9 amazing advantages of the Air Canada Aeroplan credit card

The Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card from Air Canada ranks among our top picks for cobranded airline credit cards, providing flexibility in rewards and valuable travel benefits. With its impressive earning potential and incentives to use the card beyond the sign-up bonus, the Aeroplan credit card is a great choice for many enthusiasts of points and miles — even for those who may not often travel to Canada.

You might be surprised by the extensive benefits this card offers — some features are quite unique for an airline-affiliated credit card. So, if you plan to fly with Air Canada, even just occasionally, let's take a closer look at these advantages.

Here are the benefits that could make this the most worthwhile airline credit card to include in your wallet.

Attractive welcome bonus

New applicants for the Air Canada Aeroplan credit card can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of opening the account. Additionally, they can receive 25,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 in the first year.

As of September 2024, TPG estimates that 100,000 Aeroplan points are valued at 1.5 cents each, making this sign-up bonus worth up to $1,500.

With such a generous welcome bonus, the Chase Aeroplan card comes with an annual fee of only $95, making this offer extremely worthwhile.

Triple points across various categories

Cardholders earn 3 Aeroplan points for every dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining (including takeout and delivery), and for purchases made directly with Air Canada. All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.

These earning rates are particularly valuable for those who frequently shop at grocery stores and dine out (which is nearly everyone), making it simple to accumulate Aeroplan points.

Monthly bonus points

In addition to the welcome bonus and triple point categories, you can earn even more bonus points from your everyday spending. For every $2,000 spent on the card each month, you can earn up to 500 bonus points — totaling up to 1,500 points each month. This can lead to significant rewards for heavy spenders, potentially adding up to 18,000 bonus points each year.

For instance, a new cardholder who spends $2,000 monthly on the card — with half of that allocated to groceries, dining, and Air Canada — in the first year would accumulate:

• 100,000 points from the welcome bonus
• 36,000 points from grocery, dining, and Air Canada purchases
• 12,000 points from other everyday spending
• 6,000 points for achieving the monthly spending bonus each month

This totals 154,000 Aeroplan points earned from one card in a year, valued at $2,310, based on our points valuation.

Use points for any travel expense

For those who find it challenging to maximize their points and miles, cardholders can redeem their Aeroplan points for travel expenses — including any airline, hotel, car rentals, and more — at a value of 1.25 cents per point. However, the Pay Yourself Back tool has an annual redemption cap of 50,000 points.

Statement credits to simplify your travel

Cardholders also enjoy up to $100 in statement credit every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus applications.

While many U.S. travelers are familiar with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, they might not be aware of Nexus. This membership program speeds up travel between the U.S. and Canada by land, sea, or air, making it ideal for frequent visitors to Canada.

The Nexus application fee is just $50, which includes benefits from Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. However, keep in mind that you'll need to be interviewed for Nexus at a major Canadian airport or at a U.S.-Canadian border location.

Aeroplan elite status

Cardholders automatically receive Aeroplan 25K elite status, offering more perks than you might expect. Some of these benefits include priority check-in and boarding, a 50% discount on Preferred Seats, and 20 eUpgrade credits each year. This status is valid during the calendar year you apply and the following year, so those who apply in the latter half of 2024 will maintain status through the end of 2025.

Aeroplan 25K members benefit from priority phone support and are given preference over non-elite passengers on the waitlist for full flights. These advantages can be invaluable when seeking customer service or dealing with flight delays or cancellations. With priority access, you'll be among the first to get your flight rebooked.

Members enjoy the ability to select seats at the front of the economy cabin on Air Canada flights and qualify for priority boarding. Getting on the plane earlier means you'll have first dibs on overhead bin space and more time to get comfortable before takeoff.

The 25K elite status also grants Star Alliance Silver status, providing access to priority reservation waitlists and priority standby when traveling with member airlines, such as United Airlines, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. This status can significantly enhance your travel experience if there are disruptions in your itinerary. If your original flight faces delays or cancellations, you'll be among the first to secure a seat on the next available flight, which is crucial during weather-related interruptions or other scheduling issues.

Discounted award rates

A lesser-known but highly valuable benefit of Aeroplan 25K status is reduced pricing on certain award redemptions when flying with Air Canada. While it might not be immediately obvious what the discount entails, let’s explore an example comparing a cardholder to a non-cardholder.

For instance, if you're looking to fly from Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in business class, a non-elite traveler would see the lowest fare starting at 80,000 Aeroplan points for the desired travel date.

Members with 25K elite status can enjoy discounted rates of under 60,000 points for the same flights.

This credit card can help you save approximately 20,000 Aeroplan points on a single redemption, effectively covering the annual fee multiple times over.

Upgrade credits

Members with elite 25k status enjoy an annual allocation of 20 eUpgrade credits.

If you're planning to fly from New York to Frankfurt Airport (FRA), the lowest business class fare available is 122,100 Aeroplan points due to Aeroplan's dynamic pricing. While this is considerably better than the 375,000 miles Delta might ask for a similar journey, it still falls short of being a fantastic deal.

To find flights eligible for eUpgrade, select the 'eUpgrade' filter in your search results. On this particular date, premium economy fares start at just 48,500 Aeroplan miles, which is a much more attractive option.

By choosing the premium economy option and using your eUpgrade credits from the Aeroplan credit card, you can book at the 48,500 point level. Alternatively, you can use 12 eUpgrade credits along with 200 Canadian dollars ($147) to upgrade instantly to business class for the transatlantic leg from Toronto to Frankfurt. You may also opt to be waitlisted for the short flight from New York.

For more details, visit AIRCANADA.COM.

If you'd prefer to conserve the CA$200 and one eUpgrade credit, you can opt to pay the higher fare of 65,500 Aeroplan points to upgrade to business class without any extra co-payment.

These eUpgrade credits can help you save hundreds of dollars and tens of thousands of Aeroplan points annually.

Lounge access passes

Every year, members with 25K elite status receive two one-time guest passes for Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounges, available in the domestic and U.S. areas of Canadian airports. They also have access to these lounges at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Passes are valid with a confirmed same-day ticket on Air Canada.

Key takeaways

With an annual fee of $95, the Air Canada Aeroplan credit card offers numerous advantages, especially for those who plan to fly Air Canada frequently after acquiring the card.

You can accumulate a substantial number of Aeroplan points through various bonuses. You can also save points on Air Canada redemptions, either by taking advantage of discounted rates or by using valuable eUpgrade credits to upgrade for less; cardmembers enjoy both benefits as part of their 25k elite status.

Even if you don't intend to visit Canada, Air Canada's comprehensive route network spans Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. Moreover, Air Canada boasts excellent redemption partners both within and outside the Star Alliance.