As perhaps the most compelling cobranded airline credit card at its price point, the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card offers travelers a unique opportunity to earn and redeem Aeroplan points with Air Canada and its extensive network of 53 airline partners.
Launched in December 2021, this $95 annual fee card offers an attractive blend of travel benefits and everyday earning potential, appealing to both Air Canada flyers and those with United status or who value Aeroplan points, regardless of their frequent flying with Air Canada.
As a cardholder, you earn:
If you’re using your Aeroplan Credit Card for Aeroplan status (more about this in the next section), you’ll likely unlock the full 1,500 per month bonus. That effectively becomes 18,000 extra points every year, which can be a nice perk.
The Chase Aeroplan Credit Card stands out by offering benefits that go far beyond those typically provided by other cobranded airline credit cards in the same annual fee range. This is especially true for airline status seekers.
Cardholders receive automatic Aeroplan 25K Elite Status for the first two calendar years, which includes perks like priority check-in, security and boarding, two Maple Leaf Lounge passes, 20 eUpgrade credits and Star Alliance Silver status. Since your status is valid for the first two calendar years, it might be worth opening the card in January or February.
After the first two calendar years, you can extend your 25K Elite Status by charging $15,000 to your card within a calendar year.
If you spend $50,000 in a calendar year, you’ll unlock a one-tier upgrade. So, if you have Aeroplan Elite 25K status, your status tier would be upgraded to Elite 35K.
But where this one-tier upgrade benefit really shines is for loyal Air Canada travelers who have higher tiers of Aeroplan status. For instance, if you earn Elite 75K through flying, the Aeroplan one-tier upgrade could unlock the highly coveted Super Elite tier.
Aeroplan Super Elite status is regarded as one of the best elite statuses in the industry. The key perks include:
Do you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card?
The benefit is specifically designed for travelers who have transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and the Aeroplan Credit Card.
If you transfer 50,000 or more points at once, you’ll get a 10% bonus on that transfer, up to 25,000 bonus points per year (after transferring 250,000 points). The bonus points will appear separately within 72 hours.
This can be a nice perk even if you don’t spend much on the Aeroplan Credit Card.
The Aeroplan Credit Card provides a free first checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to eight companions on Air Canada flights, a $120 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS every four years and comprehensive travel protections including trip cancellation insurance and auto rental coverage.
Additional benefits include 24/7 concierge service, no foreign transaction fees and preferred pricing on Air Canada award flights.
We realize this is almost laughable, but it’s worth mentioning. The Aeroplan Credit Card offers an extraordinary perk for those spending $1 million annually: a global designated award companion voucher.
This allows unlimited companion award travel for a single, designated companion on Air Canada or partner airlines in any class with 100% of the companion’s points reimbursed. Of course, you still need to find two award seats, but this benefit means that you could even get a 2 for 1 on Emirates first class, which you can book with Aeroplan points.
The benefit is valid for the year it’s earned and the following calendar year, but it’s limited to a single designated companion. While the spending requirement is steep, for frequent travelers planning extensive trips, it could be one of the most valuable travel benefits available.
You can refer to our full guide on Air Canada Aeroplan, which includes a section about maximizing Aeroplan redemptions, but here are a few reasons why we love Air Canada Aeroplan points:
Though we don’t recommend using your points this way, the Aeroplan Credit Card also offers a unique “Pay Yourself Back” feature. This allows redemptions for statement credits against any travel purchase at 1.25 cents per point (up to 50,000 points per year).
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers more flexible redemption options with 14 transfer partners and a similar annual fee, but lacks the Air Canada-specific perks.
The United Explorer Card offers benefits to United flyers at the same annual fee.
For frequent Air Canada flyers or those who can maximize the earning structure and redemption options, the Aeroplan Credit Card offers significant value. The welcome bonus, automatic elite status and free checked bag benefit can quickly offset the annual fee for regular travelers.
The Chase Aeroplan Credit Card is an excellent choice for Aeroplan members. Even if you don’t frequently fly with Air Canada or have United Airlines status, this card’s generous welcome offer, automatic elite status and the ability to earn and redeem points with Air Canada and its 53 partners offer a strong value proposition.
Of course, you can decide if the card is right for you, but the benefits easily offset its $95 annual fee. It’s a top contender in the cobranded airline credit card space.
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