Get up to $1,250 in Statement Credits with the Best-Ever Offer on the Aeroplan Credit Card

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Even if you reside in the U.S. or have no plans to visit Canada, now is the time to consider the Air Canada Aeroplan® Credit Card. It boasts impressive point-earning potential, a massive introductory bonus, and exciting redemption opportunities, all for a low $95 annual fee.

New cardholders can currently earn up to 100,000 points by hitting spending milestones in the first 12 months. These points can be redeemed for statement credits on travel at 1.25 cents per point using the Pay Yourself Back feature. You can also use them within Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, which boasts the largest number of airline partners globally, offering redemptions worth $1,250 in travel credits or enough for a business-class flight with Emirates or other partners in Aeroplan’s network of 40+ airlines.

Beyond the welcome bonus, this card is a standout travel card, offering triple points on groceries, dining, and more. It also includes a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus credit every four years, along with multiple travel insurances.

Here’s everything you need to know about the popular Chase Aeroplan Credit Card and why it’s a great choice—even if you don’t plan to fly to Canada or board an Air Canada plane.

An unmatched welcome bonus and a fantastic new redemption feature

New cardholders of Air Canada’s Aeroplan Credit Card can earn up to 100,000 points in the first 12 months. You’ll receive 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, and an additional 40,000 points after spending $20,000 in the first year—this is a huge increase from last year’s 70,000-point offer.

Used wisely, 100,000 Aeroplan points can be incredibly valuable, especially now that you can redeem them for travel statement credits with the new Pay Yourself Back feature.

With Pay Yourself Back, Aeroplan cardholders can redeem points as statement credits for travel purchases made within the last 90 days at 1.25 cents per point. Travel purchases include flights, rideshares, hotels, trains, and more, as long as they fall under Chase's 'Travel' category.

The current 100,000-point welcome bonus can be worth up to $1,250 in credits using the Pay Yourself Back option. That’s $1,250 for Ubers, wine at your favorite W hotel, or flights on American Airlines and Delta. Points can be redeemed in full or partially, applied to eligible purchases from the last 90 days, with up to five items per transaction.

This level of redemption flexibility is remarkable. While Chase Sapphire Preferred® offers similar benefits, points are only redeemable at 1.25 cents through the Chase travel portal or select categories that rotate quarterly. Having a low-fee card offering 1.25 cents on all travel purchases is truly game-changing.

You can still use Aeroplan points the traditional way.

Despite our enthusiasm for Pay Yourself Back, we still enjoy redeeming Aeroplan points directly through Air Canada's Aeroplan portal, which offers access to 45 other airlines and over 1,300 destinations.

These airlines include 26 Star Alliance members like Lufthansa, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, and United, plus 20 more such as Etihad, Oman Air, and Emirates, making Aeroplan's search engine the most comprehensive of any airline program worldwide.

Although not the cheapest, Aeroplan redemptions often require fewer points than programs like United's MileagePlus or Delta's SkyMiles. For instance, the writer recently used 124,000 Aeroplan points for a one-way business-class ticket from Miami to Johannesburg (via Dubai) on Emirates for May 2023.

If you plan to use Aeroplan points for flights, it’s worth exploring the Aeroplan search engine and experimenting with dates to find the best award pricing. The award chart is complex, factoring in geography, distance, and dynamic pricing, but with flexibility and patience, you can find great deals like my Miami to South Africa flight.

Rack up lots of points

Beyond the welcome bonus, the Aeroplan card lets you earn extra points on everyday spending. The earning rates are as follows:

• 3 points per dollar at grocery stores
• 3 points per dollar on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery
• 3 points per dollar spent directly with Air Canada
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

The rewards don't stop there. Another impressive perk of this card is earning bonus points for meeting spending milestones each month. You’ll get 500 bonus points for every $2,000 spent in a calendar month, up to 1,500 points monthly or $18,000 annually.

Global Entry credit and travel protections

The Aeroplan credit card offers a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus every four years, which is rare for a card with just a $95 annual fee. It also comes with a range of travel insurance benefits, which is unusual for a low-cost card.

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Baggage delay insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Auto rental collision damage waiver

Like all insurance policies, there are specific terms regarding coverage limits, what’s included, and when it applies.

Carbon offsets

Air Canada is aiming for net zero emissions from global operations by 2050. To support this, Air Canada will purchase carbon offsets for Aeroplan cardholders (and their companions on the same reservation) flying with Air Canada, Air Canada Express, or Air Canada Rouge on an Aeroplan reward flight. This offsets the carbon footprint of the flight, with no cap on the number of offsets Air Canada will provide.

Air Canada benefits

While this card is beneficial for those who don’t fly Air Canada, it’s an even better option for frequent Air Canada flyers. Cardholders get one free checked bag for themselves and up to eight companions on the same reservation.

Cardholders automatically receive Aeroplan 25K Elite Status for the remainder of the current calendar year and the following year. This includes perks like priority check-in, early boarding, and potential upgrades. Cardholders can keep 25K Status with $15,000 in spending annually, and those spending $50,000 annually can level up to 35K Status or higher.

Key Takeaways

With a 100,000-point welcome bonus, strong earning potential, and top-notch redemption options—especially the new Pay Yourself Back feature—the Aeroplan Credit Card is an excellent pick for travelers, even if Canada or Air Canada isn't on your itinerary.

This article was first published in 2022 and updated on January 30, 2023, to reflect the current offer. While accurate at the time of publishing, offers may change or no longer be available.