Canada’s greatest Aeroplan bank cards in additional element
The Aeroplan loyalty program was created by Air Canada in 1984 to reward frequent flyers—and has reworked many occasions since then. In 2002, it spun off as a separate entity, and was finally offered to Aimia. In 2018, it was acquired again by Air Canada. There have been many modifications to this system in consequence—together with updates to Aeroplan-branded bank cards. Beefed-up journey insurance coverage, free baggage test on your first bag and most popular pricing are a number of of the welcome tweaks to playing cards within the Aeroplan household. And if that’s not sufficient to tempt you, think about the juicy welcome bonuses designed to lure customers over to this system. What’s extra, in response to the pandemic, the Aeroplan program has supplied extra flexibility to members. Notably, extra leniency in its flight cancellation coverage.
You possibly can earn Aeroplan factors just by having an Aeroplan membership which you’ll couple with the fee methodology of your selecting. You too can earn Aeroplan factors once you spend with an Aeroplan-affiliated bank card (or a bank card able to transferring factors to Aeroplan, akin to Amex). After getting collected sufficient factors, the choices to redeem are in depth. For journey, you should use factors towards flights, lodge stays, experiences, upgrades and automobile leases. Additionally, you should use factors to deal with your self on the Aeroplan e-Retailer— which has an in depth choice brand-name merchandise (all the things from Apple merchandise to high-end homewares) and reward playing cards. So, whether you’re in search of a no-fee card to get you began incomes Aeroplan factors or a full-service journey card with all of the bells and whistles, there’s an Aeroplan bank card for you—and some appropriate playing cards, too.
Abstract: Our picks for the perfect Aeroplan bank cards
Greatest Aeroplan card for fast-tracking factors
American Categorical Cobalt Card*

This Amex earns you 5 Membership Rewards (MR) factors for each $1 spent on eating out, groceries and meals supply. It additionally earns 3 factors per $1 spent on streaming, 2 factors per $1 spent on journey and 1 level per $1 on all different spending. So, what does this need to do with Aeroplan factors? Properly, you may switch your MR factors to Aeroplan (and different loyalty packages) at 1:1 ratio. Which means this card has an earn price that surpasses most of the Aeroplan branded playing cards. What’s extra, you’ll additionally get entry to Amex perks like journey insurance coverage and leisure service (American Categorical Invitations). That paired with its spectacular welcome provide of incomes as much as 30,000 factors within the first yr, it is a positively a card to think about including to your pockets.
- Annual payment: $156
- Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases, 21.99% on money advances
- Earn price: 5 factors per $1 spent on eating out and groceries; 2 factors per $1 spent on journey; 1 level per $1 spent on all different purchases
- Further advantages: Journey insurance coverage; American Categorical Invitations
- Welcome provide: Earn 2,500 factors for every month you spend $500, as much as a most of 30,000 factors—that’s $300 in the direction of a weekend getaway or live performance tickets.
- Annual earnings requirement: $12,000
Greatest Aeroplan bank cards for spending on groceries and gasoline
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite card and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite are virtually an identical. Each playing cards price $139 yearly, and each rebate that payment the primary yr. They usually have the identical earn price, too. With every card, you earn you 1.5 Aeroplan factors for each $1 spent on groceries, gasoline and purchases at aircanada.com, in addition to 1 level per $1 spent in every single place else. In the event you already financial institution with TD or CIBC, this can be a simple alternative. In the event you’re undecided, learn on to seek out out what units these two playing cards aside, so you may select the suitable one for you.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite*

What units the TD card aside from the CIBC card is its spectacular welcome bonus. New cardholders will obtain 10,000 Aeroplan factors upon their first buy and one other 30,000 factors in the event that they spend $5,000 on purchases inside the first 180 days. Cardholders can earn one other 15,000 Aeroplan factors in the event that they spend $7,500 on purchases inside 12 months of opening an account. The primary yr’s annual payment is rebated for the first and extra cardholders—$139 for the first and $75 for secondary cardholder.
With the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, you’ll get your first bag checked at no cost for you and as much as eight journey companions on the identical reservation. This comes out to about $30 in financial savings per traveller when flying financial system inside Canada or to the U.S. A Nexus utility payment rebate each 48 months will prevent as much as $100. Plus, you’ll get “most popular pricing,” the chance to e-book flights with fewer factors.
- Annual payment: $139
- Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances
- Earn price: 1.5 factors for each $1 spent on groceries, gasoline, and on purchases at aircanada.com; different eligible purchases earn 1 level per $1 spent
- Further perks: Complete journey insurance coverage, together with as much as $2 million in journey medical for the primary 21 days of your journey; first checked bag free for you and as much as eight different travellers on the identical reservation; cell machine insurance coverage.
- Welcome bonus: Not accessible to show in the mean time. Quebec residents, click on right here.
- Annual earnings requirement:
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite

Whereas this bank card from CIBC doesn’t provide as substantial of a welcome bonus because the above TD card, it has an edge on the subject of approved customers. Approved customers in your account might help you rack up factors extra shortly. Whereas TD’s annual payment is $75 per further cardholder, CIBC prices $50 per yr per further cardholder and also you rise up to three approved customers in your account. Whereas the $25 distinction might look like peanuts, for 3 further customers, that’s $75 price of financial savings. Further. Additionally, he major cardholder and as much as eight further travellers on the identical reservation will get their first bag checked at no cost, and the annual payment of $139 is waived for the first cardholder and as much as three supplemental cardholders. That’s a financial savings of $289.
- Annual payment: $139 (rebated for the first cardholder plus as much as three secondary cardholders for the primary yr)
- Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances (21.99% in Quebec)
- Earn price: 1.5 factors for each $1 spent on grocery, gasoline, and purchases at aircanada.com; different eligible purchases earn 1 level per $1
- Further perks: Complete journey insurance coverage together with emergency journey medical; first checked bag free for you and as much as eight different travellers on the identical reservation; cell machine insurance coverage; Visa Infinite privileges
- Annual earnings requirement: Private earnings of $60,000 or family earnings of $100,000
Greatest Aeroplan bank card for travellers
American Categorical Aeroplan Card

In contrast to the nearly an identical TD and CIBC playing cards, the American Categorical Aeroplan card takes the idea and tweaks it. The primary notable distinction is the annual payment which is the extra typical $120 with further playing cards costing $50. The factors construction can also be a slight departure, providing 2 Aeroplan factors per $1 on purchases at Air Canada, 1.5 factors per $1 on eating and meals supply purchases, and 1 level per $1 spent on anything.
New American Categorical Aeroplan cardholders get the identical Aeroplan perks, akin to a free checked bag and most popular pricing. The welcome bonus means that you can earn as much as 50,000 Aeroplan factors within the first six months, too. The cardboard has journey insurance coverage, together with $500,000 in journey accident, flight and baggage delay, and misplaced or stolen baggage, plus lodge housebreaking, automobile rental theft and injury.
Maybe most notably, the American Categorical Aeroplan card is a cost card, so whilst you gained’t be restricted by a credit score restrict, you’ll have to repay the steadiness in full each month.
- Annual payment: $120
- Rates of interest: n/a
- Welcome bonus:
- Rewards earn price: 2 Aeroplan factors per $1 on purchases at Air Canada Holidays, 1.5 factors per $1 on eating and meals supply purchases and 1 level per $1 spent in every single place else
- Further perks: Journey insurance coverage together with journey accident, flight delay and delayed or misplaced baggage protection.
Word: The American Categorical Aeroplan card is a cost card, so that you’re required to repay the steadiness in full with this card each month.
Greatest Aeroplan bank card for luxurious perks
American Categorical The Platinum Card*

Whereas not an officially-branded Aeroplan card, this premium Amex card means that you can switch your Membership Rewards factors to Aeroplan— at one-to-one price. It additionally comes with entry to Precedence Go and Centurion Lounge, alongside a beneficiant $200 annual journey credit score (basically lowering the worth of your annual payment to $499), lodge upgrades and a sizeable factors sign-up bonus. The Platinum Card is a cost card, which implies you’ll must repay the steadiness in full each month. Whereas it’s usually good follow to do this, the Aeroplan Visa playing cards on this listing don’t require you to love Amex does. Whereas its earn price is spectacular, it does include a hefty $699 annual payment, so do the maths on how a lot you intend to spend on it, earlier than you apply.
- Annual payment: $699
- Rates of interest: n/a
- Welcome bonus: Earn as much as 80,000 Membership Rewards® factors – that’s as much as $800 in the direction of a weekend away.
- Rewards earn price: 3 factors per $1 on eating and meals supply; 2 factors per $1 spent on journey; 1 level per $1 on all the things else
- Further perks: Entrance of the Line entry for live shows and different ticketed occasions; Precedence Go and Centurion Lounge entry; $200 annual journey credit score; lodge membership upgrades; complete American Categorical journey insurance coverage and buy safety plan
Word: It is a cost card, so that you’re required to repay your steadiness in full with this card each month.
Greatest no-fee Aeroplan bank card
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card

The enchantment of CIBC’s Aeroplan Visa Card is its $0 annual payment. It’s an effective way to step into the Aeroplan sport and begin racking up rewards by way of your bank card spending. The welcome bonus begins issues off with 10,000 Aeroplan factors once you make your first buy with the cardboard. Not surprisingly for a no-fee card, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card doesn’t offer you entry to the free checked baggage or complete insurance coverage perks the opposite co-branded Aeroplan bank cards coated earlier have. Nevertheless, cardholders do get most popular pricing to allow them to usually e-book flights utilizing fewer factors. The included insurance coverage is lean with solely widespread provider accident protection, automobile rental collision and loss injury safety and buy safety. The earn price is 1 level per $1 on gasoline, groceries and at Air Canada; and 1 level per each $1.50 charged on the cardboard. You possibly can double your earnings by giving your Aeroplan quantity at greater than 150 companion places.
- Annual payment: $0
- Rates of interest: 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on money advances (21.99% in Quebec)
- Rewards earn price: 1 level per $1 on gasoline, groceries and Air Canada; and 1 level per each $1.50 charged on the cardboard for all the things else
- Further perks: Earn further factors when presenting an Aeroplan quantity or membership card at collaborating retailers; widespread provider accident protection, automobile rental collision and loss injury safety and buy safety insurance coverage
- Annual earnings requirement: Family earnings of $15,000
What number of Aeroplan factors do you want for a flight?
In accordance with the brand new Aeroplan redemption chart, what number of factors it is advisable redeem to e-book a flight is dependent upon the space between your metropolis of departure and arrival, and which of the 4 “journey zones” you’re flying between.
At a minimal, you’ll want at the least 6,000 factors to redeem a one-way ticket inside the North America journey zone to any vacation spot inside 500 miles of your departure (or 12,000 factors for a round-trip). That features journeys like Toronto to Ottawa, or Vancouver to Calgary.
The variety of factors you want for redemption will increase as you go additional out of your departure metropolis or enter a brand new journey zone. For instance, you’d want at the least 70,000 Aeroplan factors for a spherical journey to the Atlantic Zone journey zone inside 4,000 miles of your metropolis of departure.
Aeroplan has a helpful factors predictor device to estimate what number of factors it is advisable redeem for a flight.
How a lot are Aeroplan factors price?
Sadly, Aeroplan factors don’t have a hard and fast worth. You should utilize the factors predictor device to see the way it can differ. That mentioned, you will get higher worth relying on the vacation spot.
This system can:
1 Aeroplan level = (worth of ticket – Aeroplan charges) ÷ factors wanted to redeem
Usually, if the results of this equation is greater than 1.2 to 1.5 cents per Aeroplan mile, you’re a strong deal. For instance, when you have been to fly round-trip from Calgary to Halifax in January 2021, you’d want round 25,000 Aeroplan factors, and also you’d need to pay the taxes and costs. Because the whole worth of a ticket is presently round $770 and Aeroplan prices $80 in taxes and costs, on this situation, the worth of 1 level can be 2.76 cents, primarily based on the above equation: ($770 – $80) ÷ 25,000. That’s based on Google Flights as of this text’s publication date.
Enterprise class flights are additionally identified to supply higher worth as their retail worth is far larger, however you’ll must rack up extra factors to redeem for these rewards.
What’s Aeroplan’s stopover coverage?
Aeroplan has launched a brand new stopover coverage that may assist each informal and seasoned travellers stretch the worth of their factors.
When travelling virtually wherever (excluding Canada or the U.S.), you may add a cease over on every one-way flight for an incremental 5,000 factors. By leveraging this stopover coverage, you may strategically add stops in your routes, see extra locations, and maximize the worth of your factors.
How one can earn Aeroplan factors quicker
Aeroplan has many retail and model companions, providing the power to earn twice. As soon as with the bank card, and one other along with your membership card. So a great tip is to scan your Aeroplan playing cards for factors in addition to for charging on the register. Plus, you may make the most of Aeroplan’s on-line retailer to make purchases and earn further bonus factors from common on-line retailers like Amazon.
Redeeming by way of Air Canada versus Star Alliance member airways
New Aeroplan factors will be redeemed for flights on Air Canada or any of the roughly two dozen Star Alliance member airways, identical to earlier than. Nevertheless, Aeroplan has launched a number of modifications on the subject of its redemption guidelines.
When redeeming on Air Canada, Aeroplan has launched “dynamic pricing,” which successfully means the variety of factors you want for a flight can differ inside a spread. For example, a round-trip financial system flight from Calgary to Halifax with Air Canada can require wherever between 25,000 and 35,000 factors. You could want extra factors inside this vary when you’re travelling to a well-liked vacation spot or throughout a high-demand journey season.
When redeeming on Star Alliance member airways, which embrace United and Lufthansa, dynamic pricing isn’t a part of the image. For example, the identical round-trip flight from Calgary to Halifax all the time requires 25,000 factors at any time limit. The one caveat is you’ll need to pay an additional $39 reserving payment per traveller when flying on a Star Alliance airline versus utilizing Air Canada itself.
When reserving journey, you’ll wish to evaluate between Air Canada and the opposite Star Alliance airways to see which one affords the perfect return on your factors. The reply will rely in your specific journey reserving.
Extra of Canada’s greatest bank cards:
What does the * imply?
If a hyperlink has an asterisk (*) on the finish of it, which means it is an affiliate hyperlink and may generally end in a fee to MoneySense (owned by Ratehub Inc.) which helps our web site keep free to our customers. It is essential to notice that our editorial content material won’t ever be impacted by these hyperlinks. We’re dedicated to all accessible merchandise available in the market, and the place a product ranks in our article or whether or not or not it is included within the first place isn’t pushed by compensation. For extra particulars learn our
MoneySense Monetization coverage.