dailynewsnblog
Air Canada Aeroplan is one of the most useful Star Alliance loyalty programs for travelers based in the U.S., thanks to fixed partner award charts, flexible stopover rules and no fuel surcharges on award tickets.
The (see rates and fees) offers Aeroplan 25K elite status, along with discounts on Air Canada redemptions, annual statement credits and a $195 annual fee. (The card was recently refreshed.)
If the ability to use points on more than 50 partner airlines worldwide and automatic elite status appeal to you, this card is worth considering. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Aeroplan Card: The basics
If you fly Air Canada or its partner airlines a few times a year, the offers a lot with a mid-tier annual fee. Here’s what you need to know:
- Best for: Those who fly Air Canada and its Star Alliance partner airlines.
- Annual fee: $195
- Elite status perk: Complimentary Aeroplan 25K elite status each year
- Other key benefits: Up to $100 a year back in Air Canada statement credits, a 15% discount on eligible Air Canada award redemptions booked with Aeroplan points and a free checked bag on Air Canada flights
- Welcome bonus: Earn up to 115,000 bonus Aeroplan points: 75,000 bonus Aeroplan points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus an additional 40,000 bonus Aeroplan points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening.
Aeroplan Card pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Related: How to choose the best credit card for you
Aeroplan Card benefits
The delivers several meaningful perks that make it competitive in the cobranded airline card space.
Complimentary elite status
This is arguably the best reason to add the card to your wallet. You’ll automatically receive Aeroplan 25K status (it remains in effect as long as the card remains open, with no annual spending requirement to earn or retain it).
Aeroplan 25K includes perks such as:
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Five eUpgrade credits for cabin upgrades
- Star Alliance Silver status (priority waitlisting and standby, but no lounge access)
- Complimentary Avis Preferred Plus elite status (enrollment required)
With this status, you’ll also earn 2 Aeroplan points per dollar on Air Canada cash fares (in addition to what the card earns).
Working toward higher elite status
The card also helps you reach higher elite status levels by giving you Status Qualifying Credits (the primary metric used to earn and maintain status) as follows:
- A 5,000 SQC bonus each calendar year
- 10,000 additional SQCs after spending $25,000 in a calendar year
- 10,000 additional SQCs after spending $50,000 in a calendar year
This means you can earn up to 25,000 SQCs per year from the card.
Higher tiers of Aeroplan status require more SQCs. With significant spending, the card can meaningfully accelerate your progress. For example, spending $75,000 in a calendar year gets you 35K status for that year and the following year.
In addition, Aeroplan offers Milestone Benefits — extra perks unlocked as you earn SQCs throughout the year, typically in increments of 10,000 SQCs.
While the card can give you a strong head start and boost, it works best alongside flying and partner activity rather than as a stand-alone path to elite status.
Discounted Air Canada awards
You’ll save 15% on eligible Air Canada flight redemptions booked with Aeroplan points. The discount applies to each one-way journey, and at least one flight on that one-way must be operated by Air Canada.
The discount can be combined with Priority Rewards, the Aeroplan Milestone Benefit that takes 50% off the points cost of an eligible redemption, so together they can reduce the cost of a long-haul booking.
As a current Aeroplan cardholder, I love saving points on every Air Canada flight redemption I make, especially as redemption rates can be high during popular periods, and it’s easy to save tens of thousands of Aeroplan points every year with this benefit.
Air Canada statement credits
You’ll receive up to $100 a year in Air Canada statement credits (split into two $50 credits, one for each half of the calendar year). The credits apply to purchases including paid fares, taxes and fees on award bookings, and inflight food and drinks. If you can use these credits in full, they cover just over half of the card’s annual fee.
Other travel perks
The card also offers:
From 2027, cardholders will also receive a fourth car rental day at no charge when they use Aeroplan points to book a four-day reservation through the Aeroplan car rental platform (participating locations only).
Benefits ending this year
The following long-standing benefits are being retired at the end of 2026:
- Monthly spending bonus: You’ll receive an up to 500-point bonus for every $2,000 spent on the card in a month (capped at 1,500 points a month and 18,000 points a year).
- 10% transfer bonus: You’ll receive a 10% bonus when you transfer 50,000 or more Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Aeroplan in a single transaction (up to 25,000 bonus points per calendar year).
Both perks remain available to new and existing cardholders until Dec. 31. If you hold a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points and have been planning to move to Aeroplan, this is the last year to do it with the bonus attached.
I have enjoyed the occasional 10% transfer bonus when sending Ultimate Rewards points in the past; however, the loss of this perk isn’t substantial enough for me to cancel this card.
How to earn and use your points
The ‘s earning structure rewards both everyday spending and Air Canada loyalty, while Aeroplan’s partner network and fixed award chart make redemptions particularly valuable for premium cabin travel.
Earning Aeroplan points
You’ll earn:
- Up to 5 points per dollar spent on eligible Air Canada flights (3 points per dollar from the card, plus an additional 2 points per dollar from Air Canada when traveling as an Aeroplan 25K member)
- 3 points per dollar spent on all other travel
- 2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores§ and on dining§ and gas
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
§Dining and grocery store purchases earn a boosted 3 points per dollar spent through the end of 2026.
Redeeming Aeroplan points
You’ll generally get the best value from your Aeroplan points by redeeming them for flights, particularly in premium cabins.
Aeroplan prices flights operated by Air Canada dynamically, so during peak travel periods, such as school and major holidays, award rates can be high.
However, Aeroplan has maintained a terrifically priced fixed award chart for most airline partners, with some of the best rates in the industry, including:
- 55,000 points for one-way business class from the West Coast to Japan on ANA
- 60,000 points for one-way business class from the East Coast to Europe on airlines such as Lufthansa and Swiss
- 90,000 points for one-way business class from the East Coast to India on Turkish Airlines or Air India
Plus, you can add a stopover of up to 45 days anywhere on your routing (outside the United States and Canada) on any one-way award for an extra 5,000 points.
While United is one of the few partners that Aeroplan prices dynamically, you can book domestic flights under 500 miles for as few as 10,000 Aeroplan points.
For those who prefer a simple redemption option, the offers Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature, allowing you to redeem points for statement credits toward recent purchases, such as select travel purchases and the card’s annual fee, for up to 1.25 cents per point.
Related: Decisions, decisions: Choosing the best Lufthansa Allegris business-class seat
Potential drawbacks of the Aeroplan Card
The card’s perks are most valuable if you fly Air Canada multiple times per year; if your travel patterns shift, the card’s value erodes quickly.
I’ve found Aeroplan points to be some of the most valuable airline points you can collect, especially for premium cabin redemptions. However, if you are earning airline points rather than transferable rewards, you are still locked to that one program. If Aeroplan devalues its award chart or you stop flying its partners, you cannot move those points anywhere else.
And while the statement credits are welcome, even if used in full, they cover just over half the card’s annual fee.
Is the Aeroplan Card worth it?
If you fly Air Canada a few times a year, this card is definitely worth it, thanks to complimentary elite status, a free first checked bag, and Air Canada statement credits and redemption discounts.
However, if you are interested in redeeming Aeroplan points on only partner airlines (where some of the best value can be found), you’re probably better off earning transferable rewards that can be transferred to Aeroplan or other Star Alliance partners.
When to apply for the Aeroplan Card
Right now, new cardholders can earn up to 115,000 bonus Aeroplan points: 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus a further 40,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening.
According to TPG’s September 2026 valuation of 1.5 cents per Aeroplan point, the full 115,000-point bonus is worth $1,725. This is the best-ever welcome offer we’ve seen on this card, so now is an ideal time to apply.
Other cards to consider if you don’t want the Aeroplan Card
The has a higher annual fee than some other airline cards and can lock you into earning Aeroplan points, so here are some alternatives:
For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel rewards cards.
Bottom line
Complimentary elite status is a terrific perk, no matter the airline. And with Aeroplan points among the most valuable and useful airline currencies, this credit card is an excellent way to book your dream vacation using points to save money on flights, especially if you are traveling to or through Canada.
However, if you don’t fly Air Canada at least a few times a year, you’re better off with a general travel rewards card or a card from another airline.
