Aeroplan Credit Card – Full Review [2023]

Great Card If

• You’re a regular Air Canada flyer
• You want a card that earns automatic Air Canada/Star Alliance status

Don’t Get If

• You never fly with Air Canada
• You want a card that earns transferable points

Aeroplan Card — Is It Worth It?

To determine whether or not the Aeroplan card is worth it to you, first think about how often with Air Canada.

If you fly with the airline with some frequency, consider how much value you think you would get out of the benefits of the card. These include automatic Aeroplan 25K status, free checked bags on flights, preferred pricing on award tickets, multiple travel protections, and much more.

Of course, you’ll also want to factor in the number of points you’ll earn each year thanks to the card’s multiple 3x bonus categories.

If you think the combined value of all of the benefits you’ll receive will easily eclipse the $95 annual fee, then, yes, the Aeroplan card would certainly be worth it to you.

Aeroplan Card Top Benefits

Aeroplan 25K Status

As a cardholder, you’ll automatically receive Aeroplan 25K status for the rest of the year in which you sign up for the card, plus all of the following year. If you’re not already familiar, Aeroplan 25K status offers the following benefits:

• Priority seat selection
• Priority boarding
• 2 free checked bags on Air Canada and Star Alliance flights
• 20 eUpgrade credits (to use for discounted upgrades on Air Canada flights)
• Priority airport check-in
• Choose 2 Select benefits (includes additional eUpgrades, Maple Leaf Lounge guests passes, bonus points on flights, and more)
• Star Alliance Silver status

Better yet, you can extend your Aeroplan 25K status each year by spending $15,000 on your Aeroplan card, without needing to worry about hitting any other qualifying criteria.

Elite Status Boost

If you want to take your elite status to the next level, the Aeroplan card allows you to boost your elite status by 1 tier after spending $50,000 on the card in a calendar year.

This means that if you qualified for Aeroplan 35K based on flight activity in 1 year, but spent $50,000 on your card, you would automatically be upgraded to Aeroplan 50K instead!

Of course, this perk can be used to help you reach any level of elite status, even top-tier Super Elite status, but you can only receive a 1-tier boost from what you would have qualified for otherwise. In other words, you cannot spend $100,000 on the card and receive a 2-level bump.

Free Checked Baggage

If you’re a traveling family, this benefit alone could be massively valuable to you, as you’ll get the first checked bag free for you and up to 8 traveling companions on all Air Canada flights.

For those who have purchased checked bags for multiple family members before, know that this benefit can easily save you hundreds of dollars per trip.

Preferred Pricing on Award Tickets

In its own Aeroplan program, Air Canada has adopted a dynamic pricing model for its own tickets (but not for partner airlines). While you’ll never know exactly how many points a given award ticket on an Air Canada flight will cost you, by holding the Aeroplan card, you’ll automatically receive a discount that’s not offered to other members.

Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Fee Credit

While many cards offer Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits, the Aeroplan card was the first of its kind to offer a NEXUS credit, which provides expedited border crossing into the U.S. from Canada.

However, if given the choice between the 3, you should opt for Global Entry, as it gives you expedited access into the U.S. from every international destination, and includes TSA PreCheck automatically.

Card Protections

You hope that you never have to use them, but it’s great to know you have them, just in case. Here are the types of protection your Aeroplan card offers to you:

• Trip Delay Reimbursement: If your flight is delayed more than 12 hours, or requires an overnight stay, you’re covered for qualified expenses like meals and lodging for up to $500 per ticket.
• Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance: For trips that are cut short or canceled due to a covered reason like severe weather, you’re covered for up to $1,500 per person, and $6,000 per trip, towards non-refundable expenses.
• Baggage Delay Insurance: If your baggage is delayed by more than 6 hours, you’ll be covered up to $100 per day towards essential expenses like clothing and toiletries.
• Rental Car Insurance: Receive secondary rental car coverage towards damage to the car when you pay for the rental with your Aeroplan card and decline the rental company’s insurance. Keep in mind that secondary coverage means it will only kick in after your primary auto insurance has been exhausted.
• Purchase Protection: Purchases made with your card are covered for 120 days towards accidental damage or theft, with up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Aeroplan Points

Perhaps you’re sold on the Aeroplan program, but you’re feeling skeptical about your ability to earn enough Aeroplan points for reward flights, even if you have the Aeroplan card. Don’t worry, we’ve put together a guide on the best ways to earn Aeroplan points.

Further, Air Canada’s Aeroplan program has one of the most generous award programs out there, as award tickets for its partner airlines are quite reasonable, and it doesn’t pass on fuel surcharges. With that, here are some of the best ways to redeem Aeroplan points for maximum value.

Alternative Cards to the Aeroplan Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

If you prefer a card that earns transferable rewards, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred card might be the perfect fit for you.

You’ll earn 5x points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 2x points on all other travel purchases. Additionally, you’ll earn 3x points per $1 on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, along with 1x point per $1 on all other purchases.

Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders also receive perks like a $50 annual hotel credit through Chase travel, travel and purchase protections, and a 10% points bonus on your total account spend on every account anniversary.

Plus, your points transfer to multiple Chase transfer partners — including Air Canada!

United℠ Explorer Card

For those who aren’t frequent Air Canada flyers, but instead prefer its Star Alliance partner United, then the United Explorer card would make more sense for you.

With it, you’ll earn 2x points per $1 on United purchases, dining purchases, and hotel purchases, along with 1x point per $1 on all other purchases.

If you’re a frequent United flyer, you’ll love that the card gives you free checked bags on United flights, priority boarding, premier upgrades on award tickets, 25% back on United inflight purchases, and 2 1-time passes to the United Club each year.