Credit Cards » Credit Card Reviews » Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card Review 2023
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Chase Air Canada Aeroplan Credit Card Review 2024

The Chase Aeroplan card offers bonus status, free first-checked bags, travel insurance, and reimbursements. But, there are some drawbacks.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
Interest Rates Last Update: July 27, 2024
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
Interest Rates Last Update: July 27, 2024

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.

Aeroplan Credit Card

aeroplan_card

Rewards Plan

1x – 3x 3x points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services, Air Canada and 1x on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

60,000 points 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open

Credit Rating

Good – Excellent

0% Intro

N/A

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.74%–28.74% variable
Aeroplan Credit Card

aeroplan_card

Rewards Plan

1x – 3x 3x points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services, Air Canada and 1x on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

60,000 points 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open

0% Intro

N/A

PROS

CONS

APR

21.74%–28.74% variable

Annual Fee

$95

Balance Transfer Fee

5% or $5, whichever is greater

Credit Requirements

Good - Excellent

The Aeroplan card offers some nice perks including automatic status, insurances, free checked bags and more. There is also a generous welcome bonus if you meet the spend criteria and up to three points per dollar on everyday purchases.

However, whether this card is a good option for you will depend on how frequently you fly with Air Canada. If you tend to take a few flights each year, you’re likely to get a decent value from this card. Additionally, unlike many airline co-branded cards, you can earn a solid rate of points on everyday purchases including groceries and dining.

This means that even if you don’t fly regularly, you can accumulate points towards award flights and enjoy the other card perks. So, if you are interested in the Air Canada itineraries, this card is worthy of serious consideration.

  • Automatic Status Bonus
  • Free First Checked Bags
  • Travel Insurances
  • Roadside Assistance
  • Reimbursement for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus
  • Preferred Pricing
  • Access to the Mastercard Concierge
  • Rewards Are Not Transferable
  • Few Redemption Options
  • Annual Fee
  • Points Expire

What are card income requirements?

There are no official income requirements for this card, but you do need to have good to excellent credit. While your income will be a consideration, it is not the only factor that will be assessed to make an approval decision.

Can I get pre-approved?

Chase does typically offer pre approval on its cards. You can sign into the website as a customer or guest to see if you qualify for the card. You may also receive a mailer or other promotional material which offers pre approval.

How do I redeem rewards?

When you’re ready to redeem your Aeroplan rewards, you can log into your account to explore the available itineraries and the point cost. You can explore the flight options as usual, but you will see the points cost along with the price in dollars, then you can book as normal.

In this Review

Estimating Your Rewards: A Practical Simulation

This table simulates rewards and demonstrates the potential benefits of using the Aeroplan Credit Card by estimating the rewards you could earn based on your typical spending habits across different categories.

It is essential to note that the figures provided are estimates only and your actual rewards may differ depending on your individual spending behavior and other factors. However, this table can be a useful tool in helping you comprehend the potential advantages of using the card.

aeroplan_card

Spend Per Category
Aeroplan Credit Card
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets
30,000 points
$3,000 – Restaurants
9,000 points
$4,000 – Airline
12,000 points
$4,000 – Hotels
4,000 points
$4,000 – Gas
4,000 points
Estimated Annual Points
59,000 Points

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Pros and Cons

Just like any other credit card, the Aeroplan Credit Card
has some advantages and disadvantages:

Pros
Cons
Automatic Status Bonus
Rewards Are Not Transferable
Free First Checked Bags
Few Redemption Options
Travel Insurances
Annual Fee
Roadside Assistance
Points Expire
Reimbursement for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus
Preferred Pricing
Access to the Mastercard Concierge

As a new card member, you will automatically receive an Aeroplan 25k Status. You’ll retain this status for the remainder of the calendar year and the entire following year. This provides benefits such as upgrades to premium cabins on Air Canada flights, and Priority Airport Services.

Existing status holders can earn one tier Elite Status Level Up to 35k or higher if you spend at least $50,000 during the calendar year

You and up to eight travel companions can enjoy free first checked bags up to a weight of 50 pounds when your travel originates on an Air Canada flight.

Life other Chase cards, the Aeroplan card offers a package of travel insurance coverages including trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement and auto rental collision damage cover.

If you suffer a roadside emergency, you can call the card Benefit Administrator who can dispatch assistance. The roadside service fees are then billed to your card.

New purchases you’ve made with your card are covered for up to 120 days against theft or damage with a coverage limit of $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

You can receive a statement credit every four years to reimburse you for the application fees for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus. You simply need to pay for your application fees using your Aeroplan card.

You can receive access to preferred flight rewards pricing. This means that as the primary card member, you can book flight rewards for fewer points.

The rewards you earn with this card can be redeemed for flights with Air Canada and the Star Alliance Network, but you cannot transfer them to anyone else. 

This means that you can’t pool rewards and you’ll need to accumulate them individually.

You can use your rewards for flights, but these are mainly international itineraries. This means that you may struggle to book domestic reward flights. 

The only other redemption option is Pay Yourself Back, which allows you to redeem rewards for statement credit on travel purchases, but this is capped at 50,000 points per year.

While the Aeroplan card does offer some nice benefits, it does have an annual fee, which is currently $95. Many of these benefits are available with cards that don’t have an annual fee.

Unfortunately, Aeroplan points expire if your account is inactive for 18 months. In order to stay active you need to redeem or earn a minimum of one point within any 18 month period.

If you need assistance making a restaurant reservation, locating a hard to find item or any other query, you can access the Mastercard Concierge 24/7. You can simply call the number on the back of your card. The service is free and any incidental services are charged to your card.

The card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee for purchases outside the U.S.

Who Should Consider The Aeroplan Card?

If you regularly fly with Air Canada, this card could be a good option for you. Regular passengers are likely to appreciate the free checked bags, preferred pricing and automatic 25k elite status. So, if you take at least a few flights with this carrier per year, you should find the value easily outweighs the annual fee. With regular use of the card, you don’t need to worry about the point expiry, so you can simply accumulate enough points for your next award flight.

The card could also be a good option for those who want a comprehensive travel insurance package with a modest annual fee. This card provides a variety of coverages including trip cancellation, trip delay reimbursement and baggage delay insurance, all with impressive coverage limits. All you need to do is pay for your trip with your card.

If you would like to check more options for an airline card, here are some alternatives:

Card
Rewards
Annual Fee

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card Review

1X – 2X 2X miles on delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide (including take-out and delivery in the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
$150, $0 intro first year (Rates & Fees)

1X – 2X Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
$99 (waived for the first 12 months)

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

1X – 3X 3X miles per dollar spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases, 2X miles per dollar spent on gas, dining and grocery store purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
$99

southwest_rapid_rewards_premier_art

1X – 3X 3X points on Southwest® purchases,2X on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming and 1X points on all other purchases.
$99

British Airways Visa Signature® card

1x – 5x 5x Avios for every $1 spent on gas, grocery stores and dining for the first 12 months of account opening. 3x Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways, Aer Lingus and Iberia purchases. 2x Avios for every $1 spent on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel.
$95
united explorer
1X – 2X 2x per $1 spent on United purchases, hotel accommodations, restaurants & eligible delivery services and 1x per $1 spent on all other purchases
$95 ($0 first year)

Tips for Using the Aeroplan Card

While this card is quite straightforward, there are some tips to help you to get the most from it. These include:

If you’re traveling in a group, make sure that all passengers are on the same reservation. This allows you and up to eight travel companions to enjoy a free first checked bag.

This benefit only kicks in when you’re on the same reservation, so make sure that you book as a group.

The Aeroplan card offers a number of travel insurance coverages, including trip cancellation, trip delay reimbursement and baggage delay insurance.

However, you’ll only receive these insurance benefits if you book and pay for your fare using your card.

If you’re planning a trip, be sure to check what preferred pricing rates you can access with your Aeroplan card before you make any bookings.

One of the perks of this card is that you can receive preferred pricing, so this can give you a good point of reference when you’re comparison shopping for the best fare.

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Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

FAQs

The card does require good to excellent credit, which may make it more difficult for some people. Additionally, the card is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. This means that regardless of your credit, if you’ve opened five new credit card accounts over the last 24 months, you won’t be approved for this card.

Yes, if you reserve and pay for the entire rental with your card, and you decline the rental counter supplemental insurance, you can benefit from auto rental collision waiver coverage. This provides supplemental insurance for theft of and damage to a rental car up to the coverage limits.

This card is not a good idea if you don’t tend to fly Air Canada. Almost all of the card benefits relate to Air Canada, so you’ll not get the best value if you don’t regularly fly with this carrier. So, be sure to check the Air Canada itineraries to ensure that you can fly to your favorite destinations.

Picture of Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
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Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

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The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
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Welcome Bonus:
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In order to determine the best possible credit cards, we look at things like fees, interest rates and rewards. We do this with companies that are associated with us as partners as well as other offerings. From there, we make a decision about what the best card is related to different categories and needs. We focus on interest rate cost & fees, especially the cost of carrying a balance, rewards – cards accumulate rewards in different currencies—points, miles, cash back—and their values vary widely usability – cards that accept a wide range of credit profiles and offer simple solutions for things like checking your credit score or contacting. We also consider customer reviews.

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