The Aeroplan credit card is a popular choice among Canadians, especially those who travel frequently. But which Aeroplan credit card offers Canada, the best value?
Which one is best suited for your specific needs? This Aeroplan Credit Card Comparison Guide will answer those questions and help you choose the best Aeroplan card for your lifestyle.
You can only earn Aeroplan Points by taking out an Aeroplan Membership which you can add to your payment method of choice. You can earn Aeroplan Points when you spend with an Aeroplan-affiliated credit card (or a credit card capable of transferring points to Aeroplan, such as Amex).
Once you accumulate enough points, the options to redeem expand. For travel, you can use points to pay for flights, hotel stays, experiences, upgrades, and car rentals. Plus, you can use points to treat yourself to a wide selection of brand-name merchandise (everything from Apple products to high-end homeware)—and gift cards—at the Aeroplan e-store. So, whether you’re looking for a no-fee card to start earning Aeroplan points or a full-service travel card with all sorts of perks, there’s an Aeroplan credit card for you—and a few compatible cards, too.
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What is Aeroplan?
Aeroplan is the loyalty program for Air Canada, Canada’s #1 airline. Because Air Canada is a member of the Star Alliance, you can use your Aeroplan Points (formerly Aeroplan Miles) at 45+ airline partners.
In addition to flights, you can use your Aeroplan miles to pay for hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, gift cards, and merchandise. There is no doubt that Aeroplan is one of the best travel rewards programs in Canada.
As you spend and fly more with Air Canada, you’ll begin to earn Aeroplan Elite status. This can be very beneficial as you get lounge access, priority boarding, e-upgrade credit, and more.
How to choose the best Aeroplan credit card
With so many airline credit cards available, choosing the right one for you couldn’t be easier Consider the following factors, and choosing the best Aeroplan credit card will become easier.
Sign-Up Bonus – A signup bonus can be important for those getting their first Aeroplan credit card. Welcome bonuses will often net you enough Aeroplan points for a free flight, so that’s a good enough incentive to apply right away.
Annual Fee – All of the best Aeroplan credit cards have an annual fee, but some people don’t like the idea of paying an annual fee for their credit card. Remember, as long as you’re getting more value and rewards from your card than you’re paying your annual fee; You are moving forward
Earning rates – Aeroplan credit cards have different earning rates, so it’s wise to choose a card that gives you the most Aeroplan miles based on your spending.
What are your future travel plans – If you plan to use Aeroplan miles in the future, you should choose your credit card accordingly. A card that offers you 25,000 Aeroplan Miles is great for flights within North America, but you can apply for more than one card if you want to travel internationally.
Additional benefits – In addition to the ability to earn Aeroplan points, you may want to look into other benefits with the card. Airport lounge access, travel insurance, and hotel status are important to some people. You can use your Aeroplan miles for a free flight once a year, but you can always use your benefits.
Best Aeroplan Credit Cards in Canada for 2023
American Express Aeroplan Card
The American Express Aeroplan Card is a great mid-tier airline card, though it lacks many perks. For starters, welcome bonuses usually fluctuate between points and Buddy Passes. If the offer points only, it’s around 50,000 – 60,000 Aeroplan points. Points and Buddy Pass combos usually get you 40,000 points.
A Buddy Pass can be valuable because it allows you to purchase a round-trip economy class seat on an Air Canada flight anywhere in North America with a $0 base fare. The only “catch” is that the primary cardholder must travel on a full-fare ticket
2 points per $1 spent on Air Canada and Air Canada holiday purchases, 1.5 points per $1 spent on dining and food delivery in Canada, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. $1 point is 1 point Plus, you get your first checked bag free and preferred value on Aeroplan redemptions. When comparing the best Aeroplan credit cards, always include earning rates and insurance. The differences may be slight, but they can make a huge difference depending on your needs.
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
The American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card is great for frequent flyers with Air Canada. If you normally pay for your tickets in cash, the earning rate of 3 Aeroplan points for every $1 spent on Air Canada purchases is significant. In addition, primary cardholders and guests traveling on SAM receive their first checked bag free of charge (up to 8). You also get priority boarding, baggage handling, and unlimited access to Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges in North America for you and one guest. This card is aimed at Air Canada’s most loyal customers.
What makes this card interesting is the welcome bonus. In the past, it was between 90,000 – 120,000 marks. Occasionally, a buddy pass may be included. It is very important. To give you some perspective, I value an Aeroplan point at 2 cents, which means the welcome bonus is worth between $1,800 and $2,400. That’s a lot more than the $599 annual fee.
American Express Platinum Card
When considering Aeroplan credit cards, sometimes it comes down to which credit card offers you the most welcome offers. Often, this will be the American Express Platinum Card. Although you won’t earn Aeroplan points directly, your American Express Membership Rewards points can transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. When you consider that this card typically has a welcome bonus of between 70,000 – 105,000 points when you use a referral link, it’s no wonder this card has become so popular.
You could even argue that the rate of earning 3X points on eligible dining, 2X points on travel, and 1X points on all other purchases is the best on this list. Plus, you get Nexus discounts and comprehensive travel insurance.
What makes this card great is that it’s geared toward travelers. You get unlimited lounge access, which is why this is one of the best credit cards with lounge access. You also get hotel status upgrades and a great travel insurance package. Overall, I’d say the American Express Platinum Card is best for those who travel frequently with multiple airlines but still want the ability to use their points with Aeroplan whenever they want.
American Express Gold Rewards Card
The American Express Gold Rewards card recently went through a refresh in a rare case where all the changes were positive. Although the annual fee has been raised to $250, you now receive a $100 annual travel credit and 4 free Plaza Premium Lounge passes. This means you’re getting more value for the card for the same net annual fee.
So why does this card make my list of the best Aeroplan credit cards? Well, like the American Express Platinum Card, you earn Amex Membership Rewards points with the Gold Rewards Card. This means you can transfer your points to Aeroplan as needed. More importantly, the Gold Rewards card recently got a generous welcome bonus. I’m talking 50,000 – 65,000 points when you use referral links. That’s pretty generous for a card with an annual fee of just $150 a year.
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
With the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite card, you typically get welcome bonus Aeroplan points and an Air Canada Buddy Pass. When you purchase the entire fare, you can use the Buddy Pass for another ticket, where you will only pay the third-party fee. This is an easy way to save hundreds of dollars if someone travels on the same itinerary as you.
The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card is arguably the best mid-tier Aeroplan credit card for everyday users. The earning rate is 1.5 Aeroplan points for every $1 spent on gas, groceries, and Air Canada purchases. You earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. You also get free checked bags and some travel insurance coverage, which can save you quite a bit of money if you’re a frequent traveler.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Even if you don’t bank with TD, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card typically has an annual fee waiver for the first year. Also, primary cardholders and 8 companions traveling on the same itinerary get their first piece of checked baggage free. Plus, you get a Nexus application fee waiver every 48 months.
American Express Cobalt Card
The American Express Cobalt Card is another Amex card that earns you Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. What makes this card attractive is the increased earning rate for every $5 in points spent on dining, including food delivery purchases. If you spend a lot on food, this is the card to get. That said, the multipliers in other categories are also generous as you get one point per $3 spent on streaming services, plus one point spent on daily transit. A $1 per 2 points and others Nakatay will earn 1 point.
How to redeem Aeroplan points
Most people will use their Aeroplan points for flight redemption points made directly on aircanada.com. When you search for flights, you’ll see the option to view prices by cash or points. From the selected points you will know how many points and taxes you have to pay for the route.
Note that these prices are for one-way flights, so you’ll need to add the return flight for the correct cost.
Hotel and car rental discounts are offered through the dedicated travel portal at aircanada.com. If you want to use your points for gift cards or merchandise, you’ll use the eStore, which is located at aircanada.com.
Final Thoughts
If you love to travel, getting one of the best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada makes sense as it can save you quite a bit of money. Even if you don’t travel often, using an Aeroplan credit card can still be a good idea because you can store your points over time and redeem them when you decide to travel. That said, like any loyalty program, Aeroplan can devalue its points at any time, so don’t hold on to your points for too long. If you can make the redemption worth it, do it.
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