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In December 2021, a new airline credit card arrived on the scene: the Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card, the issuer’s first-ever card tied exclusively to Air Canada. With an annual fee of $95 and a number of unique features, the Aeroplan Credit Card is attractive even to US consumers who don’t typically find themselves visiting our neighbor to the north.
This includes access to Chase’s Pay Yourself Back tool, which allows card holders to redeem Air Canada points for flights on virtually any airline, as well as hotel rooms and car rentals, at a rate of 1.25 cents per point, up to 50,000 points per year.
Likewise, the card includes a handful of elite status benefits and other interesting features. So, let’s take a closer look at the card and see if it makes sense for your travel plans.
The Aeroplan Credit Card’s bonus categories and elite status perks
Airlines have made an effort in recent years to broaden the bonus categories on their credit cards, and the Aeroplan Credit Card card is no exception. It earns bonus points in several popular everyday categories, including:
- 3 points for every dollar spent on dining, takeout and eligible delivery services.
- 3 points for every dollar spent at grocery stores.
- 3 points for every dollar spent directly with Air Canada.
- 1 point for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
In addition, card holders earn 500 bonus points for every $2,000 spent on the card in a calendar month, up to a maximum of 1,500 points per calendar month.
The Chase Aeroplan card also makes it easy to quickly earn elite status on Air Canada. New card holders automatically receive Aeroplan 25K elite status for the remainder of the first calendar year of having the card, plus the following calendar year. This basic-tier status provides benefits such as priority check-in, early boarding and more on Air Canada flights. Apply for the card and your status will be valid through Dec. 31, 2024.
In future years, Aeroplan Credit Card card holders can requalify for 25K status by spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year. And for high spenders, putting $50,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year will earn Aeroplan 35K elite status, which is the next level up from the basic status.
If you already have Aeroplan elite status from flying, the same $50,000 in annual spending on the card will earn you a one-level status boost for the next year. Additional spending thresholds starting at $100,000 in a calendar year unlock additional Aeroplan redemption benefits, like 50% off Priority Rewards and companion perks.
Other Aeroplan Credit Card benefits
As is typical with airline credit cards in today’s market, the Aeroplan Credit Card card provides a free first checked bag on Air Canada flights for the primary card holder as well as up to eight other travelers on the same itinerary.
In addition, card holders get a suite of travel protection perks, including trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement and auto rental collision damage coverage. The card also doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Another feature of the card is a credit of up to $100 toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus membership every four years. While the first two options on that list are fairly common when it comes to travel credit cards, the addition of Nexus — a program that allows prescreened travelers expedited processing when entering Canada — is appropriate for a card tied to a Canadian airline.
Of course, an airline credit card is only as strong as the frequent flyer program it’s attached to. Fortunately, Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is one of the better international options. It features partnerships with over 50 other airlines, including United, Lufthansa, Swiss Air, Singapore Airlines and many others. This provides abundant opportunities to redeem Air Canada points for flights from the US to a multitude of destinations around the world.
An up to 100,000-point sign-up bonus
The Aeroplan Credit Card’s welcome offer lets you earn up to a whopping 100,000 Aeroplan points — 75,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months of opening your account, plus an additional 25,000 points after you spend $20,000 within the first 12 months. With Aeroplan’s favorable award chart — especially when flying on a partner aircraft — these points can go far.
Short-haul flights on United Airlines start at 6,000 Aeroplan points one-way. This can be a useful redemption if you regularly commute between US cities to visit family and friends.
Further, you can fly between the US and Canada on short-haul Air Canada-operated flights for roughly the same price on many dates. Aeroplan prices Air Canada flights dynamically, so the price may differ depending on when you book and when you fly.
Of course, you can use Aeroplan points to fly to Europe, Asia and other regions as well. These flights are more expensive, but it’s still possible to find a good deal.
Plus, Chase’s “Pay Yourself Back” tool lets you use 100,000 points for $1,250 towards any travel-related purchase. This is because you can use the feature to redeem points toward any hotel, car rental, train or flight (even on another airline).
Should you get the Aeroplan Credit Card?
In today’s highly competitive credit card market, issuers are thinking outside the box when it comes to designing new products that appeal to specific audiences. This is a pattern we’ve seen in the recent introductions of the Capital One Venture X and the Hyatt Business card, and it continues with the Aeroplan Credit Card, with a set of perks that will strongly appeal to the airline’s customers.
If you find the Aeroplan program attractive but don’t fly Air Canada regularly, you might consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® card instead. These cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points which transfer to Aeroplan and 13 other airline and hotel partners at a 1-to-1 ratio. So for every 1,000 points you transfer from an Ultimate Rewards credit card, you’ll get 1,000 Aeroplan points.
But the Aeroplan Credit Card still has some appeal to US-based customers, though it could require leveraging the carrier’s elite status for perks during partner travel or using the card’s rewards to book flights on other airlines, either through the Aeroplan program or Chase’s Pay Yourself Back tool. But with attractive bonus categories and an easy path to elite status, the card is certainly worth a look.
Learn more and apply for the Aeroplan Credit Card.
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