Aeroplan Credit Card Review: You’re Automatically Elite

Generous sign-up bonus

On top of elite status for newcomers, the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan® Credit Card also features the following sign-up bonus: Earn up to 115,000 bonus points. Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 40,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 in the first 12 months your account is open.

Rewards for other spending

The Chase Air Canada Aeroplan® Credit Card pays holders for more than just travel-related spending. In addition to earning bonus points for purchases made with Air Canada and on other travel, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on gas and 2 points per dollar on groceries and at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services). Because your rewards-earning isn't tied to Air Canada or to travel-specific spending for that matter, you can rack up points with the card more easily.

Automatic elite status for cardholders

Cardholders also automatically get Aeroplan 25K Elite Status, the entry-level tier in Air Canada’s loyalty program. There's no spending requirement to earn and maintain this status. That's a change from before the card's overhaul in September 2026. Prior to that, the 25K status was good only for the year you opened that car and the next calendar year, and you had to spend a certain amount each year to keep it.

The 25K status comes with attractive perks on Air Canada flights, including early boarding, priority check-in and upgrades, 50% discount on preferred seats and more.

» SEE: Aeroplan's sweet spots

Boost status and benefits through credit card spending

In addition to automatic Aeroplan 25K status, you can also earn a one-level status boost from your existing status for the next year, when you spend $75,000 in a calendar year.

Earning the status boost requires a hefty amount of spending that can be difficult for most to meet. But the perks that come with it can be particularly valuable for loyal Air Canada customers. Plus, because you’ll earn bonus rewards for more than just Air Canada purchases, it can be easier to rack up your spending with the card.

Free checked bags

When you use your card to pay for an Air Canada flight, you’ll get one free checked bag for you and up to eight additional people in your reservation. This is one of the more generous free-baggage policies among airline cards that offer it and can provide generous savings — particularly if you’re traveling with a large party. Air Canada typically charges $35 Canadian dollars (about $25 in U.S. dollars as of March 2024) for a first checked bag for economy class travel.

Points can be used to cover an array of purchases

Have a pile of Aeroplan points but you're not flying anytime soon? The card's Pay Yourself Back® feature allows you to redeem those points for a statement credit to cover travel, dining, grocery store and gas station purchases made with your card. Eligible travel expenses include hotels, car rentals, rideshare, cruises, flights on any airline and more.

Each point is worth 1.25 cents when redeemed against an eligible travel purchase. That's notable, because it's higher than NerdWallet's value of an Aeroplan point (currently 1.1 cents). Generally, if other branded travel credit cards offer the ability to use points for things other than travel with that brand, their value is greatly diminished. You can redeem your points for statement credit for up to 90 days after your purchase.

Other cards can offer more flexibility

Points earned from the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan® Credit Card can be redeemed for flights across multiple airlines, including those in the Star Alliance network. But United Airlines is the only domestic airline in the Alliance; all other airlines are internationally based.

Additionally, most of the card’s benefits like elite status, a free checked bag and reward discounts are tied to Air Canada.

A general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, for example, that isn’t tied to one airline or network can offer greater redemptions and benefits flexibility. Rewards earned with the card can be redeemed for a variety of options, including for travel booked through Chase. You can also transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to a number of domestic and international airline and hotel travel partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan. The card charges an annual fee of $95.

Aeroplan also partners with American Express. You can transfer Membership Rewards earned from several cards, like the American Express® Gold Card and the American Express Platinum Card®, to Aeroplan at a 1:1 rate.

Keep in mind, though, that such general travel cards typically don't come with airline-specific perks. For more options, check out NerdWallet's list of best credit card offers.

It has an annual fee

For people who fly Air Canada frequently, the Chase Air Canada Aeroplan® Credit Card certainly packs a punch. But if you rarely visit Canada (or just don't want to pay an annual fee), the card's $195 annual fee could be a dealbreaker. That's higher than what most airlines charge for their basic credit card.

The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is a good $0-annual-fee alternative. Cardholders earn an unlimited 3 points per dollar spent on:

• Restaurants.

• Travel and transit.

• Gas and EV charging stations.

• Popular streaming services.

• Select phone plans.