan number and confirm the displayed earn rate before payment.
Link or activate the complimentary Hertz tier if eligible.
Compare the final taxed and insured price, not a daily teaser rate.
Save the rental receipt until both points and SQC post.
If another programme offers a material discount, calculate the lost Aeroplan value instead of assuming loyalty wins.

Verdict

The partnership is best viewed as a clean stack: competitive Hertz rental first, Aeroplan points and SQC second, complimentary status where eligible third. Reversing that order risks paying far more for status progress than the credits are worth.

Source (official, checked 19 August 2026): Air Canada — Aeroplan announces Hertz partnership. Hertz-tier benefits, availability and card eligibility remain subject to their current programme and product terms.

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