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It's not often an airline credit card makes waves with a strong welcome bonus and completely unique benefits, but the
As the first Air Canada-branded credit card offered by Chase (and the only Aeroplan card on the US market) the
Aeroplan Credit Card Review: Is It the Best Credit Card for You?
The
New cardholders also receive automatic Aeroplan 25K Elite Status for the remainder of the first calendar year, plus the following calendar year. If you're an Air Canada flyer, the automatic elite status that comes with the card for up to two years is a great deal — and it's rare to see an airline card award elite status outright. Aeroplan 25K status includes perks like eUpgrade credits, priority boarding, and Maple Leaf Lounge passes.
Other card benefits include a free first checked bag on Air Canada flights for the primary cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation, the ability to re-earn (or step-up) elite status by hitting spending thresholds, and up to $100 reimbursement for the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee every four years.
One of the most compelling perks doesn't have anything to do with Air Canada. Cardholders now have the option to redeem Aeroplan points toward any eligible travel purchase via Chase Pay Yourself Back. Points redeemed this way are worth 1.25 cents apiece, and qualifying travel includes airfare, car rentals, hotels, rideshares, and much more.
The
That said, if you don't think you can use Air Canada-specific benefits like a free checked bag or elite status, you may be better off with a card that earns flexible points you can transfer to Aeroplan, like the
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Aeroplan Credit Card Rewards
Aeroplan Card welcome bonus offer
The
How to earn points from the Aeroplan card
Most co-branded credit cards reserve their highest rewards earning rate for purchases made with the airline, with lower rewards for other bonus categories (or no other bonus categories at all). The
Cardholders earn:
- 3x points on purchases made with Air Canada directly (tickets booked through third-party sites won't qualify)
- 3x points on dining (including at restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services)
- 3x points at grocery stores (excluding warehouse clubs and stores like Target and Walmart)
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
In addition, cardholders earn 500 points for every $2,000 they spend in a calendar month, up to a maximum of 1,500 points per calendar month — potentially up to 18,000 extra points each calendar year.
How to use points from the Aeroplan card
Air Canada and partner flights
Air Canada Aeroplan offers the most partners of any airline program — over 45, including 25 Star Alliance partners like United, Turkish, and ANA, and other partners like Etihad, GOL, and Gulf Air.
Aeroplan's award charts are a little complicated and combine region/distance-based pricing with dynamic pricing that varies by demand and availability. For example, short-haul economy flights within North America can cost as little as 6,000 points, but longer flights within the region can clock in as high as 25,000 points one-way.
Instead of wading through multiple award charts to figure out how much you'll pay for a flight, Aeroplan offers a Points Predictor tool that shows you the minimum and maximum number of points you'd typically pay on that route (not factoring in high-demand periods).
Air Canada's award charts offer some lucrative sweet spots that allow you to book award flights on certain routes for fewer points than other airline programs charge. For example:
- Short-haul economy flights within North America (including Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean) under 500 miles: 6,000 to 10,000 points; 501 to 1,500 miles: 10,000 to 15,000 points
- US to Europe: 35,000 to 40,000 points in economy, 60,000 to 70,000 points in business class, 90,000 to 100,000 points in first class
- US West Coast to Hawaii: 12,500 points in economy, 25,000 points in business class
- US to Asia: 35,000 to 75,000 points in economy, 55,000 to 105,000 points in business class
In addition, Aeroplan no longer adds fuel surcharges to Air Canada or partner flights, and if you want to add in a stopover, it costs just an additional 5,000 points each way.
Pay Yourself Back
Pay Yourself Back was introduced on Chase's Ultimate Rewards® earning cards early in the pandemic as a way to get a higher value from your points without having to book travel. The version on the
Eligible travel purchases include:
- Airfare (with any airline)
- Hotels
- Car rentals
- Cruises
- Travel agencies
- Discount travel sites
- Campgrounds
- Trains
- Buses
- Taxis/limousines
- Ferries
- Toll bridges/highways
- Parking lots/garages
There's no limit to the number of points you can use this way (through December 31, 2023). It's a good option if you don't have plans to redeem Aeroplan points for flights in the immediate future but have travel expenses you want to cover with rewards.
Other ways to use Aeroplan points
Aeroplan offers several other options for redeeming points, but the value per point varies and is often lower than what you'd get by booking flights or redeeming through Pay Yourself Back. These include:
- Hotels
- Car rentals
- Air Canada Vacations packages
- Activities and travel experiences
- Merchandise
- Gift cards
- Upgrades
- Inflight Wi-Fi
Aeroplan Card Benefits and Features
Automatic Aeroplan 25K elite status (new cardholders)
On top of the welcome bonus, new
Elite 25K status is Aeroplan's lowest status tier, and it comes with benefits that include:
- Priority check-in, boarding, and airport standby
- Complimentary checked baggage allowance
- Complimentary sports equipment handling
- Priority seat selection
- 50% discount on preferred seats
- eUpgrade credits
Elite 25K members also have the option to choose from a number of "select benefits", which include two one-time Maple Leaf Lounge passes, bonus Aeroplan points with Air Canada and select partners, additional eUpgrade credits, and bonuses for eligible Flight Pass activities.
Incentives for spending
Once your initial automatic status expires, you can requalify for 25K elite status by spending at least $15,000 on the
Bigger spenders can receive even more benefits, starting at reaching $100,000 in purchases in a calendar year. These include 50% off priority rewards and companion benefits — and those who spend $1 million or more annually will receive an unlimited-use Global+1 companion pass that refunds 100% of the points used to bring a travel companion along on award flights worldwide, in any class of service.
Free first checked bag on Air Canada flights
With the
Normally, Air Canada charges 30 Canadian dollars (about $23) for a first checked bag, so this perk can translate into significant savings if you travel a few times a year.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS application fee credit
Like many travel rewards credit cards, the
The
Car rental insurance
When you use the
This insurance is secondary to your personal insurance in the US, otherwise, it's primary car rental insurance. Be sure to read the terms and conditions that come with the card for any exclusions.
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
Using a credit card with travel insurance to pay for flights can be a lifesaver if your travel plans get disrupted. When you pay for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses with your
Baggage delay insurance
If you paid for your fare with the
Trip delay reimbursement
If your flight or other common carrier travel is delayed by at least 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family can be covered with the card's trip delay insurance for up to $500 per ticket for unreimbursed expenses, like hotel rooms and meals, if you paid with your
Roadside assistance
World Elite Mastercard benefits
Because the
Gopuff credits
Until December 31, 2023, the
You'll get the credit automatically after making an eligible purchase with Gopuff (minimum $10 order and $3.95 delivery fee).
DoorDash DashPass membership
Carbon offsets
To help reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions associated with travel, Air Canada will purchase carbon offsets for primary cardholders of the
Aeroplan Credit Card Annual Fee and Other Costs
The
There are other situations in which you may be charged fees, including:
- Balance transfer fee:
Aeroplan® Credit Card - Balance Transfer Fee - Foreign transaction fee:
Aeroplan® Credit Card - Foreign Transaction Fee - Cash advance fee
How the Aeroplan Card Compares
Aeroplan credit card vs other Chase cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 3x points on Air Canada purchases 3x points on dining 3x points at grocery stores 1 point per dollar on everything else 500 points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month, up to a maximum of 1,500 points per calendar month
| 5x points on Lyft rides through March 2025 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out 3x points on select streaming services 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs) 2x points on other travel 1 point per dollar on everything else | 2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on dining and hotel stays booked directly with the hotel 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus offer | Automatic Aeroplan 25K Elite Status for the remainder of the first calendar year, plus the following calendar year | ||
Travel benefits | Free first checked bag on Air Canada flights New cardholders automatically receive Aeroplan 25K status for the remainder of the calendar year, plus the following calendar year Requalify for 25K status by spending $15,000 or more in a calendar year Elite Status Level Up by spending $50,000 or more in a calendar year Preferred pricing on flight awards Aeroplan redemption benefits for meeting spending thresholds Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS application fee credit Redeem points for eligible travel purchases through Pay Yourself Back (1.25 cents per point) | Up to $50 in statement credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase | Two United Club one-time passes per anniversary year Free first checked bag on United flights* Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on United inflight purchases NEXUS, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Complimentary Premier upgrades 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases*** Expanded access to United award flights |
Review |
*When you use your card to pay for your ticket, or the taxes and fees on an award ticket
***Up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year for the United Explorer Card
Aeroplan credit card vs other airline credit cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 3x points on Air Canada purchases 3x points on dining 3x points at grocery stores 1 point per dollar on all other purchases 500 points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month, up to a maximum of 1,500 points per calendar month | 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases 2x miles at eligible restaurants and gas stations 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 2x miles on eligible Delta purchases 2x miles at US supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus offer | Automatic Aeroplan 25K Elite Status for the remainder of the first calendar year, plus the following calendar year | ||
Travel benefits | Free first checked bag on Air Canada flights New cardholders automatically receive Aeroplan 25K status for the remainder of the calendar year, plus the following calendar year Requalify for 25K status by spending $15,000 or more in a calendar year Elite Status Level Up by spending $50,000 or more in a calendar year Preferred pricing on flight awards Aeroplan redemption benefits for meeting spending thresholds Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS application fee credit Redeem points for eligible travel purchases through Pay Yourself Back (1.25 cents per point) | Free first checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights $125 American Airlines flight discount when you spend $20,000 or more in an account anniversary year and renew your card | Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights $100 flight credit when you spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit |
Review |
Aeroplan Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What credit score do you need for the Chase Aeroplan credit card?
Like most other travel rewards cards, the
Who is eligible for the Aeroplan card?
As with other Chase cards, the
Otherwise, you're not eligible if you already have a
Is the Chase Aeroplan card worth it?
If you fly Air Canada with any regularity, even a couple of times a year, the
That said, if your main objective is to earn Aeroplan points and you're not worried about getting perks on the airline, a card that earns points that transfer to Aeroplan could be a better choice. Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Bilt Rewards all partner with Aeroplan, so a card like the
Can Canadians get the Chase Aeroplan card?
To qualify for the
Methodology: How we reviewed the Aeroplan card
Insider's credit cards team reviewed the
- Ease of use — Is the card's rewards program easy to navigate? Are there multiple options for earning and using rewards?
- Earning potential — Is there a generous welcome bonus offer and bonus categories that are useful to a wide variety of travelers? Do any categories have a maximum spending limit?
- Annual fee — If there's an annual fee, is it worth paying when you consider the card's rewards and benefits?
- Benefits — Do the card's benefits, particularly those related to travel on the airline, match or exceed perks you'd receive on competing cards?
Read about how we rate credit cards at Insider for a close look at our methodology.