Aeroplan is Canada’s largest airline loyalty program—and one of its most lucrative. Owned by Air Canada, Aeroplan offers a ton of flexibility compared to other airline loyalty programs. You can redeem Aeroplan points with more than 50 partner airlines and even transfer points to other programs.
Featured credit cards
American Express Cobalt Card
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
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Best Aeroplan credit card by category
Whether you’re looking for a no-fee card to get you started earning Aeroplan points or a full-service travel card with all the bells and whistles, there’s an Aeroplan credit card for you.
| Aeroplan credit card | Why we love it |
|---|---|
| Best for fast-tracking points American Express Cobalt Card Annual fee: $156 | Earn up to 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent, and transfer those points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio |
| Best co-branded Aeroplan card TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Annual fee: $139 | Earn Aeroplan points on your everyday spending, get a Nexus fee rebate, and more |
| Best Aeroplan credit card for luxury perks American Express The Platinum Card Annual fee: $799 | Comes with airport lounge access, a $200 annual travel credit, and more |
| Best no-fee Aeroplan credit card CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card Annual fee: $0 | A no-frills option that still lets you earn Aeroplan points |
Best Aeroplan card for fast-tracking points
At a glance: The American Express Cobalt Card is an excellent choice for those seeking to maximize their Aeroplan points through everyday spending. The card gives you an impressive earn rate of up to 5 Membership Rewards (MR) points per dollar spent. So how does this help you accumulate Aeroplan rewards? Well, you can transfer MR points to Aeroplan points at a 1:1 ratio. Thanks to its strong accelerated earn rates, which surpass all of Aeroplan’s own co-branded cards, you can earn more Aeroplan points with the Cobalt than with any other card.
American Express Cobalt
Annual fee: $156
- 5 points per $1 on dining and groceries
- 3 points per $1 on streaming services
- 2 points per $1 on transit and gas
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Welcome offer: earn 1,250 points for each month you spend $750, up to a maximum of 15,000 points.
Card details
| Interest rates | 21.99% on purchases, 21.99% on cash advances |
| Income required | None specified |
| Credit score | 725 or higher |
| Point value | 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers. |
Pros
- High earn rates: Offers some of the most generous accelerated earn categories in Canada (especially the 5 points per $1 on groceries and dining).
- Flexible redemption options: You can redeem for flights using the Amex Fixed or Flexible travel program, transfer points to other loyalty programs like Aeroplan at a rate of 1:1; or redeem points for statement credits, gift cards or merchandise.
- Comprehensive insurance: Comes with 10 types of insurance, including travel medical, car rental, hotel burglary, luggage and mobile device coverage.
Cons
- Moderately high annual fee: The $156 annual fee (charged at $12.99 per month) is higher than similar premium credit cards.
- Limited acceptance: As an American Express card, it may not be as widely accepted as Visa or MasterCard, especially internationally.
Best co-branded Aeroplan credit card
At a glance: The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is ideal for cardholders who want to earn Aeroplan points and take advantage of Air Canada perks. Benefits include a Nexus fee rebate, free checked bags for you and up to eight companions on flights that originate on Air Canada. This card offers 1.5 points per dollar on gas, groceries and Air Canada purchases, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
Annual fee: $139 (waived first year)
- 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 on gas, groceries and purchases
- 1.5 Aeroplan points per $1 on purchases made directly through Air Canada (including vacation packages)
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Welcome offer: Earn up to $1,500 in value, including up to 50,000 Aeroplan points and no annual fee for the first year. Conditions apply. Account must be approved by Jan. 6, 2025.
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases, 22.99% on cash advances, 22.99% on balance transfers |
| Income required | Personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000 |
| Credit score | 680 or higher (recommended) |
| Point value | Aeroplan points are worth $0.02 on average. |
Pros
- Travel perks: Get a free first-checked bag on Air Canada flights, which comes to about $35 in savings per traveller flying economy within Canada or to the U.S, and a Nexus fee rebate every 48 months, worth up to $100.
- Earn points twice: Earn double when using this card and your Aeroplan number at Aeroplan partner brands, in-person and online via the Aeroplan eStore.
- Extensive travel insurance: Includes trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, baggage delay and car rental insurance. It’s one of the few cards to offer emergency medical coverage to those 65 and older—though only for four days.
- Reach Aeroplan Elite Status faster: Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 spent on the card.
Cons
- Relatively high income requirements: You’ll need a minimum personal income of $60,000 or household income of $100,000 to qualify.
- Modest earnings on some purchases: The bonus rate of 1.5 points per dollar on gas and groceries is rather low for a premium, annual-fee card.
Honourable mention
At a glance: The American Express Aeroplan Card has a lower annual fee and offers higher rewards on Air Canada purchases and dining. In contrast, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card provides more points on groceries and gas, making it a better choice for those categories. Note that this card is a charge card, meaning that while you won’t be restricted by a credit limit, you will have to pay off the balance in full every month.
American Express Aeroplan Card
Annual fee: $120
- 2 Aeroplan points per $1 on purchases at Air Canada Vacations
- 1.5 points per $1 on dining and food delivery purchases
- 1 point per $1 spent everywhere else
Welcome offer: Earn up to 40,000 Aeroplan points.
Card details
| Interest rates | n/a (Note: The American Express Aeroplan card is a charge card, so you’re required to pay off the balance in full with this card every month) |
| Income required | None specified |
| Credit score | 725 or higher |
| Anniversary bonus | earn 10,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in month 13. |
| Point value | Aeroplan points are worth $0.02 on average. |
Pros
- Travel perks: You and up to eight travel companions get a free checked bag on eligible Air Canada flights.
- Good travel insurance: Coverage includes $500,000 in travel accident, flight and baggage delay, and lost or stolen baggage, plus hotel burglary, car rental theft and damage.
- Reach Aeroplan Elite Status faster: Get 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and one Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 you charge to the card.
Cons
- Charge card: You’re required to fully pay off the balance each month, which can be a drawback for cardholders who need to carry a balance occasionally.
- Complex redemptions: Aeroplan offers significant potential value, but its fluctuating point values may not be ideal for those wanting a straightforward rewards structure.
Best Aeroplan card for luxury perks
At a glance: This ultra-premium Amex card allows you to transfer your Amex Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 rate. It offers 2 points per dollar on dining and travel purchases and 1 point on all other purchases. The card also comes with unlimited access to airport lounges, including coveted lounges like Centurion, as well as a generous $200 annual travel credit (essentially reducing the cost of your annual fee to $599), hotel upgrades and a sizable sign-up bonus.
American Express Platinum
Annual fee: $799
- 2 points per $1 on dining and food delivery
- 2 points per $1 on travel, plus 1 additional point on purchases booked through Amex Travel Online
- 1 point per $1 on everything else
Welcome offer: Earn up to 140,000 Membership Rewards points ($1,400 value). Must apply by Jan. 28, 2025.
Card details
| Interest rates | N/A (as a charge card, you’re required to pay off your balance in full every month) |
| Income required | None |
| Credit score | 760 or higher |
| Anniversary bonus | $200 annual dining credit to use at a curated list of Canada’s top restaurants. Plus, $200 annual travel credit when booking through American Express Travel Online. |
| Point value | 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = $0.01 when redeemed with the Flexible Points Travel Program, $0.015 on average with the Fixed Points Travel Program, and up to $0.02 with airline points transfers. |
Pros
- Most generous airport lounge access in Canada: Get unlimited free access to over 1,300 airport lounges including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass and Delta Sky Club—sometimes you can even bring a companion at no cost.
- Many redemption options: You can transfer your points to some airline or hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 value. Alternatively, you can use the Flexible Points Travel Program, where every 1,000 points equals $10, or the Fixed Points Travel program’s chart for potentially greater value.
- A $200 annual travel credit: This essentially reduces the annual fee to $599. This card also comes with a $200 dining credit, but it’s only redeemable at a limited number of restaurants in large urban centers mainly in Toronto and Vancouver.
Cons
- Hefty annual fee: At $799, the annual fee is among the highest in Canada. So, do the math to figure out if the card’s benefits are worth it.
- Charge card: You’re required to pay off the balance in full every month.
- Only standard, if solid, travel insurance: For example, there’s no mobile device insurance, and cardholders who are 65 and older are not covered for medical insurance.
- Foreign transaction fees: Unlike some no-forex travel cards, this one charges a 2.5% fee on all non-Canadian dollar purchases.
Best no-fee Aeroplan credit card
At a glance: The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card is an entry-level option for earning Aeroplan points without an annual fee. Not surprisingly for a no-fee card, it doesn’t give you the free checked baggage or comprehensive insurance perks of other co-branded Aeroplan credit cards. However, cardholders do get preferred pricing so they can often book flights using fewer points.
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students
Annual fee: $0
- 1 point per $1 spent on gas and EV charging, groceries and Air Canada purchases
- 0.67 points per $1 on everything else
Welcome offer: earn 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase ($200 value)
Card details
| Interest rates | 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (21.99% in Quebec) |
| Income required | None specified |
| Credit score | None specified |
| Point value | Aeroplan points are worth $0.02 on average. |
Pros
- Good first credit card: With no annual fee and no minimum income requirement, this card is good for students, newcomers and other Canadians who want to start building up a credit score, while also earning travel points.
- Some travel insurance: The insurance is lean, but still decent for a no-fee card. It includes common carrier accident coverage, car rental collision and loss damage protection, extended warranty and purchase protection.
- Gas savings: Save up to 10 cents per litre at eligible gas stations when you link the card to your Journie Rewards.
Cons
- Modest earnings on some purchases: The earn rate of $1.50 per dollar on non-bonus category purchases is less competitive than some other no-fee cards.
- Not as straightforward as cash back rewards: New credit card holders, in particular, may find it hard to get the best value for their Aeroplan points.
How many Aeroplan points do you need for a flight?
According to the new Aeroplan redemption chart, how many points you need to redeem to book a flight depends on the distance between your city of departure and arrival, whether you’re flying Air Canada or a partner airline and which of the four “travel zones” you’re flying between.
At a minimum, you’ll need at least 6,000 points to redeem a one-way ticket within the North America travel zone to any destination within 500 miles of your departure (or 12,000 points for a round-trip). That includes trips like Toronto to Ottawa, or Vancouver to Calgary.
The number of points you need for redemption increases as you go further from your departure city or enter a new travel zone. For example, you’d need at least 70,000 Aeroplan points for a round trip to the Atlantic Zone travel zone within 4,000 miles of your city of departure.
Aeroplan has a handy points predictor tool to estimate how many points you need to redeem for a flight.
How much are Aeroplan points worth?
Unfortunately, Aeroplan points don’t have a fixed value. You can use the points predictor tool to see how it can vary. That said, you can get better value depending on the destination.
This formula can help you decide whether to redeem or not.
1 Aeroplan point = (price of ticket – Aeroplan fees) ÷ points needed to redeem
Generally, if the result of this equation is more than 1.2 to 1.5 cents per Aeroplan mile, you’re looking at a solid deal. For example, in January 2021, flying round-trip from Calgary to Halifax required 25,000 Aeroplan points, excluding taxes and fees. Since the total price of a ticket was around $770, plus $80 in taxes and fees, in this scenario, the value of 1 point would be 2.76 cents, based on the above equation: ($770 – $80) ÷ 25,000.
Business class flights are also known to offer better value as their retail value is much higher, but you’ll need to rack up more points to redeem for those rewards.
What is Aeroplan’s stopover policy?
Aeroplan has introduced a new stopover policy that will help both casual and seasoned travellers stretch the value of their points.
When travelling almost anywhere (excluding Canada or the U.S.), you can add a stop over on each one-way flight for an incremental 5,000 points. By leveraging this stopover policy, you can strategically add stops on your routes, see more destinations, and maximize the value of your points.
How to earn Aeroplan points faster
Aeroplan has many retail and brand partners, offering the ability to earn twice. Once with the credit card, and another with your membership card. So a good tip is to scan your Aeroplan cards for points as well as for charging at the register. Plus, you can take advantage of Aeroplan’s online store to make purchases and earn additional bonus points from popular online retailers like Amazon.
Redeeming through Air Canada versus Star Alliance member airlines
New Aeroplan points can be redeemed for flights on Air Canada or any of the roughly two dozen Star Alliance member airlines, just like before. However, Aeroplan has introduced a few changes when it comes to its redemption rules.
When redeeming on Air Canada, Aeroplan has introduced “dynamic pricing,” which effectively means the number of points you need for a flight can vary within a range. For instance, a round-trip economy flight from Calgary to Halifax with Air Canada can require anywhere between 25,000 and 35,000 points. You may need more points within this range if you’re travelling to a popular destination or during a high-demand travel season.
When redeeming on Star Alliance member airlines, which include United and Lufthansa, dynamic pricing isn’t part of the picture. For instance, the same round-trip flight from Calgary to Halifax always requires 25,000 points at any point in time. The one caveat is you’ll have to pay an extra $39 booking fee per traveller when flying on a Star Alliance airline versus using Air Canada itself.
When booking travel, you’ll want to compare between Air Canada and the other Star Alliance airlines to see which one offers the best return for your points. The answer will depend on your particular travel booking.
Which Aeroplan cards come with lounge access?
Three Aeroplan credit cards provide airport lounge access in Canada:
- TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card: Allows access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for primary and additional cardholders, each of whom can bring a guest. This access is only available with a same-day ticket on a departing Air Canada or Star Alliance flight. You’ll also get complimentary access to the Visa Airport Companion Program by Dragonpass that gives you six free visits to over 1,200 lounges worldwide.
- CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card: Offers the same Maple Leaf Lounge and Dragonpass benefits as the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege.
- American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card: Provides Maple Leaf Lounge access for the primary and additional cardholders (and one additional guest) on eligible Air Canada and Star Alliance flights.
Which Aeroplan cards come with a free checked bag?
Baggage fees are always rising, making free checked bags a coveted benefit for many travelers. Many Aeroplan credit cards offer this perk; better yet, the benefit is often not just for cardholders but also for those traveling with them on the same flight. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card and TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege card provide a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions (for a total of nine people) on the same reservation. The CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Visa Card and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege cards offer the same benefit, as does the American Express Aeroplan Card and the American Express Aeroplan Reserve card. Just note that the flight must be operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or under the Air Canada Express brand for the free checked bag benefit to apply.
