The Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card is the first Air Canada cobranded card available to U.S. travelers.
Even if you don’t fly Air Canada often, the Aeroplan points program is a great way to fly Star Alliance airlines like United, ANA, Lufthansa, and more.
This article will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus
The Aeroplan Credit Card currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Points
The Aeroplan Credit Card earns points at the following rates:
- 3 points per dollar on restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services;
- 3 points per dollar at grocery stores;
- 3 points per dollar spent with Air Canada directly; and
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Plus, you will earn 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month – up to 1,500 point per month ($6,000 in spending).
Annual Fee
The Air Canada Aeroplan Card has a $95 annual fee, which you can offset with a free first checked bag, the ability to earn elite status, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and travel and purchase protections.
Card Benefits and Perks
The Aeroplan Credit Card offers these card benefits and perks:
New Cardmember 25K Status
One really cool perk of the Aeroplan card is that members get Aeroplan’s 25K Elite Status for the remainder of the calendar year, plus the following calendar year.
This elite status gets you:
- 20 eUpgrade credits to upgrade from economy to premium cabins on Air Canada-operated flights.
- Two one-time passes to Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges.
- Priority check-in, security and boarding.
- Star Alliance Silver elite status, with access to priority waitlisting and standby.
You can keep this status by spending $15,000 during a calendar year.
Elite Status Level up
You can also level up to the next elite status by spending $50,000 in a calendar year.
For example, if you were 35K status, you would go up to 50K status. Or if you receive 25K status from spending $15,000 per year, you would get elevated to 35K status without having to fly Air Canada.
Free First Checked Bags
Cardmembers and up to eight travel companions traveling on the same reservation can all enjoy free first-checked bags (up to 50 lbs) when travel originates on an Air Canada flight.
This benefit could be very valuable if you travel with a large group that checks bags.
Pay Yourself Back
Until December 31, 2023, cardmembers can redeem points for a statement credit to cover travel purchases made with your Card such as hotels, car rentals, ride-shares, flights and more.
There is no limit to the number of points and each point is worth 1.25 cents.
For example, you could redeem 50,000 points for $625 in travel.
Preferred Pricing on Awards
This card offers Preferred Pricing for awards on Air Canada flights, which is usually represents a 5% to 15% savings.
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Credit
This card offers a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit of up to $100 every four years.
TSA PreCheck is a membership program offering dedicated airport security lines and faster security screening (typically 5 minutes or less) at more than 200 airports across the United States and includes over 81 airlines.
Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck and expedited immigration upon arrival from an international trip back to the United States.
The NEXUS program is designed to facilitate expedited travel between the United States and Canada by providing pre-approved individuals with streamlined border clearance and enhanced security measures.
10% Bonus on Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfers
Chase Aeroplan credit card members get a 10% transfer bonus after transferring 50,000 or more Ultimate Rewards points in a single transaction from an eligible Chase credit card to their Aeroplan account through December 31, 2023.
There is a maximum of 25,000 Aeroplan bonus points per calendar year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This card has no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside the U.S., which is helpful if you travel internationally to help you avoid paying a 3% fee on those international purchases.
Trip Delay Insurance
This card offers trip delay insurance when you purchase your flight with this card.
This reimburses you for reasonable expenses things like hotels, food, transportation, and other necessary items.
Flights are increasingly delayed or canceled, and it is too risky to not use a card that offers free trip delay insurance.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance
Secondary rental car insurance covers any damage to a rental car not covered by your primary insurance when you pay for the rental using this card.
Other credit cards offer primary rental car insurance, which pays before your insurance and saves you the hassle of filing multiple insurance claims.
You still need to maintain liability car insurance to cover damage to another person or property.
Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance reimburses you for non-refundable expenses if your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason such as illness, severe weather, or an accidental injury when you pay for your travel expenses with this card.
Baggage Delay Insurance
Baggage delay insurance can reimburse you for the cost of necessary personal and business items if (1) you purchased your trip with this card and (2) your bag is delayed by a common carrier like an airline, train, ferry, or cruise ship, etc.
Common reimbursable items include clothing, toiletries, and phone chargers, which can be a life-saver when you are without your bag.
Purchase Protection
Purchase protection can save you a lot of money if you bought an eligible item that is damaged or stolen within 120-days.
For example, if accidentally dropped your new phone or laptop and broke the screen, you could file a claim to get it replaced if it was purchased within the last 120 days.
Complimentary DashPash
This card offers a one-year DashPass membership for free, which includes DoorDash and Caviar, offering unlimited deliveries with free delivery fees and reduced service fees for eligible purchases The offer must be activated by December 31, 2024.
Once the free membership is over, you will be automatically enrolled in DashPass at the prevailing monthly rate.
World Elite Benefits
This card is a World Elite Mastercard, which gets you access to these special benefits and discounts:
- DoorDash: Automatically get $5 off your first DoorDash order each month.
- Lyft: Take 3 rides in one calendar month and pay with your World Elite Mastercard to earn a $5 Lyft credit.
- Fandango: Spend $20 at Fandango or on Fandango’s streaming service and get a $5 Fandango Reward.
- ShopRunner: ShopRunner is an online membership that unlocks free 2-day shipping and free returns at dozens of top stores, including Under Armour, Cole Hann, Bloomingdale’s, and more.
Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
- 25K Elite Status and the ability to level up status.
- 3x points at restaurants, grocery stores, and with Air Canada.
- Free first checked bag.
- Nice travel and purchase protections.
- Ability to redeem points with Star Alliance and other Aeroplan partners.
Cons:
- If you don’t fly Air Canada at least once per year, you may not take advantage of enough benefits to justify the annual fee.
- Some benefits expire on December 31, 2023.
Alternatives to the Chase Aeroplan Card
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Better for General Travel
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- 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
- 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
- 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
- 10% Anniversary Points Boost
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $95 Annual Fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the best rewards cards for travelers who want solid earning rates for travel and dining expenses.
For only $95 per year, this card earns 5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3x points on dining, online groceries, and streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases.
Cardholders will also get a 10% anniversary points bonus, a 12-month DoorDash DashPass subscription when activated by December 31, 2024, and a $50 anniversary hotel statement credit.
Plus, it provides extensive travel protections, including trip delay, primary rental car, baggage, and purchase protection plans.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Better for Airport Lounge Access
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (review) is a premium travel rewards card that’s perfect for travelers who want outstanding travel perks like annual travel credits, worldwide airport lounge access, and travel and purchase protections.
The Venture X earns 2x miles on all purchases helping you maximize every dollar of your spending. Plus, you can earn 10x miles on hotels and rental cars, and 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One.
The card has a $395 annual fee, completely offset by a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, and 10,000 points (worth at least $100) for each account anniversary.
Plus, you get airport lounge access via Priority Pass, Capital One, and Plaza Premium Lounges, Hertz President’s Circle elite status, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, rental car insurance, trip and luggage insurance, cell phone insurance, and purchase protection.
United℠ Explorer Card
Better for United Travelers
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- 2X Miles on United Purchases, Dining, and Hotel Stays
- 2 United Club One-Time Passes Per Year
- Free First Checked Bags for Two People
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus Credit
- 25% Savings on United In-Flight Food and Drinks
- Priority Boarding
- Primary Rental Car and Trip Delay Insurance
- $0 Intro Annual Fee, Then $95 Per Year
The card_name (review) is one of my favorite cards to keep long-term because of the great benefits when flying United, including:
- Free first checked bag when you pay using the Explorer card;
- Two free United Club passes each account anniversary;
- Priority boarding for you and companions on the same reservation;
- Extra award space when redeeming your United miles;
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United; and
- Premier upgrades on award tickets.
Even if you’re not a frequent United flyer, the money-saving perks and travel benefits of this card can still make it a worthwhile choice.
Besides the airline-specific benefits, the United Explorer card offers purchase protection, extended warranty, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance, providing peace of mind while traveling.
Is the Air Canada Aeroplan Card Worth it?
The Aeroplan Credit Card is worth it if you fly Air Canada at least once per year. Aeroplan has one of the best points programs allowing you to redeem points for flights on 45+ airline partners.
Plus, the card offers a first free checked bag, elite status for new cardmembers, and lots of other benefits.
But if you don’t fly Air Canada at all, you may be better off with another card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review), which allows you to transfer points to Aeroplan.
