Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card Review: Full Details

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Chase Aeroplan Credit Card Overview

persecution Aeroplan® Credit Card is one of our favorite co-branded airline credit cards, offering rewards flexibility and valuable airline benefits. With its solid earning rate and incentives to spend with the card beyond earning the welcome bonus, the Aeroplan credit card is worth considering for many points and miles enthusiasts, even those who don’t live in Canada. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating It is based on the opinion of TPG editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

He Aeroplan credit cardLaunched in late 2021, it offers unique benefits we’ve rarely seen from other co-brands. airline cardsall for a reasonable annual fee of $95.

Most likely you will need a good credit score of at least 670 to successfully apply for this card.

If the ability to use points on over 50 airline partners worldwide and automatic elite status appeals to you, read on.

Pros and cons of the Aeroplan card

Advantages	Cons
Possibility to redeem your points with more than 50 airline partners Complimentary elite status for two calendar years First checked bag free for you and up to eight guests Travel protections	It does not offer the same flexibility as a general travel card. It requires a little extra effort to make the most of the rewards. Subject to Chase application restrictions High spending required for higher status

Aeroplan Card Welcome Offer

The current offer on the Aeroplan Card It is staggered. Approved applicants can earn 75,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, plus an additional 25,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first 12 months.

TPG September 2024 ratings set Aeroplan points at 1.5 cents each, making those points worth up to $1,500. This is one of the best welcome bonuses we’ve seen on this card, but the spending requirement to get the full offer is high.

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Please note that since the Aeroplan card is issued by Chase, it is subject to Chase’s 24/5 Rule. If you opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months, you may not be eligible to open the Aeroplan card.

Aeroplan card benefits

How often do you see that a card with a $95 annual fee automatically grants you elite status? With the Aeroplan cardCardholders will receive automatic Aeroplan 25K status for the remainder of the calendar year they open the card and the following calendar year.

I recommend opening the Aeroplan card at the beginning of a calendar year so you can enjoy 25K status for as long as possible.

With Aeroplan 25K, elite status members are entitled to the following benefits:

Priority check-in, security and boarding
Two unique passes to Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges
20 eUpgrade credits to upgrade from economy to business or premium cabin on flights operated by Air Canada
Automatic Star Alliance Silver elite statuswith access to priority waiting list and standby

After the introductory period, you can keep (or extend) that status, but cardholders are incentivized to spend a lot to do so. Cardholders must spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year to maintain 25K status (valid until the end of the next calendar year).

By spending $50,000 in a calendar year, cardholders can earn a one-tier status increase up to 35K elite status (or higher). This could be a great option for big spenders who already earn elite status thanks to their flights, as hitting the $50,000 threshold could essentially bump you up to a higher tier.

Even if you don’t maintain your elite status beyond the first year, here are all the other benefits you’ll get from the Aeroplan credit card:

First checked bag free on Air Canada flights, along with up to eight companions on the same reservation
Up to $100 statement credit toward your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus application fee every four years
Travel protections such as trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, car rental insurance, and roadside assistance
World Elite Mastercard benefits including 24/7 concierge service, access to Mastercard Priceless experiences, everyday discounts and offers and more
No foreign transaction fees

This is one of the first cards to refund. Nexus Application Feesallowing pre-screened travelers to expedite security upon entering the US and Canada.

Earn points on the Aeroplan card

With the Aeroplan cardyou will win:

For every $2,000 you spend with the card each month, you can also receive a bonus of up to 500 points, or up to 1,500 points per month. These bonus points can accumulate if you spend a lot and you can earn up to 18,000 bonus points a year.

If you plan to spend a lot on the Aeroplan card to maintain 25K status or raise your status to another level, this benefit will come in handy.

Redeem points on the Aeroplan card

For those who get lost trying to optimize their points and miles, Chase Aeroplan cardholders can redeem their Aeroplan points for the card’s annual fee and travel purchases (on airline and hotel purchases, car rentals, and more) at a rate of 1.25 cents each.

Through the Pay Yourself Back tool, there is no limit to the number of points you can redeem until December 31, 2024.

Transfer of points on the Aeroplan card

You can redeem your points for flights to more than 1,200 destinations through Star Alliance and Air Canada’s 50+ airline partners, and typically for fewer points than you’d need with other loyalty programs.

Even better, Air Canada publishes distance-based award charts with tons of sweet spots to consider (including Lufthansa first class). For example, you can fly from Seattle-Tacoma to Tokyo in All Nippon Airways business class for just 55,000 points.

TPG Editor-in-Chief for Credit Cards Matt Moffitt counts Aeroplan points as the currency of your favorite airline loyalty program. Maximize your redemptions by flying business class on united airlines to his hometown of Sydney, Australia and EVA air to Taiwan and other destinations throughout Asia.

What cards compete with the Aeroplan card?

He Aeroplan Card It has a $95 annual fee, which is comparable to the price of other popular travel credit cards that earn transferable rewards. Let’s compare some credit cards of the same caliber and determine if the Aeroplan credit card is the best option for you.

If you want more general rewards: Try the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This card is over a decade old and has proven its worth repeatedly, making it one of our all-time favorite travel credit cards. While the Aeroplan card is great for fans of Air Canada and its partners, the Sapphire Preferred is a more flexible travel card. For more information, see our full review of Chase Sapphire Preferred.
If you value simplicity: go for it Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Also with an annual fee of $95 (see rates and fees), this card offers a simple earning rate of 2 miles per dollar spent on everything you purchase, eliminating the stress of remembering bonus categories and strategies to maximize your spending. You can also earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Trip to Capital One. For more information, see our Full Venture Rewards Review.
If you like flying with United: He United℠ Explorer Card It is on the same level as the Chase Aeroplan card. The introductory annual fee is $0 for the first year; after that, you’ll pay $95 a year. Since United is part of Star Alliance, you can use the miles you earn with this card to book award flights with the same airlines as the points you earn with the Aeroplan card. For more information, see our United Explorer Card Full Review.

For additional options, see our Complete list of the best travel cards.

Is the Aeroplan card worth it?

With solid benefits for just a $95 annual fee, the Aeroplan card It may be worth it for the average consumer, especially if you can take advantage of the complimentary 25K status offered to new cardholders. Even if you’re not a regular Air Canada traveler, or perhaps you’ve never flown with the airline, chances are you’ve flown with its Star Alliance partners. I recommend the Aeroplan card to virtually any frequent traveler.

In a nutshell

Automatic elite status is nothing to sneeze at, no matter the airline. And since Aeroplan points are one of the most valuable airline currencies out there, this credit card is a great way to help you book the vacation of your dreams using points to save money on flights, no matter where you’re going.

Apply here: Aeroplan credit card

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